Chapter Overview
Women come to the tomb on the first day of the week and see two angels standing inside. The angels proclaim that Jesus is risen, just as He prophesied. Disciples then come to the tomb and marvel. That same day, Jesus appears to two men on the road to Emmaus, teaching them from the Old Testament scripture and revealing Himself to be the Christ. These men take this report to the eleven apostles in Jerusalem. Jesus then appears to the eleven and shows them the nail marks on His hands and feet, but they still struggle to believe. Jesus teaches them from the scripture to firm up their faith and to prepare them for their ministry. He then ascends into heaven, as the disciples worship Him with great joy.
Luke’s resurrection account openly notes how difficult it was for the disciples to believe. They did not initially believe the women’s testimony about the angels. They did not believe the two men who reported their time with Jesus. They still could not believe, for a time, even after Jesus appeared to them! Throughout the chapter, Jesus uses scripture to teach them about Himself and to help them believe their eyes. It can be difficult for people to accept the resurrected Christ. It is life-changing news. We must keep going to the word to examine testimony and truth. Jesus was patient, and the disciples grew in maturity and service. Jesus is also patient with us, so we must be with others.
Great God, we believe! We believe Jesus died for us. We believe He was raised on the third day. And we believe that Jesus has ascended to rule in heaven. Patient God, help us see how the truths should shape our daily lives and mission. The disciples worshiped Him with great joy and were continually praising You. Heavenly Father, give us the humility to fill our days with praise. And please help our unbelief. Make Christ’s resurrection the central part of who we are. Help us to be committed to being in the word daily to learn more about our Savior.
Thought Questions
- 1Why did the disciples struggle to believe, even after all they had seen? They had much to learn to further fortify their faith. Do you?
- 2Jesus went to the scripture to prove Himself, though He could have worked any miracle. What does that say about the power of the word?
- 3Jesus died and was raised so a message of repentance and forgiveness could be preached to all. Who will you share that message with today?