Lucas 24

La resurrección

1 El primer día de la semana, muy de mañana, las mujeres fueron al sepulcro, llevando las especias aromáticas que habían preparado.

2 Encontraron que había sido quitada la piedra que cubría el sepulcro

3 y, al entrar, no hallaron el cuerpo del Señor Jesús.

4 Mientras se preguntaban qué habría pasado, se les presentaron dos hombres con ropas resplandecientes.

5 Asustadas, se postraron sobre su rostro, pero ellos les dijeron:—¿Por qué buscan ustedes entre los muertos al que vive?

6 No está aquí; ¡ha resucitado! Recuerden lo que les dijo cuando todavía estaba con ustedes en Galilea:

7 “El Hijo del hombre tiene que ser entregado en manos de hombres pecadores, y ser crucificado, pero al tercer día resucitará”.

8 Entonces ellas se acordaron de las palabras de Jesús.

9 Al regresar del sepulcro, les contaron todas estas cosas a los once y a todos los demás.

10 Las mujeres eran María Magdalena, Juana, María la madre de Jacobo, y las demás que las acompañaban.

11 Pero a los discípulos el relato les pareció una tontería, así que no les creyeron.

12 Pedro, sin embargo, salió corriendo al sepulcro. Se asomó y vio solo las vendas de lino. Luego volvió a su casa, extrañado de lo que había sucedido.

De camino a Emaús

13 Aquel mismo día dos de ellos se dirigían a un pueblo llamado Emaús, a unos once kilómetros^[a] de Jerusalén.

14 Iban conversando sobre todo lo que había acontecido.

15 Sucedió que, mientras hablaban y discutían, Jesús mismo se acercó y comenzó a caminar con ellos;

16 pero no lo reconocieron, pues sus ojos estaban velados.

17 —¿Qué vienen discutiendo por el camino? —les preguntó.Se detuvieron, cabizbajos;

18 y uno de ellos, llamado Cleofas, le dijo:—¿Eres tú el único peregrino en Jerusalén que no se ha enterado de todo lo que ha pasado recientemente?

19 —¿Qué es lo que ha pasado? —les preguntó.—Lo de Jesús de Nazaret. Era un profeta, poderoso en obras y en palabras delante de Dios y de todo el pueblo.

20 Los jefes de los sacerdotes y nuestros gobernantes lo entregaron para ser condenado a muerte, y lo crucificaron;

21 pero nosotros abrigábamos la esperanza de que era él quien redimiría a Israel. Es más, ya hace tres días que sucedió todo esto.

22 También algunas mujeres de nuestro grupo nos dejaron asombrados. Esta mañana, muy temprano, fueron al sepulcro

23 pero no hallaron su cuerpo. Cuando volvieron, nos contaron que se les habían aparecido unos ángeles quienes les dijeron que él está vivo.

24 Algunos de nuestros compañeros fueron después al sepulcro y lo encontraron tal como habían dicho las mujeres, pero a él no lo vieron.

25 —¡Qué torpes son ustedes —les dijo—, y qué tardos de corazón para creer todo lo que han dicho los profetas!

26 ¿Acaso no tenía que sufrir el Cristo estas cosas antes de entrar en su gloria?

27 Entonces, comenzando por Moisés y por todos los profetas, les explicó lo que se refería a él en todas las Escrituras.

28 Al acercarse al pueblo adonde se dirigían, Jesús hizo como que iba más lejos.

29 Pero ellos insistieron:—Quédate con nosotros, que está atardeciendo; ya es casi de noche.Así que entró para quedarse con ellos.

30 Luego, estando con ellos a la mesa, tomó el pan, lo bendijo, lo partió y se lo dio.

31 Entonces se les abrieron los ojos y lo reconocieron, pero él desapareció.

32 Se decían el uno al otro:—¿No ardía nuestro corazón mientras conversaba con nosotros en el camino y nos explicaba las Escrituras?

33 Al instante se pusieron en camino y regresaron a Jerusalén. Allí encontraron a los once y a los que estaban reunidos con ellos.

