CHAPTER 24
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. Luke 24:1
It is a strange fact that the Pharisees remembered Jesus’ promise of his resurrection (Matt. 27:62-66). Unfortunately, his own disciples did not remember it. The Pharisees even persuaded Pilate to secure the sepulcher lest Jesus’ body should be removed. As a result, the tomb was sealed and guards were posted around it.
Early on the first day of the week (Sunday) a group of women journeyed to the tomb, bringing spices in order to finish the preparation of Jesus’ body. In the group were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matt. 28:1-10). Mark says that the other Mary was the mother of James and that Salome also went with them (Mk. 16:1-8). It appears from Mark’s account that there were some other women with them, and that these other women left the tomb in fear, not speaking to anyone about what they saw (Mk. 16:8).
The women were quite concerned about how they would roll back the stone from the tomb. In those days many tombs had large wheel-like stones that rolled back and forth in a stone track. One estimate by two engineering professors from Georgia Tech has placed the weight of the stone at 1 ½ to 2 tons (over 1360 kg.).1 The women in the group that morning would not have been able to budge that stone.
Unknown to them, God had already taken care of the problem. Matthew fills in the amazing details for us: “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men” (Matt. 28:2-4). In a moment, God had broken the seal, rolled back the stone and totally immobilized the guards. We can imagine that as soon as the guards gained consciousness they fled the scene in absolute terror. The angel and the great earthquake had happened not to let Jesus out but to let the witnesses in.2
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (24:2-3). In the twilight of the morning this was no doubt an eerie scene but the brave women pressed on and entered the tomb. They were surprised to find that the body of Jesus was not there. We must remember that these women had come to give the body of Jesus its last bit of care and there was not a thought in their minds about Jesus being resurrected, although he had mentioned this fact on several occasions (cf. Matt. 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; Lk. 9:22, 44; 18:31-34).
“While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them” (24:4). The resurrection accounts at this point seemingly become a bit muddled. No doubt this was due to the great excitement of the witnesses and the sheer panic that must have gripped all their minds. In Matthew, we have noted that it was the angel of the Lord (Matt. 28:2). In Mark there was one angel reported (Mk. 16:5). In Luke here there are two angels mentioned. In John 20:12, two angels are also reported. The resurrection was one of the very greatest heavenly events. It is possible that the angel of the Lord as well as several other angels were present at the scene.
Spiritual events are difficult to understand and equally difficult to report. We know that in the Bible two witnesses are required to validate an event (Deut. 17:6; 19:15), so heaven may have wanted at least two angels present.3 The one steady fact of the resurrection in all four gospels was that that the tomb was empty.4 Utley says that we try to interpret scripture in the western, cause-and-effect sequence, but this was not the way the gospels were written. He says, “They are evangelistic tracts, written for different people groups.” 5
We can be thankful that Luke probably stayed in Israel for the two years during Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea. That gave him splendid opportunities to interview scores of people who were involved in the gospel drama. Some of these very people were probably interviewed by Luke.6
“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?’” (24:5). Once more, we note that angelic appearances in both the Old Testament and New Testament terrified people. Often, angels’ first words would be, “don’t be afraid!” This is a far cry from some of the angel stories going around today, where people seem to have a very casual and chummy relationship with angels.
“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 over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words” (24:6-8). This is probably a reference to 9:22, although there were several other predictions of his death (cf. 9:44; 17:25; 18:31-34). Jesus’ murder was no surprise to him. It was known and planned in the heavenly realms from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8).
The Bible truth was that Jesus would be raised from the dead. Since the Resurrection, the devil has fought this truth and lied about it. First of all he had the Jewish leaders lie and say that his disciples came and stole the body (Matt. 28:11-15). When we read the gospels we realize that the disciples could not have faked the Resurrection. Of all people, they did not believe in the Resurrection. A second lie that was soon told by the devil was that Jesus only swooned on the cross and was revived later.7 Over a billion and a half Moslems hold to this theory today. If we know much about crucifixion in Roman times we will understand how people were almost beaten to death before they were crucified. The Romans made sure a person was really dead before they quit.
