Jun 13, 2010

Day 115

Luke 24:36–53 (NIV)

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He 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.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

How do Jesus’ words about “peace” relate back to His birth and what the angels said about Him?

Why is it Important to see that Jesus really is flesh and blood?

What role does Jesus give the disciples? What does that say for our role?

Notes

vs 36-37 The disciples and others followers (perhaps the women, and definitely the two who Jesus talked to) are discussing the vision of the angels (vs 23) and the appearances of Jesus.

Jesus appears making them think He is a ghost. He first words to them Peace be with you. Remember what the angels said to the shepherds at the birth (2:14) It now is complete!

vs 37-43- Those in the room cannot picture Jesus actually being flesh and blood. They are scared. Jesus calms their fears and proves He is more than a ghost or vision by two things. First they can touch His wounds of the cross and see He is flesh and bone. Second He eats. It takes a while for the amazement to settle into the reality of what has happened.

44-45 Much the same conversation happens now that happened with the two on the road to Emmaus. What is key is that the Old Testament is not a separate part of God's revelation. Rather it points to God's ultimate revealing in the Christ. God's plan has been working from the beginning to reach this moment. Jesus not only talks but also opens their minds to hear and understand how it all fits together.

46-49

vs 46 ties what has happened to what will now happen. The story does not end with Jesus' role. It now changes to the role of the "witnesses" and their telling the story of repentance and forgiveness. And not just to Israel but to the entire world (2:32, Isa 49:6, Gen 12:3) . Jerusalem is the beginning but by no means the end. It is like a pebble being thrown into a pond. The waves continue circling outward far beyond where it starts.

The witnesses are to proclaim Jesus story, His suffering, rising, and His purpose in doing what He has done. While the disciples will be the messengers God will empower them to carry the message (12:11)

50-52 Jesus now leaves though He returns here and there for 40 days(Acts 1:3-ff, 1 Cor 15:6) The scene started with the disciples scared (vs 37) it now ends with them blessed. It starts with them doubting the story of resurrection, it ends with them worshiping and praising God for what He has done through Jesus the Christ! The peace Jesus brings also gives great joy! The next phase of their mission, the preaching, is outlined in Acts which Luke writes next. (Acts 1:1)

Day 114

Luke 24:13–35 (NIV)

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why didn’t the men recognize Jesus? Why do the men head home from Jerusalem? What does it say about their belief in Jesus?

What would have Jesus told the two men about how He related to the Old Testament?

How does their lives change from recognizing Jesus? How should our lives change by recognizing Jesus?

Notes

People are heading home after the Passover festival. They would be thousands leaving Jerusalem. These two could be some who have traveled with Jesus early on (10:1) or maybe have become interested in Him as He approached Jerusalem. We don't know. What we do know is they thought Jesus was a prophet of the highest order vs 19, that He was going to redeem Israel. Their belief, while perhaps not as clearly defined as the disciples, does lead to belief in Jesus. They had seen His power (vs19) and knew Jesus' wisdom.

They are heartbroken- not just because of Jesus' death but their hopes being destroyed. After all what can one do after one is dead. For them the story is over. The proof is in their going back home even though there is the strange report of the women. The use of "our women” shows they had a strong connection to the disciples and Jesus. These were not bystanders to the events. Their hearts were heavy (vs 17) They could not stop talking of what had happened (vs 14) They were trying to make sense of the events. These two loved Jesus. Part of that proof is that Jesus chooses to do what He does to them.

Why does Jesus choose to hid His identity from them? And how can He? First he must appear to be like any other person leaving Jerusalem. There is nothing that draws attention to the fact that He has been raised. He looks normal. So is this a spiritual mind game that Jesus is doing to these two men (and all the others on the road who would have recognized Jesus from the week’s events)? Does His resurrected body not look the same? Mary first thinks he is a gardener when she sees Jesus (John 20:14-17). The disciples even after they have seen Jesus do not at first recognize Jesus in John 21:4. It appears that Jesus in His resurrected state can choose who He reveals Himself to. It also appears as we see in this story that He can come and go as He pleases (vs 31, also see 36) Yet he is also flesh and blood (he looks normal) He can be touched (vs 39) Though from His encounter with Mary in John 20:17, which is the closest to the resurrection, He isn't ready to be touched, though later He is. He reason, He hasn't yet gone to the Father.

Jesus asks the questions to get these two followers to think about what has happened. Then He uses the opportunity to explain that it is not over. That the events are what has been prophesied. Not only by Jesus but in the Old Testament. (Isa 53, 42, 9:6-7 Ezek 34, Jer 31:31-34, Micah 5:2, just to name a few. probably told how the law of Moses pointed to Christ, how events like the Passover pointed to the need for a sacrifice for sin) how I would love to have a tape recording of that talk! He reminds them that the Christ would have to suffer (see Isa 53) it was false to believe that the Christ would immediately bring God's judgment the first time He came.

Jesus firmly if not with some contempt tells them these things. They should know it both because of it being from the Old Testament and because Jesus had said the same thing, that the Christ would have to suffer and then enter His glory (21:27, 22:69)

The two men were absolutely captivated by Jesus' words (vs 32) even though they at the time didn't realize it was Him.

vs 28-32 Jesus chooses to reveal Himself to the two when invited to stay at the house of the men. It happened when he broke the bread. Did remembering Jesus' words when He broke the bread at the Passover, did those words enter in the two men's minds?

Vs 33-35 Jesus disappears and the two men take off back to Jerusalem. There they tell their story and find out that Jesus also has appeared to Peter. (is this to help Peter with His denial, that Jesus forgives Him?. We don't know that conversation) The moment must have been electric! But it was to get even better!

Day 113

Luke 24:1–12 (NIV)

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why do they doubt what they hear about Jesus? Why do people doubt Jesus’ resurrection today?

Notes

vs 1 As soon as possible after the Sabbath the women come to finish the job of perfuming the body for its decay. One key to me concerning the truth of the resurrection is who finds the tomb empty. It is the women. If this were a made up account then the men would have been the ones finding the tomb empty. Why? Because the testimony of women was doubted in that day. God choose women to find the grave empty.

vs 2-3 The stone would probably have been able to roll away in a grove cut for it. It would be rounded enough to roll away from the tomb opening with effort. However the woman find the stone already rolled away and the tomb empty!

vs 4 Wondering- where is the body?- have the Jewish leaders taken it away. May be Joseph has done something with the body? Before they could decide what could have happened two angels show up!

vs 5- 8 the fright is not unlike that of how Luke starts (1:12, 30, 2:10) when people also see angels.

The key question is asked - seeking the living among the dead- it is a gentle rebuke of them not remembering or doubting Jesus' words about His resurrection (9:22) He has done what He said he would do! He is risen! Remember how in 18:34 it says the disciples didn't understand what Jesus' meant. Now the women do!

vs 9-11 The women had to be ecstatic with the news and couldn't wait to tell the disciples. But they had to be disappointed in their response. The men simply could not believe the story. They saw Jesus crucified. Someone was playing a cruel joke on the women.

vs 12- Peter, always one to see for himself goes to see. Sure enough the tomb is empty but why? The question for Peter remains unanswered.

Note: Matching the stories of the resurrection. Most differences are surely due to the writer only telling what they need to to prove the points they make. For instance John only mentions Mary Magdelene going to the tomb. But that doesn't mean others were not also there. Luke and John mention two angels, Matthew and Mark only one. But that doesn't exclude another angel. Perhaps Matthew only mentions the one who talks. See the article below for more information.

The story of the resurrection in John is quite exciting and seemingly straightforward. One woman shows up at the tomb, discovers it is open, informs the disciples, who investigate, and then meets first an angel and afterward Jesus. This straightforwardness is true enough so long as we look only at one Gospel. When we examine Matthew 28:1–8 or Mark 16:1–8 or Luke 24:1–10 we discover differing pictures. Can these pictures be put together? If they cannot, what does this mean for the truth of the accounts?

