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Luke 24:33-43

Sunday Morning Bible Study

July 16, 2017

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid to die? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Regular: 2900 words Communion: 2500 words Video=75wpm

Luke told us what Jesus’ main purpose was in life:

(Luke 19:10 NKJV) for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

He would do this by dying for our sins.

We saw Jesus arrive in Jerusalem on the previous Sunday, Palm Sunday, to the shouts of an adoring crowd, crying “Hosanna”.

By the following Friday morning Jesus had been arrested, tried, and crucified.

He was buried in a borrowed tomb on Friday afternoon.

Early Sunday morning, some women went to the tomb, found the stone rolled away, the tomb empty, and two angels told them that Jesus had risen from the dead.

When the ladies went back to tell the disciples, the disciples thought the women were crazy. Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty.

Mary Magdalene went back to the tomb as well, and she would be the first person to Jesus alive.

Last week we saw two of the disciples walking on the road to Emmaus when a mysterious stranger appeared and began talking with them. This stranger pretended to be unaware of what had gone on in Jerusalem, but He began to teach the Scriptures to them, showing them that the Messiah had to be crucified. When they sat down and broke bread with this stranger, their eyes were opened and they realized they had been walking and talking with Jesus. Then He disappeared.

24:33-43 Resurrection Proof

:33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

:33 they rose up that very hour

they rose up – anistemi – to cause to rise up, raise up

This is the word often used to describe rising from the dead.

As soon as these guys had recognized Jesus, He disappeared from their sight.

They immediately got up to tell the others what had happened.

returned – hupostrepho – to turn back; to return

gathered together – sunathroizo – to gather together with others; to assemble

:33 found the eleven and those…

By this time, Judas is no longer with the other disciples. He has already killed himself.

There are more than just the eleven present.

Actually, Thomas might not have been present. He would miss the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples.

(John 20:24 NKJV) Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

:34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

:34 The Lord is risen indeed

This is what the eleven said to the two returning guys from the Emmaus road.

risen – egeiro – to arouse, cause to rise; to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life

On Easter morning we have a routine where Dave will say, “He is risen”, and we all respond, “He is risen indeed!”

indeed – ontos – truly, in reality, in point of fact; that which is indeed

What’s kind of funny is that they aren’t completely convinced yet.

:34 has appeared to Simon

appeared – horao – to see with the eyes; to see with the mind, to perceive, know; to see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience; to see, to look to

Before the Emmaus guys can get a word out of their own mouths, they are told that Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter.

We don’t have any other record of this appearance in the gospels, but Paul mentions that Jesus appeared to Peter before the rest of the apostles (1Cor. 15:5)

(1 Corinthians 15:5 NKJV) and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

:35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

:35 they told about the things

they told – exegeomai – to lead out; metaph., to draw out in narrative, unfold a teaching; to recount, rehearse

We get our word “exegesis” from this.

Exegesis is taking a text, studying it, and drawing the meaning and application out from the text, letting the text speak for itself.

This is what I try to do every week.

:35 He was known to them in the breaking of bread

We talked about this last week.

the way – hodos – a way; a travelled way, road; a travellers way, journey, travelling

known – ginosko – to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel

breaking – klasis – a breaking

bread – artos – food composed of flour mixed with water and baked

Breaking bread together with someone is about relationship and fellowship.

We use the phrase today, “Let’s break bread together”, meaning, “Let’s have a meal together”.

Breaking bread also hints at communion.

At the Last Supper …

(Luke 22:19 NKJV) And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”

:36 Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them

stood – histemi – to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set; to stand. Aorist.

The verb “stood” is an aorist tense. It happened at a point in time.

Jesus wasn’t there and then one moment He was there.

:36 Peace to you

Peace – eirene – peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord; security, safety, prosperity

Did He put up two fingers like in the Hippie days?

Might He have actually said, “Shalom”?

