ST LUKE
CHAPTER 24
Angels announce resurrection of Christ—He walks on Emmaus road—He appears with a body of flesh and bones, eats food, testifies of his divinity, and promises the Holy Ghost—His ascension.
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, [ When the body was originally laid in the tomb there was not alot of time to prepare it, so Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea did the best that they could but the job was hastely done. As a result Mary and other brought spices to finish embalming the body. ] and certain others with
them.
4 And it came to pass, as they were
much perplexed thereabout, [ What
were they perplexed about? That the body had been
moved. 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:
[ 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) How has your testimony of the Atonement and the Resurrection helped
you through difficult times? ] 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 - bring to mind his words, they give them hope
and comfort, ]
10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, [ The wife of Chuza, Herod's steward Luke 8:3] 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. ]
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. ]
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.
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 Lord Withhold His Identity When He Appeared to Cleopas and
His Companion on the Road to Emmaus? “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 [ This conversation, which occurred in the afternoon of the Sunday Jesus had risen, the disciple Cleopas explained to the stranger walking with them (whom they did not realize was the Savior) that Jesus had been delivered by the chief priests and was crucified. Then Cleopas said “today is the third day since these things were done.” The timing is specific: Sunday was the third day since Jesus had been killed, which means Saturday had been the second day since the execution, and Friday was the first day since the event – clearly indicating that Thursday was the day on which the crucifixion occurred! ] 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.]
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
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.
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! ]
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 did 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,
[ Feel me physically - confitm it with your touch. ] and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me
have. [ They get physical evidence as wellas spiritual. 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.
]
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, [ Or this is too good to be true. ] and wondered, [ They are still not sure, and rightfully so. This was the first person to ever be resurrected it was a new concept. So to wonder well why not. ] he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
43 And he took it, and did
eat before them. [ To prove to them that he was indeed resurrected, can a spirit eat physical food? No, it take a physical body and here I am with a physical body, a resurrected being. 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 Torah. 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? ]
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, [ Or you have had these truths all along and now I have only fulfilled them. ] and thus it behoved 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 among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [ Or the source, the very place where they sentenced him to death, the center of those who fought most against
him. ]
48 And ye are witnesses of these things. [ That I taught the truth, the gospel plan, that I was sentenced unjustly to death, that I Christ suffered, and then was put to death and yet now here I stand with you, resurrected as the scriptures and I promised. ]
49 ¶ And, behold, I send the promise of my Father [ The Greek word used here is "ἐνδύω", this word in English would be translated as where “endowment” comes from. What is the promise of the Father? It is 1) the Gift of the Holy Ghost. ] upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. [ "endued" we would pronounce that as endowed. So this could be better translated as "until ye be [endowed] with power from on high.". The word endowed appears only once in the New Testament as the word endued in Luk 24:49. However, the greek word used is "endyō" which is translated as; put on, or had not on (18x), clothed with (2x), clothed in (2x), have on (2x), clothe with (1x), be endued (1x), arrayed in (1x), be clothed (1x), and is used with the nuance of 'being enveloped by' which is very much like "being encircled by" in the context of robes of righteousness. If you retranslate the word "endyo" to "endowed" gain some interesting perspectives as to how we might better understand our own temple experience where we put on, are clothed with, and endowed, or encircled by the robes of righteousness. What is his challenge to the disciples then as they preach in Jerusalem? to preach until they become endowed with power from on High - meaning they have received certain knowledge, powers and special blessing normally only received in the temple. This will happen in the day of pentecost for them. D&C 38:22; 43:16; 39:15; 95:8-9; 105:11-12,18,33 Doc NT Commentary pg 859. ]
50 ¶ And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. [ He laided his hands on their heads and blessed them. ]