Lesson Table of Contents He Is Not Here, for He Is Risen

He Is Not Here, for He Is Risen  

 


Purpose

To help class members feel gratitude for the Savior’s Resurrection and the blessings it brings us.

 

Bring The Lessons of the Last Several Weeks Together - That we Might Better Understand.

 

I have labored to provide a way that we might all better understand the resurrection - I think there are some clues for us from the Savior himself - Who in the great intercessory prayer said the following:

John 17: 1-5

1 THESE words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. [ To gain eternal life we must come to know both the Father and the son.Which means we must know their attributes, what type of beings they are and how we can best please them. How do we come to know them? Thru the scriptures and thru the testimony of the living aspostles.]

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: [ Note how the Savior confirms to the Father that he has glorified him - By doing what was asked of him. so how do we glorify the Father? ] I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [ Which was what?

The Father gave his son some specific assignments what are they?
1) He is the Creator see D&C 38:1
2) Teach the plan of salvation and set an example in all things John 1:1
3) Work out the Atonement & Resurrection I Peter 1:19-20, D&C 19:15-19
4) Commense work for the dead Moses 7:36; Luke 16, Isaiah 61:1
5) He is our Judge John 5:22, John 17:24 ]

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

1) D&C 38:1-3 He is the creator

1 THUS saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I AM, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, [the Lord surveyed it, mapped it out, he comprehended it, he knew what it could become "He framed it by faith" Lectures On Faith] and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, [he knew us as spirit children of our father in heaven] before the world was made;
2 The same which knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eyes;
3 I am the same which spake, [commanded the elements and the elements obey the voice of the creator – everything on this earth obeys his voice What about us do we?] and the world was made, [This is not his first time see Moses 1:33 “Worlds without number see Psalm 8:1-3] and all things came by me.

What are your thoughts when you think about the Savior as the creator and the resurrection?

2) John 1:1 - Teach us the plan of salvation / be an example in all things

1 aIN the beginning was the Word, and the Word [upper case so it denotes a title for the savior.] was with God, and the Word was God. [means that he was with God in that he fully comprehended the entire plan of salvation which the father had. He comprehended Grace, mercy, justice, the law of sanctification, the law of justification and there relationship to the atonement. . Because he understood it he was in a position to reveal it to others, others who would be known as prophets our tutors here on earth] [IV:1 In the beginning was the gospel preached through the son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the son, and the son was with God, and the son was of God.]

What are your thoughts when you think about the Savior as our teacher of the plan of salvation and the resurrection?

3) 1 Peter 1:19-21- Work out the Atonement and Resurrection

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, [Jesus was the ONE selected to work out the atonement. I suppose that knowing the Savior in the pre-existance was one of the reasons why we agreed to follow the plan. We raised our hand to the square because of our fore knowledge that Jesus would complete his end of the agreement. We knew that were all others might fail, he would not. See Gen 3:15; Exodus 17: ] but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

3) D&C 19:15-19

15 Therefore I command you [Greg] to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, [this is the son of God saying this. I think I have known something of pain in my life, pain so bad that I wished that I could die, as I could not take it any more. Here God says it is worst than that…I do not want to find out.] how exquisite [elaborate or perfected execution – so whatever the process is be certain that when you come out the other end YOU WILL BE CLEANSED] you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if [they condition that makes it so we do not have to suffer] they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; [see Moses 7:56]
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, [1) Tractor fire] and to bleed at every pore, [ 2) James Talmage in Jesus the Christ said “a mortal cannot handle this – we would black out”] and to suffer both body and spirit— [suffering was not just the flesh but the spirit as well] and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— [to pull back – he was worried that he would be able to accomplish the atonement]

19 Nevertheless, [deep divine determination, Jesus was perfect because he was determined to be perfect. Remember he asked the father if there was any other way and the father said there was no other way] glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. [ What was the finishing work that was required here? That he being perfect lay down his life and then take it up again.]

What are your thoughts when you think about the atonement and the resurrection?

4) Mosses 7:34-39; Commence the Work for the dead.

