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A body, once still and cold, gradually stirs. A deep breath fills its lungs. A newfound vitality fills the chest. Limbs twitch and muscles tense as life surges back into them. Eyes flicker open, adjusting to the light, as consciousness slowly returns. The heart, once silent, now beats with a steady rhythm, pumping blood through veins that had grown stagnant. With each pulse, warmth spreads through the body, dispelling the chill of death. Movements become more and more deliberate as the body regains control over its faculties. As the body continues to reanimate, sensations flood back-the touch of air on skin, the scent of earth and life around. There is more and more movement. With each passing moment, cognitive functions sharpen, memories resurface. There is an awareness of their surroundings. There is a sense of being new. There is resurrection.
There is no question that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a challenge to our imagination. Throughout history, human beings have known the simple truth that death is a certain thing. If you’re human, you die. When you’re dead, you’re dead. If you’re not dead, it’s because you never died. As much as humanity might attempt to live otherwise, we know with certainty that death and dust is the end. So, the mere idea of Jesus’ resurrection is a serious challenge to our imagination, to our logic, and to our hearts.
This morning/evening, Luke’s account reminds us of these very things. By recording three different episodes (that all happened on the same day), Luke depicts the human heart’s journey to faith in the risen Christ. Instead detailing what the resurrection of Christ might mean for us, he shows us the disciples up and down journey to believing in it.
As we’ll soon discover, it’s no easy journey. But, whether you’re a follower of Jesus (or not yet a follower of Jesus), Luke’s account is here to help us-wherever we’re at. He shows us what we need if we’re going to overcome the challenges to our imagination, to our logic, and to our hearts. He shows us what we need so that we might move from fear to remembering, from sorrow to joy, and from doubt to adoration. He shows us what we need if we’re going to believe in the risen Christ.
So, this morning/this evening, let’s go on the journey together.
Point 1: You need more than an empty tomb.
In verses 1-12, Luke focuses on the faith-journey of a group of women. As Luke focuses on these women, we get to see their inner-transformation from ‘perplexity’ to ‘remembering’. It’s a reminder that we need more than an empty tomb.
a. Not found (v1-3)
In verse 1, the three women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James (and some others!)) return to the tomb “with spices”.
In Luke’s account, these women are key eye-witnesses. They followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem (cf. Luke 23:55). They followed Jesus to the cross (cf. Luke 23:27). They saw his crucifixion at a distance (cf. Luke 23:49). And then they followed Joseph of Arimathea to the tomb where Jesus was laid (cf. Luke 23:55). You see, these women have seen and heard everything! But, despite all this, they’re not expecting a resurrection. The mention of “spices” underlines this. In their minds, the women are expecting that Jesus will be dead, his body will be in the tomb, and they’ll spend time preserving his body with spices.
But, in verse 3, the unthinkable happens-they don’t find a body. After going back to the exact same tomb-the women “do not find the body of the Lord Jesus”.
b. Divine Revelation (v4-8)
For these women, this is entirely unexpected… They’re “perplexed” and “at a loss” wondering what has happened.1 But, in the midst of their perplexity, two divine messengers suddenly appear next to them, only to remind them that they should’ve known better. In verses 5-7, these divine messengers gently rebuke the women:
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again”.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus told his followers (including these women) that his death and resurrection were necessary, that it was going to happen. That this was God’s unchanging plan to save his people. But here, Luke shows us that “the significance of the empty tomb is not immediately obvious”.2 The human heart requires something more than mere sight-there is need for divine revelation. And that’s what this group of women experience in verse 8. Immediately, after hearing the words of the Lord Jesus (spoken through these divine messengers), Luke notes that they “remember [Jesus] words”. These women believe. There is a shift from perplexity to remembering.
c. The Eleven Skeptics (v9-12)
But whilst they have come to believe in the risen Christ, what the women experience next is a little jaw-dropping. As they bring this divine news back to the disciples in Jerusalem, it’s met with serious skepticism.
In verse 9, the women come back from the empty tomb. And what they come back to is not the eleven disciples, but the eleven skeptics. After hearing the news of the empty tomb, Luke shows us the hearts of Jesus’ closest followers. In verse 11, we hear that they “did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense”.
Now, at this point, we need to understand that the eleven disciple’s skepticism is not any fault of the women. The disciples’ unbelief here isn’t on account of the women themselves; or on the social status of the women; or on the way that the women may have communicated the news. You see, that’s got nothing to do with it! No, the fault lies with the hearts of the eleven (and the others).3 Their hearts are dense. Their hearts are unable to perceive the news. Their hearts are unbelieving and doubtful. The fault lies with them.
