Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 24:35-43
35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.
35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.
Commentary:
24:34–35 After being told by the Eleven that the Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon (cf. Mark 16:7; 1 Cor. 15:5), the two tell how they met the Lord who was known … in the breaking of the bread. I.e., they understood that the risen one was also the one who poured out his life for them.
24:36–49 Jesus Appears to His Disciples. This account emphasizes the actual physical reality of Jesus’ resurrection body (vv. 36–43) and the necessity of Jesus’ death and resurrection taking place in fulfillment of God’s providential plan (vv. 44–49).
24:36 Jesus … stood among them. For Jesus in his resurrected state being able to appear and disappear, cf. note on John 20:19. Peace to you. See John 20:19.
24:38 In light of what Jesus says in vv. 39–40, their doubts at least includes some confusion about the actual physical reality of Jesus’ resurrection body, and continuing questions about the reality of the resurrection itself. But Jesus will prove that it is really he who has risen from the dead by appealing to their sight (they can see him), hearing (they hear him talk), and touch (he invites them to touch him to see that he is real).
24:39 See … Touch me, and see (cf. John 20:25, 27; 1 John 1:1). Jesus is not a disembodied spirit. it is I. The risen Christ and Jesus of Nazareth are one and the same person, though the resurrected body of the risen Christ is gloriously different from his pre-resurrection body, in that his body now is fully healed, and strong, and not subject to the death and decay of the flesh (see 1 Cor. 15:1–19, 50–58).
24:41 anything … to eat. Jesus proves the corporeal nature of his resurrected body by eating and allowing the disciples to touch him, for disembodied spirits cannot eat or be touched.
24:36–49 Jesus Appears to His Disciples. This account emphasizes the actual physical reality of Jesus’ resurrection body (vv. 36–43) and the necessity of Jesus’ death and resurrection taking place in fulfillment of God’s providential plan (vv. 44–49).
24:36 Jesus … stood among them. For Jesus in his resurrected state being able to appear and disappear, cf. note on John 20:19. Peace to you. See John 20:19.
24:38 In light of what Jesus says in vv. 39–40, their doubts at least includes some confusion about the actual physical reality of Jesus’ resurrection body, and continuing questions about the reality of the resurrection itself. But Jesus will prove that it is really he who has risen from the dead by appealing to their sight (they can see him), hearing (they hear him talk), and touch (he invites them to touch him to see that he is real).
24:39 See … Touch me, and see (cf. John 20:25, 27; 1 John 1:1). Jesus is not a disembodied spirit. it is I. The risen Christ and Jesus of Nazareth are one and the same person, though the resurrected body of the risen Christ is gloriously different from his pre-resurrection body, in that his body now is fully healed, and strong, and not subject to the death and decay of the flesh (see 1 Cor. 15:1–19, 50–58).
24:41 anything … to eat. Jesus proves the corporeal nature of his resurrected body by eating and allowing the disciples to touch him, for disembodied spirits cannot eat or be touched.
Questions:
- The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith. If He didn't rise, there is no point! But we must remember that the case for Christ is CERTAIN! We can be certain because Luke was certain. And Luke was certain because of the testimony of the men and women that saw Jesus alive. John said the disciples proclaimed what they had seen with their own eyes and touched with their own hands... that Jesus was physically raised from the dead. Church history and Scripture tells us that most of them would end up dying as martyrs for their faith. Lots of people die for things they believe to be true, but nobody dies for something they know to be a lie. Liars make bad martyrs. What does it do to your personal belief that Jesus was raised from the dead to think about the fact that the disciples only believed AFTER they saw Him alive?
- Many of us that grew up in the church might have a difficult time answering the question, "Why do you believe in Jesus?" You might say it's because that's how you were raised or that's what my parents or grandparents taught me. You might even think it was just a blind leap of faith. But it's so much better than that. We can be sure He is alive based on reasonable, historical evidence. The disciples didn't believe on blind faith, and we don't have to either. Does this strengthen your faith? Do you think this would help you convince others of why you believe what you believe?
Pray:
- That your faith in the resurrection would be strengthened.
- That you would be ready to give an answer as to why you believe what you believe.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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