Luke 24

1 Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb. They were carrying the spices that they had prepared.

2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb.

3 When they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 While they were puzzled about this, two men in clothes that were as bright as lightning suddenly stood beside them.

5 The women were terrified and bowed to the ground. The men asked the women, "Why are you looking among the dead for the living one?

6 He's not here. He has been brought back to life! Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee.

7 He said, 'The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and come back to life on the third day.'"

8 Then the women remembered what Jesus had told them.

9 The women left the tomb and went back to the city. They told everything to the eleven apostles and all the others.

10 The women were Mary from Magdala, Joanna, and Mary (the mother of James). There were also other women with them. They told the apostles everything.

11 The apostles thought that the women's story didn't make any sense, and they didn't believe them.

12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down to look inside and saw only the strips of linen. Then he went away, wondering what had happened.

13 On the same day, two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14 They were talking to each other about everything that had happened.

15 While they were talking, Jesus approached them and began walking with them.

16 Although they saw him, they didn't recognize him.

17 He asked them, "What are you discussing?" They stopped and looked very sad.

18 One of them, Cleopas, replied, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has happened recently?"

19 "What happened?" he asked. They said to him, "We were discussing what happened to Jesus from Nazareth. He was a powerful prophet in what he did and said in the sight of God and all the people.

20 Our chief priests and rulers had him condemned to death and crucified.

21 We were hoping that he was the one who would free Israel. What's more, this is now the third day since everything happened.

22 Some of the women from our group startled us. They went to the tomb early this morning

23 and didn't find his body. They told us that they had seen angels who said that he's alive.

24 Some of our men went to the tomb and found it empty, as the women had said, but they didn't see him."

25 Then Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are! You're so slow to believe everything the prophets said!

26 Didn't the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into his glory?"

27 Then he began with Moses' Teachings and the Prophets to explain to them what was said about him throughout the Scriptures.

28 When they came near the village where they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.

29 They urged him, "Stay with us! It's getting late, and the day is almost over." So he went to stay with them.

30 While he was at the table with them, he took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread and gave it to them.

31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But he vanished from their sight.

32 They said to each other, "Weren't we excited when he talked with us on the road and opened up the meaning of the Scriptures for us?"

33 That same hour they went back to Jerusalem. They found the eleven apostles and those who were with them gathered together.

34 They were saying, "The Lord has really come back to life and has appeared to Simon."

35 Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road and how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.

36 While they were talking about what had happened, Jesus stood among them. He said to them, "Peace be with you!"

37 They were terrified, and thought they were seeing a ghost.

38 He asked them, "Why are you afraid? Why do you have doubts?

39 Look at my hands and feet, and see that it's really me. Touch me, and see for yourselves. Ghosts don't have flesh and bones, but you can see that I do."

40 As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

41 The disciples were overcome with joy and amazement because this seemed too good to be true. Then Jesus asked them, "Do you have anything to eat?"

42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish.

43 He took it and ate it while they watched him.

44 Then he said to them, "These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses' Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true."

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

46 He said to them, "Scripture says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day.

47 Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses to these things.

49 "I'm sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven."

50 Then Jesus took them to a place near Bethany. There he raised his hands and blessed them.

51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken to heaven.

52 The disciples worshiped him and were overjoyed as they went back to Jerusalem.

53 They were always in the temple, where they praised God.

Luke 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.