Luke Bible Study, Day 40
Today’s passage: Luke 24:1–44
Focus verse:“It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” (Luke 24:34)
Jesus is dead and buried, but this isn’t the end. In many ways it’s the beginning. After being dead for three days, Jesus resurrects. He has overcome the finality of death.
As planned, on the first day of the week the women who had prepared spices to embalm Jesus head to his tomb.
When they arrive, someone has moved the stone that blocked the entrance. They go inside, expecting to see Jesus’s body, but it’s not there.
Suddenly two angels appear. They say, “Why do you seek someone who’s living in a place for the dead? He is alive! Don’t you remember what he said?”
Then the women recall Jesus’s words, and everything begins to make sense. They hurry to tell the other disciples, but they don’t believe the women.
However, Peter runs to check things out. He finds the tomb empty, just like the women said. He wonders what happened.
Later in the day, two of Jesus’s followers walk down the road to the village of Emmaus.
On their journey, Jesus joins them, but they don’t recognize him. He listens as they talk about him. He pretends to not know what they’re discussing and asks them to explain. Eagerly they do.
After they tell him about the hoped-for Savior who was executed, Jesus begins teaching them. He connects Old Testament prophecy with how he just fulfilled it.
When the pair reaches their destination, they ask Jesus to stay with them. He does.
At the meal, Jesus breaks the bread, thanks God, and passes it to them. At last they recognize him. But then he disappears.
The pair remark about how he deeply touched their hearts and engaged their minds as he taught them from the Hebrew Scriptures. They race back to Jerusalem to tell everyone that they saw and talked to Jesus.
He’s alive!
They get to Jerusalem and find the remaining eleven disciples, but before the two can say a thing, the disciples have news for them. “Jesus has arisen, and he appeared to Peter.”
As they talk, Jesus materializes in the room. Though they’re afraid and confused, Jesus speaks to them and proves he’s alive.
He’s alive. Jesus is alive. This changes everything.
Questions:
- If we saw Jesus today, would we recognize him?
- When we see him at work, do we acknowledge it?
[Discover more about Jesus rising from the dead in Acts 5:30, 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, and 2 Timothy 1:10.]
This concludes our study of the book of Luke, but you can continue the story in Acts Bible Study, which picks up were Luke left off.
Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.
Read more about the book of Luke in Dear Theophilus: A 40-Day Devotional Exploring the Life of Jesus through the Gospel of Luke, now available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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