Special: Luke 24 "The Resurrection Account"

If you attended Calvary Chapel Lake City since last October, you’ve journeyed with us through the final week of Jesus’ life… His final Passover week… where Jesus literally became the Passover Lamb… sacrificed for the forgiveness of sins.

But, as Jesus predicted numerous times… death would not be His end… He would rise from the dead three days after being crucified on a cross.

Death was not His end… He is Risen!

You better believe it! And, truly, as a Christian… you better believe in the Resurrection for it is a key belief in our faith.

Rom 10:9 states, “… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Salvation comes by public confession or declaration with ones lips the Jesus is your Lord or Master… coupled with faith or belief in the risen Lord Jesus.

The Resurrection is a proof that all that Jesus said was true… He is ‘… the way, the truth, and the life.’ And, no one comes to the Father except through Him. Jn 14:6

The resurrection is a validation that the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for sins…

The Father’s wrath was satisfied… and we now can come boldly to the throne of grace.

Paul emphasized the significance of Jesus’ resurrection in 1 Cor 15:14-17 “…if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”

But, Christ is risen… many witnesses saw Jesus in the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension.

Even just one witness in today’s jurisprudence system can stand as proof of one’s guilt or innocence.

And, Paul testified that there were over 500 eye witnesses who saw Jesus alive after dead.

It’s not a story… it’s an account. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a FACT!

HE IS RISEN!

And, so today we celebrate Jesus… truly everyday we celebrate Jesus, but today we highlight and remember His victory over death and sin.

Our passage today is Luke 24… the final Chapter in Luke’s gospel, and the most thorough account of the resurrection.

And, what I encourage you to observe as we go through this chapter is to notice what was important to Jesus to do in the hours and days following His resurrection.

The title of today’s message, is “The Resurrection Account.”

Let’s Pray!

Luke 24:1-12 “Now on the first day of the week [Sunday], very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them [who are named in V10], came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves;and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.”

John tells us the clothes were “folded”… a great lesson for you kids… and some of us adults if we’re honest… make your beds… even Jesus made His bed resurrection morning.

More significant is the testimony that these left behind linen cloths represent. They are a testimony that Jesus’ body was not stolen for a thief would not have taken the time to unwrap the body, nor fold the clothes.

NO… the clothes are a testimony that HE IS RISEN!

And, Peter marveled to himself at what had happened. And, we still marvel to this day.

In these first twelve verse of Luke… it stands out to me that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a surprise to all of Jesus’ disciples… both the men and the women.

The ladies went to anoint His body and were perplexed V4… they were at a loss or puzzled as to where His body went.

Even though, as the angels reminded them in VSS 6-7… how earlier in His ministry Jesus predicted He would rise again.

Even very early in His ministry… Jesus alluded to His death and resurrection, such as when He said…

John 2:19 “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Or, Matt 12:40… the sign of Jonah.. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

And, later in Jesus’ ministry He began to explicitly speak about His death and resurrection.

Matt 16:21 “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Again in Matt 17:22-23 “Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.”

And, again in Matt 20:18-19 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

And, despite Jesus’ repeated predictions of His death and resurrection… the disciples were not tracking with His plan. In fact, they did not believe that He was risen.

Even Jesus’ closest disciples… the eleven Apostles (for Judas was already perished)… when they heard the testimony of the women that Jesus was risen… Mark records “they did not believe.”

And the eleven heard the testimony of the two Emmaus Road disciples (which we will see in a moment) that He was risen… and Mark records “… they did not believe them either.”

And then Mark 16:14 records, “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.”

I point these things out because how many times have we been just like these disciples?

Unbelieving and hard hearted.

Numerous times Jesus promised and predicted the future for us… right in His word… and we did not believe… or do not believe because of our hard heartedness.

Or, Jesus gave us instruction, like “You shall love your neighbor as yourself...” (Matt 19:19, Matt 22:39, Rom 13:9, Gal 5:14, James 2:8).

The Royal Law it’s called… love your neighbor as yourself. And it’s repeated numerous times in Scripture… Old and New Testament.

But, do we obey? Or, are we hard hearted?

Eph 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Are we kind and gracious… quick to forgive?

James 1:19 “… let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath…”

How do we do on that one?