It is the Resurrection which is the heart of Christianity. John Stott says, “Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion…The concept of resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.” 8 The day of Resurrection became the day of worship for Christians. Interestingly, that first Sunday marked the Festival of Firstfruits. After all, Jesus was and is the Firstfruits. Paul says, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). After the Firstfruits offering there began a countdown to the full grain harvest at Pentecost.
Caird notes something interesting regarding the Resurrection. He says, “The earliest evidence for the resurrection is provided, not by the gospels, but by the Epistles of Paul, and particularly by 1 Cor. 15, written at least ten years before the earliest gospel.” 9
REPORTS FROM THE TOMB
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. Luke 24:9
We have seen in Mark that some women who were witnesses were so frightened that they did not report anything to anyone. Apparently others brought their breathless news to the assembled apostles. About this time it seems that Mary Magdalene remained alone at the tomb. It was there that one of the most magnificent stories of the gospel took place. As recorded in John’s Gospel, she saw the Lord, fell at his feet and spoke with him (Jn. 20:14-17). That same morning a trembling Mary Magdalene also made her report to the apostles.
It appears that the apostles were a mutual unbelieving society on Resurrection morning. They did not believe the women and they did not believe Mary Magdalene. We must remember that the testimony of women was not acceptable in that society.10 It is even amazing that Luke recorded their testimony. Jesus was doing something that Easter Morning that would change the status of women forever.
“It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (24:10-11). This Joanna was likely the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, as seen in 8:3. Because of their predisposition to not believe women, the apostles treated these reports as nonsense. The Greek for nonsense is leros, meaning idle tales, or delirious stories told by the very sick.11
“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” (24:12). We know from John’s Gospel that Peter and John both ran to the tomb and that John arrived there first (Jn. 20:3-8). It seems that both Peter and John became convinced when they saw the strips of linen. Several commentators have noted that the strips of linen may have still maintained the shape of the body of Jesus, as if he had arisen through the strips. Wiersbe says of the wrappings, “They lay there like an empty cocoon, still retaining the shape of Jesus’ body…The only way those linen clothes could be left in that condition would be if Jesus passed through them as he arose from the dead.” 12
We simply cannot say too much about the importance of the Resurrection. It is the very information, “He has risen!” that sets Christianity off from every other religion of humankind. The world’s greatest leaders, Buddha, Mohammed and even the great Moses died and their bodies are today still in the tomb but Jesus is risen and alive for evermore.
It is the resurrection that brought great joy and victory into the early floundering church. It is the resurrection that has sustained the hope of the church through the ages. Paul goes so far as to say that if there was no resurrection then our faith is in vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The resurrection put God’s stamp of approval on the ministry and sacrificial death of Jesus. In Romans 1:4, Paul says that Jesus “…was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead….” The resurrection was proof positive and final that Jesus was who he said he was, the very Son of God.13
THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. Luke 24:13
Morris says of this Emmaus account: “This charming story is one of the best loved of all the resurrection narratives.” 14 Barker and Kohlenberger add, “The Emmaus story is a literary and spiritual jewel.” 15 This beloved account is not found at all in Matthew and John and is only briefly touched on in Mark 16:12-13. Calvin says, “…each of the Evangelists had his portion so appropriately assigned to him by the Spirit of God, that what is not to be found in one or two of them may be learned from the others.” 16
Commentators feel that the village of Emmaus was about seven miles (11 km.) northwest of Jerusalem. Some have placed it much further, but the restriction of walking a great distance at night would rule out such an idea. Guthrie feels that it might correspond to present-day Mozah.17 This modern village is just down the hill a bit from the western outskirts of Jerusalem and may well be the place.
This event happened as two of the followers of the Lord were apparently returning home from the Passover/Firstfruit festivities. The name of one was Cleopas (v. 18) and the other is unknown.
“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” (24:14-16). Many people walked in those days and folks were usually happy to have others walking with them. This lessened the possibility that they might get robbed along the way. There was something about Jesus’ resurrected body that made it a little difficult even for disciples to recognize him (cf. Matt. 28:16-17; Jn. 20:11-14; 21:1-7. We all no doubt notice that sometimes people we know are difficult to recognize, particularly if they change clothes or hairstyles.18
“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?’” (24:17-18). It has been suggested that Cleopas is the same as Clopas of John 19:25.19 However, there is no way of really knowing this for sure. There is one thing that stands out about these two followers. They were downcast and probably very depressed concerning the unexpected death of Jesus.
As we have mentioned, at the Passover season there were hundreds of thousands of visitors in Jerusalem from other parts of the land and from abroad. It was logical for Cleopas to suppose that Jesus was just a visitor from somewhere else and was not informed about the latest news.
“‘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; 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” (24:19-21). We note here that Jesus is called a prophet. In other places in this gospel Jesus is also called a prophet (4:24; 7:16).20 In addition, Jesus is referred to as a prophet in Matthew 21:11 and John 6:14. He even seems to refer to himself a prophet in Matthew 13:57.
It is clear that the rulers of Israel had desired that Jesus be crucified. According to Deuteronomy 21:23, anyone who was hung on a pole was under God’s curse.21 They probably felt that such a death would quiet the enthusiasm about Jesus. They were wrong.
These two disciples are rather pathetic pictures of men who have lost all hope. According to Jewish tradition it was felt that the spirit remained close to the body for three days and after that it was beyond resuscitation (Jn. 11:6, 39).22 They may not have been aware of Jesus’ many promises concerning the third day (Lk. 9:22; 13:32; 18:33; 24:7).
Coffman has another insight about the third day. He says, “… If Jesus was buried about sunset on Friday, there is no way that these men would, on Sunday, have said, ‘This is now the third day since.’ Sunday was not the third day since Friday; but it was the third day since Thursday.” 23 This is just another little hint that Jesus may have been crucified on Thursday, likely in the year AD 30.
“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” (24:22-24). These men were essentially telling the gospel story but confessing at the same time that they did not believe it. In spite of hearing some incredible news they were willing to fall back into their doubts, fears and depression.
JESUS TURNS ON THE LIGHT
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?” Luke 24:25-26
The word for “foolish” is the Greek anoētoi and it literally means to be without sense. Slow to believe, or slow of heart, is the Greek expression bradeis tēi kardiāi. It could even mean dull or slow.24 It certainly was not a compliment for the Risen Christ to tell some of his followers they were without sense, dull and slow. Pett says, “A ‘fool’ in the Old Testament is regularly someone who is unaware of spiritual realities.” 25
Of course, the basic fallacy of Jewish understanding at that time was the ignorance of the Messiah as the Suffering Servant (Isa. 52:13 – 53:12). There were many passages in this regard that were ignored by Israel’s teachers, like Psalm 16:10, Psalm 22:1-31. It is a sad fact today that modern Israelis and Jews all over the world pay little attention to these passages and are still not willing to accept a Suffering Messiah. They missed the Lord’s first coming, and some in today’s church may miss much of the Second Coming, since they feel that Christians will not taste of suffering in the end days.
