I ended up posting yesterday's blog at around 1am. Jenny and I had company over for the Super Bowl that stayed until around 11:30pm. I'm starting today's post at 1:51pm, so I have no excuses not to post this before Jenny gets home at 5:15pm.
You may have also noticed that Constantly Dodging Monotony went through an overnight makeover, too. I've made it easier to share CDM through your Facebook, Twitter or email accounts. You can also take advantage of the new Facebook group (aptly titled Constantly Dodging Monotony), as well! The more people we can get reading God's word the better! And, just as important, I want to give everyone free reign to share any concerns, doubts, reservations, suggestions, etc whenever you want!
Let's finish up Luke!
Luke 24 (read it here)
When we left off, the women were about to anoint Jesus' dead body but were stopped because nightfall on Friday is considered the beginning of the Sabbath.
They return to the tomb early Sunday morning only to find the heavy stone (which weighed somewhere between 1.5-2 tons or 3-4,000 lbs, the weight of a Toyota Prius) had been rolled away from the entrance! (v. 2)
Jesus was gone! "Who could've taken him?" they must have thought.
Now who were these two men that the women saw in verse 4? Good question. After researching in the original Greek text, the word andpes (which is translated here as 'men') can be a general reference to a person or people, not necessarily a man. It would be like me saying, "Hey, guys!" to a group that consists of only of women, which works even though its not technically accurate.
I'm not saying these are 'men' are women. I'm trying to imply that these persons may be angels or even prophets from the past. The word that gives me that clue is dazzling, which is also used to describe Jesus clothing when he is miraculously joined by Moses and Elijah (who had both been dead for more than 500 years!) in Luke 9.
These aren't ordinary persons. There is something special about these 'guys.' Why is Luke unclear about exactly who these 'men' are? Look at the text, again. The women never look at the faces of the men, they look down. They only get a glimpse of dazzling robes because they know these aren't ordinary 'men.' Lights don't just appear on clothing in the first century. That's all Luke had to work with, apparently.
These 'men' have something to say, however: "He (Jesus) isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you?" (v. 6) The women instantly remember that Jesus said that he would rise again on the third day.
They go back to tell the disciples, and anyone who would listen, about what they had seen and heard.
(Do you notice that the disciples were now referred to as apostles in verse 10? Disciples are taught, apostles are sent. Generally speaking, these men would be referred to as disciples while Jesus was alive and teaching them and as apostles after Jesus' death. The apostles were the ones who carried out his mission of preaching and healing.)
Only Peter believed the women's story enough to go run to the tomb and look. You must, must, must remember that women's rights were an issue. If an uneducated woman's word was worth nothing in a court of law, it would be second-nature to discredit them at any other time, as well. This is what every disciple, except Peter, does.
Peter gets to the tomb and finds left-behind cloth. However, Peter really didn't know what happened, either. (v. 12)
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Two of Jesus' followers are joined by Jesus himself on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize him but continued to carry on the conversation about the current events. Jesus wanted to know what they were talking about. (v. 17)
The two followers (I know that Cleopas is a man, but I don't know if the other follower is a man or a woman, possibly a family member or spouse) stop, most likely look Jesus in the face and basically ask him, "What rock have you been under?"
Ironically, Jesus could've replied with, "well, the rock I was behind weighed about two tons." Haha...sorry couldn't resist:)
They describe to Jesus the details surrounding his miraculous deeds, teachings, popularity and about the possibility of he being the Messiah. They also spoke about the crucifixion and the unbelievable news of his resurrection.
(Check out verse 23! Apparently, the women said they had seen angels! And also that men had to go out to verify what the women were saying.)
Jesus can't believe how these two, his followers, could be so naive or unbelieving about the Scriptures. (v. 25) Here Jesus is probably alluding to Isaiah 52-53, which is pretty clear about what suffering would take place and the meaning of it all.
But that wasn't it, during the seven mile walk (roughly an hour and a half) Jesus schools them on anything within the writings of Moses (the first five books of the Bible, also called the Torah) and all the prophets that concerned the Messiah. (v. 27)
The followers talked Jesus into staying the night with them in Emmaus. As they sat down to dinner, Jesus did the same thing he did at the last supper in the upper room (prayed, broke bread and gave it to them). Just when they put two and two together, Jesus disappeared from their sight!
They spoke to each other right after of how they felt a burning within as the Scriptures were being explained to them. (v. 32)
Even though it was late at night, the followers decided to leave right away (they didn't have flashlights, mind you) and share what they had just experience. They went straight to the 11 disciples to tell them, "The Lord has really risen!" (v. 34)
While the two were in the middle of their story, Jesus appears! The whole group is freaking out, thinking Jesus was a ghost!
Jesus invited them to touch him for verifiable proof that he was real.
They couldn't believe it, even though they had touched him.
While Jesus was snacking on some fish, he began to unpack all the Scriptures that were about him in the Torah, Psalms, etc. Jesus explained the full meaning of his life, death and resurrection; making it extremely clear.
And now comes the ministry part; what would make them apostles, no longer disciples. There is now forgiveness of sin through repentance (just ask the High Priest, Jesus!), no longer by animal or any other monetary sacrifice.
Jesus tells them that they would soon be filled with the Holy Spirit. They would have to wait for this, though (not too long, it will happen in Acts 2).
Jesus prays over them and then ascends into heaven.
The disciples are so awe-struck that they stay and worship before returning to Jerusalem. And when they returned to Jerusalem, they went straight to the temple and praised God continually.
Questions
1.) How would you have reacted if you were told by the women that Jesus had been resurrected? Would you have ran to the tomb to see for yourself? Do you currently believe that Jesus was resurrected or do you need some other proof? If so, what?
2.) How would you define the difference between a disciple and an apostle? If I told you that disciples are learners and apostles are ones who apply what they learn to reach others, which do you believe Christ-followers should be? Why?
3.) After hearing Jesus explain the Scriptures, the two followers said they felt a burn within while he was talking. What do you think this burn was? Do you ever feel what you could describe as a burn within when you hear God's word or someone telling you the truth? If so, give an example.
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