Are you a good listener, thoughtful in your speech, and slow to anger?

What I observe of Jesus during the resurrection morning… which we will see in today’s account… is that despite His repeated predications and despite His disciples lapse of faith… despite their failures… He pursues them repeatedly.

He meets them where they are… in their doubt… in their disbelief… in their hard heartedness.

The character of our Lord is revealed… He is long suffering… He is patient.

When you don’t love your neighbor… when you’re not tenderhearted or forgiving… when you are quick to wrath…

Like Jesus rebuked the disciples… expect the Holy Spirit is going to rebuke you too… you should feel conviction when you fail.

But, like the disciples, Jesus is not done with you yet…

And, we say, “Thank you Lord for your grace!”

Now… observe another great lesson here. Even before daybreak, the women head to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus in V1.

In the parallel account in Mark 16:3, we read “And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

We’re not told if this was just a thought… or if emotion was tied to the thought. Often when there’s a large obstacle in life anxiety follows.

These women were right to wonder how the massive stone would be moved… for it likely weighed 1-2 tons.

It’s ok to wonder, but doubt and anxiety are not of the Lord …

In Luke 1, there is a great contrast between Zacharias who questioned the angel Gabriel as to how his wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son in her old age.

Gabriel struck Zacharias mute as a result of his disbelief… until his son, John the Baptist, was born.

But, Mary, who questioned Gabriel how she would bear a son in her virginity was not struck mute by Gabriel.

She wondered, but did not doubt. She trusted.

And, I like to think that these ladies who approached Jesus’ tomb also wondered how the stone would be rolled away, but trusted.

This is the posture we, as believers, should take with life’s obstacles… the stones in our lives. We may not know how God will move them, but we are to trust that He will… or strengthen us to endure.

Scripture instructs us to trust God, and promises that He will take care of us.

In 1 Pet 5:7 Peter exhorted believers “...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Meaning ‘Give all your worries, anxieties, and cares to God, for He cares about you.”

God cares about you. By def. you are the ‘object of His care.’

He’s focused on caring about you and for you.

Knowing we can trust that He cares for us… how do we give our worries to God?

You Pray. Just pray. Give it to God in prayer.

That’s what Php 4:6 says…

Php 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

As your pray and give your worries to God, scripture promises peace in your heart and mind… NOT anxiety.

But, how can we trust God WILL care for us?

Jesus taught in Matt 6:31-33 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

God knows ALL the things you need. Food. Clothing… God knows your needs.

Sometimes He even blesses our desires above and beyond our needs… especially when we put HIM first in our lives… when we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

And, on Jesus’ resurrection morning, that’s exactly what these women were doing. They sought to honor the body of Jesus… to anoint His body… they thought was in the grave.

And, though they wondered who would roll the stone away…

God had it covered… He sent two angels… one rolled away the stone before they even arrived at the tomb.

Let’s continue to V13… Luke is the only Gospel writer to record this next event… Christ appearing to the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus…

This is the 4th of 10 appearances Jesus makes in the 40 days post resurrection. All His appearances are to His disciples.

It’s interesting who Jesus does not appear to…

Some of us… well maybe not us… but people at other churches… some other people would perhaps feel inclined if they were brutalized, murdered, and then rose again to dish out some revenge… even if it was just appearing to their persecutors to freak them out…

Pilate would be a good target… Jesus could have appeared to him in private, and whispered… “You should have listened to your wife when she said, “Have nothing to do with that just man...”

And, Pilate would have jumped out of his sandals…

Or the guards who blindfolded Jesus and slapped Him saying, “Prophesy… who hit you.” Jesus could have been invisible and popped them, and repeat their words… “Prophesy… who hit you…”

But, Jesus doesn’t do any of these things… what was important to Jesus on resurrection morning… and the days following is appearing to His disciples…

Gathering them in… bringing them along in their faith journey… to believe in Him… to believe in the fact of His resurrection… so they would be empowered to live as witnesses for Him.

And, He is still doing this in our lives today.

So, let’s observe Luke’s record of Jesus appearing to the disciples on the road to Emmaus…

Luke 24:13-32 “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained [or prevented], so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” The NASB adds “And they stood still...”

Two grieving disciples are traveling away from Jerusalem… verbally processing with one another the events of the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.