34 And the fire of mine indignation is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.
35 Behold, I am God; Man of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my name, also.
36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all [ If you are holding something in your hands what does that imply? he knows them, he has power over them – ownership, if you put something in your hand you have control of it. ] the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.
37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?
38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; [ Who perished in the floods? The wicked.] and behold, I will shut them up; [ the doors to the prison will not open until Christ goes to the world of spirits] a prison [see Luke 16:26 - great gulf between wicked and righteous ] have I prepared for them.
39 And That [ pronoun refers to Jesus Christ ] which I have chosen hath pled before my face. Wherefore, he suffereth for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me, [ And what is he Christ going to do during that short time that he returns to the Father as a resurrected being? Christ will return unto the Father as a resurrected being. There will be a short time in between that Christ will open the prison doors. ] and until that day they [the wicked] shall be in torment;

What are your thoughts when you think about the resurrection and the work for the dead?

Return back to where we began this discussion in John 17:2

2 As thou hast given him [ Jesus Christ ] power over all flesh, [ Why is this power so important? It includes the power to lay down his own life and to take it up again. ] that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. [ It is with this power that he alone can break the bands of death - and by him having power over death he can free us from the bands of death - all will be resurrected.]

 

The Prophet Joseph Smith make the following statement: “The Doctrines of the Resurrection of the Dead and the Eternal Judgment are necessary to preach among the first principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 149.)

Why is the doctrine of resurrection so important to the gospel plan?
Without the Atonement the resurrection would leave us in a state of hell and torture for eternity; Without a resurrection there would be no need for an atonement - as once we die we would be done.

Joseph Smith emphasized that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to our hope for future happiness and that Jesus, having been himself resurrected, has the power to bring all mankind out of their graves to stand before him to be judged. (Ibid., p. 62.)

Is it important for us to have a personal understanding of the resurrection? Why?

An understanding and testimony of the resurrection can give us hope and perspective as we experience the challenges, trials, and triumphs of life. We can find comfort in the assurance that the Savior lives and that through His Atonement, “he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory” (Alma 22:14).

 

Matt 27:46,50,51

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [ Why did he have to this very last part on his own? If he was the one to have the power to submit or give up his life he had to; on his own endure it on his own. ]

50 ¶ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. [ Have you ever wondered why did the Savior hang on so long on the cross - why did he not give up the ghost or yield sooner? He dismissed the spirit. He himself willingly gave up that life which it was impossible for man to take away. It is not said that he hung on the cross till he died through pain and agony; nor is it said that his bones were broken, the sooner to put him out of pain, and to hasten his death; but that himself dismissed the soul, that he might thus become, not a forced sacrifice, but a free-will offering for sin. Because he was a God he had the power to live, because he was born of a mortal mother he had the power to die.]

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; [ What is the purpose of the veil in the temple? It was the barrier that kept morals for entering Gods presence. Only the high priest could part the veil. What is the signifigance of the veil of the temple being rent open then? With the temple veil opened it is now possible for all of us to get through the veil - not just the high priest. now nothing stopping us from entering Gods presence; except us making the journey. so the Atonment removed the partition that would hinder us spiritually from entering God's presence and the veil is rent that removed the partition that would hinder us from leaving our physical body behind forever (the resurrection). This event was pretty big to rent the temple veil as The veil was the thickness that a man could stretch his had across so it was pretty thick, to rent theis massive piece of cloth it took so power. ] and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

From there The body of Christ was placed in the sepulchre.

What provisions did the Chief priests-scribes and elders make with reguard to the tomb?

Matt 27:62-66

62 ¶ Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. [ This they probably took from his saying, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it up. If so, they destroyed, by their own words, the false accusation they brought against him to put him to death; then they perverted the meaning, now they declare it. Thus the wise are taken in their own craftiness. Neither the devil nor his servants ever speak truth, but when they expect to accomplish some bad purpose by it. The Savior had promised he would be resurrected from the dead. As a matter of fact the entirity of Christs teachings involved the reference that he would rise from the dead. So if he did not rise from the dead - then he and all of his teachings were a lie. ]
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, [ Make darn well sure that it is tightly sealed so that the disciples cannot fool the people into believing that he was resurrected by removing the body on their own. ] lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. [ If that happens we will never hear the end of it. It will be worse that those who choose to follow him while he was alive.]
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, [The Jews had a corps of Roman troops, consisting of several companies, as a guard for the temple, Acts iv. 1. These companies mounted guard by turns, some of these companies, which were not then on duty, Pilate gave them leave to employ to watch the tomb.] make it as sure as ye can.

