Luke 24

CHAPTER 24THEME: Jesus is raised from the deadleaves Joseph’s tomb; Jesus goes down the road to Emmausreveals Himself to two disciples; Jesus goes to the assembled disciplesreveals Himself to the Eleven; Jesus gives commission to go; Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit; Jesus ascends to heaven in the attitude of blessing His own

Luke 24:1

JESUS IS RAISED FROM THE DEADLEAVES JOSEPH’S TOMBThe women came bringing their spices. I have always wanted to ask those women what they did with those spices. Mary was rebuked when she anointed the living Lord, “Why are you wasting this expensive ointment?” (see Joh_12:5). But her ointment was not wasted. The spices of these women were not used, and I think they went to waste. The women were probably so excited that they just left the spices at the tomb.

Luke 24:2

The stone was not rolled away to let the Lord Jesus out but to let them in.

Luke 24:3

He had already left.

Luke 24:4

The question, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” was a good one. Why did the women come, and why did Peter (and John) come running to the tomb? They were seeking the dead among the dead; they were not seeking the living. They did not believe that the Lord Jesus Christ would come back from the dead. Some people feel there is conflict among the Gospels concerning the morning of the Resurrection and the events which took place. A thorough study of the Gospels will reveal that there is no conflict at all. Each writer is presenting a different facet of the Resurrection. Luke tells us about the coming of the women to the tomb and dwells on that. The women remembered these words of Jesus when the angels reminded them. Sometimes you can hear somethingand almost know it is truebut do not believe it.

That is the way a lot of people treat the Word of God today. All of the Gospel writers make it abundantly clear that the Lord Jesus told His disciples again and again that He was going to Jerusalem to die, and be raised again on the third day. They heard what He said but somehow they really did not believe it.

Luke 24:9

You would think the apostles would be greatly impressed by what the women told them, but notice their reaction:

Luke 24:11

You would have thought that these women would have been considered credible witnesses and their testimony would have been accepted. The first disbelievers of the Resurrection were the apostles themselves. Yet our Lord had told them over and over what was going to happen concerning His death and resurrection.

Luke 24:12

Simon Peter had to turn over in his mind all the evidence before he came to a decision about what had happened. I do not think he was quite as alert mentally as was John the apostle. John tells us in his Gospel that when he went to the tomb and looked in, he believed. John was convinced about the Lord’s resurrection immediately, but Simon Peter had to think about it for awhile.

Luke 24:13

JESUS GOES DOWN THE ROAD TO EMMAUSREVEALS HIMSELF TO TWO DISCIPLESNow we come to the road to Emmaus. The Emmaus road is an interesting one to be on. We hear a lot today about being on the Jericho roadbut that’s where you fall among thieves. I would much rather take the Emmaus road where we meet our resurrected Lord. There is some question as to the distance of Emmaus from Jerusalem. It was probably about seven miles.

Luke 24:14

On the road to Emmaus the Lord joined two disciples who were talking about Him. They had not seen the Lord, and candidly, they did not believe that He had risen from the dead. They did not believe that the One who had joined them on the road was the resurrected Christ. To begin with, they were not looking for Him at all.

Luke 24:17

Jesus raised the question.

Luke 24:18

This question, raised by Cleopas, reveals a sidelight not given by anyone but Dr. Luke. The arrest, Crucifixion, and purported Resurrection from the dead had stirred Jerusalem. These two men could not believe that there was anyone in the area that did not know about it. It would be like walking down the street in your hometown with a friend and discussing the trip to the moon. A stranger joins you and says, “You mean someone has been to the moon?” You would naturally react.

It would be difficult for someone to live in this day and age and not know that someone has been to the moon and back to earth. It was just as incredible to these disciples that someone had not heard about the events of the past few days. Paul, in his defense before King Agrippa, said that he was persuaded that none of these things were hidden from him “…for this thing was not done in a corner” (Act_26:26). It was public news, and everyone in the area was talking about it.

Luke 24:19

Did you notice what they said? They said that He “was a prophet.” They thought He was dead. They did not believe that He had come back from the dead.

Luke 24:20

Now they gave a witness to the death of Christ.

Luke 24:21

These men were saying that they had hoped Jesus Christ was the Prophet that would redeem Israel, but now it was too late. He had been crucified. He was dead. They did not have much faith in what this Prophet had said, you can be sure of that.

Luke 24:22

These men did not believe the report of the women. They did not believe the tomb was empty. You can see how much unbelief there was in the Resurrection at this time. But there is a little hope and a little light that breaks upon the thinking of these two men.

Luke 24:24

Just as it seemed their faith ballooned up, they put a pin in it"but him they saw not." They did not know what had happened, but somehow the body had been taken away. They were not prepared to explain what had taken place, but the fact remained that no one had seen the Lord.

