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!