Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 24:33-43 "MOUNTING EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS"
Day 349 – Luke 24
Text: Luke 24:33-43
MOUNTING EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Cleopas and his friend hurried back to Jerusalem! The return journey to Jerusalem from Emmaus would mean that the two disciples had completed fourteen miles of walking that day! It would not be unlikely that they walked back even more briskly, because they were so excited about having seen the Risen Saviour!
The women testified that they had seen the Lord. Mary Magdalene certainly would boldly testify that she had not only seen the Lord, but had spoken to Him as well. Now these two disciples had something precious and wonderful to contribute to the small band of disciples that had gathered together in Jerusalem.
We can understand the sense of excitement that must have been in their hearts when they met up with their fellow-disciples. Luke well captured that sense of energy and power that the two disciples felt after their encounter with the Risen Lord.
“So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem,
and found the eleven and those who were with them
gathered together, saying,
‘The Lord is risen indeed,
and has appeared to Simon!'”
Luke 24:33-34
The first thing that Cleopas and his friend did was to affirm their personal belief that Jesus, whom they called, “The Lord” had indeed risen from the dead! All their doubts had been dispelled! They had personally seen the Lord Jesus Himself.
The next phrase they uttered is a bit more puzzling. None of the Gospels recorded Jesus appearing to Peter, but He must have. Perhaps Peter had a hard time convincing the others that the Risen Saviour had indeed appeared to him. This time round, Peter had the support of Cleopas and his companion. They believed that the Risen Lord could and did appear to Peter. (It is interesting to note that Paul also noted that Jesus did appear to Peter – Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:5. This incident was not elaborated on by any of the Gospel writers).
LEARNING TO BEAR WITNESS FOR THE LORD
Even as the disciples began sharing with each other what they had experienced, they were in fact getting in lots of practice for the work that the Lord would give to them. They would become His witnesses. They would testify of what they had learned, what they had come to believe – testifying of the fact that they had seen the Risen Saviour!
What powerful witnesses they would make! There was renewed faith. There was excitement and joy in their hearts. There was conviction and that meant power. All the elements of being powerful witnesses for the Lord were present. They were destined to bear witnesses for the Lord mightily before too long.
The two disciples were sharing every little detail of their encounter with the Risen Lord – from the journey to Emmaus all the way to having dinner together! The combined testimonies of all the others must amount to something significant!
MORE THINGS TO DISCOVER ABOUT THE RISEN SAVIOUR
To see the Risen Lord was a spectacular experience! Their faith in Him had not been in vain after all. They now fully believed that there was indeed Life after Death. The doctrine of the Resurrection was real after all. What a life changing truth that was!
The disciples were in for another surprise when they had an unexpected visit from Jesus, the Risen Lord. They still had a lot to learn about their Risen Saviour.
Luke recorded this special event that took place.
“Now as they said these things,
Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them,
And said to them, ‘Peace to you.’
But they were terrified and frightened,
And supposed they had seen a spirit…”
Luke 24:36-37
Though the Disciples of Jesus had made some progress in their understanding about the Resurrection of Jesus, they still had not fully grasped the full implications! This Risen Saviour with a resurrected Body was quite, quite different! Where once He was limited to time and place when He had the normal human body, the Risen Saviour could now appear at any place and at any time, even if doors were locked! This was new knowledge and it would take a while before this truth sinks in.
The first reaction was one of terror and fright! Who was this Person who looked and sounded like Jesus? Surely they must have seen a spirit! Are we not reminded of the time when the disciples were similarly frightened because they saw Jesus walking on the sea?
Mark and Matthew recorded how the Disciples felt when they saw Jesus walking towards them!
“Now about the fourth watch of the night
He came to them, walking on the sea,
And would have passed them by.
And when they saw Him walking on the sea,
They supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;
For they all saw Him and were troubled.”
Mark 6:48-50
Jesus had once again appeared to the Disciples in an unusual and unexpected manner. Though they had spoken so excitedly about the Risen Lord, nevertheless they failed this test. Terror was allowed to overwhelm them. Once again, the Disciples heard those all too familiar words.
“Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts?”
Luke 24:38
Their faith in the Risen Saviour had been confirmed, but they still had some way to go before they were filled with the strength of faith needed to bear witness powerfully.