AM April 9th Luke 24

April 9^th             Luke 24             G. The Perfect Man Raised by God        Jesus risen

1: Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2: And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3: And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4: And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7: Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8: And they remembered his words, 9: And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10: It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11: And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12: Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Jesus appears – Emmaus

13: And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14: And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15: And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16: But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17: And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18: And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass therein these days? 19: And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21: But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22: Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23: And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24: And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25: Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27: And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28: And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29: But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30: And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31: And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32: And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33: And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34: Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35: And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Jesus appears – Disciples

36: And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37: But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38: And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39: Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40: And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41: And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42: And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43: And he took it, and did eat before them. 44: And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45: Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46: And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48: And ye are witnesses of these things. 49: And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Jesus ascends to heaven

50: And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51: And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52: And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Luke brings his gospel to a close with a chapter describing the events following the resurrection of Christ. First he records the visit very early in the morning probably 4-5am. Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women came to anoint the body of Christ. This indicates that none of the disciples thought that Christ would rise from the dead because they brought spices to anoint the body. However when they arrived they found the stone had been rolled away. They were very unset and mystified but then two angels stood next to them in shinning garments and they said, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here he has risen. And so we have announced the news that every unbeliever must face the tomb is empty and Christ has risen. The angels reminded them of Christ’s words when to prophesied of his resurrection. They returned to the eleven and the rest to tell the news, but they frankly did not believe them. Peter decided that he would go and find out for himself, He ran to the tomb and looking in saw the grave clothes how they lay. Later two disciples on the road to Emmaus have a visitation from Christ without them realising who he was. They were over come with grief and confused. They understood that Christ was the Messiah and that prophetically he would establish his reign on earth but now he had been crucified. They couldn’t take it all in. Christ in love calls them fools and slow of heart to believe. Then in the short walk to Emmaus he started with Moses and he opened up the whole scriptures explaining that Christ was to suffer and die and rise again. What an education that was. When they arrived at Emmaus Christ appeared to walk on but they pleaded with him to stay as it was getting near 5pm. He went in and stayed with them. When they sat at meat and when to took bread and broke it and gave thanks their eyes were opened and they realised who he was and the vanished. Right away they set out for Jerusalem to tell the rest that he had appeared to then. While they were telling their story Christ appeared in the middle of them and he spoke peace and invited them to see his hands and feet. Then he sat down and ate food – fish and honey. Why didn’t the disciples understand Christ’s mission and Gods purpose? Because it was hidden from them and he then did something wonderful. He opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. WOW what an amazing thing to do. He then went on to explain that the same message they had preached so far was to be preached (to the Jews) scattered among the nations beginning at Jerusalem. They are to be witnesses of these things. However before they set off they are to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father until they are empowered from on high. Then he led then out as far as to Bethany and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. Then Christ ascended up into heaven and they worshipped him and they returned to Jerusalem with hearts full of the joy of the Lord. The disciples were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. They were full of Joy and they had the Holy Spirit but they were not baptised in the Holy Spirit yet. They had to wait for this. Luke later picks up his pen to write to his friend Theophilus, the sequel to this Gospel.