Daily Scripture Reading Luke 24:28-53
When we go through trials or watch other people experience pain, we tend to get discouraged and be pessimistic about the future. We assume the trial will make life worse. Even though there have been times a trial made us stronger, as we go through a trial, it is hard to see the big picture and imagine how this trial might benefit us.
Jesus had told the disciples numerous times He would be killed and rise from the dead. However, when Jesus was killed, the disciples became discouraged. We will read today in Luke 24 that when Jesus started appearing to them after His resurrection, they were skeptical.
Jesus asked the disciples why they doubted. After all, He had told them He would be killed and rise again. Perhaps when we go through trials and are discouraged, we should ask ourselves why we are troubled. After all, the Bible tells us to rejoice during trials because trials make us better people.
After some women discovered the tomb was empty, they reported the news to the eleven and some others, including a man named Cleopas. Cleopas and a companion walked that same day to Emmaus. Jesus walked with them, but they did not recognize Him. They had a lengthy conversation as they walked, during which Jesus explained how everything that had happened to Him had to happen, because it had been written in the Old Testament.
Luke 24:28 ¶ And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.
The pronoun “He” refers to Jesus.
Luke 24:29 But they urged Him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them.
The pronoun “they” refers to Cleopas and his companion. Note the word “strongly”. They had to put forth effort to persuade Jesus to stay with them. Remember, they did not know it was Jesus. Also, note the word “evening” and that the day was late.
Luke 24:30 And it happened that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and after breaking it, He was giving it to them.
Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight.
Notice the word “vanished”. Jesus performed many miracles during His ministry, but vanishing is not something He did before His resurrection. This was another way to prove He is God and not merely a man.
Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was opening the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:33 And they stood up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those with them,
Observe the words “that very hour”. Verse 29 tells us it was already late in the day. After realizing they had been talking to Jesus, they went back to Jerusalem, even though it was late. This indicates the urgency they felt to inform the disciples.
Pay attention to the last four words, “and those with them”. The gathering was more than just the eleven.
Luke 24:34 who were saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Luke 24:35 And they were relating their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Luke 24:36 ¶ Now while they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.”
Just as He had vanished from Cleopas and his companion, now Jesus suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Luke 24:37 But being startled and frightened, they were thinking that they were seeing a spirit.
Why were the disciples startled and frightened? It was because they thought they saw a spirit. Why did they think it was a spirit? Why didn’t they recognize it was Jesus? They probably still had not grasped that Jesus was actually alive.
Jesus had told the disciples multiple times He would rise from the dead. Luke recorded that in Luke 9:22 and 18:33. When it happened, the disciples had trouble believing it.
It is easy for us to criticize the disciples for failing to understand what was happening. However, we look at it in hindsight. It is not normal for people to rise from the dead. Therefore, the disciples had trouble comprehending what was happening as it was happening.
We do the same thing today. The Bible tells us trials make us stronger. Nevertheless, as we go through trials, we have trouble comprehending and believing that something good will come out of it. It is easy to be pessimistic that our future will be worse, rather than be optimistic that the trial will make our future better.
Luke 24:38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
We don’t see exasperation in Jesus’ questions as we see elsewhere in the gospels, but Jesus clearly expected the disciples to grasp the truth and not be troubled or doubting.
Likewise, the Bible warns us what life will be like as a Christian. It also describes the benefits of going through some of the tribulations we will go through. As we go through them, we should recognize what is happening, and be joyful and optimistic.
Luke 24:39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
Luke 24:40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
Luke 24:41 And while they still were not believing because of their joy and were still marveling, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
Luke 24:42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish,
Luke 24:43 and He took it and ate it before them.
Luke 24:44 ¶ Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Luke 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
Don’t miss the phrase “opened their minds”. Up to this point, the disciples had many questions and doubts. However, Jesus was about to leave earth, so He needed the disciples to grasp the truth. He opened their minds so that they could understand the scriptures.
Luke 24:46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,
Luke 24:47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:48 You are witnesses of these things.
The disciples probably knew what the Old Testament says about the Messiah. At this point Jesus made sure they understood that they had just witnessed the fulfillment of many prophecies.
Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you, but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:50 ¶ And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them.
Luke 24:51 And it happened that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
Luke 24:53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
Jesus told the disciples multiple times He would rise from the dead. However, when it happened, the disciples had trouble believing it.
It is easy for us to criticize the disciples for failing to understand what was happening. However, we look at it in hindsight. It is not normal for people to rise from the dead. Therefore, the disciples had trouble comprehending what was happening as it was happening.
We do the same thing today. The Bible tells us trials make us stronger. Nevertheless, as we go through trials, we have trouble comprehending and believing that something good will come out of it. It is easy to be pessimistic that our future will be worse, rather than be optimistic that the trial will make our future better.
Since the Bible describes the benefits of going through some of the tribulations we will go through, as we go through them, we should recognize what is happening, and be joyful and optimistic.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”