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (24:27). As they walked along, Jesus began to teach them. He began with Moses and continued to Malachi. No doubt he dealt with key passages such as Genesis 3:15; 22:18; Leviticus 16:1-34; Numbers 24:17; Deuteronomy 18:15; 2 Samuel 7:11, 16; Psalm 2; 22:1ff.; 61:1-3; 110:1; 118:22; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 35:5-6; 40:10-11; 42:1-6; 50:4-8; 53:4-5; 53:4-5; Ezekiel 34:23; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 6:12; 9:9; 13:7; and Malachi 3:1; 4:2. Jesus may have traversed the whole Bible, the law, prophets and writings in his summary of the Messiah.26 Clarke says, “What a pity this discourse had not been preserved! No wonder their hearts burned within them, while hearing such a sermon, from such a preacher.” 27
“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on 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” (24:28-29). This picture is just like our Jesus. He never imposes himself upon anyone but is always kind and considerate. When invited he gladly enters our house and our heart. The two wanted him to stay with them because they were absolutely enthralled with his teaching. Also, for a solitary person to travel alone at night was particularly dangerous, especially as one got away from the city. Robbers often lurked along the roads at night.28
“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” (24:30-31). In the biblical world it was a part of hospitality to offer a guest bread regardless of the hour.29 Luke notes throughout his gospel that mealtimes were special times of teaching (cf. 5:29; 7:36; 14:1; 14:12-16).30 These two disciples were about to get the most shocking teaching of their lives. We do not know how they suddenly realized that the stranger was Jesus. Maybe they noticed the nail marks on his hands, 31 or perhaps God just opened their eyes. There might have been some special way that Jesus always gave thanks for the bread that alerted them. As they recognized him, Jesus immediately disappeared from their sight. Obviously, the Lord was now in a different kind of body. It was now a spiritual resurrected body that no longer suffered the limitations of time and space.
“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?’” (24:32). How true it is that when Jesus comes near, the word of God comes alive. Their hearts were burning within them concerning the things the Lord had shared (cf. Jer. 20:9). Their state reminds us of that old hymn written by Mary Lathbury in 1877:
Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word! 32
“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’” (24:33-34). It no longer mattered about the lateness of the hour. They got up immediately and retraced their steps to Jerusalem. When they arrived they could hardly tell their story for the exciting news that Peter had seen the Risen Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 15:5). There is something important and beautiful here. It is so important to be with the church of Christ. Each one brings something beautiful and special to the meeting. Wiersbe says, “The best evidence that we have understood the Bible and met the living Christ is that we have something exciting to share with others.” 33 These men were all edified together, unlike poor Thomas who missed out on all this blessing by his absence. It is really amazing that Jesus could make his first appearance to Peter, the one who had denied him.34 It is almost unbelievable how Jesus still trusts us in all our failures.
“Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread” (24:35). Things finally calmed down enough that these two excited disciples got their chance to talk. They told their story about how the Risen Christ had appeared to them on the road and how they finally recognized him in the breaking of the bread. It is a great thing when the whole church gets excited. I remember many years ago in one of our home fellowships how there was a great deal of excitement. Since several of the people were businessmen in town we used to meet regularly at the coffee shop in the mornings. At those coffee meetings I remember how difficult it was to get a turn to speak. All were so excited about what the Lord was telling them and doing through them. After 40 years, the warmth and excitement of those meetings still lingers in my heart.
JESUS APPEARS AT THE MEETING
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Luke 24:36
The great excitement of the meeting was about to increase dramatically. Suddenly, there was a hush and Jesus was there in the room with them and he was blessing them with his peace. At that moment the disciples were experiencing that which angels, kings and prophets had longed to see (10:23-24; 1 Pet. 1:10-12).35 What a church meeting! We will note that Jesus appeared on Sunday evenings in a row, setting a precedent for Sunday as a special meeting day commemorating his resurrection (cf. Jn. 20:19-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2).36
“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?’” (24:37-38). The Greek for ghost here is pneuma, meaning spirit. At times in Jesus’ previous ministry they had thought he was a “phantom” (phantasma) (cf. Matt. 14:26; Mk. 6:49).37 As we can see, they were astounded by the supernatural, just as we would likely be. Perhaps this is one reason that the Lord first spoke “peace” upon them.
“‘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.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet” (24:39-40). Here we see another of the mysteries of Christ’s resurrected body. It still bore the marks of his crucifixion. These were not scars as is sometimes stated, but they were marks (cf. Jn. 20:24-29). Revelation tells us that these marks are still in the body of Jesus (Rev. 5:6, 9, & 12). Wiersbe says, “It has well been said that the only work of man now in heaven is the marks of Calvary on the body of the exalted Savior…” 38
It is very important for us to understand that the Risen Christ has a resurrected physical/spiritual body. The Greeks felt that the spiritual realm was the only important realm and that the flesh amounted to nothing. By the end of the first century Greek ideas were becoming very prevalent in the church with a heresy known as Docetism. This heresy denied the reality of the Lord’s human life, saying that the Christ descended upon the human Jesus at baptism and left him before his crucifixion.39 The Lord wanted his disciples to know that he not only came in the flesh and was crucified but that he now had a resurrected physical/spiritual body. Still today, the Lord Jesus is the only one in heaven with such a physical resurrected body. How fully the Lord has identified with us!
