Resource Detail

Luke 24:1-53

Key Verse: 24:6

"He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee..."

Study Questions:

1.         Read verses 1-12. Who were the women? (10; 8:3) What was in their hearts? What glorious sight did they see? What was Christ's message? What did the women do? How did the apostles respond? What difference does it make to remember Jesus' words? (8; 9:22,44; 18:31-33)

2.         Read verses 13-35. Why were  two disciples leaving Jerusalem? Describe their encounter with Jesus. What facts did they know about Jesus? (19-24) Why were they so sorrowful and fearful? What changed them and sent them back? What can we learn from Jesus who taught them the Bible?

3.         Read verses 36-49. How did Jesus reveal himself to his disciples? What did he teach them from the Bible? How was their sorrow and fear dis­pell­ed? (45) What command did he give them? What did he promise them?

4.         Read verses 50-53. Describe his ascension. What hope does this event plant in their hearts? (Ac 1:10,11) What did the disciples do after this? Why were they so joyful? How had they been changed?

Luke 24:1-53

Key Verse: 24:6

"He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee..."

Study Questions:

1.         Read verses 1-12. Who were the women? (10; 8:3) What was in their hearts? What glorious sight did they see? What was Christ's message? What did the women do? How did the apostles respond? What difference does it make to remember Jesus' words? (8; 9:22,44; 18:31-33)

2.         Read verses 13-35. Why were  two disciples leaving Jerusalem? Describe their encounter with Jesus. What facts did they know about Jesus? (19-24) Why were they so sorrowful and fearful? What changed them and sent them back? What can we learn from Jesus who taught them the Bible?

3.         Read verses 36-49. How did Jesus reveal himself to his disciples? What did he teach them from the Bible? How was their sorrow and fear dis­pell­ed? (45) What command did he give them? What did he promise them?

4.         Read verses 50-53. Describe his ascension. What hope does this event plant in their hearts? (Ac 1:10,11) What did the disciples do after this? Why were they so joyful? How had they been changed?

Luke the evangelist and historian does not develop theo­logical ar­gu­ments on the resurrection of Christ; rather, he gives the evidence of the res­ur­­rection of Christ from the dead to the women and the dis­ciples on the ba­sis of God's promise of his death and resurrection in the Bible. He also tells us what hap­pened in the hearts of those who saw the Risen Christ. There­­fore, in this passage, we don't want to study the theory of the resur­rec­­tion, but evidence of the resur­rection. It is also amazing to know what the Risen Christ did; when his disciples were in deep despair, the Risen Christ taught the Bible until they opened their spiritual eyes to see the Risen Christ.

First, he is not here; he has risen (1-12)

Look at verse 1. "On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb." Who were they? They were the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee all the way to Golgotha and saw his cruci­fixion. Because of Jesus' crucifixion and burial, their hearts were broken. Still they found out where the tomb of Jesus was and returned to their own places. They must have stayed up all night in consuming sorrow. They must have thought of Jesus who had been so good, but was crucified by evil men. What they could do was to prepare spic­es to ornament the dead body of Jesus. Very early in the morning, they went to the tomb to embalm his dead body with their spices, so as to express their love for the dead Jesus.

They were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who went to anoint Jesus' body. Mary Magdalene had been very sinsick. But she was healed by Jesus. Since then she dedicated her life to Jesus' ministry. They were happy to follow Jesus. Luke 8:3 says, "...Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means." They were hap­py to serve Jesus and his company with their own means. Jesus was the meaning and joy of their lives. But when they saw Jesus' unbearable suffering and crucifixion, they felt as if they were in the place of Jesus. Their hearts were broken and their souls were wounded.

