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Luke 24 Commentary
by Hank Workman
“Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen.”
Luke 24:5-6
“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.”
Luke 24:12
“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
Luke 24:26-27
“They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:32
“And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”
Luke 24:38
“He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
Luke 24:46-48
As I read today’s chapter I was drawn toward the various conversations recorded in Luke’s finale of Jesus. Within each one of these statements, the people were met exactly where they were in their feelings. For the ladies at the tomb, they were in deep sorrow. As they told of what the angels had spoken to them some thought it nonsense while Peter ran as fast as he could to the tomb to see for himself. To the men on the road to Emmaus, they were disillusioned with the events that had taken place over the weekend.
They had not heard of the resurrection. Jesus met them on the road, blocked their sight from recognizing Him and explained the Scriptures. Their hearts burned within from all His words. To the disciples who sat huddled together, Jesus appeared and challenged their doubts and showed Himself to be alive. He explained to them why all had gone down and gave them a commission to be His witnesses.
In each of these scenarios, Jesus met the people struggling exactly where they were. He lovingly revealed Himself.
This is what Jesus does for each of us. No matter if we are in doubt or sorrow or fear He meets us where we are and speaks truth that sets us free from the bondage of our thought.
What are the things that are currently going on in your life that is sabotaging or stunting your outlook of Jesus? Are there physical issues that seem to be overwhelming? Is there a relationship that has fallen along the wayside with no hope of reconciliation? Is there a situation where you wonder if God is in control even though the facts state otherwise?
As with the women at the tomb who were gripped in sorrow, the men going back home disillusioned, the disciples huddled in fear – Jesus is right beside you. Pray that He will open your own eyes, speak truth from His word into your hearts about the situation and become His witnesses to the tremendous work of God. For Jesus is in control. He is over all things. He is and has the final say. Hope is found in Him. Peace can be obtained through His name. His presence will strengthen you.
Luke 24 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Then he said to them, “These are the very things I told you about while I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the writings of the prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.” [45] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
Luke 24:44-45 GNB
After Jesus has eaten with his disciples, He revealed to them the prophecies that came together to provide great clarity. I love the statement, “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Is it not true that Jesus is the only way for us to truly make sense of the Word?
It doesn’t matter where you open your Bible – the law of Moses, the prophets, the Psalms, or the New Testament – every chapter speaks to the Messiah coming to save His children. They speak to the kingdom of God saturating the Earth. They speak to the absolute power of the Holy Spirit that will transform hearts and convict the world. This all hinges on Him – Jesus the Christ.
The “opening their minds” was the opposite of what the disciples had experienced previously. We read in Luke 9 that they struggled to understand.
All the people were amazed at the mighty power of God. The people were still marveling at everything Jesus was doing, when he said to his disciples, [44] “Don’t forget what I am about to tell you! The Son of Man is going to be handed over to the power of human beings.” [45] But the disciples did not know what this meant. It had been hidden from them so that they could not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about the matter.
Luke 9:43-45 GNB
Now that Jesus has risen, the timing is right and the disciples are ready. Sin and death have been defeated and the Holy Spirit is now ready to descend. Through Jesus, these ordinary, unschooled men were spiritually awakened in a way that allowed them to see clearly. How often do we wrestle with trying to understand something which we are not ready to understand? In fact, many times it is concealed from us, just like the disciples, because it is just not the right time.
The problem that led Adam and Eve into sin in the first place was knowledge that was originally meant to be concealed from their understanding… and it changed everything. God help me to trust your timing and revelations.
Someone might say, how amazing would it have been to sit with Jesus and listen to Him teach from Moses, through the prophets and Psalms opening our minds with clarity to the Scriptures? I would say, we can do that today! The Holy Spirit is the author of the text and that same Spirit lives in us as believers. It’s the same Spirit that Christ himself sent to us! When we apply our minds in faith to the Word, the Holy Spirit will reveal its truth to us.
Just as Jesus promised, “It is better for you if I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you.” (John 16:7) Just as Paul urged us, we can be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” (Romans 12:2)
Ironically, when we set our minds in the Scriptures, we will be more ready and eager to understand His timing. These two concepts go hand-in-hand. By reading God’s Word, our faith is strengthened and we become confident in His timing. When the timing is made plain, we rejoice with joy and seek His Word at a deeper level. Praise God we have His Holy Spirit in our lives today!