This Is My Story

There is an old hymn, Blessed Assurance, that has these words in its chorus: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. This hymn was written by the blind songwriter, Fanny Crosby, who has shared her incredible story through words in hymns so often.

There is an old hymn, Blessed Assurance that has these words in its chorus: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. This hymn was written by the blind songwriter, Fanny Crosby, who has shared her incredible story through words in hymns so often.

Yet, there would be no power in the story if it were not for the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our story would not be much different from any other religious group. We would have nothing to share that had any hope or certainty.

In today’s passage, we see a group of close, intimate followers of Jesus who have gone through an emotional explosion ranging from anger to frustration, descending to sorrow, disappointment, and depression. Now we’ve seen them go from disbelief and shock to a glimmer of hope. Today, we’ll see them given a real reason to tell their story about their relationship to Jesus Christ and what He offers to those who will believe on His Name.

When we understand what we have experienced in Jesus Christ, we must get busy and tell others our story about salvation through the living Jesus Christ.

In this portion of Scripture today, we will be seeing a bit of confusion in the hearts of those in the room as they’re discussing the latest news about Jesus. Then suddenly, this group will begin to experience the confession that Jesus is alive as He reveals Himself to them. Finally, we will see this group being given a commission to deal with the reality that Jesus is physically and fully alive and is going to use them to accomplish the purpose for why He came to this earth.

Confusion- 24:36-37

Luke 24:36–37 NASB95

While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

This section of Scripture seems to continue on from the previous section; just a little later in the evening. You can almost hear the excited discussion taking place with all the individuals in the room, especially after the two individuals from the Emmaus walk begin sharing.

This section of Scripture seems to continue on from the previous section later in the evening. You can almost hear the excited discussion taking place with all the individuals in the room, especially after the two individuals from the Emmaus walk begin sharing.

Suddenly, in verse 36, in the middle of all of the wonderful things that were being shared, they find Jesus standing in their very midst. He greets the group with the typical peace be to you. Though this was a typical greeting, it was also in relation to the fact that they were caught off guard. Yes, even after all they had been hearing and had experienced, Luke writes that they were startled and frightened. He even notes that they thought they were seeing a spirit or a ghost.

Why would they have thought such a thing? We know from other sightings of Jesus from other Gospels that there was nothing strange about His appearance. In fact, He was mistaken just recently as a simple traveler. Mary Magdalene thought He might have been the gardener. What could have prompted their fears? It probably was how Jesus came out of nowhere and was suddenly standing in the room with them. It wasn’t like there was a Star Trek transporter machine that could make Him materialize out of thin air.

We continue on to see if they’re going to get some insight into this situation.

Confession- 24:38-43

Luke 24:38–43 NASB95

And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? “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.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them.

There are many songs and much discussion about the centrality and importance of the cross. However, without the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, we do not have a complete gospel message. To suggest that there is no resurrection would deny the accuracy and authenticity of the New Testament and suggest that the Old Testament is full of false prophecy.

There are many songs and much discussion about the centrality and importance of the cross. However, without the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, we do not have a complete gospel message. To suggest that there is no resurrection would deny the accuracy and authenticity of the New Testament and suggest that the Old Testament is full of false prophecy.

In this short record, it is obvious that there was a physical, bodily resurrection. Needless to say, the physical body of Jesus was obviously different. We know from other portions of the Bible that this was a glorified body. However, based upon our limited, earthly understanding, we do not comprehend all of the implications of this resurrection body.

Jesus is very calm and points out to them why they should not doubt and have concerns. After all, they had no real reason to panic. He then presents His hands and feet, trying to show them that it is indeed jesus. He invites them to physically touch Him in order to prove to them that He is not a spirit. There was no cause for concern if they would just use the senses God had given them to see that it was really Him. Everyone would know that a spirit does not have flesh and bones. Jesus obviously did. Needless to say, he had physicality.

His body could do anything any normal physical body was capable of doing. Yet, it could do so much more. He could somehow go through walls and enter locked rooms. He could be some place one instant, while suddenly disappearing without any discernible movement. Now, think about this for a bit—when we get our resurrection bodies, it appears from Scripture that they will be like that of Jesus.

We need to understand that verse 41 is not a matter of unbelief, but rather of joy and amazement which boggles their minds. You might say that they might have felt this was too good to be true. So, in an effort to convince them still, He continues on to prove to them that he is real in his physicality. He asked for something to eat and is provided with a piece of boiled fish. Certainly, a ghost or a spirit would not ask for something to eat. Even in the picture of Jesus physically sitting down and breaking bread, shows that he is definitely physical. It is interesting how Luke points out in verse 43 that he physically took it and physically ate in front of them. Further, what ghost would have any need for physical food?

What were they now supposed to do now that their confusion has had some clarity? What about the facts of this confession? Were they going to have this information just for themselves? Obviously not.

