Friday, September 27, 2019

LUKE 24:50-53 TO JERUSALEM WITH JOY


TO JERUSALEM WITH JOY
LUKE 24:50-53

Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Susie: After commissioning His first followers as His witnesses or emissaries, Jesus led them to Bethany, the home of His good friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus which was less than two miles from Jerusalem:

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

John 11:18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:


There are 8 furlongs in a mile. Therefore, 15 furlongs is equal to 15/8 = 1.875 miles.

Susan: Jesus stood and raised His hands over the group of His followers—those He had led to Bethany and told to wait for the Spirit. He blessed them. A blessing was a pronouncement of all that was true and good for their lives and for their future. He, more aptly and efficiently than any earthly father could pronounce this blessing, because He was the only omniscient, ultimate “blesser.”  


To bless an individual, the person laid his hands on him. To bless a group, hands were lifted and extended over them, as in the priestly blessing (Leviticus 9:22) and Jesus' blessing of the disciples at His ascension (Luke 24:50).

Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.

Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Susie: As Jesus was lovingly pronouncing a blessing over His disciples, He was drawn up into the heavens. Acts 1:9 states that, “a cloud received him out of their sight.” You may be thinking, “Doesn’t Acts 1:12 say that the disciples came back from Mt. Olivet after the ascension? Here they are in Bethany!” This really is not incongruent as Bethany is on the eastern slope of Mt. Olivet.

Luke 24:52-53 And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Susan: After being with Jesus in the flesh for three plus years to watching the horror of the crucifixion to numerous interactions with the risen Jesus in the flesh, His disciples were convinced that Jesus was the genuine article. He was the great “I Am,” both completely man and completely God, the God-Man.

Susie: Imagine the immense joy they had in realizing they had been in the physical presence of the Almighty. These disciples who had been hiding, fearing for their own lives, downcast and distraught are now making a joyful journey back to the city of Jerusalem to await the power Jesus had promised them.

Susan: These disciples were all experiencing that internal blaze of the Eternal that Cleopas and his companion had felt on the road to Emmaus. They were not idle as they waited for the promised Holy Spirit. They spent their days worshipping, exalting, and praising Emmanuel—God with us—in His temple.

Ponder this and Apply it: Jesus went back to Heaven, to the right hand of the throne of God. His disciples obeyed His command to wait in Jerusalem but had no idea exactly what form this power they were awaiting would take. We know from the second chapter of Acts this power was the Holy Spirit taking up residence inside them. We receive this same gift as soon as we receive Jesus’s free gift of salvation. We have the mighty power of God available to us, empowering us to understand and obey all the instructions in God’s word. We may not be in the temple in Jerusalem or even in our local place of worship every day, but we can choose to spend our days worshipping, exalting, and praising Emmanuel—God, who in the form of His Son Jesus, came down to make a relationship with Himself available to us!

Monday, September 23, 2019

LUKE 24:44-49 WITNESSES TO WAIT


WITNESSES TO WAIT
LUKE 24:44-49

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Susan: Jesus, in this instance, reminded His disciples that He had told them previously on more than one occasion that in order to fulfill prophecy and the purpose for which He had been sent, He must suffer crucifixion, be buried, and be resurrected.

Luke 9:22 . . . saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Luke 9:44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

Luke 18:31-33 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Luke 22:37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

Susie: By saying the law of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets, Jesus was indicating that the entire Old Testament contained prophecies concerning Him, the Messiah.

Luke 24:45-47 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Susan: Jesus supernaturally opened their minds to enable them to perceive and understand the revelation of scripture concerning Himself.

Susie: Jesus then gave a summary of what had been taught concerning Him—His suffering, death, and resurrection—and that His witnesses would carry His message of repentance and forgiveness around the world. He may have referred to Old Testament scriptures such as Isaiah 50:6, Psalm 22:1-31, Daniel 9:24, and Psalm 67:24 among many others.

