STUDY 20

FACE TO FACE WITH THE RISEN CHRIST

LUKE 24

 

 

  1. Describe a time when your hopes were dashed and you found it difficult to face the future.

    1. Going thru a divorce is by far the most difficult time. My hopes were truly dashed and it was so very painful to consider a future without the family I had been blessed with… a day did not go by that I didn’t mourn; many sleepless nights… everything in my life lost value and there was no pleasure in anything at all. Life was meaningless.


  2. LUKE 24:1-12 What did the women expect to find at the tomb? Why did they come?

    1. The women expected to find the grave in the same manner as it was on Friday when Jesus was placed there..
    2. They came to give Jesus body a proper burial; likely felt that the hasty burial before the Sabbath was not adequate for someone as special as Jesus, and so they were prepared to honor him with a more appropriate burial.

  3. What did they find instead? What variety of feelings did they have? In what ways did they respond to the situation?

    1. They found…

                                                               i.      The massive stone sealing the gravesite had been removed

                                                             ii.      Jesus’ body was missing

                                                            iii.      Two strangers talking to them about the things Jesus had said.

    1. Feelings…

                                                               i.      Certainly confusion; fear; uncertainty; glimmer of hope?

    1. Responded…

                                                               i.      They “remembered his words”… they were attempting to put together the words of Jesus with the things the strangers were saying, along with all the events that had occurred.

                                                             ii.      Returned to tell the disciples about everything that happened.

  1. What reaction did the apostles have to the story the women told them? How can you explain this reaction?

    1. Reaction…

                                                               i.      The apostles treated the women’s report as “nonsense”. King James Strongs  Concordance translates as “twaddle” or “an incredible story” as told by “idle people”.

    1. Explanation…

                                                               i.      It seems reasonable than the disciples are still reeling from the events of the arrest and crucifixion; the women apparently were not believable enough; it would take much more than “incredible stories” to convince them of the actual events.

                                                             ii.      A point is brought up in the Life Application NT Commentary that women were not allowed to be official witnesses in a court of law, and yet the first people to witness Jesus resurrection are exclusively women. Might this also add to the reason why the disciples are reluctant to believe this story?

                                                            iii.      Peter in particular caught my attention, and this was only after Cherrie spoke about how he may have felt following the crucifixion. Peter must have been OVERWHELMED with guilt and sorrow after denying Jesus. Jesus was two things to Peter – the Messiah and his best friend. Peter had denied the Messiah and his best friend… I don’t think anyone can imagine the thoughts and feelings going thru Peter the days following the crucifixion and before the resurrection.
 

1.       Which also provides a better understanding of why Jesus makes a point of telling Peter that though he would deny him, in the end everything would work out okay.

  1. LUKE 24:13-35 What confused feelings and reports were Jesus’ followers trying to sort out?

    1. In a short span of less that a few days their world has been turned inside out. Attempting to sort out a life after Jesus… what do they do? Who will be there leader? Where to go… who to turn to… what did it all mean? Who could possibly have the insight, wisdom, and authority to make sense of it all?

  2. In what ways did Jesus try to help them understand what had happened and who he really was?

    1. Jesus met them where they were… a normal day walking down the road to another village.
    2. Jesus listened to them… he asked questions about things that were happening in their lives, things that they considered important and worthy of discussion and understanding.
    3. He used scripture as the basis of his explanations; even though it would have been adequate and even appropriate for him to say, “I told you so!” – yet he continues to allow God’s Word to speak on his behalf.
    4. This is one of my favorite stories… it tells of a Savior I can relate to… one that meets me where I am, as opposed to requiring diligence and discipline to become worthy of His attention. He simply meets the disciples where they are, and then patiently spends time asking questions and explaining the answers. How simply wonderful to have a God so considerate of our simple lives.

  3. LUKE 24:36-53 Why would all of this be so hard to accept? Put yourself in the disciples place. What various feelings would you have?

    1. It’s not everyday you witness a man beaten and crucified then rise from the dead; dead people don’t come back to life… they don’t reappear and walk and talk and eat among us… they don’t claim to be the prophetic fulfillment of holy scripture.
    2. Feelings I would have – awe, doubt, wonder, unbelief…

  4. Jesus explained again (as he had throughout this Gospel) his identity and mission. Why were they able to understand his words as they had not before (verses 45-49)

    1. Scripture says “he opened their minds”. More and more I am convinced that it is God’s work in our lives that allows an understanding of Him. Except by the Spirit inside it would all be a bunch of nonsense.

  5. What was their response after Jesus ascended?

    1. They returned to Jerusalem “filled with great joy.”

  6. What do you understand to be Jesus identity and purpose?

    1. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
    2. His purpose was to restore the fallen children of God.

  7. What do you believe about Jesus? What do you still find hard to believe?

    1. I believe about Jesus…

                                                               i.      He is the rightful King of all of creation; when sin entered the world it granted all that had fallen to the lordship of Satan, as he has been granted rule and authority over all that is sin. This included the children of God (created as an image of the Holy One) and all of the wondrous creation we marvel at today – because of sin all of this became tragically isolated from the holy Creator.

Jesus Christ stepped down from His throne in heaven to assume the humble status of a struggling man in the fallen creation. God became a man among sinful world to put into effect a plan that would restore the children of God. By his act of sacrificial obedience the law of sin and death was fulfilled and then superseded by the as yet unknown law of faith and forgiveness.

That which was sinful and rightfully belonging to Satan is now released to resume a close, loving, forgiving, nourishing, holy relationship with the Holy God.

    1. I find hard to believe…

                                                               i.      My continual disobedience and constant failures will not doom me to eternal condemnation.

  1. What have you learned about what it means to follow Jesus as his disciple? What is your response to the Christ described in Luke’s Gospel?

    1. I have learned new reasons to marvel at the gift of Christ. It continues to be something which I never fully understand and frequently take for granted. But in that time when meditation and reflection suspend the demand of daily living, then I am able to marvel again – then I more fully understand my humble circumstance, facing sorrow over sins past committed, and tearfully embracing a deep simple reverence for a holy and loving God who, despite my resistance, continues to pursue me. Then I know in a way that defies description that I am truly loved by the Great God of Love.