66 so they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, [the seal, which was probably the seal of the governor, was to prevent the guards from being corrupted so as to permit the theft.] and setting a watch.

What were the Chief priests-scribes and elders trying to make sure did not happen?

Why was that so important to them? see verse 64

Why was the idea of the resurrection so hard for the early saints to understand? Never been done - Viewed the saviors role as a temporal messiah

After Jesus was crucified, his body was wrapped in clean linen cloths and placed in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, one of Jesus’ disciples, he was wealthy as be owned a tomb and the garden area around it.

What did Mary Magdalene and the other women find when they came to Jesus’ tomb?

Read Luke 24:1-8

1 NOW upon the first day of the week, [ What Is the Significance of “The First Day of the Week”? “Because Jesus came forth from the grave on the first day of the week, to commemorate that day and to keep in remembrance the glorious reality of the resurrection, the ancient apostles, as guided by the Spirit, changed the Sabbath to Sunday. That this change had divine approval we know from latter-day revelation, in which Deity speaks of ‘the Lord’s day’ as such and sets forth what should and should not be done on that day. (D. & C. 59:9–17.)” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:841.) ] very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, [ What were they perplexed about? That the body had been moved. Maybe they were wondering to them selves why they cannot just leave him alone - they would not in life and now why not in death! What principle had they not grasp about the Savior? They had not quite grasp the fact that he had the power to take up his life, since he had the power to lay it down. They did not crucify him until he relenquished unto death. They did not fully comprehend who he was, and what that meant. ] behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: [ see Matt 28:3 ]
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? [ A common form of speech among the Jews, implying that those who asked such a question were foolish or where not making very good decisions if they are really looking for someone. As the burial places were unclean, it was not reasonable to suppose that the living should frequent them; or that if any was missing he was likely to be found in such places. ]
6 He is not here, but is risen: [ How does your testimony of the Atonement and the Resurrection help you through difficult times? President Howard W. Hunter said that the words “He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:6) “contain all the hope, assurance, and belief necessary to sustain us in our challenging and sometimes grief-filled lives” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1986, 18; or Ensign, May 1986, 15–16) ] remember how he spake unto you when he was yet 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, [ the comforter at work - by bringing to each of their minds his words as the Angel speaks to them, they give them hope and comfort, ]

 

Matt 28:10

10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren [ This is the first time our Lord called his disciples by this endearing name: What meaning do you think that this phrase would have held for the disciples? That he was one of them and they with him, on the same team, coming from the same father...After all that has transpired ] that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

 

Meanwhile back at the ranch what were the elders and soldiers doing?

Matt 29:11-15

11 ¶ Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch [ Or guards. Probably the rest still remained at the tomb, waiting for orders to depart, and had sent these to intimate to their employers the things that had taken place. ] came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, [ That is, the senators of the great Sanhedrin or Jewish council of state, elsewhere called the elders of the people; they could now meet, as the Sabbath was over. ] and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, [Why was it so important for the elders to kill the rumor of the resurrection so quickly? What problems would it casue the elders if the rumor was permitted to spread? What Attempts Were Made to Discredit the Resurrection? “The inconsistent assertion that Christ had not risen but that His body had been stolen from the tomb by the disciples, has been sufficiently treated in the text. The falsehood is its own refutation. Unbelievers of later date, recognizing the palpable absurdity of this gross attempt at misrepresentation, have not hesitated to suggest other hypotheses, each of which is conclusively untenable. Thus, the theory based upon the impossible assumption that Christ was not dead when taken from the cross, but was in a state of coma or swoon, and that He was afterward resuscitated, disproves itself when considered in connection with recorded facts. The spear-thrust of the Roman soldier would have been fatal, even if death had not already occurred. The body was taken down, handled, wrapped and buried by members of the Jewish council, who cannot be thought of as actors in the burial of a living man; and so far as subsequent resuscitation is concerned, Edersheim (vol. 2, p. 626) trenchantly remarks: ‘Not to speak of the many absurdities which this theory involves, it really shifts—if we acquit the disciples of complicity—the fraud upon Christ Himself.’ A crucified person, removed from the cross before death and subsequently revived, could not have walked with pierced and mangled feet on the very day of his resuscitation, as Jesus did on the road to Emmaus. Another theory that has had its day is that of unconscious deception on the part of those who claimed to have seen the resurrected Christ, such persons having been victims of subjective but unreal visions conjured up by their own excited and imaginative condition. The independence and marked individuality of the several recorded appearings of the Lord disprove the vision theory. Such subjective visual illusions as are predicated by this hypothesis, presuppose a state of expectancy on the part of those who think they see; but all the incidents connected with the manifestations of Jesus after His resurrection were directly opposed to the expectations of those who were made witnesses of His resurrected state. “The foregoing instances of false and untenable theories regarding the resurrection of our Lord are cited as examples of the numerous abortive attempts to explain away the greatest miracle and the most glorious fact of history. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is attested by evidence more conclusive than that upon which rests our acceptance of historical events in general. Yet the testimony of our Lord’s rising from the dead is not founded on written pages. To him who seeks in faith and sincerity shall be given an individual conviction which shall enable him to reverently confess as exclaimed the enlightened apostle of old: ‘Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.’ Jesus, who is God the son, is not dead. ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth.’ (Job 19:25.)” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp. 698–99.)]
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. [ Let's take a look - what would it take to perfect such a covert operation?