“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” (24:41-43). Here we learn another astounding thing about the resurrected Lord. He could still eat just like all human beings. This might be truly surprising to some. Obviously, Jesus in his new spiritual body did not need to eat to stay alive, but he still possessed the ability to eat when he chose. In the age to come, we believers, in our new spiritual bodies, will dine with Jesus in his great wedding supper (Rev. 19:9). We need to look closely at the resurrected body of Jesus because that is the kind of body we will have at the Lord’s coming and at the sound of the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:35-44, 51-54). When that trumpet sounds those believers who have died will be brought to life with new resurrection bodies. Those believers who are still living will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye into their new physical/spiritual selves (1 Cor. 15:52).
“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.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (24:44-45). It is one of Luke’s major themes that the scriptures are fulfilled in Jesus.40 They needed their minds opened up to God’s wonderful word and now twenty centuries later we need the same thing. Again, when Jesus is present he illumines the written word. We so need that light which falls from his face.41
“He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (24:46-47). Of course, Jesus was referring again to key scriptures like Isaiah 50:4-8; 52:13 – 53:12; Psalms 22:6-21; Daniel 7; Zechariah 13:7 and others. Now he announces that the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations from its beginning place in Jerusalem. As we have mentioned, this was the overall theme of Luke that the gospel must reach to the end of the earth, even to Rome itself. This Great Commission would be given more clearly by Luke in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
“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” (24:48-49). They would have to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with the power of the Holy Spirit from on high before they could accomplish this mission (Acts 1:4). Even today, it is not that we can witness, but it is the power of the Holy Spirit within us that does this.42
It is interesting that Luke does not record the Lord’s command for his disciples to go to Galilee (Mk. 16:7). Perhaps this was partly because he has not described the Lord’s appearances in the Galilee.43 He leaves it to John in his wonderful 21st chapter to describe the Galilee encounters. It would probably be there that the Resurrected Christ would appear to over 500 people on a single occasion (1 Cor. 15:6).
THE ASCENSION
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.” Luke 24:50
This is a very brief description of one of history’s most important events, the ascension of Jesus to heaven. Barclay says that there would have been something really wrong if the post- resurrection appearances of Jesus would have just petered out.44 There was a definite time and place when Jesus left this world for all the glories awaiting him in heaven. This is an abbreviated account, but we can read a fuller description given by Luke in Acts 1:9-11. Luke was no doubt hurrying along here because had already written more than a normal papyrus roll could contain.45
Bethany was no doubt a pleasant place for Jesus, with the good memories of the frequent acts of hospitality by the good friends Lazarus and his sisters. They could have been observing this great event from a distance so far as we know.
At this time Jesus lifted his hands and blessed his disciples. This was his final priestly act on earth.46
“While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven” (24:51). This was a glorious sight. Luke does not have space to mention the cloud that carried the Master heavenward (cf. Dan. 7:13), nor does he mention the two angels that were present as he notes later in Acts 1:9-11.
“Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (24:52). Regardless of what they had thought of him in his ministry before, the passion, resurrection and now the ascension made believers out of them. They now knew that Jesus was the divine Son of God and fully worthy of their worship.47 We cannot even imagine the joy these disciples had as they climbed back over the hill Olivet and entered Jerusalem!
“And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God” (24:53). We sometimes forget that these earliest disciples were Jews and they were very devout Jews. Jesus had called the temple his Father’s house (2:49; Jn. 2:16) and they were determined to spend much of their time in that house praising the Lord. Wiersbe remarks: “…Dr Luke opened his gospel with a scene in the temple (Lk. 1:8ff), and he closed his gospel the same way…” 48