:37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

:37 they were terrified and frightened

terrified – ptoeo – to terrify; be terrified; to agitate with fear

frightened – emphobos – thrown into fear, terrified, affrighted

The disciples at this point know that Jesus was risen. Indeed. And had appeared to several people so far.

He appeared to Mary Magdalene.

He appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

He appeared to Peter.

So why were they freaked out?

John tells us that the disciples had been meeting in a room with the doors shut.

(John 20:19 NKJV) Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

shut – kleio – to shut, shut up

How did Jesus just “appear” with the doors closed?

Maybe He “beamed” Himself through the walls.

Last week in the news Chinese researchers were the first to transport (quantum teleportation) a photon particle from earth to a satellite in orbit.

Of course that’s a long, long, long, long way off from actually transporting a human being like in Star Trek.

Video: Star Trek – Beam Me Aboard

Have you ever wondered why the stone at the tomb rolled away earlier that morning?

How many of you think it was so Jesus could get out?

I don’t think so.

I think it was so the witnesses could get in to see He was gone.

Jesus no longer needed doors.

:37 supposed they had seen a spirit

supposed – dokeo – to be of opinion, think, suppose

a spirit – pneuma – a spirit, a “ghost”.

had seen – theoreo – to be a spectator, look at, behold; to see

We might say they, “supposed they had seen a ghost”.

With the death of the last of the apostles, the church began to face an increasing amount of heretical doctrines forming.

The first couple of centuries of church history were all about clarifying what the apostles already knew, which is the exact nature of who Jesus was.

Was He a man? Was He God? Did He even have a physical body?

One of the early heresies in the history of the church was called “Docetism”.

It stated that Jesus did not have a real flesh and bones body.

One of the forms of this heresy claimed that He didn’t have a real body after rising from the dead, He was just a “ghost”.

You’re going to see that Jesus will not leave that an option for the Bible student.

:38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

troubled – tarasso – to agitate, trouble (a thing, by the movement of its parts to and fro); to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity; to disquiet, make restless; to stir up; to trouble; to strike one’s spirit with fear and dread; to render anxious or distressed; to perplex the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubts

:38 why do doubts arise in your hearts?

arise – anabaino – ascend; to go up; to rise, mount, be borne up, spring up

hearts – kardia – the heart

doubts – dialogismos – the thinking of a man deliberating with himself; questioning about what is true; hesitation, doubting

Our word “dialogue” comes from this.

They haven’t really settled it yet in their minds what has happened.

What they are seeing and experiencing doesn’t match any of their expectations.

:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

:39 Behold My hands and My feet

Behold – eido – to see

Jesus commands the disciples to take a look at what they see.

Mentioning His hands and feet would indicate that He’s particularly pointing them to the places where He had been nailed to the cross.

We know that even in His resurrected body, Jesus chose to keep the reminders of what had happened on the cross.

In heaven He is called “the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 5:6)

(Revelation 5:6 NKJV) —6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

:39 that it is I Myself

“It is I” translates the Greek phrase ego eimi, which is sometimes used as a hint of God’s name Yahweh, which means in Hebrew the “I Am”.

:39 Handle Me and see

Handle – pselaphao – to handle, touch and feel

From the root of the word that “psalms” is based on (psallo) meaning to “pluck” (like strings on a guitar).

This is an imperative, a command.

The word is used in:

(1 John 1:1–3 NKJV) —1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

John had indeed touched Jesus.

When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, she “clung” to Him. She had “touched” Jesus. (John 20:17)

(John 20:17 NKJV) Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

The word translated “cling” here (hapto) means to fasten on to something. Mary had grabbed onto Jesus and wasn’t going to let go.

It’s not that Jesus didn’t want Mary touching Him, He just wanted to let her know that she was going to need to let go sometime.

But to be clear, she had “touched” Jesus.

Lesson

Examine the evidence

Luke is giving us samples of what he would write about in the book of Acts concerning the apostles:

(Acts 1:3 NKJV) to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The apostles would be the chief witnesses to what was happening on this day.