34 «¡Es cierto! —decían—. El Señor ha resucitado y se le ha aparecido a Simón».

35 Los dos, por su parte, contaron lo que les había sucedido en el camino, y cómo habían reconocido a Jesús cuando partió el pan.

Jesús se aparece a los discípulos

36 Todavía estaban ellos hablando acerca de esto, cuando Jesús mismo se puso en medio de ellos y les dijo:—Paz a ustedes.

37 Aterrorizados, creyeron que veían a un espíritu.

38 —¿Por qué se asustan tanto? —les preguntó—. ¿Por qué les vienen dudas?

39 Miren mis manos y mis pies. ¡Soy yo mismo! Tóquenme y vean; un espíritu no tiene carne ni huesos, como ven que los tengo yo.

40 Dicho esto, les mostró las manos y los pies.

41 Como ellos no acababan de creerlo a causa de la alegría y del asombro, les preguntó:—¿Tienen aquí algo de comer?

42 Le dieron un pedazo de pescado asado,

43 así que lo tomó y se lo comió delante de ellos. Luego les dijo:

44 —Cuando todavía estaba yo con ustedes, les decía que tenía que cumplirse todo lo que está escrito acerca de mí en la ley de Moisés, en los profetas y en los salmos.

45 Entonces les abrió el entendimiento para que comprendieran las Escrituras.

46 —Esto es lo que está escrito —les explicó—: que el Cristo padecerá y resucitará al tercer día,

47 y en su nombre se predicarán el arrepentimiento y el perdón de pecados a todas las naciones, comenzando por Jerusalén.

48 Ustedes son testigos de estas cosas.

49 Ahora voy a enviarles lo que ha prometido mi Padre; pero ustedes quédense en la ciudad hasta que sean revestidos del poder de lo alto.

La ascensión

50 Después los llevó Jesús hasta Betania; allí alzó las manos y los bendijo.

51 Sucedió que, mientras los bendecía, se alejó de ellos y fue llevado al cielo.

52 Ellos, entonces, lo adoraron y luego regresaron a Jerusalén con gran alegría.

53 Y estaban continuamente en el templo, alabando a Dios.

Lucas 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

The resurrection of Christ. (1-12) He appears to two disciples on the way to Emmaus. (13-27) And makes himself known to them. (28-35) Christ appears to the other disciples. (36-49) His ascension. (50-53)

Verses 1-12 See the affection and respect the women showed to Christ, after he was dead and buried. Observe their surprise when they found the stone rolled away, and the grave empty. Christians often perplex themselves about that with which they should comfort and encourage themselves. They look rather to find their Master in his grave-clothes, than angels in their shining garments. The angels assure them that he is risen from the dead; is risen by his own power. These angels from heaven bring not any new gospel, but remind the women of Christ's words, and teach them how to apply them. We may wonder that these disciples, who believed Jesus to be the Son of God and the true Messiah, who had been so often told that he must die, and rise again, and then enter into his glory, who had seen him more than once raise the dead, yet should be so backward to believe his raising himself. But all our mistakes in religion spring from ignorance or forgetfulness of the words Christ has spoken. Peter now ran to the sepulchre, who so lately ran from his Master. He was amazed. There are many things puzzling and perplexing to us, which would be plain and profitable, if we rightly understood the words of Christ.