Can you see how astonishing this is? Jesus’ closest followers, the inner-circle, are “refusing to believe”-“refusing to believe!”.4 And they consider the news of their Lord’s resurrection to be “utter nonsense”.5 The first serious skeptics to the news of Jesus’ resurrection are the Eleven.6 And even though Peter gets up and runs to the tomb, and finds nothing but strips of linen, he also goes away still wondering…
In verses 1-12, Luke focuses on a group of women who begin with perplexity (and even fear), but end with remembering Jesus’ words. Even after seeing and hearing about the empty tomb, something more was required. They needed a divine revelation.
I don’t know about you, but you’ve probably heard the words “If I see it, I’ll believe it”. Maybe you’ve heard those words. Maybe you’ve said those words.
Well, Luke teaches us something different. Luke reminds us that we can only understand the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection with divine help. You might be thinking: “But Sam, what about logic and reason? Surely, it has a place?“. Well, it does. Luke’s account isn’t denying the importance of these things. Luke isn’t anti-logic or anti-reason, no Luke bends over backwards to show the logic of Jesus’ resurrection. But what Luke is teaching us is that human logic, human reason, and human imagination can only take us so far. Human belief in the resurrection of Christ is, at the end of the day, a divine work. Luke says “Even if you can see it, you won’t believe it”. If our hearts are going to go on the journey to faith in the risen Christ, we need more than an empty tomb.
Point 2: You need the Lord’s meal.
In verses 13-35, Luke turns our attention to two travelers and their journey with the risen Lord Jesus. As Luke focuses on this pair of disciples, we also see their inner-transformation from ‘sorrow’ to ‘joy’. It’s a reminder that if we’re going to have faith in the risen Christ, we actually need the Lord’s meal
a. Away from Jerusalem (v13-27)
In verse 13, two disciples (one named Cleopas and the other unnamed), are journeying away from Jerusalem. Because of their utter disappointment surrounding Jesus’ death, these two disciples are heading home. Full of sorrow and having given up hope, they turn their backs on Jerusalem. It’s pretty clear that these disciples aren’t expecting Jesus’ resurrection.
But, as these two disciples walk along, trying to digest what happened to Jesus, an unrecognisable figure (who we know to be the risen Christ) approaches them. In verse 17, this person asks the two disciples what they’re discussing. With “gloomy “and “downcast” faces, Cleopas and the other disciple pour out their hearts:
“Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened here in these days?” [Sense the irony, Cleopas thinks Jesus is clueless.] “What things” Jesus asked”. [Again, the irony, they’re about to tell Jesus about Jesus]. “About Jesus of Nazareth,“ they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. [Cleopas’ hopes are crushed, but he doesn’t understand God’s plan]. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. [Cleopas is so close, but even Jesus’ words aren’t ringing any bells]. “In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn‘t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.“
Can you sense their sorrow? Can you see that their hopes have been crushed? Do you see their ignorance? These men are gloomy, downcast, and depressed-because what they can’t see… … is actually right in front of them-Jesus, risen from the dead.
Just as the women are gently rebuked in the last episode, so also are these two disciples. In verses 25-27, the Lord Jesus highlights their slow hearts… … how they are “slow to believing all that the prophets have spoken”… … how they are slow to believing that it was necessary for the Christ “to suffer these things and then enter his glory”. These are dark, gloomy, and slow hearts.
b. Divine Revelation (v28-32)
But, Jesus doesn’t leave them (or their hearts!) like this…
Once the two disciples arrive at Emmaus, they “strongly” urge this unrecognisable figure to stay with them-to which Jesus agrees. As the two disciples recline at the table, the unrecognisable figure makes himself known. In verse 30, the Lord Jesus sits at the table with them, he takes “the bread”, “gives thanks”, “breaks it”, and “gives it to them”. And it’s in this moment (this moment!), that their “eyes were opened and they recognised Jesus”. As Jesus breaks bread, the two disciples come to know the risen Lord.
Throughout Luke’s gospel, the breaking of bread has been a significant moment. It’s often the moment where Jesus reveals himself and makes God’s plans of salvation known. You see, Jesus ate with social outcasts, teaching them to turn from their sin (cf. Luke 5:27-32). Jesus ate with the religious leaders, often to rebuke them for their hard hearts (cf. Luke 7:36-50). Before his betrayal, Jesus even ate with his disciples-teaching them about himself through breaking bread (cf. Luke 22:19). And, once again, here, the risen Lord Jesus breaks bread with these two disciples and reveals himself (Luke 24:30-31). In this moment, these gloomy, slow, and unbelieving hearts finally ignite and burn. These men believe. There is a shift from sorrow to joy. They experience divine revelation in the meal.
c. Back to Jerusalem (v33-35)
After Jesus’ disappears, the two disciples then get their things and travel back to Jerusalem. In verses 33-35, we see that they regroup with the others, but it’s unlike the first episode with the women.