Commission- 24:44-49

Luke 24:44–49 NASB95

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.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. “You are witnesses of these things. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

There are two aspects to this section; training and telling. There is more than just importing information; there is also the imparting of instructions. They start out as students and then become sharers. They were to proclaim by preaching a specific message. They were also to become witnesses as they shared their experience. And in all of this, this powerful gospel message only has potential and power by means of the Holy Spirit working in and through them. We will also notice that in order to be an effective witness, one has to be involved in intimate worship. In other words, we can only share what we know and have experienced. This comes from the Bible and a lifestyle of obedience and relationship with Jesus.

There are two aspects to this action; training and telling. There is more than just importing information; there is also the imparting of instructions. They start out as students and then become sharers. They were to proclaim by preaching a specific message. They were also to become witnesses as they shared their experience. And in all of this, this powerful gospel message only has potential and power by means of the Holy Spirit working in and through them. We will also notice that in order to be an effective witness, one has to be involved in intimate worship. In other words, we can only share what we know and have experienced.

In these last few verses of this section, we see Jesus teaching them as a whole group. He reminds them that the words which He is going to share are those teachings that He already shared while he was walking among them earlier. However, verse 45 lets us know that it was at this time that He illumined and enlightened their minds. He gave them insight to understand what the Scriptures were teaching. He reminds them that as prophecy stated, He would have to suffer and then rise from the dead on the third day.

So it seems clear that when we tell our story about Jesus, it has to be firmly rooted in the Bible. We need to understand and believe all the prophecy as seen throughout the entirety of the Old Testament. At the same time, we are given the added benefit of the New Testament proofs of the truths about Jesus. In addition, we have our own experience and that of the New Testament writers as to what Jesus has done in our lives.

He also lets them know that the message of repentance for forgiveness of sins should be shared and proclaimed in the name of Jesus to everyone on this earth, beginning at ground Zero, being in Jerusalem. Verse 47 appears to be the main focus of their commission. Very simply, repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name. This is the command for the church even today.

In other words, this is not just for the small group gathered in that room that particular evening. This command is for all believers throughout all time. If you are a Christian, you are responsible to tell the story. This is what the church is to be proclaiming to the world. During our corporate gathering together, like we are currently doing, that is the time for us to be equipped and encouraged to go out and do this. As a church, we don’t just function to exist and to keep the wheels turning. We exist to tell our story to others. We are commanded to tell others that Jesus Christ will forgive their sins if they will simply repent and believe. The Bible tells us in : There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

We see in the last part of verse 47 that this is for all people. It is not reserved only for Israel. Salvation is for the Jew and the Gentile. This, also, was prophesied in the Old Testament. Our command to share the Good News is to do so for everyone,

Then in verse 48, he tells them that they are to be witnesses of all of this information. The word for witnesses is where we get the word for martyr. It is a legal term for one who is presenting evidence in a court. God chose to use us fragile, feeble humans to accomplish this mission. This command did not cease when the apostles were gone, but has been passed down to all who claim the Name of Jesus.

Though we have been tasked with this commission of telling the story, we cannot proclaim the true Gospel of Jesus Christ on our own. We need the enabling and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

In verse 49, we have encouragement combined with instruction for more encouragement. They were told Jesus would send forth God’s promise upon them. We know that this would be the Holy Spirit. Rather than having them just go off haphazardly, they were instructed to stay in Jerusalem until God had given them power which could only come from Him. The wording is such that they were to be clothed with power. This was not something they were to seek out or to do on their own. It was going to happen because Jesus had promised it and the Father would send it.

Conclusion

One may wonder why there is so much emphasis on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why do we speak of the Gospel message as consisting of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? Why is it important that we, not only speak of the cross of Christ, but the resurrection of Christ?

Most obviously in my mind, is that His resurrection shows His absolute and complete triumph over sin. Additionally, it seems obvious that the bodily resurrection of Jesus is a clear sign that God was satisfied with the sacrifice which Jesus made to pay the penalty for our sins.

We are also reminded throughout the Gospel of Luke of the importance of forgiveness. We know that forgiveness of sins is only able to be accomplished when a person repents of their sins. It shows the direction the heart wishes to go; turning from all that sin entails toward a pursuit of those things which are righteous. Interestingly, genuine repentance doesn’t come from within us. It requires conviction by the Holy Spirit. The best we can do is to feel sorry until the Holy Spirit moves in our lives.

The good news is that when genuine repentance takes place, God forgives because Jesus has made the sacrifice, His sacrifice, that paid the penalty.

And the exciting part for us is that if we have Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit. That means that all of us are given power by God to make an effective impact on other peoples lives for the glory of God.

When we understand what we have experienced in Jesus Christ, we must get busy and tell others our story about salvation through the living Jesus Christ.