In responding to this issue, it would be helpful to look at the events in the four accounts (see chart).

Event

Mt 28:1–8

Mk 16:1–8

Lu 24:1–10

Jn 20:1–8

When?

at dawn

just after sunrise

very early in the morning

while it was still dark

Who comes first?

Mary Magdelene and the other Mary

Mary Magdelene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome

Mary Magdelene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others

Mary Magdelene

What do they find?

earthquake with angel who rolls back the stone

stone rolled away

stone rolled away

stone removed from the entrance

Whom do they see?

angel sitting on the stone

young man in white robe, sitting on the right

two men in clothes that gleamed like lightening

no one

What do they do?

ran to tell his disciples

fled from the tomb, afraid to say anything

told what had happened to the Eleven and others

ran to tell Peter and the disciple, the one Jesus loved

What happens next?

Jesus met them

Peter goes to the tomb to investigate

Peter and the other disciple investigate

What is the third scene?

guards report to chief priests and are bribed

story of two disciples on Emmaus road

Mary sees two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been

When we examine these four accounts, we notice some similarities. First, all agree that the events happened around dawn, although they disagree about whether it was already light. Given that the events happened over a period of time, this difference is hardly significant. Second, all agree that Mary Magdalene was at least one of the ones discovering that the body had disappeared. The purposes of the individual narratives seems to determine how many other women are mentioned (with Luke, who has a special interest in women, noting the most women). Third, all agree that the women find an open, corpseless tomb. Matthew seems to imply that they also saw the opening of the tomb, although he may narrate the opening of the tomb as something that happened while the women were traveling and before they arrived at the tomb. None of the other Gospels mentions the guards, so how the tomb gets opened is less of a problem for them. Fourth, all agree that the women saw one or more angels (only Luke has two). However, the angel in John’s account appears to be functioning in a different narrative role than the ones in the other accounts. It is, perhaps, more accurate to say that John does not inform us if Mary saw anyone at the tomb before going to tell the disciples. What the angels say also differs, although in all cases the women are informed that Jesus is not there. In the various accounts they are told not to fear (and that they were afraid anyway), to report to the disciples and to meet Jesus in Galilee. Finally, all agree that the women left the tomb, and three of the four accounts note that they did inform the disciples. (Mark breaks off with verse 8, the longer ending probably not being part of the original text; it is debated whether an original ending of Mark has been lost or whether he intended to break off with the women in fear and the question of whether they would follow Jesus into Galilee hanging in the air.)

Furthermore, two of the accounts agree that the woman or women met Jesus, that they tried to hold on to him, and that he sent them on their way. However, John appears to put this meeting after Peter and the beloved disciple investigate, and Matthew puts it before the women report to the disciples.

What can we conclude from this data? First, it is possible to make this data into a coherent story. If we assume that the pre- or postdawn timing depends on whether one gives the time of the women starting their trip or their arrival at the tomb, if we assume that the earthquake and angelic descent happened before the women arrived at the tomb, if we merge what the angels say into one account, if we assume that the angels moved around, and if we assume that Mary Magdalene remained behind at the tomb while the others went and reported (and thus had a separate meeting with Jesus), one can make a single coherent account out of the various stories. Obviously, if there were two angels, one writer could report only one. Not every writer has to report all of the details another mentions. In other words, these are different stories but not necessarily conflicting stories. All could be true at the same time.

Second, while it is possible to make the data fit into a coherent story, we cannot be sure that we have the right coherent story. We have a jigsaw puzzle of information and cannot be sure that we have all of the pieces. Thus, since the Scripture has not given us a single unified story, we must be careful or else we will end up believing that our reconstruction is the truth. A reconstruction may be the truth or it may distort the truth. Perhaps if we had some other critical pieces of information we would make quite a different reconstruction.