In verse 34, the two disciples arrive and hear more joyful news. The community declares together: “It’s true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon”. So, they swap stories. The two disciples then tell the community “what had happened” and how they “recognised Jesus” “when he broke the bread”. Slowly this community is being brought back together as Jesus’ makes himself known.
In verses 13-35, Luke focuses on two travelers who begin with sorrow, but end with joyful and burning hearts. Even after spending all that time on the road with Jesus, something more was required. They needed a divine revelation. They needed the Lord’s meal.
Tomorrow night I’ll be taking my wife Bek out for a meal. It’s our wedding anniversary. As you’ll know, good meals are good on your anniversary. They’re good for your marriage. Your relationship. You’re hearts.
In a similar way, it’s the same with followers of Jesus.
On one level, this a reminder that we need to have meals with other believers. By eating together, we’re expressing our hope and salvation. That there is a Christ who came and ate with sinners. That there is a God who brings divided people together in Christ so that they can eat a table. That there is a God who desires to eat with his people in the kingdom of heaven. As we eat together, wherever that is, there is a sense that Christ is with us and can be make himself known.
But on another level, this is probably a reminder of the significance of the Lord’s Supper-Jesus’ meal-and that we need to partake in that meal. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we experience Jesus’ presence by faith. When we partake in the Lord’s Supper, Jesus is with us by faith. When we partake in the Lord’s Supper, Jesus is making himself known to us by faith. The breaking of bread and the pouring of the cup give us a vision of God’s kingdom through his crucified and risen Son.
If our hearts are going to go on the journey to faith in the risen Christ, we need the Lord’s meal.
Point 3: You need the Lord’s word
In verses 36-53, Luke turns our attention in this last episode to the community of disciples and their encounter with the risen Christ. As Luke focuses on this community’s experience, we see their inner-transformation from ‘doubt’ to ‘adoration’. It’s a reminder that if we’re going to have faith in the risen Christ, we actually need the Lord’s word.
a. The Appearing (v36-43)
In verse 36, the disciples continue to speak about what they’ve experienced. But while they’re still speaking, they get one heck of a fright. They become startled and afraid because “Jesus himself” stands among them and speaks “Peace be with you”.
Ironically, the disciples are anything but peaceful. They think they’ve seen a ghost! They think they’re hallucinating! And once again, Luke gives us another glimpse of the disciples’ hearts. In verse 38, Jesus’ gently rebukes them: “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your hearts?”. The disciples are in “turmoil”, “confusion”7, and “uncertainty”.8 The disciples’ hearts are like water that’s being stirred up and tossed around.9 They’re anything but peaceful! Again, it’s as if the disciples aren’t expecting Jesus’ resurrection. But, as we’ve seen before, Jesus’ doesn’t leave them (or their hearts!) like this,
In verses 39-43, Jesus shows the disciples that his presence “is neither an illusion nor an hallucination”.10 Jesus is fully human, with flesh and bones. “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see!” “Do you have anything here to eat?” “Give me some fish to eat in your presence”. You see, Jesus is no phantom, no-he has risen, bodily, from the grave. He still has a body. He still has human functions. He is in the flesh.
Yet despite all this visible evidence, the disciples’ hearts continue to toss and turn. They still don’t believe… Once again, the human heart requires something more than mere sight-it needs a divine revelation.
b. The Scriptures (v44-49)
In verses 44-49, the Lord Jesus begins to teach his disciples. Using the Old Testament Scriptures, Jesus tells his disciples about the fact that his suffering, and his death, and his resurrection were necessary.
