Luke 24 - The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and His Appearances to His Disciples!

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Jesus Has Risen

Very early on the first day of the week, (Sunday for the Jewish people, which is why we hold worship services on Sunday the day of the Resurrection), the faithful, women followers came to bring spices for the tomb. 

The body of Jesus was hastily prepared for burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (John 19:38-41). The women came to properly complete the hurried job performed immediately after Jesus’ death. - Guzik

Supernaturally the tomb was rolled away. Considering how heavy the tomb was, it was a miracle in itself. As the women were figuring this out two men who were gleaming (which leads us to believe there were angels) met them. As is often the case with angels, people who encounter them shrink back in fear. But in this case, the angels had a message for them saying, "Why do you look for the living among the dead." 

We should not expect spiritual life among those who do not have it. Many look for Jesus in dead things – religious traditionalism, formalism, man’s rules, human effort and ingenuity. We find Jesus only where there is resurrection life, where He is worshipped in Spirit and in truth. - Guzik

This is a great saying. We need to remember not to look for the "living among the dead". The women hurried back to tell the disciples what they saw. Although they didn't believe the women right away, Peter sprinted to the tomb and when he saw the linen strips on the ground, he didn't know quite to  make of it. 

In John we learn that John ran together with Peter. When John saw the grave clothes neatly folded up. he believed. Peter was not so quick to believe and went away wondering what happened. 

This tells us that Peter analyzed the situation; he knew something spectacular had happened because of the condition of the grave clothes, but he because he had forgotten the words of Jesus (John 20:9), he did not yet understand and believe the way John had. - Guzik

On the Road to Emmaus

This is a story told only in the gospel of Luke. They were probably returning from the Passover feast, as they walked together. The men were discussing everything that had happened in the last couple of days. Suddenly, Jesus appeared amongst them, but they were miraculously kept from recognizing him. 

The men recounted the story of the women going to the tomb and finding the empty tomb, and then went back to tell the disciples what had happened. Though they were curious about everything, it is clear that they had not yet come to faith because Jesus rebukes them saying, "How foolish are you not to understand these things." 

Jesus then took them through the Law of Moses and the Prophets in the Old Testament (the Hebrew bible). He explained how these all had pointed to him. In fact, the purpose of the Old Testament is to lead us to Christ. This is why it is important to understand the Old Testament, which helps explain the New Testament. 

As they kept walking, Jesus was going to leave them, they urged him to come and stay with them. Much like at other times in the gospels, Jesus accepted the invitation. As they broke bread together, Jesus was revealed to them and soon he left. As the disciples reflected on their coming to faith, they remarked that their "hearts were burning", as they listened to Jesus explain on the purpose of Scriptures. 

I think we can safely assume this was the Holy Spirit, who was taking God's Word and making it come alive to them.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us, "The Word of God is living and active sharper than any double edged sword, separating joints and marrow, and soul and spirit." At once they returned to Jerusalem to tell the others what had happened to them. 

When you understand who Jesus is and feel your heart burning within you as you accept him as Your Savior, you can't help but want to go and share the good news. This is why "evangelism" is not a program. It is about people who have experienced Jesus, and can't help but share it with others.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Finally, Jesus came into their midst and appeared to all of the disciples. They thought he was a ghost, so he showed him his hands and feet proving he was not only crucified, but had risen from the dead. He was not a ghost or ethereal spirit. He was a living, breathing, and resurrected from the dead. They still doubted, so Jesus took a piece of fish and ate it. Ghosts do not eat fish. 

Jesus then took them through the scriptures and explained to them everything that it said. He pointed to how he had fulfilled all that was written several hundreds of years earlier. It says he "opened their minds". This was the work of the Holy Spirit enlightening them to understand spiritual truth, which the natural mind could not understand. 

“In that one hour, in the upper chamber with Christ, Scripture became a new book to the disciples. Never forget how earnestly and constantly our Lord appealed to the testimony of the Word.” (Morrison)

Jesus then summarizes the most important parts of the scripture:  Jesus suffered. He died. He rose again three days later. This was written in the scriptures and was fulfilled on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This is historical not a fairy tale. It is not written in any manner but what ACTUALLY happened. Therefore we cannot import our bias in the text.  It is clearly written in this way.

Then, he said that the disciples would be witnesses of these things to the people. He would soon send them the Holy Spirit, so they could preach repentance and forgiveness in His name to all people beginning in Jerusalem and going to the ends of the earth. 

And this is where the Acts of the Apostles will pick up the story, as the disciples went to Jerusalem and waited in the upper room for the Holy Spirit Jesus had promised. 

Jesus had to ascend so that confidence would be put in the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit, not in the geographical presence of Jesus. - Guzik

As Jesus went out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands, blessed them, and returned to Heaven. We call this the Ascension, and we know this happened 40 days after the resurrection. (We learn of this time period in Acts 1:3) 

Here ends the gospel of Luke, his version of the greatest story ever told. He will be the author of the books of Acts, which will tell us of the birth of the Church and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth.