Luke 24 – Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Luke 24:1-12: At the empty tomb

A. Find Out:    

1. Who went where, when? v.1
   • On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
2. What did they find when they got there? v.2,3
   • They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
3. Who appeared to them and what did they ask? v.4,5
   • While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead?
4. What did they then tell them and remind them? v.6-8
   • He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ 8 Then they remembered his words.
5. What did the women then do? v.9,10
   • When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
6. What response did they get, with what exception? v.11,12
   • But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

B. Think:

1. Why do you think the women were ‘wondering’ (v.4)?
2. Why do you think the disciples had trouble believing?
3. What were the signs that left them all wondering?

C. Comment:

The resurrection accounts are confusing – which even more suggests their trust. A whole range of events were happening but for the main players it was totally confusing and totally unexpected. Why? Well, when have you seen a person who has been dead come back to life…..

Combining the various stories it would appear the women came, saw the empty tomb and angels, ran and told the disciples, two of whom came. The women followed up and then Mary was met by angels and then Jesus. Luke the physician, who so often focuses on the human elements, portrays the confusion of the various players. First there are the women who go back after Sabbath to ensure the body is properly embalmed. The grave is open and the body gone.

They wonder. Two angels tell the truth but the women give no sign of having totally taken it in. They tell the disciples but are not convincing. Peter goes and looks and is left wondering – and all this in the face of Jesus having told them that this is exactly what would happen! So why so much doubt? For the reason we stated above. If we’ve read or heard the story many times it is easy to become blasé about it, but this is the most staggering event in history – the Son of God has risen from the dead – but dead men don’t rise! But this one did, because he was God!!!!!

D. Application:

1. When you next doubt, remember the disciples and understand.
2. When you next find it hard to believe, remember the disciples!

Passage: Luke 24:13-27: On the road to Emmaus

A. Find Out:

1. Who were going where, doing what? v.13,14
   • Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
2. Who came alongside? v .15,16
   • As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognising him.
3. What did he ask and what did they reply? v.17,18
   • He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’ They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’
4. What did they tell him when asked? v.19-24
   • ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.’
5. What was Jesus’ response to them? v.25,26
   • He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’
6. So what did he do? v.27
   • And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

B. Think:

1. What was strange about this encounter with Jesus?
2. What seems to have been the purpose of this encounter?

C. Comment:

In Luke’s Gospel this is the first encounter with Jesus. It is a strange encounter in that a) it was on the road some miles from Jerusalem, b) it seems to involve two lesser disciples, and c) somehow they did not realise that it was Jesus.

Why did it happen like that? We aren’t told, but we can speculate. Perhaps Jesus wanted to rebuild the disciples’ faith in slow stages and so had different ones reporting back, bit by bit, until the truth would eventually sink in. Perhaps there is something different about Jesus now that he has a resurrected body. Whatever it was, the record stands – Jesus met with two disciples who were clear about all that had happened but not WHY is had happened, so he comes to remedy that. The important thing about the Cross is not only that it happened, but WHY it happened.

 In answering why it happened, Jesus’ answer is, because God said it would. The Cross had been spoken about directly or indirectly by God through His prophets down through the centuries. Isaiah 53, for example, is one of the classic passages telling us that the Messiah, the coming one, would be struck by God, carrying out iniquities and bearing our punishment. It was all there, clearly laid out, but we had been unable to understand it. That’s how it so often is with prophecy – we need God to explain it to us or show us it being fulfilled. God said it, then did it.

D. Application:

1. The Cross is all about God’s love for us. Receive it.
2. The Cross is all about Jesus taking my sin. Worship him.

Passage: Luke 24:28-35: The risen Jesus revealed

A. Find Out:

1. Where did they come to & what did Jesus seem to do? v.28
   • As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going further.
2. But what did the two do, with what result? v.29
   • But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.
3. What did he do at the table and what happened? v.30,31
   • When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight.
4. What did they feel about what had happened on the road? v.32
   • They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’
5. So what did they then do? v.33
   • They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
6. What did they say? v.34,35
   • and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread.

B. Think:

1. What did the two disciples have to do to get Jesus to stay?
2. Why do you think he ‘appeared’ and disappeared?
3. Why did they want to walk a further seven miles?

C. Comment:

This passage has a number of unanswerable questions hanging over it. Why did Jesus look like he was going further? Was he simply there for these two disciples? If so, why look like he was going on? Perhaps because Jesus wants us to strongly express our desire for him to be with us. He wants no half heartedness.

Next, why did he only become recognisable at the breaking of the bread? Why was he still unrecognisable to them up to that point? Perhaps it was something to do with his resurrected body. Why did he then disappear? How did he disappear? We aren’t told. There always will be unanswered questions in the Christian life. God hasn’t promised to tell us everything, just sufficient.

When Jesus has gone, the men’s words suggest them saying something like, “There, didn’t we know there was something special about him when he was teaching us. I knew there was something different. Something in me was stirring all the time he was speaking”

They are so excited they walk another seven miles back to Jerusalem to tell the others. They must tell someone. Why? Isn’t Jesus doing a good enough job telling who he wants to know? They don’t know that and they just have to tell SOMEONE!!! They must have been tired out but that doesn’t matter – he’s alive!!!!!

D. Application:

1. Can you be at rest with God, not having all the answers?
2. Does the wonder of the resurrection thrill you?

Passage: Luke 24:36-43: Jesus back with the disciples

A. Find Out:

1. What then happened in the room? v.36
   • While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’
2. What was the reaction of the disciples? v.37
   • They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
3. How did Jesus reassure them? v.38-40
   • He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’ 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
4. Yet what was their response still? v.41
   • And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement,
5. So how further does he help them to believe? v.41b-43
   • he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.

B. Think:

1. What indications of the supernatural are in this passage?
2. Yet how does Jesus show it’s really him?
3. Why do you think the disciples have a job believing?

C. Comment:

The two from Emmaus have got back to Jerusalem and are in the room with the other main disciples when suddenly Jesus was standing there with them. Other Gospels say the room was locked but we’ve seen, previously, Jesus disappearing and so now he just appears. He is clearly moving in a different supernatural way now.

Despite having been told earlier in the day by the women and now by the two from Emmaus, that Jesus is alive, when he materialises the disciples just can’t cope. Resurrection is such an alien concept that they couldn’t believe before when Jesus told them about it, and they can’t believe it now.

Jesus seeks to reassure them by basically saying, “Touch me and you’ll know I’m real.” Yet still they cannot believe it because it seems too good to be true. We see in this passage two cause of unbelief: first that something is beyond our understanding and so causes fear, and second, that something just seems too good to believe. Both these things are very common in Christian experience.

OK, says Jesus, give me something to eat and he does the most ordinary thing in their presence, he eats a piece of fish. We have here both a supernatural Jesus and a very ordinary Jesus – both are true of him after the resurrection – but then we shouldn’t be surprised because he is now the Son of God revealed .

D. Application:

1. Do you struggle with lack of understanding? Be at peace.
2. Does it sometimes seem too good to be true? Just accept it.

Passage: Luke 24:44-53: Jesus teaches & ascends

A. Find Out:

1. Why did Jesus say it had all happened? v.44
   •  He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’
2. What did he then do? v.45
   • Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
3. What did he say had happened and will happen? v.46,47
   • He told them, ‘This is what is written: the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
4. What did he say they would be and what did they have to do? v.48,49
   • You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
5. What did he later do with them? v.50,51
   • When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
6. What did he leave the disciples doing? v.52,53
   • Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

B. Think:

1. How did Jesus clarify the past for the disciples?
2. How did he set them up for the future?

C. Comment:

Having sought to convince them that he was real, Jesus now seeks to illuminate their minds so that they will understand all that has happened. He does it by reference to the Old Testament Scriptures which, he said, spoke all about him. They spoke of his death and resurrection and that repentance and forgiveness of sins will become the central planks of preaching the Gospel about Jesus. Oh yes, “in his name” (v.47) means that the Gospel will be explained only in relation to Jesus and what he has done on the Cross, and by his resurrection.

Now they understand these things, the disciples are to become witnesses. A witness is simply someone who has seen and heard and tells it. Yet, there is also here a hint that they are yet to receive more than just this information; they are to receive power from God, as they wait upon Him in Jerusalem.

Then comes the final supernatural act of this book – Jesus was taken up before them and disappears before their eyes. There is now absolutely no question in the minds of his disciples – this IS the Son of God, and they fall down and worship him as he goes. They then return to Jerusalem , full of praise and wonder and there they remain, praising God, while they wait for Him to send His power down on them as promised. There Luke ends, and to see the continuation we have to read his story of the acts of the apostles, that he then went on to write.

D. Application:

1. Is our Gospel wholly based in the Cross & Resurrection of Jesus?
2. Do we preach repentance and forgiveness of sins at the heart of it?