They are devastated… feeling let down… thinking Jesus would redeem them from Roman oppression…

Then a stranger comes along and asks a question… and when you have been through a hard or traumatic… or an exhausting experience… it’s hard to rehash with someone who wasn’t there…

Of course Jesus was there, but they don’t recognize Him. And, His simple question stops them in their tracks… weighs them down.

Grief is hard. A simple question from a stranger tests your patience… it adds labor…

In these moments you have very little to give. And, Jesus’ question causes them to lose all momentum… they stood still.

The word “sad” in V17 seems to be a mixed emotion when you look at the definition of the Greek word… “sour, gloomy, dejected… even angry” are all in the definition of the word.

In the stages of grief… especially after a sudden loss… especially that of such a violent and offensive manner as what befell Jesus… ALL these emotions would be expected.

And, either in their heart-brokenness or more likely a spiritual restraint… these disciples do not recognize Jesus.

V18 “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?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?”

Two disciples… one is named Cleopas… perhaps Luke interviewed him to get this account.

In V18, Cleopas asks Jesus a question that is pointed… maybe even rude.

Jesus knows better than anyone else the things that transpired… for they were HIS trials, beatings, passion, crucifixion and death...

Yet, He asks, “What things?”

What was Jesus’ intent in asking this?

Some see this as divine humor… and it is a rather humorous question, but I’m not so sure that was His intent.

During His ministry… Jesus would perform a miracle as a set up for an amazing teaching… and it seems to me this question is much the same.

It seems He is drawing out of them their thoughts and feelings of what transpired…

… almost extracting a venom that must be purged… so He can fill them with truth and hope… which as we will see… are found in the Scriptures…

Let’s continue in V19…

V19b “So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping [and their hope was shattered… thus they are sad] that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. [The disciples expected redemption from Rome… we’ll see that in Acts 1 next week, but Jesus first redeemed us from sin]. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. [Which we read in V11 that the words of the women seemed like “idle tales” or nonsense to the men who did not believe] 24 And certain of those who were with us [Peter and John] went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Notice… before Jesus even reveals Himself to them… how does He lead them out of doubt and skepticism?

He point to the prophets… He will take them to Scripture.

Verses like Ps 16:10 “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”

“Holy One” … the same title Gabriel uses for Jesus to Mary in Lk 1:35.

Peter explained in Acts 2:31 that David who wrote Ps 16 “...spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.”

For HE IS RISEN!

So many scriptures… Ps 22… Isa 53… over the past several months in Matthew… we have looked at many OT Messianic verses that Jesus would share with these disciples...

V26 “Ought not the Christ [Or, was is not necessary for the Christ] to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”

It was necessary…

For the fulfillment of OT prophecy that the Messiah would come and redeem mankind…

For our very redemption from sin, and to satisfy the Father’s wrath on sin…

To restore our relationship with the Father…

There are many reasons why Christ had to be the suffering servant…

V27 “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded [expounded thoroughly… what we do at Calvary Chapel] to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

And, if resurrected Jesus in glory used Scripture to lead the spiritually dull to have spiritual sight… it’s a good model for us as well…

V28 “Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that [or “acted as if”] He would have gone farther.”

‘Alright guys, great talking with you… well here’s your stop… Emmaus… I’m heading down the road further...’

And, sometimes God is like that… He will spend more time with you… but are you desperate for Him to do so… and will you plea with Him to abide?

These disciples do, and they are richly rewarded. Observe…

V29 “But they constrained [or urged] Him, saying, “Abide with us [Stay with us], for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” [‘It’s getting late… stay with us… don’t go!’] And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.”

Amazing. They invite Jesus in… and everything changes.

Jesus… the guest becomes the the host…

A simple meal becomes a sacrament. Communion.

The house becomes a house of worship.

And, the spiritually blind see.

Either the familiar words… or the familiar prayer… something happens in this moment where the venom of doubt and disbelief is gone.

There is power in hearing scripture, being desperate for the Lord to be with you, and to commune with Him.

And, observe how spiritual sight returns to these disciples as they do…

V31 “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

As the Lords work is finished with these disciples… their spiritual eyes were opened and He was known by them…

And, seemingly abruptly… He vanishes…

But, not without leaving an impression upon their hearts which they equated to His opening the Scriptures to them…

The Living Word of God recited many passages of the written word of God to these disciples on the road to Emmaus…

In heaven, be sure to seek out Cleopas to hear more about this teaching… I guarantee it was amazing.

