Everything Must be Fulfilled that is Written About Me

Read: Luke 24:36-49 (and vv. 13-35)

Record: In terms of topic of conversation, it seems as if Jesus repeats the content from the Emmaus passage (more on this later) to the passage with the disciples. Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection and tells them, “Peace to you!” (A nice reminder back to Luke 2:14.) They don’t recognize him, because they are startled, frightened, and doubting. He also looks different and this is important. Jesus helps their doubt and shows them his hands and feet and has them touch him. Then they eat a meal together where Jesus reminds them of all that he had spoken to them while he was still with them. Only it takes on added significance to the disciples because this is all taking place after the resurrection.  They are witnessing the resurrected Christ in his glorified body.

Respond: The apparent repetition of content makes sense when Luke 24 is read as a whole. Verses 32-35 make it clear that the men’s hearts on the road to Emmaus burned within them after Jesus began with Moses and all the Prophets interpreting the scriptures regarding the things concerning himself. Not only did their hearts burn, but they returned to Jerusalem within the hour and immediately sought out the disciples. Here’s what the two did when they found the eleven in verse 35… Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. After witnessing first hand their excitement, I’m assuming the disciples also wanted to hear what the two on the Emmaus Road had heard. They probably bothered Jesus during the meal asking him to share with them what he spoke about on the road earlier. And he does.

Reflect: It’s an absolute conviction for me that Christ is central to the Scriptures. Luke 24 gives obvious basis for that conviction. Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures. I want that same understanding. It’s important for me to remember that the biblical understanding of “understanding” has an element of heartfelt response to it. I can’t just have an intellectual knowledge of Christ in the Scriptures, but it must be an understanding of faith that fully submits to the authority of his word given in Scripture. As a deacon, I need to fully understand the sympathy of Christ and respond to that understanding in faith. Both the understanding and response in faith have been difficult for me.

On to Ezekiel…