First there are only eleven disciples, who are terrified of the roman soldier in the first place, no skill in warfare, are going to endanger themselves against a number of well armed and trained soldiers - yet right. Oh and they did it while the soldier slept.

Maybe a guard could have fallen asleep but all of them when they were so trained that if they were found asleep it was immediate death, so being well trained soldier that would be hard to happen. Then if they would have fallen asleep the apostles were going to remove the heavy stone and the body in such silience as to not wake a single guard. Then they would to have done this with a very narrow window time wise as they would need to pull off the mission and then return without being noticed by anyone else as well.

Then if we were to believe the words of the guards - you know the one's that were asleep - if they were asleep how did they know who took the body - they were asleep. ]

14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. [ Why did they need to persude the Govenor to secure themselves? What was the punishment for sleeping on the job? Immediate death! Pilate - we will persuade him that this will be in his own interest to join in the deception - as a result you will be safe - trust us! ]
15 so they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. [ Matthew wrote his Gospel some where between eight and thirty years after the resurrection. ]

 

 

Read Luke 24:9-12
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. [ Have you ever put your self in the position of the apostles - would you have believed? Why would you have believed? Why would it have been hard to believe? Why Didn’t the Apostles Believe the Account of Mary Magdalene and the Other Women? “Mary Magdalene and the other women told the wonderful story of their several experiences to the disciples, but the brethren could not credit their words, which ‘seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.’ After all that Christ had taught concerning His rising from the dead on that third day, the apostles were unable to accept the actuality of the occurrence; to their minds the resurrection was some mysterious and remote event, not a present possibility. There was neither precedent nor analogy for the stories these women told—of a dead person returning to life, with a body of flesh and bones, such as could be seen and felt—except the instances of the young man of Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and the beloved Lazarus of Bethany, between whose cases of restoration to a renewal of mortal life and the reported resurrection of Jesus they recognized essential differences. The grief and the sense of irreparable loss which had characterized the yesterday Sabbath, were replaced by profound perplexity and contending doubts on this first day of the week. But while the apostles hesitated to believe that Christ had actually risen, the women, less skeptical, more trustful, knew, for they had both seen Him and heard His voice, and some of them had touched His feet.” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp. 682–83.) ]

12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. [ The first clues to Peter were that the linen had been unwrapped, in a leisurely and orderly manner. since it appearred not to be done in haste it did not look like a robbery. If it were a robbery - the theives would no doubt have not taken the time to un wrap the body andthen neatly put the clothes together. ]

Overview of John 20:2-14

the Gospel of John is the only Gospel that contains an account of the Lord’s appearance to Mary Magdalene just after his Resurrection

Mary runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and the other disciple, and says, They have taken the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

so Peter and the disciple ran both together: and the other disciple outruns Peter, to the sepulchre.

What does Peter see when he looks in the tomb?