V33 “So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.”

What a week… what a couple of days for all of these disciples.

And, here, they are mind blown… they are trying to take it all in.

Jesus died… and even though at first they thought the testimonies… which came from the women… were idle tales… these men are changing their tunes as they are experiencing additional testimonies of the risen Lord.

And then...

V36 “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” [In Hebrew… Shalom] 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

Many emotions… terror… fright… trouble… and doubt.

They don’t believe their own eyes. They think they see a ghost.

And, even though Jesus divinely knows they doubt in their hearts… He will give them what He said in His greeting… “peace to you.”

“Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Php 4:7)

Jesus doesn’t hammer them for their doubts… He leads them in peace…

And, He is the same today… life guarantees us trouble… Jesus guarantees us peace in our hearts…

Look at how He reassures the disciples… by physical proof…

V39 “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled,

Our humanity is so typical… unbelief for one reason or another.

Before they didn’t believe in skepticism of the women.

Then sadness blinded the eyes of the Emmaus Road disciples.

Then terror, fright, trouble, and doubt made them apprehensive.

And, now they don’t believe out of joy!

And, look… we can’t criticize them… we’ve never experienced something this spectacular.

Jesus died and rose again, and this is an experience beyond comprehension.

Our humanity is not capable of comprehending the eternal divine God.

We are no different then these disciples…

So, look how Jesus stoops down to them…

He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.”

Jesus didn’t need to eat. He wasn’t famished from the long day. He was glorified.

Eating was a demonstration for them of the reality of His physical bodily resurrection.

They needed additional proof.

There was a day in my life that I needed additional proof of the reality of God. And, while He didn’t have to, when I asked for a sign… He met me where I was, and turned my doubt to belief.

If you are here today, and you are honestly seeking…

To a captive nation God said in Jer 29:13 “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

If you a honestly seeking Him, you will find Him too.

And, after Jesus reassured these disciples, then He commissioned them…

V44 “Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” [the entirety of the OT] 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”

Once again, the importance of being in the word of God… the Scriptures are highlighted.

Thematic to what Jesus did after He rose again. He appeared to His disciples, and opened their spiritual understanding of the word of God… which would remain after He departed.

Which we still have today…

V46 “Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.”

This is their commission… and this is our commission.

It’s not someone else’s role to preach repentance and remission of sins… it was their responsibility and that torch has been passed down to us today.

Repentance is a “change of mind.” First turning from disbelief in Jesus to belief in Jesus…

… and then His Holy Spirit makes us the temple of the Living God… and sanctifies His temple.

Remission is a dismissal… a release… fig. a pardon. Sin is when we fail… sin means “a failing to hit the mark” like when an archer doesn’t hit the bullseye…

The disciples were to preach or proclaim to all nations… to all races that sins were dismissed by turning to Jesus.

Starting at Jerusalem…

We will see next week that Luke will expand this commission in Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

And, both in Acts 1:8 and here in Luke 24:48… Luke states the disciples will be “witnesses” Gk. mar´-toos / martus…

By def. “a judicial witness; a testifier”, but by analogy “a martyr.”

Many of these disciples would literally die, and God gave them the power to fight the good fight until they met that end.

And, the same spirit of God is promised to you… to give you the power to be a witness today as well.

Physical death? Maybe not today… but, who knows the rate our nation is declining.

But, you must put to death the old man of flesh to be a powerful spiritual witness.

And we will see next week as we continue in Acts… how God’s Holy Spirit empowers us in this lifetime to BE witnesses.

To live a life that testifies of Him. Not to GO witnessing, but to BE witnesses.

And, then Luke closes out his gospel… which is a great segue into our teaching in Acts… with the Ascension… which we will cover in greater detail next week…

But, let’s read VSS 49-53 as we close…

Luke 24:49-53 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; [The Holy Spirit] but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany [near Jerusalem], and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.”

And, to all that Jesus said and did… the significance of His death, resurrection, and ascension…

We too… some 2000 years later also say… Amen!

Let’s pray and thank Him for fulfilling His promises as we close out this Easter Resurrection service.

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