A Life-Changing Church Meeting

Luke 24:36–49 (NLT)

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.

44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

48 You are witnesses of all these things.

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

36 Ταῦτα δὲ αὐτῶν λαλούντων αὐτὸς ἔστη ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν.

37 πτοηθέντες δὲ καὶ ἔμφοβοι γενόμενοι ἐδόκουν πνεῦμα θεωρεῖν.

38 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Τί τεταραγμένοι ἐστέ, καὶ διὰ τί διαλογισμοὶ ἀναβαίνουσιν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν;

39 ἴδετε τὰς χεῖράς μου καὶ τοὺς πόδας μου ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι αὐτός· ψηλαφήσατέ με καὶ ἴδετε, ὅτι πνεῦμα σάρκα καὶ ὀστέα οὐκ ἔχει καθὼς ἐμὲ θεωρεῖτε ἔχοντα.

40 [καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τοὺς πόδας.]

41 ἔτι δὲ ἀπιστούντων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς καὶ θαυμαζόντων εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον ἐνθάδε;

42 οἱ δὲ ἐπέδωκαν αὐτῷ ἰχθύος ὀπτοῦ μέρος·

43 καὶ λαβὼν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ἔφαγεν.

44 Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς· Οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι μου οὓς ἐλάλησα πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔτι ὢν σὺν ὑμῖν, ὅτι δεῖ πληρωθῆναι πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωϋσέως καὶ προφήταις καὶ ψαλμοῖς περὶ ἐμοῦ.

45 τότε διήνοιξεν αὐτῶν τὸν νοῦν τοῦ συνιέναι τὰς γραφάς,

46 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι οὕτως γέγραπται παθεῖν τὸν χριστὸν καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ,

47 καὶ κηρυχθῆναι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ μετάνοιαν καὶ ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη—ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλήμ·

48 ὑμεῖς ἐστε μάρτυρες τούτων.

49 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξαποστέλλω τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρός μου ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς· ὑμεῖς δὲ καθίσατε ἐν τῇ πόλει ἕως οὗ ἐνδύσησθε ἐξ ὕψους δύναμιν.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE POSITIVE PROOF THAT JESUS IS ALIVE.

A- His Personal Presence (Luke 24:36-37)

Luke 24:36–37 (NLT)

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!

36 Ταῦτα δὲ αὐτῶν λαλούντων αὐτὸς ἔστη ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν.

37 πτοηθέντες δὲ καὶ ἔμφοβοι γενόμενοι ἐδόκουν πνεῦμα θεωρεῖν.

1- It was a presence experienced by everyone present.

a- The Bible says that “the whole group was startled.”

b- While we are not told the number present, we do know that this was a gathering of “the disciples.” (John 20:19-23)

John 20:19–23 (NLT)

19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.

20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

c- This gathering had to consist of more than the apostles, for the gospels differentiate between the large group (disciples) and the apostles (the twelve).

(Matthew 10:2; John 6:67; Luke 9:1; Mark 14:17)

d- All who were present saw him, heard him and experienced the events that unfold in this passage.

B- His Physical Presence (Luke 24:38-43)

Luke 24:38–43 (NLT)

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.

1- He demonstrated that he had a physical body. (Luke 24:39-40)

Luke 24:39–40 (NLT)

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.

39 ἴδετε τὰς χεῖράς μου καὶ τοὺς πόδας μου ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι αὐτός· ψηλαφήσατέ με καὶ ἴδετε, ὅτι πνεῦμα σάρκα καὶ ὀστέα οὐκ ἔχει καθὼς ἐμὲ θεωρεῖτε ἔχοντα.

40 [καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τοὺς πόδας.]

a- He pointed out he had flesh and bones. “spirits don’t have bodies” is literally, “ὅτι πνεῦμα σάρκα καὶ ὀστέα οὐκ ἔχει”

b-He demonstrated the ability to eat. (Luke 24:40-43)

Luke 24:40–43 (NLT)

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.

II- THE POWERFUL PURPOSE FOR HIS APPEARANCE. (Luke 24:44-46)

Luke 24:44–46 (NLT)

44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

A- Remind them of his teachings before his death. (Luke 24:44)

Luke 24:44 (NLT)

44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

1- About what was going to happen to Him. (cf. Luke 9:22, 44; 17:25; 18:31–33; 22:37)

(Luke 9:22)

22 “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

(Luke 9:44)

44 “Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies.”

(Luke 17:25)

25 But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.

(Luke 18:31–33)

31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true.

32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon.

33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

(Luke 22:37)

37 For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”

2- Jesus wants us to remember why he came and what he accomplished.

(John 14:25-29)

John 14:25–29 (NLT)

25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.

26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.

29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

B- Release their ability to understand His mission and message. (Luke 24:45-46)

Luke 24:45–46 (NLT)

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

1- Jesus “opened their minds to understand the scriptures.”

2- Jesus has given you and I the Holy Spirit to help us understand his mission and message.

(John 14:16-17)

John 14:16–17 (NLT)

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

(John 16:13-16)

John 16:13–16 (NLT)

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

(John 16:7-11)

John 16:7–11 (NLT)

7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.

10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.

11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

III- THE PLAN FOR CHRIST’S FOLLOWERS AFTER HIS APPEARANCE. (Luke 24:47-49)

Luke 24:47–49 (NLT)

47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

48 You are witnesses of all these things.

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

A- He commissioned them to proclaim the Good News to the world. (Luke 24:47-48)

Luke 24:47–48 (NLT)

47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

48 You are witnesses of all these things.

1- Jesus commissions his disciples to proclaim salvation to the world.

(Isaiah 49:6)

Isaiah 49:6 (NLT)

6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

(Matthew 28:18-20)

Matthew 28:18–20 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

B- He promised them the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to carry out the mission. (Luke 24:49)

Luke 24:49 (NLT)

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

1- Jesus promises the holy Spirit to his followers.

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

2- Jesus fulfilled his promise to send the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 2:1-4)

Acts 2:1–4 (NLT)

1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.

2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.

4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

CONCLUSION: