Luke 24:49–53

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.

Preamble
This is the continuation from the previous section of Luke’s Gospel where the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ appearing to the Apostles commissions them as His witnesses.

Commentary
Vs. 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.”

Jesus now tells that He will send the Promise of My Father upon you, that is His Holy Spirit upon them, and every one of us who believes in Him, who likewise must bear witness to Him (John 7:37-39). However first they must wait in Jerusalem, until they are empowered by the Holy Spirit from on high to be His witnesses unto Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Vs. 50-53 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.

Jesus now leads the Apostles out to Bethany, (the town of Mary, Martha and Lazarus near the Mount of Olives). And so, it was while they were there that the Lord Jesus lifted His hands and blessed them (vs. 51); which is amazing that God would lift His hands to bless man. Now while Jesus did so He was parted from them and carried up to heaven (vs. 51)! Having then seen the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ Ascend back to heaven the Apostles worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem in great joy (vs. 52). And so it was they were there continually in the temple praising and blessing God, Amen!

Scripture Quotations

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

Luke 24:44-48

 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.

Commentary
Vs. 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.”

The Lord Jesus Christ now reminds them that the things that have occurred to Him are in accord with the Words that He had already spoken to them, that all the Scriptures pertaining to Him must be fulfilled. From His birth, His early life, to the works and the signs of His earthly Ministry, even to His being betrayed to death on the Cross, before He would rise again the third day (Mark 9:31). All the Scriptures pertaining to the Lord Jesus Christ’s Person and Life, Death and Resurrection, pouring out of His Spirit, drawing the Gentiles to Himself, before gathering the Nation of Israel again, then His Kingdom, Reign, and Rule are all revealed in the Scriptures and must all be fulfilled by Him. Thus, all things pertaining to the Lord Jesus Christ are foretold in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms; thus, the whole council of Scripture contains many declarations, prophecies and insights into the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. For in the Law is both the literal and the symbolic, both the moral and the Spiritual, both the temporary and the eternal, and thus all the righteous requirements of God, which all must be fulfilled in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. While the Prophets foresee the Lord Jesus Christ at various stages in His Life, and Kingdom, and Eternal Rule. And so we are told many things about how the Lord Jesus Christ; where He will be born, where He will live, how He will suffer and die on the Cross before Rising again the third Day, before returning to His Father, waiting till all His enemies are made His footstool. All before He Reigns in Righteousness and Rules for Justice, even what His Kingdom will look like, and how He will provide atonement not only for Israel, but for all who believe in Him, (upon whom He will pour out the Holy Spirit) thus making a New Covenant and one people out of all Jews and Gentiles who believe in Him. There is so much in there one cannot list all of Scriptural references, because there are so many about the Lord Jesus Christ that eb and flow into each other its hard to exclude anything in one’s list. Likewise, in the Psalms, which entails the Wisdom of God, there are prophecies about Christ’s suffering death, His manner of Person and Life, His Ruling and Judging the Nations, again many aspects of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Person and Life are found there. It is literally impossible to study the Scriptures and not find the Lord Jesus Christ. For His Person and Works are foretold in there everywhere!


Vs. 45-48 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 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.

In verse 45 we see that it is in the Lord Jesus Christ’s hands alone to open up the Scriptures to whom He chooses (also see 1 Cor. 2). Thus, He now opens up the understanding of the Apostles so that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Therefore, from the same Scriptures Jesus now reveals 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. ^{Vs. 46-47} Having done so Jesus now tells them that they are witnesses of these things (vs. 48), His witnesses to declare all that the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished and done for all who repent and believe in Him. Therefore, preaching repentance and remission of sins in the Lord Jesus Christ’s Name, began at Jerusalem and must continue to all nations until the Lord Jesus Christ’s return. The only question then is, have you repented, and have you believed, so that you too might have remission of all your sins and everlasting life!

Scripture Quotations

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

Luke 24:33–43

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.

Commentary
Vs. 33-35 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.

Having then seen and spent time with the Lord Jesus Christ now Resurrected, and discussing amongst themselves what had just happened they now rise up and leave Emmaus and return to Jerusalem where the eleven were staying. And when they found the eleven and others who were gathered together there with them; even before they could declare their own good news about Jesus; those there say to them, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Thus, confirming what they themselves had just experienced. Immediately then the two disciples tell all there about the things that happened to them on the road as they were traveling to Emmaus, and how Jesus was known to them in the breaking of bread.

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

Now as the two disciples were revealing what had happened to them Jesus Himself now appears in the midst of them all, and says to them, “Peace to you.” Three simple Words, yet they contain the heart of God towards all who believe in His Son, for all who do so truly are sons of peace.

Vs. 37 “But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.”

Now when Jesus appeared and said this to them all, they initially were terrified and frightened, because they thought they had just seen a spirit.

Vs. 38-40 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.

Jesus now puts to rest their doubts and fears by asking them to not only look at Him; at His hands and feet; but also to touch Him and see that it is indeed Him, “…for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet (vs. 39-40).

Vs. 41-43 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.

The disciples though are still in a state of shock at seeing Jesus alive and in their presence. And so, He now asks them if they have any food, and when they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb he took it and ate it in their presence, to prove that it was He and not some spirit.

Scripture Quotations

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

Luke 24:13–32

 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?”

Commentary
Vs. 13-16 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.

