CHAPTER 24
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.

Luke had told us in Chapter 23 that Joseph of Arimathaea had received Jesus' body, and placed it in his own tomb. That was Friday evening. And the sabbath of Passover began at 6pm. Therefore, they did not have time to fully prepare Jesus' body for burial.

The "sabbath" of Passover ended at 6am on "the first day of the week" - Sunday.
So the ladies were coming to complete the preparation of Jesus' body.

However, the great stone which had covered the mouth of the tomb was MOVED!
And Jesus was NOT THERE!!

The uniqueness of Christianity is a LIVING Savior!
Jesus is God Who became man, died to pay for our forgiveness;
then, became God again and lives eternally to offer eternal life.
Jesus is the ONLY way to eternal life!

Please see the commentary on (( John 1:1))

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.

((See the commentary on Matthew 28:1-9))
Clik the BACK ARROW to return to this page.))

The angels were reminding the ladies of what Jesus had taught earlier.
Jesus had told them before that He would be crucified and rise again on the third day (Matthew 17:23, 20:19; Mark 9:31, 10:34; Luke 9:22, 18:33).

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.

The ladies left the tomb and went to tell the disciples.
It's very interesting to note that Luke includes "all the rest!"
There were MORE than just the 11 disciples!

Even though the disciples should have remembered Jesus' words, they still "believed them not!"
But they DID decide to go and "check it out."

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.

Actually, John outran Peter and got to the tomb first.
But John stopped short of entering, and Peter went on by him into the tomb.
((SEE John 20:2-8))

It's interesting that these believed Jesus to be Messiah, God in flesh; but,
they were astonished at Him being risen from the tomb!
Do WE sometimes BELIEVE Jesus is God, but doubt He can DO what He says?

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.

The word "furlong" is translated from the Greek: stadion.
It was probably about 600ft. "Threescore furlongs" would be about 6.8 miles.

These fellows were not on a "Sunday afternoon stroll!"

While they were walking along, they were talking about the events of the last few days. And, Jesus came to join them.
But they did not recognize Him!
Now, that's not incredible.
Jesus could have been wearing a cloak with a cowl which covered His head and most of his face.

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.

Jesus acted like a complete stranger and asked what they were talking about that made them so sad.

Cleopas summed up the events of the last three days, putting his faith in Jesus in the forefront.
But Cleopas' statement of the facts exhibited some lack of faith.

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.

Jesus took the opportunity to point them toward the Old Testament Scriptures which prophesied of "Messiah," or Christ.
We don't know exactly what Scriptures Jesus might have used in that conversation.
However, we can surmize SOME of them.

Genesis 3:15 prophecies that Messiah would be the "seed" of a woman!
Deuteronomy 18:15 says He would be a "prophet" like Moses.
David prophesied Messiah would be his LORD, but also of his lineage (Psalm 110).
Isaiah 7:14 says He would be born of a "virgin."
That verse also says His name would be "Emmanuel" - meaning God with us!
Isaiah 43:11 indicates Messiah would be Jehovah in the flesh.
Isaiah 53 tells of Messiah's suffering and death.

On and on we could go, searching the Scriptures and finding evidence of Messiah/Christ and the prophecies He would fulfill.
Jesus fulfilled ALL of those Old Testament prophecies!!

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.

As they came to the village, Jesus indicated He would continue on the journey.
But the two disciples asked that He remain with them.
And, when it came time to eat, Jesus took the bread and "blessed it, and brake, and gave to them."
THAT action was something He had done MANY times before in their presence.
NOW they RECGONIZED Him.
And Jesus just "vanished!"

It may have been almost dark, but these two disciples decided the news was worthy of hazarding the road and returning to Jerusalem to tell the others!

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.

Their hearts had burned while Jesus had expounded the Scriptures.
They realized and sensed His PRESENCE!

When one experiences Jesus' genuine presence in their heart,
YA JUST GOTTA TELL SOMEBODY!!

These returned to Jerusalem and told the disciples that were still gathered in the upper room.
They told of their experience as FACT!
"The Lord is risen INDEED!!"
When one experiences Christ genuinely, one cannot help but believe in His RESURRECTION!!

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.

While the two were telling the others of their experience, Jesus SHOWED UP!!
I think one of the most important parts of church is TESTIMONY time!
When people begin to tell how Jesus has changed their life, He SHOWS UP!
His PRESENCE is KNOWN!!

The disciples believed He was a spiritual representation.
But, Jesus showed them His hands and feet!
His hands and feet were NAIL-SCARRED!

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.

Jesus not only showed them His hands and feet, but ATE with them!!

My friends, this is the greatest part of Christianity!
Budda lies in a grave! So does Muhammed and Confuscius!
But JESUS is ALIVE AND WELL!!
He IS God, and is the ONLY One Who can give His ETERNAL LIFE to others!!

Now, Jesus tells them WHY they can believe that He IS, and that He has risen from the grave.

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.

BECAUSE OF THE SCRIPTURES!

Just as He did with the two on the road to Emmaus, Jesus expounded upon the Old Testament Scriptures - showing that He is MESSIAH!

And may I say that "repentance and remission of sins" can ONLY be "preached in HIS NAME!!"

The Bible, these 66 books which we study, has NEVER, and I repeat NEVER, been proven wrong...not even in ONE verse!!
It is God's WORD!
And God's WORD stands FOREVER! "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." (Ps 119:89)

Therefore, becasue we EXPERIENCE Christ in our lives after surrendering to Him;
and, because His WORD is eternally true;
We are indeed "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.
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.

The "promise of my Father" is later understood to be the gift of God's Holy Spirit.

The disciples were to wait "in jerusalem" until this promise came to them.
At that time, the feast of Pentecost was observed 50 days after Passover.

Therefore, we must see that here (in Luke 24), Luke skips the next 50 days, and goes directly to the day when Jesus was "carried up into heaven."
Luke further discusses the event in Acts 1:1-13 and Acts 2:1-4. ((See Acts 1:1-13 See also Acts 2:1-4 ))

Note their singleness of focus: "they worshipped Him!"
Note their unity: "were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God."

If we could get the church today to FOCUS on worshipping Christ, and be in UNITY; there is no imagination which could reach the accomplishments God would allow!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.