I thought about calling this session "And Then What Happened". When one of my daughters was young, I read her stories. They often ended with "and they lived happily ever after". Then my daughter would ask "and then what happened?' The ending of the story was never enough to satisfy her; she wanted to know more about what happened next.
Often, as Easter comes around, we speak of the resurrection, then move on to other topics the next week. Like my daughter, we should want to know what happened next. Luke tells us in the passages we study today.
The Emmaus Incident
24:13-35
Luke gave a long account of this incident, meaning he considered it important. He is the only gospel writer that records it. It is the story of Jesus appearing to two disciples. It occurred on Sunday, after the women found the empty tomb and reported it to the disciples.
These two disciples had given up and decided to return home. They left Jerusalem and started walking to their home village of Emmaus. It was a seven mile walk. (13)
As they walked, they talked about the events of the last few days. (13) They were disappointed and confused. They were grieving. As they walked and talked, Jesus joined them. (15) He did not let them recognize him. (16) But he asked them what they were talking about. That made them stop walking. They stood there feeling sad. (17) We know from that they did not believe Jesus was resurrected.
Cleopas was snarky, though. He asked Jesus if he was the only visitor to Jerusalem who did not know of the things that happened the last few days. This is funny, because Cleopas did not know that really happened and Jesus did. (18)
Jesus played along by asking “what things”, so they told him about Jesus, who was a mighty prophet, but was condemned and crucified. (20) They must have had some idea about the resurrection, for they mentioned it was the third day and they talked about the women who saw the empty tomb. (23)
They had also hoped Jesus would redeem Israel.(21) In other words, they had hoped Jesus was the Messiah. But they were not thinking of a Messiah, or redeemer, who would die and be raised, they were thinking of a Messiah who would defeat the Romans. Redemption to them meant deliverance, as when God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt. That added to their confusion and disappointment with Jesus’ death.
At this point, Jesus gave them a mild rebuke. He said “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all the prophets had spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? ” (26)
The law and the prophets spoke and wrote of the Christ’s suffering.
Genesis 3:15 says that the seed of the woman would be bruised, or injured, by the devil, before he crushed the devil’s head. Exodus 12 tells how God’s people were delivered from death by the sacrificial death of the Passover Lamb.
Leviticus 16 tells us atonement is only made by the shedding of sacrificial blood. Deuteronomy27 shows grace for sinners found at the altar sprinkled with blood.
Psalm 22 spoke of the one who died while forsaken by God, surrounded by those who pierced his hands and feet and gambled for his clothes. Jonah’s residence in the belly of the fish for three days was a sign of Jesus’ body lying in the grave for three days. (see Matthew 12)
Certainly Isaiah wrote of the Christ’s suffering in chapter 53. Hebrews 2:10 summarizes this for us, as it says “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering”.
The prophets also wrote and spoke of Christ’s glory. Psalm 16 spoke of the holy one who is not abandoned to the grave, but entered into the presence of God. Psalm 110 spoke of the Christ’s entering into his glory at the right hand of the Father. Daniel 7 spoke of the Son of Man receiving glory from the Father.
These disciples surely knew these Old Testament passages, but had not applied them to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Then Jesus explained it all to them, going through the whole Bible. He began with Moses, meaning the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. He them went through the Prophets, interpreting all things in Scripture that pertained to himself. (27) In other words, he opened their minds to understand all of the Old Testament, all of the Scripture they had at that point. Wouldn’t you like to have a recording of that sermon?
Verse 27 is also an important verse for our interpretation of the Bible. The story of the Old Testament is not primarily the story of the Jews, it is the story of God’s redemptive plan in history, the story of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:10-14 tells us this. It says it was the Father’s will and purpose to unite all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth. The Old Testament is the story of the Father bringing his will and purpose to fruition.
The resurrection is the climax of this redemptive history. It is a turning point. All of the Old Testament and the Gospels up to this point look forward to the day of salvation. We, on the other hand, look back to the work Christ accomplished while we wait for the consummation of his work at his return.
Finally, as they sat down to eat, Jesus allowed them to recognize him. He did it as he took bread, blessed it, and gave it to them. He had likely done this many times before. (30) Normally, the host would bless and break the bread, but Jesus took on the role of the head of the household. The disciples may have deferred to him because of his great teaching.
However it happened, the recognized Jesus and knew that he was indeed alive. They knew the resurrection was real and what the women said was true.
Caravaggio painted this scene first in 1601, then again in 1606, attempting to capture the moment the two disciples understood. Here is the 1606 version.
Once the two disciple recognized him, Jesus vanished. This shows us that Jesus’ resurrected body had supernatural properties.
The two disciples rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the Eleven and the other disciples. They had seen the risen Lord. The disciples told these two that Jesus had risen and had appeared to Simon. The excitement and wonder must have been intense. They now knew that Jesus was alive and they wondered what would happen next.
Jesus Appears
24:36-49
While the group was talking, Jesus appeared among them. They were scared, thinking he was a ghost (spirit). (38)
Jesus confronted their fear and doubt, but he also graciously offered them proof. He showed them his wounds and let them touch him. This proof is also for us. It shows that Jesus was bodily resurrected. He was not a disembodied spirit. He himself pointed out that a spirit would not have the flesh and bones he had and they could see. As a final proof, he took food and ate it.
Jesus not only offered physical proof, he gave them a theological explanation. He again said that all that was written about him in the Old Testament had to be fulfilled, including his suffering, death, and resurrection. (46)
As the last item of his speech, Jesus commissioned the disciples to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. This is the Great Commission. The disciples were to tell what they had witnessed and preach the need for repentance and the availability of forgiveness.
However, despite having their minds opened by Jesus to understand the Scripture, they were still not ready to go out and preach. Jesus told them wait until the received the Holy Spirit, who would give them power from on high, or from God. (49)
Ascension
24:50-52
Jesus ascended, not from Jerusalem, but from Bethany, located on the Mount of Olives. He blessed them before he went, then was carried up into heaven. (51)
The disciples were transformed. Where they had been sorrowful and fearful, they were now joyful. They worshipped Jesus, understanding that he was the divine Son of God. They went to the place they knew as a house of worship, the temple, and were there blessing God continually.
Knowing Jesus gives us joy. Knowing Jesus leads us to worship. It leads us to worship together, in a place where believers gather. The body of worshippers is the church.
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