Third, these stories are exactly what one would expect to discover after a significant event like the resurrection. The chancellor of this author’s university died at the end of an address to the student body. Within an hour of the event a sociology professor had his thirty students each write down their own account of what had happened. Each was instructed to write as honest and detailed account as they could, given the limited time of the class period. When the accounts were later compared, there were numerous differences in detail, although all agreed that the chancellor had died at the end of his address. Presumably each Gospel writer had a series of stories about the resurrection to sort through. For example, we know that Matthew knows and values Mark’s account, but in the resurrection story he obviously has some independent information as well. The Evangelists selected and combined data to get the accounts that they give us. But even the beloved disciple in John is not an eyewitness of most of the events, so we are not surprised to find a lot of differences in their reporting what happened.

Finally, when we try to put the stories together, we miss the point of the authors. The church accepted into its canon four separate Gospels, viewing each as inspired by God. It did not put into the canon a harmony of these Gospels (although such existed). The fact is that each writer is trying to bring out his unique perspective and theological insights by the details he includes or leaves out (although, unless Matthew and Luke are differing from Mark, which we know that they knew, we often cannot be sure that the author actually knows a detail and so purposely leaves it out). Matthew wants to underline the miraculous and also explain a rumor that the body of Jesus was stolen. Luke stresses the fulfillment of the words of Jesus and yet the disbelief of the apostles. John, by focusing on a single character and her intimate discussion with Jesus, points out that in the resurrection and ascension of Jesus the promises of John 13–16 are fulfilled. Jesus cannot be held, for it is better for him to go to the one who is not only his Father but is now also our Father. It is when we look at the resurrection through such eyes, informed by the perspective of each Gospel writer, that we see not simply a miracle, nor even the fact of the resurrection, but the message the church has believed that God wanted to communicate in and through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Kaiser, W. C. (1997). Hard sayings of the Bible. Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity.

Day 112

Luke 23:44–56 (NIV)

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

What is the symbolism of the darkness and the tearing of the temple curtain represent?

Why do the disciples stand far off? What does it say about them?

What do Jesus’ last words say about Him? About the Father?

Notes

vs 44 - 45 The crucifixion began at 9:00 am according to Mark. So at 12 darkness comes over the whole land- What does the darkness represent?

· Could be the judgment of God (Amos 8:9) The idea of the day of the Lord's judgment

· Could stand for sorrow of God

· Could symbolize the evil of the moment

· Could just be a God statement that He is in control of the events. Like Jesus controlling the wind in 8:25. God showing even in midst of evil He is in control

Curtain torn in two- Symbolism of the end of the need for the temple. The curtain had separated God from His people. Only the high priest could enter the holy of Holies once a year. The curtain was the dividing point for the beginning of the holy of Holies. Now there was no need for that separation. Anyone now has access to God. Jesus statement about a new covenant (22:20) comes true. There is no longer a need for the temple.

vs 46- Death comes at 3:00 pm. Reminds me of Jesus' prayer in the garden in 22:42. He trusts is fully on the Father to provide for Him. It is a provision Jesus knows about (9:22, 18:33) and has been prophesied about in Isa 53:10-12. The words are a part of Ps 31. Vs 5 is the quote though the whole Psalm speaks to where Jesus stands fully trusting in God when everyone else has left him.

vs 47- 49

Three groups are seen here

First the leader of the Roman unit overseeing the execution representing the Gentiles. After seeing the events of the cross and Jesus words this soldier comes to the conclusion that this is a good and upright man. (Matt and Mark have him saying that Jesus was the Son of God) The comment brings a foreshadowing of the prophecy of Simeon in 2:32 coming true

The crowd seems to be changing. From their words to crucify Jesus they now are sorrowful for what has transpired.

The disciples and Luke emphasizes Women are also there but at a distance. Probably because of the fear of being rounded up by the Jewish leaders.

All three groups are witnesses to Jesus' death.

vs 50-54- Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin but not in agreement with what they did asks Pilate for Jesus body. It appears that Joseph is seen as a believer. It took courage to do so. Normally the Romans allowed the body to rot on the cross and then throw it into a common grave. But perhaps because Pilate saw Jesus as innocent he allows the body to be taken.

The body was prepared quickly for burial since the Sabbath would soon begin at sunset. The women follow so they can finish the body preparation after the Sabbath.