Luke 24:48-49 And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Susan: Luke gives a condensed version of what has come to be known as “The Great Commission.” Mark states it briefly as well, but Matthew details it for us:

Mark 16:15 (NKJV) And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Susan: Jesus commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power that He had promised them. What was that power? He wasn’t a “what” but a “who”—the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was and is the person of the Trinity who enables the believer to trust in the Lord, understand His word, and become a bold witness moving passionately and powerfully in God’s purposes for his or her life.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26-27 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Susie: Luke sets up his sequel to his gospel, the book of Acts, which is the story of how these witnesses received the power of the Holy Spirit and carried Jesus’s message to the world.

Ponder this and Apply it: Another reason we should not be too hard on these first followers of Jesus is that even though they walked and talked with Him daily for about three years, they did not yet have the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Those of us who have trusted Jesus after the events of Acts chapter two, are enabled to understand the events of scripture because of the Holy Spirit inside us. They were still awaiting that powerful filling at the end of Luke’s Gospel. If you are a believer, praise the Lord for the work of the Holy Spirit in your own life, and remember to always ask Him to reveal truth to you when you read your Bible. If you do not yet know the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life because you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus and would like to know more, please contact us through our website: www.PreciousJewelsMinistries.org. We would love to tell you more about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Friday, September 20, 2019

LUKE 24:38-43 JESUS IN THE FLESH, EATING FISH


JESUS IN THE FLESH,
EATING FISH
LUKE 24:38-43

Luke 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Susan: We know from earlier lessons that as God, Jesus is omniscient (all-knowing). He knew their hearts were tormented by the possibility that what they were seeing was a ghost, or perhaps that Jesus might have been angry with them for their doubts, fears, and unbelief after His crucifixion.

Susie: I imagine Jesus speaking this in a firm but kind tone, a mild rebuke.

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Susan: Jesus invited them to check Him out thoroughly. He offered to let them not only examine his hands and feet closely but to physically touch His wounds to know that He truly existed in the flesh. To know that “I AM.”

Susie: He pointed out that phantoms would not have flesh and bones as He did. The Apostle John testified to having “handled” the Lord.

1 John 1:1-3  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

Susie: Some manuscripts omit verse 40, but it is logical that after offering them the opportunity to examine His wounds, He would show them to them.

Susan: Sometime later, on another occasion, Jesus gave Thomas the same opportunity to examine all His wounds, including His side that was pierced by the Roman soldier’s spear:

John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Luke 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

Susan: The fact that Jesus was standing before them in the flesh was still too overwhelming to comprehend.

Susie: They were ecstatic with the possibility that Jesus was alive, but on the other hand, it seemed too good to be true. . .

Susan: . . . too fantastic to be real. Jesus, determined to remove all questions, asked them for some food. What He wanted them to see, know, and realize by His eating food that in all ways, He was not an apparition.

Luke 24:42-43 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it and did eat before them.

Susie: They handed Him the staple foods of their meal, fish and honeycomb.

Susan: I am sure the disciples gawked in wonder as Jesus consumed the food before their eyes.
Susie: The Apostle Peter included the fact that the resurrected Jesus ate with them in His testimony to Cornelius:

Acts 10:39-41 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Ponder this and Apply it: Jesus had to prove Himself to the ones with whom He had the closest earthly relationships—the Eleven. Even with the facts before them, they couldn’t take in that Jesus was physically risen from the dead. We have the benefit of their writings about Jesus. Do we sometimes doubt what we read in the New Testament? We may say to ourselves that had we walked and talked with Jesus on earth, it would be easier to believe; but we see how difficult it was for the disciples. He had to prove His divinity to them for them to believe He was the Messiah, and then He had to prove His humanity to them after He rose. Our minds still have difficulty reconciling the fact that Jesus was completely God and completely man at the same time. This is where faith comes in. The Holy Spirit draws us to God and gives us the faith to believe and trust in Jesus. Praise the Lord that it does not depend on our ability to completely, intellectually comprehend all of His majesty!

Monday, September 16, 2019

LUKE 24:33-37 CLEOPAS AND COMPANION CONFIRM CHRIST'S QUICKENING


CLEOPAS AND COMPANION
CONFIRM CHRIST'S QUICKENING
LUKE 24:33-37

Luke 24:33-34 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

Susie: The Emmaus road travelers had urged Jesus not to travel at night. Now, they set aside that fear and rush immediately out the door to trek the seven miles back to Jerusalem, excited to tell the Eleven and any other followers who were with them that they had seen the Lord. They probably arrived well after dark.
Susan: The Emmaus travelers arrived safely in Jerusalem. Before they could share the exciting news they were bursting to share, the Jerusalem crew said Jesus’s resurrection was old news because He had appeared to Simon Peter.

Luke 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Susie: Therefore, Cleopas and companion confirmed what the disciples already knew by relating what happened to them on their way home.

Susan: They admitted that regretfully, they had not recognized Jesus at all until He blessed the bread and broke it. It was only after He disappeared from their sight that they recalled the warmth that had filled them as He explained the scriptures.

Luke 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Susan: Suddenly, as they were recounting their experience, Jesus appeared in their midst. Jesus blessed them with, “Peace be unto you.” Peace is a word with many layers in the Greek:

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
εἰρήνη eirḗnē, i-ray'-nay; probably from a primary verb εἴρω eírō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

Susan: The peace Jesus offers is more than tranquility and calmness. It is to be “one” again, in other words, to be in right relationship with God which brings lasting peace. He offers us the opportunity to be in harmony with God instead of in discord.

Luke 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Susie: What?! They had all just been confirming that Jesus was alive and had appeared to both Peter and the two from Emmaus, and now they are scared witless?

Susan: They had just been joyfully testifying about the resurrection, but now they think He is merely an apparition? I get that it could be disconcerting that He has just appeared in the middle of the room when the door was closed and locked:

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Susie: As we will see in the next lesson, Jesus proved Himself to be restored to life in a real body to quiet their fears.

Ponder this and Apply it: We are a little hard on these first people to see Jesus after He rose from the grave. They are torn between wanted to believe He is truly alive and thinking it is too good to be true. Many people have that reaction to the Gospel message. Salvation is a free gift? I don’t have to earn it? That’s too good to be true! NO, it isn’t!!! That is the truth. Praise the Lord!

Friday, September 13, 2019

LUKE 24:25-32 HEART AFIRE


HEART AFIRE
LUKE 24:25-32

Luke 24:25-26 Then he said unto them, O fools453, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Susan: I wondered about Jesus calling the couple “fools” since He taught against calling a brother a fool in the Sermon on the Mount. However, these are two different words in the Greek.

Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool3474, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
G453 – ἀνόητος anóētos, an-o'-ay-tos; from G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G3539; unintelligent; by implication, sensual:—fool(-ish), unwise.

G3474 — μωρός mōrós, mo-ros'; probably from the base of G3466; dull or stupid (as if shut up), i.e. heedless, (morally) blockhead, (apparently) absurd:—fool(-ish, X -ishness).

Susan: I think Jesus is saying their understanding of the events is foolish but not that their basic character is that of a fool.

Susie: Jesus points out their inability to understand the crucifixion and resurrection in light of all the Prophets had taught about the Messiah.

Susan: Jesus asked them the rhetorical question, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” Considering all the prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament, they should have understood that in order to fulfill His mission, the Christ must be the Suffering Servant and sacrificial Lamb of God before becoming the triumphant Savior and victorious King.

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Susie: Since Jesus knows they are unable to piece together the puzzle for themselves, He proceeds to teach them the highlights of the scripture concerning Himself.

Susan: He gave them the abridged (Reader’s Digest) version of Messianic prophecy. I like the way The Passion Translation puts it:

Luke 24:27 (TPT) Then he carefully unveiled to them the revelation of himself throughout the Scripture. He started from the beginning and explained the writings of Moses and all the prophets, showing how they wrote of him and revealed the truth about himself.

Susie: That may sound like a lot of information in a short amount of time (think 3- week summer course in college); but they were traveling seven miles on foot! I always thought of Moses as more of a historian rather than a prophet, but the books of Moses are where Jesus began in this discourse.

Susan: Speaking of summer courses . . . I studied Greek in FOUR weeks! Yikes! The very first prophecy concerning the Messiah was written by Moses who was quoting God:

Genesis 3:15 (AMP) “And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel.”