Jesus was buried in a new tomb of Jo­seph. The tomb was closed by a big stone. But when the women came they found the stone rolled away. When they entered they did not find the dead body of the Lord­. Their last hope of ornamenting the dead body of Jesus was frustrated. See! Some­thing un­usu­al happened. Look at verse 4. "While they were wondering about this, sudden­ly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them." Despite discrep­ancies regarding the men (Mt 28:2; Mk 16:5; Jn 20:12), the men by the tomb were the Risen Christ who appeared in the form of the angels. And their appear­ance was not gloomy; it was indeed glo­rious. It reminds us of the glori­ous preview of the Risen Christ on the Trans­figuration mount. Mark 9:3 says, "His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them." This also re­minds us of the Risen Christ in Reve­lation 1:13, "...and among the lamp­stands was someone 'like a son of man,' dressed in a robe reach­ing down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest." To the women Jesus' death on the cross looked so tra­gic. But it was not so. Jesus' death on the cross was the prelude of his resurrection. The Risen Christ gives eternal life to those who believe in him. The Risen Christ gives  the glorious kingdom of God to those who believe in him. May God bless us to have eternal life and the kingdom of God when we believe his promises.

What did the Risen Christ say to them?  Look at verse 5. "In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead?'" These women were look­ing for the dead body of Jesus, not knowing that Jesus had risen. The angels kept on speaking to them. Look at verses 6 and 7. "He is not here; he has risen! Re­member how he told you, while he was still with you in Gal­i­lee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sin­ful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" During the time of his earthly ministry, Jesus had predict­ed his death and resurrection to his disciples again and again (9:22,44; 18:31-33). These women, who until now had only over­heard over the shoul­ders of the dis­ciples about his suffering, death and resurrection, im­mediately remem­ber­ed what Jesus had said before his crucifixion. They remembered Mark 14:28. It says, "But after I have ris­en, I will go ahead of you into Gali­lee." It meant, "I will see you again in Galilee." When they remem­bered what Jesus had said, their spiritual eyes were opened and they could recognize the Risen Christ. They saw with their eyes the glorious Risen Christ. When they heard the voice of the Risen Christ, sor­rows melt­ed from their hearts. They felt their dead minds come back to life. In a moment, they were overwhelmed by eternal joy overflowing in their souls. They had not eaten for seve­ral days because of their sorrows. But they felt great strength in their souls. And they came running with their whole strength and told what had happened to the apost­les.

How did the apostles respond to the women's words? They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (11) They did not believe because they had no one word of God in their hearts. Furthermore, they did not believe because of their habit of not believing women's words. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by them­selves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had hap­pened. We can see here a sharp contrast between the women and Peter. The women went to the tomb with sorrowful minds. But they met the Risen Jesus and came back with great joy, because the wo­men could remember the promise of God that he would come back. On the other hand, Peter, when he did not remember Jesus' words concerning his death and resur­rec­tion, went to the same tomb and saw only a few pieces of grave clothes. Here we learn that we must remember the words of promise, even one word of God. When we are going to see the glorious Risen Christ we must remember that Jesus died for our sins. But God raised him from the dead (Ac 2:24). May the Risen Christ appear to you when you have his words.

Second, on the road to Emmaus (13-35)

This part is a story about two men on the road to Emmaus. Look at ver­ses 13-14. "Now that same day two of them were going to a vil­lage called Em­maus, about seven miles from Jerusalem." As a matter of fact, they were running for their lives. "They were  talking with each oth­er about everything that had happen­ed."  Even though they were running for their lives, the Risen Christ came up and walk­ed along with them; but they were kept from recog­niz­ing him (15,16). Look at verse 17. "He asked them, 'What are you discus­sing together as you walk along?' They stood still, their faces downcast." "One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 'Are you only a visi­tor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have hap­pened there in these days?'" (18) "'What things?' he asked. 'About Jesus of Naza­reth,' they replied. 'He was a pro­phet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the peo­ple. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they cru­cified him...'" (19,20)

They had hoped that Jesus would establish the earthly messianic kingdom and rescue them. But the evil men crucified him and they despaired. In addition, they were even more startled and confused by some of the women, who went to the tomb early in the morn­ing, and reported that his dead body was gone and that they had seen a vi­sion of angels, who said he was alive (22,23). Some of their companions also went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see. They were bewildered even more to know that his dead body was even stolen. They despaired, not because of the factual reality, but because of their unbelief.