They had “seen” and “handled” Him.

They would not only tell the world that Jesus had died for their sins, but that He had conquered death and rose from the grave.

All except John would die gruesome deaths holding fast to the claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. John died of old age.

They had gone from being scared skeptics hiding behind closed doors, to bold proclaimers of Jesus’ resurrection.

Why would they make that claim?

Because they had examined the evidence.

Jesus had told them to be sure, to see and touch.

Our faith isn’t a “blind faith” in that we are told to believe in something where there is no evidence.

We are told to examine the evidence.

Thomas had been absent that Sunday evening, and when he came back later,

(John 20:25 NKJV) The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

This is why we call him “doubting Thomas”.

Yet Jesus wanted Thomas to be one of His witnesses, and Jesus would show up the following Sunday and turn the skeptic into a believer.

(John 20:26–29 NKJV) —26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

In the month of August we’ll be showing some movies on Thursday nights that will give you reasons for believing.

On the final Thursday, we’ll be showing the new movie “The Case for Christ”, which is the story of how Pulitzer prize winning journalist Lee Strobel went from being a skeptic to a believer by investigating the facts.

Video: The Case For Christ – Investigating the Case

Lee would investigate the evidence, and become a believer.

The problem with most unbelievers is that they don’t take the time to examine the evidence.

Think of some of the pieces of evidence we’ve seen in the last couple of months:

Jesus died a horrible death.

He was certified dead by the Romans.

He was buried in a tomb carved from solid rock.

Quite a few people knew where the tomb was.

His tomb was secured by a large stone and guarded by Roman soldiers.

On Sunday morning the stone was rolled away.

While the graveclothes were left

…the body was gone.

Jesus started appearing to quite a few people.

Paul will later write that Jesus appeared to over five hundred people (1Cor. 15:5-8)

(1 Corinthians 15:5–8 NKJV) —5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

see – eido – to see; to know

flesh – sarx – flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts; the body

bones – osteon – a bone

you see – theoreo – to be a spectator, look at, behold; to see

:39 a spirit does not have flesh and bones

We say, “flesh and blood”. Why does Jesus say, “flesh and bones”?

Could it be related to Him shedding His blood on the cross?

Even today, some people like to spiritualize the stories about Jesus.

They say He didn’t really rise from the dead, but it’s just a nice thought.

Luke says no.

He has a real, physical, living body.

:40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

He showed – epideiknumi – to exhibit, show; to bring forth to view, to display something belonging to one’s self; to prove

I imagine they saw the places where the nails pierced Him.

:41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”

:41 they still did not believe for joy, and marveled

did not believe – apisteo – to betray a trust, be unfaithful; to have no belief, disbelieve

for – apo – of separation (“from”); of origin; of the place whence anything is, comes, befalls, is taken; of origin of a cause

joy – chara – joy, gladness

It seemed too good to be true.

marveled – thaumazo – to wonder, wonder at, marvel; to be wondered at, to be had in admiration

(Luke 24:41 NLT) Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

You could make a case that they don’t yet quite fully believe.

:41 Have you any food here?

food – brosimos – eatable; from brosis – act of eating; that which is eaten, food, ailment

“Do you have anything edible around here?”

here – enthade – here; hither

Why did Jesus ask this?

Perhaps Jesus was hungry.

He did “break bread” with the two men at Emmaus.

In a couple of weeks He’s making breakfast for the disciples alongside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:9)

(John 21:9 NKJV) Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

And in heaven, there is a great big supper planned (Rev. 19:9).

(Revelation 19:9 NKJV) Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Perhaps He is just trying to help them understand that He’s for real, that He has a real, physical body.

