Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-15; John 20 "SHARING THE NEWS ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS"
Day 341 – Luke 24
Text: Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-15; John 20
SHARING THE NEWS ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
News concerning the Resurrection of Jesus must have spread like wildfire, at least among those who were called Disciples. That, of course would be quite understandable.
It would be natural to share with each other their faith insights and experiences as Disciples. Besides, the women folk were instructed by the angels that they were to inform the Disciples that Jesus expected them in Galilee.
ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
Luke recorded the conversation between two disciples, one of whom was named Cleopas. They were on the road to Emmaus. (Should they not be making their way to Galilee instead)?
“Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day
to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles
from Jerusalem.
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned , that Jesus
Himself drew near and went with them.
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”
Luke 24:13-16
Luke chose some very interesting words to describe the two disciples talking with each other. The word “talked” (Luke 24:14) when translated “were talking” gives the better picture that Luke was trying to paint. The scene portrayed is that of two people engaged actively in conversation with each other. They talked even as they walked.
The word “talked” and the word “conversed” are exactly the same. This is an interesting choice of words. The word Luke chose is where we get the English word “homily” or “sermon”. This was obviously no idle conversation between two people. This was a conversation where both were almost “preaching” to each other.
The word “reasoned” adds even more depth to our understanding of the kind of conversation they had with each other. This word may also be translated “debated” or “argued”. We must not think that the two disciples were quarreling with each other. Rather, these two disciples, having been trained by the Lord Jesus, knew how to present their thoughts carefully to each other.
The thoughts that were conveyed to each other were debated carefully, not aggressively. Both were seeking to comprehend all the events that had taken place in Jerusalem recently, with particular reference to the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.
THE COMPANY OF THE RISEN SAVIOUR
Jesus, the Risen Saviour now makes another appearance, this time to Cleopas and his companion. Luke wrote,
“And He said to them,
What kind of a conversation is this
That you have with one another
As you walk and are sad?”
Luke 24:17
On purpose, Jesus did not reveal Himself to His two disciples. If He revealed Himself prematurely, the point of His instruction could be blunted. Thus, “their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him” (Luke 24:16).
FACTS BUT NO FAITH
Cleopas failed to recognize Who it was who spoke. In ordinary circumstances, they would have recognized the Voice of their Teacher Jesus! But their ability to recognize Him was withheld on purpose. Luke recorded this short conversation between Cleopas and Jesus.
“Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered
and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem,
and have You not known the things which happened
there in these days?”
Luke 24:18
Cleopas expressed incredulity that Jesus had to ask him to explain “the things which happened there (in Jerusalem)”.
Jesus did not say He did not know about the events that occurred. He merely asked,
“What things?”
Luke 24:19
The facts concerning “Jesus of Nazareth” were well known to the two Disciples. All who followed Jesus as His Disciples must have been familiar with the details of His life and ministry. They could recite all the facts, but where was their faith?
We are reminded of a portion of Scripture that teaches us the importance of receiving the word with faith.
“For indeed the Gospel was preached to us
as well as to them;
But the word which they heard did not profit them,
Not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
Hebrews 4:2
All the disciples had been instructed in the Word. They had been taught by the Lord Jesus that He would suffer, die and be resurrected. They knew the facts of Jesus’ death. Some if not all of them were probably there when He was crucified. Yet somehow, when it came to His resurrection – none of the disciples had that faith to believe. The resurrection was the “blind spot” for many of them. Do we have the same “blind spot”?