Verses 13-27 This appearance of Jesus to the two disciples going to Emmaus, happened the same day that he rose from the dead. It well becomes the disciples of Christ to talk together of his death and resurrection; thus they may improve one another's knowledge, refresh one another's memory, and stir up each other's devout affections. And where but two together are well employed in work of that kind, he will come to them, and make a third. Those who seek Christ, shall find him: he will manifest himself to those that inquire after him; and give knowledge to those who use the helps for knowledge which they have. No matter how it was, but so it was, they did not know him; he so ordering it, that they might the more freely discourse with him. Christ's disciples are often sad and sorrowful, even when they have reason to rejoice; but through the weakness of their faith, they cannot take the comfort offered to them. Though Christ is entered into his state of exaltation, yet he notices the sorrows of his disciples, and is afflicted in their afflictions. Those are strangers in Jerusalem, that know not of the death and sufferings of Jesus. Those who have the knowledge of Christ crucified, should seek to spread that knowledge. Our Lord Jesus reproved them for the weakness of their faith in the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Did we know more of the Divine counsels as far as they are made known in the Scriptures, we should not be subject to the perplexities we often entangle ourselves in. He shows them that the sufferings of Christ were really the appointed way to his glory; but the cross of Christ was that to which they could not reconcile themselves. Beginning at Moses, the first inspired writer of the Old Testament, Jesus expounded to them the things concerning himself. There are many passages throughout all the Scriptures concerning Christ, which it is of great advantage to put together. We cannot go far in any part, but we meet with something that has reference to Christ, some prophecy, some promise, some prayer, some type or other. A golden thread of gospel grace runs through the whole web of the Old Testament. Christ is the best expositor of Scripture; and even after his resurrection, he led people to know the mystery concerning himself, not by advancing new notions, but by showing how the Scripture was fulfilled, and turning them to the earnest study of it.

Verses 28-35 If we would have Christ dwell with us, we must be earnest with him. Those that have experienced the pleasure and profit of communion with him, cannot but desire more of his company. He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. This he did with his usual authority and affection, with the same manner, perhaps with the same words. He here teaches us to crave a blessing on every meal. See how Christ by his Spirit and grace makes himself known to the souls of his people. He opens the Scriptures to them. He meets them at his table, in the ordinance of the Lord's supper; is known to them in breaking of bread. But the work is completed by the opening of the eyes of their mind; yet it is but short views we have of Christ in this world, but when we enter heaven, we shall see him for ever. They had found the preaching powerful, even when they knew not the preacher. Those Scriptures which speak of Christ, will warm the hearts of his true disciples. That is likely to do most good, which affects us with the love of Jesus in dying for us. It is the duty of those to whom he has shown himself, to let others know what he has done for their souls. It is of great use for the disciples of Christ to compare their experiences, and tell them to each other.

Verses 36-49 Jesus appeared in a miraculous manner, assuring the disciples of his peace, though they had so lately forsaken him, and promising spiritual peace with every blessing. Many troublesome thoughts which disquiet our minds, rise from mistakes concerning Christ. All the troublesome thoughts which rise in our hearts at any time, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are displeasing to him. He spake with them on their unreasonable unbelief. Nothing had passed but what was foretold by the prophets, and necessary for the salvation of sinners. And now all men should be taught the nature and necessity of repentance, in order to the forgiveness of their sins. And these blessings were to be sought for, by faith in the name of Jesus. Christ by his Spirit works on the minds of men. Even good men need to have their understandings opened. But that we may have right thoughts of Christ, there needs no more than to be made to understand the Scriptures.

Verses 50-53 Christ ascended from Bethany, near the Mount of Olives. There was the garden in which his sufferings began; there he was in his agony. Those that would go to heaven, must ascend thither from the house of sufferings and sorrows. The disciples did not see him rise out of the grave; his resurrection could be proved by their seeing him alive afterwards: but they saw him ascend into heaven; they could not otherwise have a proof of his ascension. He lifted up his hands, and blessed them. He did not go away in displeasure, but in love, he left a blessing behind him. As he arose, so he ascended, by his own power. They worshipped him. This fresh display of Christ's glory drew from them fresh acknowledgments. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy. The glory of Christ is the joy of all true believers, even while they are here in this world. While waiting for God's promises, we must go forth to meet them with our praises. And nothing better prepares the mind for receiving the Holy Ghost. Fears are silenced, sorrows sweetened and allayed, and hopes kept up. And this is the ground of a Christian's boldness at the throne of grace; yea, the Father's throne is the throne of grace to us, because it is also the throne of our Mediator, Jesus Christ. Let us rely on his promises, and plead them. Let us attend his ordinances, praise and bless God for his mercies, set our affections on things above, and expect the Redeemer's return to complete our happiness. Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Footnotes

• [a]. "unos once kilómetros" . Lit. "sesenta estadios" .