Ghosts don’t eat food. I know this from factual sources like Casper the friendly ghost…

Video: Casper – Breakfast with the Ghosts

:42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.

they gave – epididomi – to hand, give by hand; to give over; give up to the power or will of one

fish – ichthus – a fish

broiled – optos – cooked, broiled

a piece – meros – a part; one of the constituent parts of a whole

honeycomb (two words used) – melissios – of bees, made by bees – kerion (from keos, “wax”) – honeycomb

:42 a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb

For you skeptics out there, take notice.

It wasn’t fried “fish”, but “broiled fish”.

What’s with the honeycomb? It was evening, not breakfast time! 😉

This is not the language of some practiced, ritual mantra repeated over the centuries, otherwise they might have served Him bread and wine.

This is the language of eye-witnesses.

:43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

he took – lambano – to take; to receive (what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back

in their presence – enopion – in the presence of, before; of occupied place: in that place which is before, or over against, opposite, any one and towards which another turns his eyes

He did these things in their presence. He wasn’t behind some curtain.

ate – phago – to eat

:43 He took it and ate in their presence

Lesson

Physical Future

In talking about the nature of our future resurrected body, Paul compares the body we received from Adam to the body we will receive from Christ.

(1 Corinthians 15:49 NKJV) And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

John the apostle wrote,

(1 John 3:2 NKJV) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

We will have real, physical resurrected bodies like Jesus has.

I listened an old (1998) message by Tim Keller on this passage a few days ago on the recommendation of a friend (thanks Frank Lindley!)

Keller made a great point about the significance of the resurrection of Jesus’ physical body.

Tim pointed out that many people in life are afraid of “missing out” on the experiences of life.

They don’t want to miss out on the chance to be loved, and will do anything to get others to love them.

They don’t want to miss out on visiting the great places of the world, so they spend money in travel.

They don’t want to miss out on the great physical pleasures in life, whether it’s the pleasures of sex, the high of drugs, enjoying a good meal, or just watching a beautiful sunset.

Some of these people are a bit reluctant to become Christians because they’re afraid they are going to have to give up on these things. They’re afraid they might miss out on them.

Yet think about the truth we’re looking at here.

We too will have real, physical bodies.

We will no longer have a sin nature, so some of the things people are looking for in life will change.

Think about what we’ll enjoy.

I don’t expect there to be sex in heaven, but there will be an intimacy like we’ve never known before.

We’ll be able to travel anywhere.

There will be no need for drugs because we’ll be on an eternal high.

David wrote,

(Psalm 16:11 NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Healthy, wholesome pleasures.

And there will be food.

We’ll be eating at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

We will eat, drink, dance, and love one another.

When you have an eternal perspective, you will find that you don’t need to worry about “missing out” on things.

You can learn to abstain from bad things.

You can sacrifice. You can give to others. You can lay down your life.

Because what’s up ahead will surpass everything you’ve ever imagined.

Lesson

The Real Deal

One of Paul’s missionary journeys took him to Mars Hill, the place in Athens where the philosophers liked to spend their days arguing and debating ideas.

The philosophers heard about Paul, and asked him to give them a “TED Talk” on his ideas.

Paul started off by complementing them on their sense of religion, especially their altar to the “Unknown God”. Paul then explained to them that God could actually be known. Then he said,

(Acts 17:30–31 NKJV) —30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Philosophers like to sit around and debate things that really can’t be proven.

Paul spoke to them about something with certainty.

Jesus rose from the dead.

The evidence proves it.

You can still try and dispute whether this is a true fact or not, but if it is a true fact, then it changes everything.

Jesus’ resurrection proved that He was like no other.

When God says that He will one day judge the world through this One who has done the impossible, you better pay attention.

If God is going to one day judge you, then you better figure out how you are going to survive God’s judgment.

The truth is, we are all guilty before God because we are all sinners.

If we want to make it past God’s judgment, we better pay attention to God’s recommendations on how to do that.

God sent His Son to die on a cross and pay for our sins so we might be forgiven if we will only turn from our sins and trust in Him.

(John 3:16–18 NKJV) —16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.