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. [ What clues did Peter see that would indicate to him that this was not a theif of the body? The fact that the lienes were removed and placed in order. Thevies would have taken everything and would have been in a gurry to not get caught. So this was the first indication that something else had happened as the linens were removed and placed.]
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

 

John 20:11-17

11 ¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. [ “How much there is incident to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord which ennobles and exalts faithful women. They wept at the cross, sought to care for his wounded and lifeless body, and came to his tomb to weep and worship for their friend and Master. And so it is not strange that we find a woman, Mary of Magdala, chosen and singled out from all the disciples, even including the apostles, to be the first mortal to see and bow in the presence of a resurrected being. Mary, who had been healed of much and who loved much, saw the risen Christ!”(McConkie, DNTC, 1:843.) ]
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: [ Why Did the Lord Forbid Mary to Touch Him? “One may wonder why Jesus had forbidden Mary Magdalene to touch Him, and then, so soon after, had permitted other women to hold Him by the feet as they bowed in reverence. We may assume that Mary’s emotional approach had been prompted more by a feeling of personal yet holy affection than by an impulse of devotional worship such as the other women evinced. Though the resurrected Christ manifested the same friendly and intimate regard as He had shown in the mortal state toward those with whom He had been closely associated, He was no longer one of them in the literal sense. There was about Him a divine dignity that forbade close personal familiarity. To Mary Magdalene Christ had said: ‘Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.’ If the second clause was spoken in explanation of the first, we have to infer that no human hand was to be permitted to touch the Lord’s resurrected and immortalized body until after He had presented Himself to the Father. It appears reasonable and probable that between Mary’s impulsive attempt to touch the Lord, and the action of the other women who held Him by the feet as they bowed in worshipful reverence, Christ did ascend to the Father, and that later He returned to earth to continue His ministry in the resurrected state.” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 682.) ] but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; [ What Is the Significance of Jesus’ Words “I Ascend unto My Father, and Your Father; and to My God, and Your God”? “Such careful choice of words was in keeping with his unvarying custom of maintaining a distinction between himself and other men. He was the son of God, literally; other men had mortal fathers. Thus, for instance, he was careful to say. ‘I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God’ (John 20:17), not unto our Father and our God.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:413.) ] and to my God, and your God.

 

What was the attitude of the disciples after the crucifixaion?

Luke 24:13-21
13 ¶ And, behold, two of them [ of the disciples - Cleopus was one see vs18; some believe it was Ammaus, others Peter, others Luke.] went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. [ 7½ miles from Jerusalem. ]
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, [ What do you suppose that discussion was about? How hard would it have been to have a view of the Messiah as the physical Messiah then to have that dream crushed as he was cruicified? ] Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? [ Jesus enters the conversation and starts to ask thme questions regarding their view on what he had taught them. “Why did the risen Lord take this means of appearing to Cleopas and his companion (perhaps Luke, since it is he who records the account)? Was it to quote and interpret the Messianic prophecies ‘beginning at Moses and all the prophets’; Such could have been done under more effective circumstances, and for that matter, Luke does not even record the explanations given. Why did Jesus keep his identity hidden? Why walk and talk, perhaps for hours, along the dusty lanes of Palestine? “Obviously it was to show what a resurrected being is like. He was teaching the gospel as only he could, teaching a living sermon, a sermon that was to be climaxed shortly in an upper room in the presence of his apostles. See Luke 24:36–44. “Jesus walked down a Judean lane, walked for hours and taught the truths of the gospel, exactly as he had during three and a half years of his mortal ministry. So much did he seem like any other wayfaring teacher, in demeanor, in dress, in speech, in physical appearance, in conversation, that they did not recognize him as the Jesus whom they assumed was dead. ‘Abide with us,’ they said, as they would have done to Peter or John. ‘Come in and eat and sleep; you must be tired and hungry.’ They thought he was a mortal man. Could anyone devise a more perfect way to teach what a resurrected being is like when his glory is retained within him? Men are men whether mortal or immortal, and there need be no spiritualizing away of the reality of the resurrection, not after this Emmaus road episode. See Mark 16:9–11.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:850.)]
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? [ As to say - Man you must really have been away or totally out of it; given everything that has happened in the past few days - I cannot conceive how you have missed it; even if you had only stayed in Jerusalem just one night! ]
19 And he [the Resurrected Lord] said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which 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 have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: [ Here Cleopas shares with this complete stranger what his expectations of Jesus were. And that they did not measure up. Do you think they got it yet? Or we knew he was a great prophet, and we thought that he was going to save us, we thought that he was the Messiah - but he did not deliver Israel so we guess not. What was their view of the Messiah as a deliverer? He would be one that would save them physically - yet he was there to save them spiritually; big difference in what they were looking for. Do you suppose that this may be a reason why the disciples didn't understand a lot of what Jesus told them. He was constantly talking about spiritual things and they were constantly thinking about physical things. Jesus was talking right past them.] and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. ["Since this narration is not at all in Luke's style; but as it is probable he was the other disciple who was present, and had heard the words of Cleopas, he gave them in that simple, natural, artless manner in which they were spoken." Adam Clarke.]

