Study #7

REsurrection

Luke 24:1-12, 31-53

Image: “Supper at Emmaus” by Caravaggio (dated circa AD 1606)

Conversation

Starter

How often do you think about ​death? How do you handle ​knowing that you will die?

CONTEXT

Jesus was dead. The darkness had its way ​with him. His cold corpse was wrapped in ​cloth and laid to rest in a tomb – and His ​disciple’s dreams were buried with him. ​They thought he was the Christ (i.e. ​“Messiah”), the long-awaited Savior King ​of Israel. But there was no expectation in ​Judaism of a Messiah who would be ​unjustly executed. There was no ​expectation of a Messiah who would rise ​from the dead. Jesus’ death meant only ​one thing – he was not the Christ. But how ​did Christianity begin? What happened to ​Jesus and what happened to his disciples ​that changed the course of human ​history? Jesus was crucified and buried on ​the Friday of Passover – a holiday that ​celebrated Israel’s salvation from their ​enemies. The burial preparations of his ​body were not finished. Since the ​following day was the Sabbath, when ​Jews were supposed to rest, some of ​Jesus’ women followers returned to his ​tomb on Sunday.

Scene I

What Happened to Jesus

24:1 Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. 5 The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then the women remembered his words, 9 and when they returned from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.

1

Would you have believed the women’s report? Why or why not?

Later that day, two disciples who heard ​the women’s report were walking to a ​village called Emmaus. While en route, ​they experience a fascinating encounter ​with an unexpected traveler: the ​resurrected Jesus himself. Luke says, ​“their eyes were kept from recognizing ​him” (Luke 24:16). The disciples told Jesus ​about the things that had happened in ​Jerusalem, including Jesus’ death and the ​amazing report of the women. The ​stranger replied, “You foolish people—how ​slow of heart to believe all that the ​prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary ​for the Christ to suffer these things and ​enter into his glory?” Then beginning with ​Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted ​to them the things written about himself ​in all the scriptures.” (Luke 24:25–27) ​According to this stranger, the Messiah ​has died and entered his glory; he’s been ​exalted to the right hand of God – and all ​this was a necessary fulfillment of the ​Jewish Scriptures. It was later that day ​when Jesus broke bread with them that ​his identity was revealed.



31 At this point their eyes were opened ​and they recognized him. Then he ​vanished out of their sight. 32 They ​said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts ​burn within us while he was speaking ​with us on the road, while he was ​explaining the scriptures to us?” 33 So ​they got up that very hour and ​returned to Jerusalem. They found the ​eleven and those with them gathered ​together 34 and saying, “The Lord has ​really risen, and has appeared to ​Simon!” 35 Then they told what had ​happened on the road, and how they ​recognized him when he broke the ​bread. 36 While they were saying these ​things, Jesus himself stood among ​them and said to them, “Peace be with ​you.” 37 But they were startled and ​terrified, thinking they saw a ghost.

2

Why do you think they were terrified? How would you react if a deceased loved one appeared to you?

38 Then he said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still could not believe it (because of their joy) and were amazed, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in front of them.

3

What were the disciples doubting? Why does Jesus tell them to look at his hands and feet? Why does he eat a fish “in front of them”?

4

How can joy lead to disbelief (verse 41)? Why were the disciples overjoyed?

5

In summary, what happened to Jesus?

Intermission

The Bible ​on​ Death

1 Corinthians 15:20 says that “Christ has ​been raised from the dead, the firstfruits ​of those who have fallen asleep.” ​According to the Bible, Jesus is the ​firstfruits of the resurrection at the end of ​time. Just like the first ripe apples on an ​apple tree are followed by many others, so ​too will Jesus’ resurrection be followed by ​many others. And just like the first ripe ​apples indicate the quality of the rest, so ​too does Jesus indicate what the others ​will be like. Verse 23 says that “when ​Christ comes, those who belong to him” ​will also be made alive. In short, the New ​Testament’s astonishing teaching is that ​what happened to Jesus will happen to His ​people.

6

What are some popular views of what happens after death?

What is your own view? How do these compare to the Biblical hope?

7

In light of this hope, should ​Christians fear death?

How would this hope ​impact the experience of a ​Christian funeral?

Scene II

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS DISCIPLES

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

8

What were the disciples enabled to understand in the Jewish Scriptures?

48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

9

What does Jesus commission his disciples as? How will they be empowered for their work?

50 Then Jesus led them out as far as ​Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he ​blessed them. 51 Now during the blessing ​he departed and was taken up into ​heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and ​returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 ​and were continually in the temple ​courts blessing God.



Luke’s Gospel ends with the final ​departure of Jesus to heaven. In Luke’s ​sequel, The Acts of the Apostles, we learn ​that Jesus appeared to his disciples “over ​a forty-day period” (Acts 1:3), which Luke ​condenses in his biography. The book ​closes with a potentially significant detail: ​Jesus’ disciples worship him. Earlier in the ​book, Satan tempted Jesus to worship him ​in exchange for all the kingdoms of the ​world. But Jesus referred to the Jewish ​Scriptures and said, “It is written, ‘You are ​to worship the Lord your God and serve ​only him.’” (Luke 4:8)

10

What does the disciples’ worship reveal about their view of Jesus? Who do the disciples praise and why? What was the reason for their “great joy”?

11

How would you react if you recognized Jesus as the divine Messiah?

12

In summary, what happened to the disciples?

Conclusion

What does this story teach about Jesus?



What does this story teach about us?

The end or the beginning

In one sense, the resurrection and ​ascension of Jesus is the end of a story – ​the remarkable, earthly life of the most ​significant person in history. But from the ​New Testament’s perspective, it belongs ​to the beginning of a bigger story – the ​story of God’s end-time kingdom which ​has broken into the present. It is the ​beginning of the end of this age, when all ​creation will be restored and all evil will ​be destroyed. This is the big story of ​which our lives are a part. Jesus reigns as ​King over all, and his people, empowered ​by the Holy Spirit, are sent out to bring ​his salvation, healing, and restoration to ​this broken world. The glorious kingdom ​of God awaits its ultimate and eternal ​consummation at the return of its King – ​the King who is coming again soon.

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The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® https://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.