During the time of his earthly messianic ministry, Je­sus taught his disciples about his suf­ferings, death and res­urrection re­peat­edly. But his teach­ings concern­ing his suf­ferings, death and resurrec­tion were blocked by their own human desires. Contrary to Jesus' teaching, they wished that Jesus would rise to power as the earthly messianic king and rule the whole world. When the events of his death and resurrec­tion ac­tually hap­pened, his disciples became blank and remembered no words of Jesus. Here we learn that Bible teaching is not easy at all.

But the Risen Christ fol­­lowed them and rebuked them for their un­belief. The Risen Jesus began to teach them the Bible all over again, begin­ning with Moses and all the prophets. He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning his death and resurrection. Look at verses 25,26. "He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to be­lieve all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?'" "As they approached the vil­lage to which they were going, Je­sus acted as if he were going far­ther. But  they urg­ed him  strongly, 'Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is al­most ov­er.' So he went in to stay with them" (28,29). They invited Jesus to come in. Then he went in to stay with them (Rev 3:20). When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then, amaz­ing things hap­pened in their hearts. Their spiritual eyes were open­­ed and they recognized the Risen Christ. They wanted to be with the Ri­sen Christ forever. But the Risen Christ disappeared from their sight, since he had completed helping them open their spiritual eyes to see God (31). Even after crucifixion the Risen Christ taught the Bible and was wait­­ing for them to open their spiritual eyes. We must follow the example of Jesus.

What happened when they saw the Risen Christ? Look at verse 32. "They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burn­ing within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'" Yes! A miracle hap­pen­ed. Their dead minds be­came alive again. What happened next? They boldly got up and returned at once to Jerusa­lem to proclaim the gospel of salvation where Jesus had been cru­cified, and where secret police were scattered all around to ar­rest Jesus' people. After meet­ing the Ris­­en Christ they became the witnesses of the Risen Christ. When they arrived in Jeru­sa­lem, there they found the Eleven and those with them, as­sem­bled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." (34) Then the two told what had hap­pened on the way, and how Jesus was recog­nized by them when he broke the bread. Their human expectations were gone. On the other hand, they met the Risen Christ. Without meet­­ing the Risen Christ all man­kind cannot but des­pair and end up with the thought of death. But who­ever meets the Risen Christ can inherit the kingdom of God.

Third, after this, Jesus appeared to the disciples (36-49)

The Risen Christ came into the upper room where the Eleven were gathered. Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you." (36) They were frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. (37) They had been convinced of his resurrection through many witnesses. Still, they were fearful. How did Jesus help them? Look at verses 38,39. "He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.'" Jesus died. But he has risen. Jesus took and ate in their presence the piece of fish they had given him. Let's read verse 44. "He said to them, 'This is what I told you while I was still with you: Every­thing must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Mo­ses, the Prophets and the Psalms.'" When Jesus taught them the Bible again and again, even after his resur­rec­tion, their spiritual eyes were opened and they could un­der­stand the spiritual reality. At the same time, the fear of the devil left and the peace of God began to dwell in their souls.

When they saw the Risen Christ, he gave them the world mis­sion command in the hope of saving all men from their sins.  "He told them, 'This is what is writ­ten: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preach­ed in his name to all nations, beginning at Je­rusalem. You are wit­ness­es of these things. I am going to  send you what my Father has prom­ised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high'" (46-49).

Fourth, the ascension (50-53)

Look at verses 50,51. "When he had led them out to the vi­cinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up in­to heaven." The ascen­sion of Christ is the promise that he will come again (Acts 1:10,11). The ascen­sion of Jesus gives us the hope of the Second Coming of Jesus. Jesus came to the world first as a Shepherd and Savior. But when he comes again he comes as our King and Judge. He judges all men ac­cording to the pur­pose of their lives (Ro 2:6-9). He gives the crown of life to those who were faithful to him and he condemns those who did not accept the love of God through Jesus.

What hap­pened when they saw the as­cension of Jesus? Look at verses 52,53. "Then they worshiped him and returned to Je­rusalem with great joy. And they stayed continual­ly at the temple, praising God." Before, they followed Jesus to satisfy their selfish ambition. Now they are ready to live for the glory of God.

The tragic crucifixion was for our sins. But Jesus is risen. The Risen Christ gives eternal life and the kingdom of God to those who come to him. Those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ can enjoy the peace of God while on earth. May God help us have one word of God.