The Gospels · Chapter 24 of 24

Luke 24

On the first day of the week, women find the empty tomb and hear that Jesus is risen. The apostles doubt their report. Two disciples walking to Emmaus meet the unrecognized Jesus, who opens the Scriptures and is known in the breaking of bread. He then appears to the gathered disciples, eats before them, explains that Christ must suffer and rise, and ascends at Bethany as they worship.

What happens in Luke 24

Very early the women come with spices and find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Two men in shining garments ask why they seek the living among the dead, and remind them Jesus foretold his rising. The apostles dismiss the report as idle tales, though Peter runs to look. That same day two disciples walk to Emmaus, joined by a stranger who asks why they are sad. They pour out their crushed hope about Jesus of Nazareth, and he, beginning at Moses and the prophets, explains all the Scriptures concerning himself.

At table he takes bread, blesses and breaks it, and their eyes open to recognize him before he vanishes. They rush back to Jerusalem, where Jesus himself appears, calms their fear, shows his hands and feet, and eats fish to prove he is not a spirit. He opens their understanding, commissions them to preach repentance to all nations, and, blessing them at Bethany, ascends into heaven.

Luke 24 in context

Luke's Gospel closes where Acts will begin, on resurrection morning and at the ascension. The empty tomb is first witnessed by women, whose testimony is doubted, a candid detail. Emmaus and the upper room show a risen body that can be touched and can eat, countering the idea of a mere ghost.

Repeatedly Jesus insists that his suffering and rising fulfill the whole of Scripture, law, prophets, and psalms.

Main themes of Luke 24

Luke 24 (KJV)

1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8And they remembered his words, 9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10It 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. 11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12Then 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. 13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And 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? 19And he 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: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24And 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. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29But 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. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32And 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? 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. 36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43And he took it, and did eat before them. 44And 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, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And ye are witnesses of these things. 49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Verses to carry from Luke 24

“He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,”Luke 24:6

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”Luke 24:27

“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?”Luke 24:32

Reflection

Sometimes hope feels buried, and Jesus draws near while our eyes are too clouded by grief to see him. He meets the Emmaus travelers in their disappointment, walks their road, and opens the Scriptures until their hearts burn.

If your heart feels cold, ask him to open both the word and your understanding, and to be known to you again at the table.

A prayer from Luke 24