Luke 24 Devotional: Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His appearances to the disciples. Discover how the Risen Lord opened the Scriptures to reveal God’s plan for salvation and commissioned His Church to preach to all nations.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to the final chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Today, we move from the silence of the tomb to the burning hearts of the disciples. Luke Chapter 24 is a journey from confusion to conviction, reminding us that we do not serve a dead martyr, but a living, breathing Savior. Let us walk the road to Emmaus today and ask the Lord to open our eyes to His presence.
The Living Word and the Opened Eyes
Luke 24 begins with an empty tomb and a question that echoes through eternity: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" The chapter follows two discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus who are joined by a "stranger" who explains how the entire Old Testament pointed to the suffering and glory of the Messiah. Finally, Jesus appears to the gathered disciples, eating physical food to prove His bodily resurrection, before ascending to heaven with a promise of the Holy Spirit’s power.
What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see the Final Authority of the Bible. As your Statement of Faith affirms, the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God and the final authority for faith. Even after rising from the dead, Jesus pointed the disciples back to the "Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms" to explain His mission. He shows us that the core of our faith is not just a feeling, but a fulfillment of God's perfect will revealed in the Word. Furthermore, we see the reality of the Bodily Resurrection. Jesus was not a ghost; He had flesh and bones. This gives us the absolute assurance of our own future resurrection and eternal life with God.
24 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
The disciples said, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" Let us come to the Lord now, asking Him to set our hearts ablaze with His Truth.
Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You today for the victory of the empty tomb! We believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the dead, conquering sin and death once and for all. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Scriptures, which reveal Your perfect plan for our salvation and point us to the living Christ in every chapter.
Lord, I ask that You would open my eyes to see You clearly today. When I am discouraged or confused, walk beside me and remind me of Your promises. Help me to understand the Scriptures more deeply, that my heart might burn with love for You. I thank You for the Holy Spirit, who dwells in and empowers us for service. Just as You promised the disciples "power from on high," I ask that You would empower me today to be a witness of Your grace in my words and my actions.
We pray for our community and the universal Church, that we would be a people defined by the joy of the Resurrection. We lift up those who are searching for meaning in life; may they find the "Living One" who is the only source of true hope. We pray for the nations of the earth, asking that the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in every language and to every tribe. Strengthen us to be Your witnesses until You come again in glory. Amen.
On the road to Emmaus, the disciples' eyes were opened when Jesus "took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them." Where in your ordinary, daily routine can you look more closely for the presence of the Risen Lord today?
Why did Jesus have to explain the Old Testament to the disciples? The disciples had a partial understanding of the Messiah. Jesus showed them that the entire Bible—the Law, Prophets, and Psalms—focused on the necessity of His suffering, death, and resurrection for the salvation of humankind.
Was Jesus' resurrection body different? Yes and no. It was a real, physical body (He could be touched and could eat), but it was also a "glorified" body that was no longer subject to death or the limitations of the fallen world, serving as a pattern for our own future resurrection.
What is the "promise of the Father" mentioned in verse 49? This refers to the Holy Spirit, who would be sent to dwell in, guide, and empower the believers to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth, as fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.
Thank you for journeying through the Gospel of Luke with us. May the reality of the Risen Christ fill you with peace and power today. We look forward to beginning our next study together as we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.
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