 

Luke 24:25-45

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
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 tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? [ How did the two disciples describe the feeling as Jesus taught them? What gave them this feeling? (The influence of the Holy Ghost.) ]
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. [ This appearance is not documented elsewhere and we have no details. It is apparently referenced in 1 Cor. 15:5, but again, no details. ]
35 And they told [The two disciples who were just come from Emmaus, related what had happened to them on the way] what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36 ¶ And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. [The usual salutation among the Jews. May you prosper in body and soul, and enjoy every heavenly and earthly good!]
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. [ What did the Apostles think they were seeing when the Savior appeared to them on the evening of the day he was resurrected? ]

38 And he [The Savior] said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? [ What do you suppose were the thoughts that arose in the hearts of the discples - what were they troubled about?

How does Jesus reassure them that he was a resurrected being, not a spirit? ]

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, [ 1) Touch me - feel me physically - confitm it with your touch] and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. [ Here the Savior teaches the difference between a spirit and a resurrected body. This would have all be new territory - as no one prior to this had seen a resurrected body. so what do we learn for this simple statement about a resurrected body? They are both - flesh and bone - they can be felt. So at this point they have seen him with their eyes and havig a phyiscal body and felt him with their hands as having a phyiscal body, and they have heard him speak. ]
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them. [ What does this teach us about resurrected bodies? This reinforces the fact that he is not a spirit. ]
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, [ The Jews traditionally divided the old covenant into 3 sections: The Law, The Prophets and The Psalms as is noted here. The LAW which contained the five books of Moses; including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. ] and in the prophets, [The PROPHETS, which the Jews divided into former and latter; and according to Josephus, they numbered thirteen: including Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, and the two books of Kings: these were termed the former prophets. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi: these were termed the latter prophets.] and in the psalms, [The PSALMS included not only the book still so named, but also three other books, Proverbs, Job, and Canticles.] concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, [ Why do you suppose that they were better able to understand his mission now - over being able to understand it before? They viewed him as the Messiah, they knew that the Messiah was there to save Israel just as he had the children of Israel, as he lead them from physical bondage. Now with their eye opened a little further they can comprehend that he is there to save them spiritually. When you can look at the whole picture - when you see things from a different angle they take on new meaning. What was hidden became obvious. Is there a lesson here for us as we study the scriptures? ]

 

Thomas was not there on the first visit of the Savior to the disciples.

John 20:24-29

How did Thomas respond to the other Apostles’ testimonies that the Lord had been resurrected? see 24-25

24 ¶ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

How did he come to believe that the Lord had been resurrected?

How do we sometimes show the same weakness as Thomas?

26 ¶ And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. [ Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said: “Have you not heard others speak as Thomas spoke? ‘Give us,’ they say, ‘the empirical evidence. Prove before our very eyes, and our ears, and our hands, else we will not believe.’ This is the language of the time in which we live. Thomas the Doubter has become the example of men in all ages who refuse to accept other than that which they can physically prove and explain—as if they could prove love, or faith, or even such physical phenomena as electricity. … “To all within the sound of my voice who may have doubts, I repeat the words given Thomas as he felt the wounded hands of the Lord: ‘Be not faithless, but believing’” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1978, 90; or Ensign, May 1978, 59).]

How can we more fully follow the Lord’s admonition to “be not faithless, but believing”?
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

In addition to the many witnesses mentioned in the Gospels, who else has seen the resurrected Lord? (some answers are listed below.)
Stephen (Acts 7:55)
More than 500 brethren (1 Corinthians 15:6)
The Apostle James (1 Corinthians 15:7)
The Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8)
2,500 Saints in the ancient Americas (3 Nephi 11:8–15; 17:25)
The Prophet Joseph Smith (Joseph Smith—History 1:17; D&C 76:22–24:22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

23For we [ Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon ] saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

)
Sidney Rigdon (D&C 76:22–24)

Conclusion
Testify that Jesus Christ was resurrected and that because of him we will also be resurrected. Bear testimony of the strength and comfort that your knowledge of the Resurrection has brought you.