Luke 24:1-2 NIV
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. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
Matthew’s account says the stone was sealed and there was a guard placed in front. This would have all (along with the weight) provided a great obstacle for them to get to Jesus but that is what love does. It goes anyway not knowing how it will accomplish it's goal.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Luke 24:3 NIV
but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Can u imagine their surprise? No words can express how greatly perplexed they must have been.
Luke 24:4-6 NIV
While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 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? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
Some of the greatest words ever spoken.. He has risen. This means He is alive. We do not serve a dead lord, but we serve the Living God.
Luke 24:7-8 NIV
'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words.
This was a must. Why?
Salvation. For salvation to occur, this death and ressurection had to occur.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NIV
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Another reason it had to occur is to prove that Jesus is God. He told everyone how this would happen exactly. That he would be crucified and three days later rise again. Proof of Godship.
Yet, another reason is for hope.
Luke 24:9-10 NIV
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
If you had the cure to malaria or cancer, would u share it? You would have to wouldn't you? Isn't it right to share the cure? So too it was and is right to share that Christ has risen from the dead and lives to bring you new life. This is no idle tale.
Luke 24:11 NIV
But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
Don't be in the place of unbelief. If you struggle with belief, get on your knees and ask for more belief. He will grant it if you desire to truly know God.
Luke 24:12-13 NIV
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. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
Now, if you are a backpacker or hiker or biker, you know that 7 miles can take a long time. As u are walking on a dusty road for this distance, there is a perfect opportunity for conversation. This is the atmosphere for conversation. A friend and me enjoy doing this in palmer park every Saturday. Hiking and talking about God in our lives. Its wonderful.
Luke 24:14-16 NIV
They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
I wonder if we realize that the ressurected Savior is present in every conversation we have with each other? Would this knowledge change what you talked about? He is with you in every conversation.
Luke 24:17-19 NIV
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 the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "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.
How funny that Jesus plays along acting as though he doesn't know what they are talking about. But then he switches things up and lays it all out for em.
Luke 24:20-24 NIV
The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus."
Are u looking for an earthly savior or an eternal Savior? These disciples made their greatest mistake in being temperal minded. They were not thinking in an eternal way. What if everything in your life falls apart? Are you still going to follow Christ? Be of good cheer, he said you are going to have tribulations but that he has already overcome the world. Serve an eternal Savior.
Christ handles the issue of their enbelief in the next part of the passage.
Luke 24:25-27 NIV
He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
How wonderful it would have been to get a recording of this.
Luke 24:28 NIV
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.
Lol. Acts like he's going on further. Kinda like on the sea of Galilee had they not called out to him he would have just kept on walking on the water. He wants us to call out to him. We have a God that desires us to have a longing for His presence.
Luke 24:29-31 NIV
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. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Don't think that it was coincidence that he broke bread and dissappeared at that moment. Christ in his human body was only in one place at a time. But now in His spiritual body he is omni present. He is with the men on the road while making appearances to witnesses and yet he is able to be with Peter always and be with john in prayer just as He is with you and me both at the same time.
Luke 24:32-35 NIV
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?" They got up and returned at once to 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." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
What a different trip back that must have been.
Luke 24:36 NIV
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
John 21:14 also shares this account. Neither account says anything about knocking and then coming through a door. Nope. Just appeared and said "peace be to you."
Luke 24:37-39 NIV
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 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."
Christ does this so that they will know that he isn't some ghost or just a spirit. He is real and his body as God still bears the wounds from the cross. Likewise our body is going to be pbisical and similar to our current body in Heaven. We will eat and drink. We will feel. We will have characteristics that cause us to recognize one another.
Luke 24:40-43 NIV
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Our new body will be physical. We will be able to partake and enjoy the food at the marriage feast when we join our Savior in heaven. He ate to show them (in part) his new body also could do this.
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