Susan: The Jews loved to focus on the prophecies concerning the Messiah as Deliverer and King but too often ignored the passages about His suffering. They wanted to eat dessert without having to digest meat. Jesus helped the travelers chew on the entire meal.

Luke 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

Susie: When they arrived at the outskirts of Emmaus, the destination of Cleopas and companion, Jesus pretended He was going to keep walking.

Luke 24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

Susan: The couple entreated Jesus to eat dinner and stay the night with them since it was late and would soon be dark. He accepted their invitation. After walking seven miles, He may have been hungry; but I believe He stayed in order to reveal Himself to them. He wanted to have a revelation party.

Luke 24:30-31 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Susie: Something to note in this scene is that Jesus presumed the position of host. Normally, it would be the host rather than the guest who would pray the blessing and begin the meal. I remembered seeing exactly what kind of blessing Jesus would have prayed in the Complete Jewish Bible:

Luke 24:30 (CJB) As he was reclining with them at the table, he took the matzah, made the b’rakhah, broke it and handed it to them.

Complete Jewish Study Bible note on Matthew 14:19 (the Feeding of the 5000)
Although not mentioned in the text, it is reasonable to believe that Yeshua recited the customary b’rakhah (blessing or benediction) which Jews have recited for more than two thousand years prior to meals including bread: “Praised be you, Adonai our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”

Susan: As Jesus broke the bread and blessed it as He had done at the feeding of the 5000 and the Passover Seder, their eyes (their minds) were thoroughly opened. Christ’s message, mission, and Person were completely revealed.

Susie: As soon as Jesus had opened up their understanding, He vanished! His resurrected body, although touchable and able to eat, could disappear and walk through closed doors!

Luke 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Susan: Some translations make “heart’ plural, but if Cleopas’s traveling companion were his wife, it would make sense for them to emphasize that their hearts were in sync, feeling the same thing. Another detail that makes me think she may have been his wife is that they shared a home.

Susie: They reflected on the fact that even before they knew He was Jesus their hearts were kindled by His explanation of the Messianic scriptures. They were “fired up” by their new understanding of the prophecies concerning the Lord.

Susan: Jesus had ignited an impassioned bonfire in the couple from Emmaus!

Ponder this and Apply it: Perhaps Cleopas and the other traveler knew the scriptures well but like many of their contemporaries, focused on the Messiah as conquering King. This could be why they were so downcast. How can He conquer if He is dead? Jesus revealed the entire message about Himself to them. Are we guilty of reading or studying only the “feel good” passages of scripture and ignoring the ones that bring conviction? When Jesus explained scripture to them, their hearts “burned.” The truth found in the word of God, even when it is difficult or seemingly unpleasant, can light a fire in our hearts when the Holy Spirit enables us to understand and apply it in our lives.

Monday, September 9, 2019

LUKE 24:17-24 ASTONISHED!


ASTONISHED!
LUKE 24:17-24

Luke 24:17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Susan: Jesus asks the two travelers what they are talking about and why has it made their faces so downcast. Jesus is totally aware of what their answer will be, but He wants them to articulate their feelings about the events of the past few days.

Luke 24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

Susie: Many scholars believe this Cleopas may be the same man whose name is rendered “Cleophas” in the King James Version and “Clopas” in other translations. If so, his wife was named Mary and she stood with Jesus’s mother, Mary, at the foot of His cross.

John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

Susan: This leads us to the conclusion that Cleopas’s unnamed traveling companion on the road to Emmaus may have been his wife, Mary. There are several things that support this idea. If this is the same Cleopas, he would not have left his wife behind in Jerusalem or allowed her to travel alone. Cleopas served as spokesman for the two which would be the natural role for the husband while the wife remained silent during this period of history. Later, we will see that in some translations, it appears the two share one heart which is spiritually true of a married couple who have been made “one flesh.”

Susie: Cleopas asks Jesus if He is new to Jerusalem, a stranger in town.

Susan: These days he might ask, “What rock have you been hiding under?” He wondered how Jesus could be totally unaware of the things which had transpired in Jerusalem because people were all abuzz with the news of the heart wrenching event.

Susie: Even those who did not follow Jesus as Messiah were probably shocked that the popular preacher and prophet who healed people and cast out demons had been crucified like a common criminal.

Luke 24:19-20 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

Susie: Jesus asked them to clarify exactly what things they were talking about. Again, Jesus was not truly clueless but wanted Cleopas and his companion to explain the news as they had seen and heard it.

Susan: They probably talked over each other (like the people in our Sunday School discussions) and finished each other’s sentences (like Susie and I do) at this point, anxious to help this stranger understand. They laid out the outline of the past few days. They delineated Jesus’s character as a powerful prophet and teacher to Jesus Himself (LOL). Then they explained that the Jewish religious leadership had handed Him over to the Romans to be executed on the cross.

Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Susie: They proclaimed that they had trusted that Jesus was the Messiah, the promised Deliverer; but this seems to be expressed with some doubt because of His death.

Susan: If Jesus had truly been a stranger unaware of these happenings, their next statement would have made no sense to Him. They pointed out that it was the third day since Jesus’s death on the cross. Perhaps they were aware of Jesus’s prophecy that He would rise on the third day, or the women’s testimony had sparked their memories.

Luke 24:22-23 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

Susie: Even though Jesus had foretold His resurrection from the dead on the third day, His followers were “astonished” when confronted with an empty tomb. The women had originally presumed the body was moved or stolen until the angel assured them Jesus was risen as He had said He would be.

Susan: Mary Magdalene and some of the other women had seen the risen Lord, but perhaps Cleopas and companion (probably his wife, Mary) had not heard that part of their testimony, doubted it, or just failed to mention it.

Susie: Maybe they thought the idea of Jesus being raised from the dead would be too fantastic for the Stranger to believe.

Luke 24:24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Susan: Not being able to comprehend the women’s testimony, impetuous Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, John, went to see for themselves. (See previous lesson.) Lo and behold, the tomb was empty just as the women had declared!

Susie: However, Jesus Himself had not appeared to Peter and John which may be why the two on the road to Emmaus are still sad, not convinced that the Lord is truly alive.

Ponder this and Apply it: Why did Jesus not immediately reveal Himself to the couple on the road? I’m not sure, but I do know that I am sometimes frustrated that God doesn’t just spell out His plan for dealing with a minor crisis in my life. Instead, it seems I must search the scripture and wait for Him to show me. Perhaps He wanted them to search their own minds before revealing Himself. The travelers shared that they had been “astonished” by the news shared by the women that the tomb was empty. They had apparently heard Jesus speak and knew the prophesy that He would rise but were still surprised! We know the promises of God that He will care for us and never leave us forsaken, so why are we astonished when He provides for us in the most unconventional ways?

Thursday, September 5, 2019

LUKE 24:13-16 INCOGNITO


INCOGNITO
LUKE 24:13-16
(See also Mark 16:12-13)

Susie: Luke is the only one of the gospel writers who includes the full story of this post-resurrection appearance of Jesus, but Mark does mention it in passing.

Luke 24:13-14 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

Susie: Emmaus was approximately seven miles from Jerusalem. These two were not members of the eleven apostles but were disciples of Jesus.

Susan: They must have left shortly after Peter and John returned from the tomb with the report that it was empty, but they had not seen the Lord. They had to have left early enough to walk the seven miles in time to arrive home in Emmaus by the evening meal.

Susie: As they walked, they were discussing the events they had witnessed or heard about in Jerusalem during the Passover. This included Jesus’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion. They had also been there to hear the report given by Mary Magdalene and the other women as well as the report from Peter and John that Jesus’s body was no longer in the tomb.

Luke 24:15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

Susan: The two disciples on the Emmaus road were in deep, soulful conversation about all that had transpired concerning Jesus. They were trying to piece together all the events and what they meant concerning whether Jesus could be the Messiah or not.

Susie: Then Jesus walks up beside them to join the conversation. Why He chose to enlighten these two followers we really do not know. We can be certain He chose to walk that road with the express purpose of talking with them because He is omniscient (all-knowing). He chose to appear to specific people after His resurrection for God’s purposes to be fulfilled.

