Lessons Into Luke: Lesson 20

FACTS AND THOUGHTS

LESSON TWENTY - RESURRECTION

(Luke Chapter Twenty-four)



Sunday morning. Very early. The sabbath was over, and so certain women, who had watched while Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus had hastily wrapped the body of Jesus and put it into the tomb on Friday afternoon, now these women came to finish the job. That is, they had certain spices with which to anoint the body for a proper burial.



Very early. The gospel of John says, "while it was still dark." (John 20:1.) Matthew says "as it began to dawn." (Matthew 28:1.) Luke says "at early dawn," (Luke 24:1); and Mark says "when the sun was risen," or more properly, "was rising." (Mark 16:2.) Evidently the women left their house(s) in the darkness, it grew light on the way, and they arrived at the tomb just as the sun was sending its first rays across the landscape. While on the way, according to Mark's account, they debated how they could move the stone away from the tomb.



THE FIRST EVIDENCE (Luke 24:1-12.)



When the women arrived, they had three surprises. First of all, as they arrived, they found the stone had been rolled away. So they entered the tomb, and to their second surprise, they found that the body was missing. This gave them great puzzlement, as they wondered what to make of this new situation. Then, third surprise, they found they were not alone. Mark says there was a young man sitting there dressed in white (Mark 16:5), while Luke claims there were two men (Luke 24:4.)



Most people assume this man, or these men, were angels. But some think that one of the men may have been John Mark himself. (See "He Called Himself The Son of Man," by Norman L. MacLeod, Jr., "Old Rugged Cross Press, Roswell, Georgia, 1993. Pages IV-7 ff.)



In any case, the man or men said that Jesus was "risen," and quoted the previously spoken words of Jesus, in which He prophesied the death and resurrection of "The Son of Man." (Luke 24:7.) Note that it was Luke, whose Gospel presented Jesus with special emphasis on His humanity, who reported them as referring to the prophecy of Jesus about "The Son of Man."



In great fear at this event (Matthew 28:8; Mark 16:8; Luke 24:5), the women fled (Mark 16:8) and reported their experience to the eleven disciples and others. But Luke noted that the disciples disbelieved the women, considering their report to be "idle talk." (24:11.)



Can you blame the disciples for their doubt at this point? If you had been there with them, how would you have felt?



But John's Gospel tells how Peter and John ran to the tomb, and John, seeing the evidence (of the graveclothes) for himself, "believed" (John 20:8), while Peter left the tomb "wondering." (Luke 24:12.)



THE ROAD TO EMMAUS (Luke 24:13-33.)



That Sunday afternoon two persons undertook the trip from Jerusalem to Emmaus, (the name meaning "Warm Springs) about eight miles away. (Luke says it was about 60 stadia from Jerusalem. A "stadium" was approximately equal in length to our furlong which is 220 yards, or one-eighth of a mile.) This would be a trip requiring about two or two and one half hours. Only Luke tells us of this trip.



One of the two travelers was named Cleopas (vs. 18,) but otherwise the two are, to us at least, unidentified. Some have supposed that they might even have been man and wife. They were discussing (the original word suggests they were "vehemently discussing," i.e., arguing) over the events of the last several days, when a fellow-traveler unrecognized by them, joined their company. He asked why they appeared so sad. So they told about the crucifixion of Jesus, Whom they called a "prophet," Who spoke great words and performed mighty deeds, and Who they had hoped would be the Redeemer of Israel. Note the past tense: "hoped." They had given up in despair!



With typical Jewish chutspah the Stranger called them "Fools" (foolish ones,) for their failure to believe the Scriptures. Then for two hours or more He preached a sermon to them. He took them through the entire Old Testament, quoting and interpreting every prophecy concerning the Messiah. What a sermon it must have been! Would you not have liked to have heard it? Would it not have helped you understand the Bible better?



And when they all reached Emmaus, the Stranger indicated He had further to travel. But they invited Him in to dine and spend the night with them, for dusk was drawing on apace. When they sat down to dine, this Man took bread, offered a prayer of thanks, and broke and gave to them. Through this act they recognized Jesus. And He vanished!



With haste the two rushed back to Jerusalem, that very evening. And as they traveled they remarked to each other about how deeply affected they were by the Divine sermon, without knowing why. One is reminded here of the words of the Rev. Mr. Marvin Rosenthal, modern Jewish evangelist, who has described the unbelieving Jewish people as "having an itch they cannot scratch."



Should not the recital of this event suggest to us that perhaps we should make greater endeavour to interpret to our Jewish friends the Messianic Scriptures of the Old Testament, and also seek greater fellowship with them in a meal?



But do we ourselves know the Old Testament well enough to do this? Why not?



APPEARING TO ALL (Luke 24:34-43.)



Cleopas and his companion rejoined the eleven disciples, who informed them that Jesus had risen and had appeared to Peter. So Cleopas told of their experience going to and in Emmaus, with special emphasis on the breaking of bread by Jesus



Can we think of a Communion Service as a means of evangelism? It clearly meant this to Cleopas.



And while they all were talking to each other about their several experiences, we read that Jesus Himself appeared in their midst. Might we too know Him better if we were to talk to each other more about our experiences in fellowship with Him?



But what was the reaction of all of them when Jesus appeared? We are told that they were terrified and frightened, and thought they had seen a ghost. And He challenged them, "Why?" Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt in your heart?



Jesus called attention to His stigmata: the wounds in His hands and feet. He invited them not only to see but to feel. Feel His flesh; feel His bones. He was no ghost. He had a body. And further to prove His corporeal existence, He asked for food and ate a piece of fish before them.



It is written that the disciples "disbelieved for joy, and wondered." We may ask why. But put yourself in their place: what would have been your reaction? But note the evidence: The empty tomb with the abandoned grave-clothes; the testimony of others; the two-hour sermon on the Messianic Old Testament; the breaking of bread; and now the appearance and the invitation to see and to feel and to watch Him eat.



Because He lived they could face the morrow;
Because He lived, their fear was gone;
Because they knew He held the future,
And life became worth the living, all because He lived.

(With apologies to the modern hymn.)



COMMISSION AND DEPARTURE (Luke 24:44-53.)



But The Son of Man was not quite through teaching His own. First He reinterpreted the Old Testament Scriptures concerning His earthly life, His death, and His resurrection. (Vss. 44.)



Next, it is written that "He opened their minds," so that they could understand. (When we read the Scriptures, do we ask Him to open our minds to greater understanding?)



Again He referred to His death and resurrection, but listed them as not just an end in themselves, but rather as prelude: prelude to the world-wide proclamation of the possibility of repentance and remission of sins. Note that the two are linked together: death and resurrection must result in proclamation of the gospel; and the gospel must be based on that Death and Resurrection.



Finally, He told His disciples that their responsibility to witness to these things must be dependent upon the Holy Spirit. They must wait for His power. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit for us even to bear witness to our own faith. Again a two-fold responsibility: we are to witness but we are to wait for Divine power. On the other hand, Divine power is available but is to be used by us to witness.



As The Son of Man, as the now glorified Ideal Human Being, as the Progenitor of the New Creation, the New Human Race, He has laid out the objectives and parameters of our responsibility as members of this New Creation.



And so Jesus, The Son of Man, led His people to Bethany (on the Mount of Olives), blessed them, and with His hands raised in blessing He left them, departing up to heaven. But He left them with joy, to worship Him and to bless God in His temple.



And for all He taught them, and for all He teaches us, we say "Amen."













--- Norman L. MacLeod Jr.

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