Day 68 – Sunday, April 6, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Luke 24

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Resurrection

Matt. 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; John 2-:1-10

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, 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. 

(Luke 24:1–12, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• This resurrection story is paralleled in all four gospels. This part of the Passion story is the culmination of the journey of Jesus to save the earth.
• As in the other passages, the women came to the tomb on Sunday morning to prepare Christ’s body. The stone was rolled away, and the body was gone. Two angels told them of the great resurrection of Christ.
• They reminded them of Jesus’ promise that He would rise again, and they were encouraged. They went to tell all the disciples, but they did not initially believe. Peter got up and ran to the tomb and marveled that He was not there.

Christ Appears on the Road to Emmaus

^{Mark 16:12,13}

¹³ 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, 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?”

¹⁸ 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?”

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 that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. 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. ²⁴ And certain of those who were with us 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! ²⁶ Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

²⁸ Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. ²⁹ But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” 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. ³¹ 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?” 

(Luke 24:13–32, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Two people were walking to Emmaus from Jerusalem (seven miles). They were discussing the events of Jesus’ death.
• Jesus drew near them, but they did not recognize Him. He asked what they were talking about. They were shocked that He did not have knowledge of the crucifixion (if they only knew…).
• He asked them to explain, which they did, telling Him of the crucifixion and resurrection. He scolded them for any doubt, telling them that it all had to happen to fulfill prophecy and glorify Jesus. He then recounted all the prophecies in the few moments.
• When they got to Emmaus, they invited Jesus in to eat. While they were eating, they realized who Jesus was. At that moment, He disappeared.
• They said that their hearts burned within them as He opened the Scriptures to them.

The Proof of His Resurrection

Mark 16:14; John 20:19-23; 1 Cor. 15:5

³³ 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.

³⁶ Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 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? ³⁹ 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, 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. 

(Luke 24:33–43, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The citizens of Emmaus immediately rose up and returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples what had happened.
• At that moment, Jesus stood in the midst of them and spoke peace over the group. They were terrified.
• He told them to behold His body, the scars and wounded places. He then asked if they had any food. They gave Him fish and a honeycomb. He ate it right in front of them.

The Great Commission

Acts 1:3-8

⁴⁴ 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.” ⁴⁵ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

⁴⁶ 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. 

(Luke 24:44–48, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Once they were convinced of what they saw, Jesus taught them one last lesson. He reminded them of the prophesies and they understood.
• He reminded them that all the events had to happen, but that now they must preach repentance to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. He told them that they were the witnesses of the great plan of God, the gospel.

The Ascension

Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9

⁴⁹ “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; 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, 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. 

(Luke 24:49–53, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• He then told them of the Promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and instructed them to wait in Jerusalem until they were endured with power.
• He walked out to Bethany, prayed a blessing over them, and was carried up into the heavens.
• They worshipped and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
• They took the Great Commission and lived it out. We must all take the wonderful gospel of Christ and live it out in our everyday lives.
• Don’t sit on the gospel. Declare it everywhere and do so until He comes!

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.