Luke 24:16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

Susan: Jesus chose to remain incognito, not allowing His two followers to recognize Him immediately. Mary Magdalene had not recognized Jesus when she first saw Him either. It was only when He spoke that her heart knew His voice:

John 20:15-16 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Susie: We can only speculate on why the Lord did not want them to recognize Him. It was NOT that He needed to know their hearts as He already knows our hearts. More likely, He wanted them to understand the events based on the Old Testament prophecy He taught them before revealing Himself.

Ponder this and Apply it: How could two of His devoted followers not even recognize Jesus? The Lord somehow prevented them from doing so. And it could be their own sorrow prevented them from realizing it was the Lord. They could have been consumed with anguish over His death, fear they could be next, and wonderment at the meaning of the body’s disappearance. Do we sometimes get so caught up in our problems that we cannot see how Jesus is working in our lives?

Monday, September 2, 2019

LUKE 24:10-12 TRUTH THOUGHT TO BE TALL TALES


TRUTH THOUGHT TO BE
TALL TALES
LUKE 24:10-12

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Susie: The women who had seen the angels obeyed them immediately by running to tell the disciples what they had seen.

Susan: From Mark’s gospel we learn that Mary Magdalene was the mouthpiece for the group of women.

Susie: Mark also gives the detail that she found the disciples “weeping and mourning.” They are holding a wake because they are convinced Jesus is dead and gone!

Susan: Mary Magdalene and the other women found the men distraught in their grief.

Mark 16:9-10 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.

Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Susie: The women share what should have been the best news the men had ever heard—He is not in the tomb! Jesus has risen!

Mark 16:11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Susan: Mary Magdalene even testified that she had seen the risen Lord in the flesh! Jesus had prophesied that He would be killed and would rise again on the third day. But the disciples could not believe what the women were reporting. Women were not deemed to be reliable witnesses in the first century A.D., and this seemed be a tall tale to the men. Even so, Peter and John decided to see for themselves.

Luke 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Susie: The Apostle John brings out more details about the scene at the tomb since he was the “other disciple” who ran there with the impetuous Peter.

John 20:3-4 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Susan: Peter and John raced to the tomb as fast as their feet would carry them. John, being the faster runner possibly because of his youth, arrived first.

John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

Susie: John peaked in the door but did not enter the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there but waited at the entrance. 

Susan: We do not know why John did not enter the tomb, but here are some ideas. Perhaps he was awe-stricken and feeling the place was holy. Perhaps he was timid, . . .

Susie: . . .although I can’t picture one of the “Sons of Thunder” being afraid. 

Susan: Perhaps he was waiting for Peter . . .

Susie: . . . who may have been his elder and was an acknowledged leader of the disciples.

John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

Susie: Simon Peter caught up with John at the tomb and . . .

Susan: . . . barged in with no hesitation. 

Susie: He saw the linen that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body just neatly lying there. 

Susan: The face cloth was strategically placed by itself, folded differently from the rest. 

Susie: The fact that the linen cloths were still there and nicely arranged would indicate the body had not been stolen since robbers would not have taken such care. Also, it would have been much easier to move the body while still wrapped up.

Susan: It is awesome to picture Jesus just rising right out of His grave clothes.

John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Susan: As soon as he saw the linen cloths arranged in the tomb, John believed that Jesus had resurrected as He said He would.

Susie: Prior to that, the disciples had not clearly understood what Jesus meant when He had predicted that He would rise from the dead. 

Susan: When John realized that Jesus had risen from the dead, pieces of the Messiah puzzle began to finally fit together in his mind.  

Ponder this and Apply it:  The tomb was empty! Although Jesus had told them in no uncertain terms many times that He would be killed and would rise on the third day, they could not comprehend that it had actually happened. Would you have believed? We like to think we would, but would we? Do we believe modern day miracles when they occur, or do we search for a scientific explanation? Another lesson to learn from this passage is that Jesus chose to appear to women before appearing to men. Some people have the false notion that Christianity suppresses women. Far from it! Jesus elevated women in many ways. Having women (who were thought to be unreliable witnesses) be the first to see Him after rising from the dead honored women greatly.