The Lord Appears

April 7, 2013 Background Scripture: Luke 24:36 – 53 Lesson Passage: Luke 24:36 – 53 The scene of today’s lesson opens with the two persons who encountered Jesus on the Emmaus road arriving back in Jerusalem the same evening of the encounter. They hurried back to tell the eleven disciples of their encounter but found them gathered and discussing Peter’s testimony of his own encounter with the risen Lord. So they added the details of what had happened to them and how they were made aware of his identity when he broke the bread as they sat down with him to eat. But as they were giving their testimony, Jesus appeared in their midst and pronounced peace upon them. Rather than quickly accepting his appearance as confirmation of their testimonies, they were afraid because they did not think it was Jesus but rather a ghost. Jesus’ response to their fear indicated that his physical appearance still bore the scars of Calvary; so certainly he still looked like Jesus. Perhaps their fear came about because of the manner in which he suddenly appeared rather than his physical appearance. If he indeed showed up in their midst without having appeared to walk in, then this would indeed be quite a frightening occurrence no matter what he looked like. He invited them to touch him and see that he still had a physical body. This was proof that he was the same Jesus and not a disembodied spirit that only reflected the image of the physical man he was prior to his death. Although we could speculate on how he moved differently or how he could suddenly appear or disappear, there was clear evidence before them that Jesus was still flesh and bones. He even showed them his scarred hands and feet that bore the reminder of the crucifixion a few days prior to this encounter. If this were not enough proof to spur on the good news message, Jesus then asked them for some food and he ate it in their presence. He then reminded them that everything he had spoken to them prior to this time about the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy had taken place. He emphasized that all of those prophets were prophesying about him. Jesus was not one of the fulfillments of prophecy. He was the one and only fulfillment. There would be no others after him because he had fulfilled it all. All that was in Israel’s Holy Scriptures that we today call the Old Testament was pointing towards Jesus as the promised Messiah. Then he explained what they knew but did not previously understand. Everything that happened to Jesus was preordained by God. Nothing had happened outside of God’s will for His only begotten son, Jesus. God’s plan had been executed to divine perfection. These disciples were just as much a part of God’s plan as the events surrounding Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. They were there as eyewitnesses. They must now prepare themselves for their true purpose in life. Their testimony would lay the foundation of the gospel message. But they would not be able to carry it forward to the ends of the earth under their own power. They were instructed by Jesus to wait in Jerusalem until he had sent the divine power to them from Heaven. Then he led them out of Jerusalem to one of the places where he often lodged, Bethany. From there he blessed them and departed. Robert C. Hudson March 28, 2013