Luke 24:25

This is a very important section, friend. The Lord, in speaking about His resurrection, did not show them the prints of the nails in His hands to prove it. He referred them to the Scriptures rather than to the nail prints. He told them, “You should have believed what the prophets said.” It is well to note the Lord’s attitude toward the Bible. The day in which we live is a day of doubt. There are people who are actually saying that you cannot be intelligent and believe the Bible.

Many people are afraid that they will not be considered intelligent; so they don’t come out flat-footed and say whether they believe the Bible or not. I suppose it is the most subtle and satanic trap of our day to discount the inerrancy and integrity of the Word of God. Christ says a man is a fool not to believe it. He gave a unanimous and wholehearted acceptance of the Bible’s statements, with no ifs, ands, or buts. The other day I picked up a seminary professor and took him to a filling station, because he had car trouble. As we rode along, I asked him about his school’s viewpoint of the inerrancy of Scripture. “Well,” he said, “you mean the infallibility of the Bible?” I replied “Wait a minute, you are arguing semantics. You know what I mean, and I know what you mean. Do you or do you not believe in the inerrancy of Scripture?” Well, he wouldn’t make a forthright declaration whether or not he believed it. He wanted to appear intelligent. Frankly, a lot of these men do not have the intestinal fortitude to stand for the Word of God. I think their problem is more intestinal than intellectual! Now notice that the Lord puts the emphasis upon the Word of God.

Luke 24:26

He began with Moses and the prophets. Moses and the prophets had spoken of Him. His death and resurrection had fulfilled their prophecies. I’d love to have been there that evening, listening to Him, wouldn’t you? Christ says that there are two things which are essential to the understanding of the Word of God. They are simple but important.

First, as verse Luk_24:25 indicates, we must have faith in the Bible. Christ said, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” Pascal said, “Human knowledge must be understood to be believed, but divine knowledge must be believed to be understood.” I think the Bible is a closed book to the critic and the infidel. He can learn a few facts, but he misses the message. On the other hand, some simple soul whose heart is turned in humble faith to God will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God. The eyes of his understanding will be opened. Great men of the past have come to the pages of Scripture for light and life in the hours of darkness or crisis.

It is not smart to ridicule the Bible. The Lord said, “You are a fool not to believe it.” I would rather lack sophistication and subtlety than to be a fool. Then the Lord says that the Bible can only be divinely understood. Human intellect is simply not enough to comprehend its truths. Verse Luk_24:45 tells us: “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” Then in 1Co_2:14 Paul declares, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” There are things that are above and beyond human comprehension, and only the Holy Spirit of God can make them real to us. Our prayer ought to be, “Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Word.” We should come with a humble attitude to the Word of God. Just because you read the Bible does not mean that you know it. The Holy Spirit of God will have to make it real to you.

Luke 24:28

The resurrected, glorified Christ wants to fellowship with those who are His own. He only fellowships with those who believe in Him. They wanted Him to stay with them, and He was known to them at the table in the breaking of the bread. Eating around a table is a wonderful time to share the things of Christ. There is nothing wrong with a church banquet, provided it is not all given over to hearing some soloist, or watching a magician, or some type of entertainment. We have too many church programs that leave Jesus Christ out. To have true fellowship and blessing, He must be in the midst breaking the bread.

Luke 24:32

Late as it is, they hurry back over the miles with the wonderful news.

Luke 24:34

The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Simon Peter privately because there was something that needed to be straightened out. Remember that Peter had denied Him. The restoration to fellowship was a personal and private transaction between Peter and his Lord.

Luke 24:35

JESUS GOES TO THE ASSEMBLED DISCIPLESREVEALS HIMSELF TO THE ELEVENI am sure our reaction would have been the same if we had been there.

Luke 24:38

I do not want to labor this point, but the glorified body of our Lord was flesh and bones and not flesh and blood. His blood had been shed on the cross.

Luke 24:40

This is a master stroke and Dr. Luke shares it with us. The proof that He, our Lord and Savior, is a human being is that He could eat food.

Luke 24:44

They simply had not believed His Word. In order to understand the Bible you have to have the Spirit of God open your mind and heart. Only the Spirit can make Bible study real to you.

Luke 24:46

JESUS GIVES COMMISSION TO GONotice the global outlook of these verses. The viewpoint here is worldwide. This gospel is to go to the ends of the earth.

Luke 24:48

JESUS PROMISES TO SEND THE HOLY SPIRITMen witnessing to the world was His method. And the message was that He died and rose again from the dead, and that, by trusting Him, sinners could be saved. The power to carry the witness to the world is the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:50

JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN IN THE ATTITUDE OF BLESSING HIS OWNThe last time the disciples saw the Lord He was in the attitude of blessing. When He comes the next time He will come in judgment upon the world. He will not come in judgment for the church; He will come in blessing. We are to look with great joy and anticipation for His coming.

Luke 24:52

This is the testimony of the Gospel of Luke. I trust that it has been a blessing to you. My own heart has been blessed, my mind enriched, and my will strengthened. Because I have studied again this marvelous Gospel of Luke, I want to know Him better. I hope you do too.