“Jesus said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.“ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.“ (Luke 24:44-47)
In a similar way to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the whole community of disciples are now let in on God’s divine plans from the Scriptures. Whilst the disciples don’t expect a resurrection, Jesus “opens their minds so that they could understand”. So that they could understand that the Lord Jesus’ life, death, resurrection (and including the proclamation of these things to the nations) was and is necessary. That this was God’s plan, set out in the Old Testament, to bring salvation to his people. That sin would be forgiven-through the risen Christ. That death would be defeated-in the risen Christ. That the kingdom of God would be ushered in-in the risen Christ. That the world corrupted by Adam would be restored-in the risen Christ. Whilst the disciples don’t expect a resurrection, Jesus “opens their minds so that they could understand”-it was necessary. They experience divine revelation in the word.
c. The Ascension (v50-55)
Following this divine revelation, the disciple’s hearts shift. In verses 50-55, Luke records Jesus’ ascension. In this account, Luke presents the ascension as if it happened all on the same day (as the previous two episodes)-the third day. But despite this interesting/weird literary move, what’s significant for us is the disciples’ hearts. It’s here that they move from doubt to adoration.
After the risen Jesus’ ascends into heaven, the disciples “worshiped Jesus” “and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” “staying continually at the temple, praising God”. You see, it’s in this moment, following Jesus’ teaching and then Jesus’ ascension, that these doubtful and unbelieving hearts shift to praise. The whole community of disciples begin to believe. There is a shift from doubt to adoration.
In verses 36-53, Luke focuses on the whole community of disciples who begin with doubts, but end with hearts full of adoration and praise. Even after seeing and touching the body of Jesus, something more was required. They needed a divine revelation. They needed the Lord’s word.
It’s a reminder to us, we need the Lord’s word.
There might be some of us thinking: “Sam, that’s great for the disciples, but what about us?” It’s a good question. In some ways, you’re right-our situation is bleaker than the disciples. We haven’t seen the empty tomb. We haven’t touched the risen Christ. We haven’t seen him eat fish… But, let me remind you, Luke puts these episodes together to encourage us that you don’t need to. You don’t need to experience that, all you need is to believe the Word-the Scriptures. If our hearts are going to go on the journey to faith in the risen Christ, we need Jesus’ word.
Believe in the Risen Christ
By recording these three different episodes of the disciples, Luke depicts the human heart’s journey to faith in the risen Christ. Luke shows us what we need if we’re going to overcome the challenges to our imagination, to our logic, and to our hearts.
At the centre of the disciples’ transition (and even our transition) from perplexity to remembering, from sorrow to joy, from doubt to adoration, from slow hearts to burning hearts, from being scattered to being brought together, from disappointment in God to praise for God-at the centre of this transition-is a divine revelation through Jesus’ meal and through Jesus’ word.11 If we’re going to make a heart transition like the disciples, if we’re going to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then we need to be people of Jesus’ meal and Jesus’ word.
This morning/this evening, there might be some of us thinking: “Sam, you haven’t seen my heart” “It’s full of doubt, it’s full of slowness, it’s full of unbelief”. Well, however much that might be true for you, can I remind you: the journey to faith is not as straightforward as we might like. There is perplexity. There is fear. There is sorrow. There is doubt. There is a slowness of heart. But… … with our God, we have one who can help us overcome these things, and move to a living and burning faith in the risen Christ.
But, wherever we’re at this morning/this evening-whether we’re a follower of Jesus or not yet a follower of Jesus-can I leave us with this. A simple call to believe in the risen Christ. To go on the heart’s journey to faith.
By believing in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, there are profound realities that we can enter into. As one person said, there is a “new phenomenon” available for you, that goes “beyond the horizon of our experience”.12 Through the resurrection of Christ, there is an “escape to a totally new kind of life, towards a life no longer subject to the law of dying”.13 Through the resurrection of Christ “there is a new dimension” of being human, for both here and beyond.14 Through the resurrection of Christ “there is a new kind of future” for humanity where death and decay has been undone.15 Through the resurrection of Christ, there is a heavenly banquet with King Jesus. Through the resurrection of Christ, there is a rest that is found nowhere else. There is an eternal life found in, through, and with God-by believing in your heart. So, believe.
It’s as Luke’s friend, the Apostle Paul, would write sometime later:
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,“ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.“ (Romans 10:9)
1 BDAG, 119.
2 Garland, Luke, Chapter 74.
3 Garland, Luke, Chapter 74.
4 BDAG, 103.
5 BDAG, 594.
6 Garland, Luke, Chapter 74.
7 BDAG, 990.
8 BDAG, 233.
9 BDAG, 990.
10 Crimella, The Transformation of Characters in Luke 24, 182.
11 Decock, The Breaking of Bread in Luke 24, 54.
12 Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth: From Entry into Jerusalem to Resurrection, Chapter 9.
13 Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth: From Entry into Jerusalem to Resurrection, Chapter 9.
14 Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth: From Entry into Jerusalem to Resurrection, Chapter 9.
15 Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth: From Entry into Jerusalem to Resurrection, Chapter 9.
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