Jesus Rises from the Dead
Luke 24
1Very early on the first day of the week, at dawn, the women came to the
tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away
from the entrance of the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body
of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, two men in shining
clothes suddenly stood beside them. 5The women were very afraid and bowed
their heads to the ground. The men said to them, “Why are you looking for a
living person in this place for the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen from the
dead. Do you remember what he told you in Galilee? 7He said the Son of Man
must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and rise from the dead on the
third day.” 8Then the women remembered what Jesus had said.
9The women left the tomb and told all these things to the eleven apostles and
the other followers. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of
James, and some other women who told the apostles everything that had
happened at the tomb. 11But they did not believe the women, because it sounded
like nonsense. 12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Bending down and looking
in, he saw only the cloth that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in. Peter went away
to his home, wondering about what had happened.
Jesus on the Road to Emmaus
13That same day two of Jesus’ followers were going to a town named
Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking about
everything that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus
himself came near and began walking with them, 16but they were kept from
recognizing him. 17Then he said, “What are these things you are talking about
while you walk?”
The two followers stopped, looking very sad. 18The one named Cleopas
answered, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what just
happened there?”
19Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about?”
They said, “About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet who said and did
many powerful things before God and all the people. 20Our leaders and the
leading priests handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.
21But we were hoping that he would free Israel. Besides this, it is now the third
day since this happened. 22And today some women among us amazed us. Early
this morning they went to the tomb, 23but they did not find his body there. They
came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said that Jesus was
alive! 24So some of our group went to the tomb, too. They found it just as the
women said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25Then Jesus said to them, “You are foolish and slow to believe everything
the prophets said. 26They said that the Christ must suffer these things before he
enters his glory.” 27Then starting with what Moses and all the prophets had said
about him, Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about himself
in the Scriptures.
28They came near the town of Emmaus, and Jesus acted as if he were going
farther. 29But they begged him, “Stay with us, because it is late; it is almost
night.” So he went in to stay with them.
30When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks,
divided it, and gave it to them. 31And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus.
But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. 32They said to each other, “It felt
like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the
Scriptures to us.”
33So the two followers got up at once and went back to Jerusalem. There they
found the eleven apostles and others gathered. 34They were saying, “The Lord
really has risen from the dead! He showed himself to Simon.”
35Then the two followers told what had happened on the road and how they
recognized Jesus when he divided the bread.
Jesus Appears to His Followers
36While the two followers were telling this, Jesus himself stood right in the
middle of them and said, “Peace be with you.”
37They were fearful and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38But
Jesus said, “Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see? 39Look at
my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not
have a living body as you see I have.”
40After Jesus said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41While they still
could not believe it because they were amazed and happy, Jesus said to them,
“Do you have any food here?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish. 43While
the followers watched, Jesus took the fish and ate it.
44He said to them, “Remember when I was with you before? I said that
everything written about me must happen—everything in the law of Moses, the
books of the prophets, and the Psalms.”
45Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
46He said to them, “It is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the
dead on the third day 47and that a change of hearts and lives and forgiveness of
sins would be preached in his name to all nations, starting at Jerusalem. 48You are
witnesses of these things. 49I will send you what my Father has promised, but you
must stay in Jerusalem until you have received that power from heaven.”
Jesus Goes Back to Heaven
50Jesus led his followers as far as Bethany, and he raised his hands and
blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he was separated from them and
carried into heaven. 52They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem very happy.
53They stayed in the Temple all the time, praising God.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version
SITUATION
The disciples failed to understand what Jesus was saying when he told them that he would rise again.
OBSERVATION
God uses other believers to reveal his will to us.
INSPIRATION
To pray, "Thy will be done" is to seek the heart of God. The word "will" means "strong desire” The study is where we learn what God desires. What is his heart? His passion? He wants you to know it.
Shall God hide from us what he is going to do? Apparently not, for he has gone to great lengths to reveal his will to us. Could he have done more than send his Son to lead us? Could he have done more than give his word to teach us? Could he have done more than orchestrate events to awaken us? Could he have done more than send his Holy Spirit to counsel us?
God is not the God of confusion, and wherever he sees sincere seekers with confused hearts, you can bet your sweet December that he will do whatever it takes to help them see his will. That's what he was doing on the road to Emmaus.
Everybody else was online, and they were on foot. They saw the death of Jesus as the death of the movement, and they packed their bags and headed home. And that is where they were going when Jesus appeared to them. How sweet is the appearance of Jesus on the road. Let a lamb take the wrong turn and miss the pasture and our Shepherd, unwilling to let him wander too far, comes to guide him home. How does he do this? How does he reveal his will to us? You might be surprised at the simplicity of the process.
The first mistake of the duo was to disregard the words of their fellow disciples. God reveals his will through a community of believers. On the first Easter, he spoke through women who spoke to the others. "Today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb, but they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said Jesus was alive!" (Luke 24:22-23).
His plan hasn't changed. Jesus still speaks to believers through believers. "The whole body depends on Christ, and all the parts of the body are joined and held together. Each part does its own work to make the whole body grow and be strong with love.” (Ephesians 4:15). (From The Great House of God by Max Lucado).
APPLICATION
Who in your life has helped make God’s will known to you? Take time in the next couple of weeks to send them a thank-you note for their involvement in your life. Ask God how he can use you to help build the body of Christ.
EXPLORATION
Body of Believers – Acts 14:21; Romans 12:4-8; 1Corinthians 12; 1Thessalonians 5:1-11; Hebrews 12:1.
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