After Peter had seen the empty tomb, two other disciples while traveling that same day from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus (which was about seven miles from Jerusalem) were discussing amongst themselves the things which had happened to Jesus, now while they were doing so Jesus Himself draws near and went with them (which was not unusual as foot travelers were frequently visited by other travelers as they journeyed from place to place). However, they initially did not know Him because their eyes were restrained (vs. 16). It seems then Jesus did not want to immediately reveal Himself to them, because it may have been (like with us all), that Jesus wanted them, like us all to discover Him for themselves! Jesus then does not reveal Himself to us by sight of eyes, but by touching our hearts, for we all walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

Vs. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

Having then drawn near to them, Jesus now asks them about their conversation which has so saddened them.

Vs. 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?”

One of disciples named Cleopas, not yet recognizing Jesus, now answers Him, saying, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” Cleopas is amazed than that there is anyone coming from Jerusalem, who had not known or heard of Jesus, and what was done to Him at Jerusalem.


Vs. 19-24 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.”

Jesus now responds to Cleopas by saying, “What things?” so as to have them recall to Him all that they had heard and saw. Now in doing so Jesus was allowing them to express their own faith, rather than have someone “package it” all together for them (vs. 19). And so, they begin to tell Him (still thinking Him a stranger) of Jesus of Nazareth who was a Prophet mighty in deed and Word before God and all the people, who was also condemned to death by their chief priests and rulers, who crucified Him (vs. 20). Now verse twenty-one is pivotal for there they heartfeltly state of Jesus, “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.” Their faith and conviction then was that Jesus is the Christ (or Messiah) and that He was going to redeem them. They then go on to tell the “stranger” that it is now the third day since these things happened, and that certain woman of their company also went to His Tomb, and when they did not find His body, they had seen a vison of angels who said Jesus was alive! Then certain others who were also with them went to the Tomb and found it just as the woman had described it to them! Everything then is in place for Jesus to reveal Himself to them, for they themselves have by their own faith opened the door to Him.

Vs. 25-27 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.

Jesus now lovingly rebukes them for their being slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken about Him! For it is God’s prophets in His Word who foretold that all these things would happen to Him (vs. 25). Therefore, Jesus now asks them, “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” ^{vs. 26} And so with that, Jesus beginning at Moses, and moving through all the prophets, now expounds to them all things in the Scriptures concerning Him.

Vs. 28-29 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.

Now when Jesus and the two disciples drew near the village wear the disciples were going, Jesus indicated to them that He would have gone farther (vs. 28); for the Lord Jesus Christ does not impose Himself on anyone. However, the disciples 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. (vs. 29). Thus, only when the disciples wanted Jesus to stay with them, did He go with them (consider Rev. 3:20).

Vs. 30-32 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?”

And so, it was when Jesus went in with them to dine with them, and as He sat at the table with them. He took the bread, blessed it and broke it, and then He gave it to them (vs. 30). This act of blessing and breaking the bread and then distributing it to the disciples, thus recalls to their hearts and minds just how He did the same when they shared their last meal with Him. And with that their eyes were opened and they knew Him! And with that Jesus vanishes from their sight. The two disciples then now recall just how they felt when they first encountered Him but did not know it was Jesus saying, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” For Jesus has this effect on everyone who seeks and wants to know God, for He alone awakens and satisfies the deepest longings of our souls.

Scripture Quotations

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.

Luke 24:1–12

 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.

Commentary 

 Vs. 1-3 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.


And so, it was that on Sunday, the day after the Sabbath rest, (and the first day of the week for Jews), that the woman returned (with certain other woman now with them), to the Tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared to embalm the body of Jesus. However, when they arrived, they found the stone that sealed the tomb rolled away! And so, they entered the tomb, however when they did so, to their amazement, Jesus’ body was not there!


Vs. 4 “And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.”


Now when the woman went into the tomb and did not find the body of Jesus, they were all greatly perplexed about this. And while they were still in a state of shock, two men stood by them in shining garments. These though were not mere mortal men, but angels, who taking the form of men, were sent to them to tell them what has happened.


Vs. 5-8 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.


Now when the woman saw them, (they instinctively realized that these were not just mere men) and so they were afraid, and bowed their faces to the earth. And as they did this the “men” 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.’ ” Therefore these “men” being sent by God to them, told them that in their seeking Jesus in the tomb they would not find Him, for He is not dead but Living! Then they remined them of Jesus’ own Words in which He said, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” Now when they were told these things the woman remembered Jesus’ Words; just as we also need to remind each other of Jesus’ Words to strengthen us in our own faith and good deeds.


Vs. 9 “Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”


Having found Jesus’ tomb empty, and encountered the two angels there, the woman now return to the eleven and the rest, and tell them of all the things that transpired there.


Vs. 10 “It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.”


Now the woman who old these things to the apostles were Mary Magdalene, (who plays a prominent role in discovering the open tomb, and first encounters the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ), Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them. These women then would be the first witness and messengers of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection.


Vs. 11 “And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.”


When the eleven first heard their words, they did not believe them, for at that time their words only seemed to them like idle tales, however that would soon change!


Vs. 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.”


Peter initially not believing when told with the eleven, though soon arose and ran to the tomb to see the sight for himself, and when he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves (that is undamaged, and thus not removed by human hands) he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.”


Scripture Quotations

New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.