Luke 24 – The Resurrection of Jesus and the Road to Emmaus
“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’” (Luke 24:44, NKJV)
“Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (v. 32)
“Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day…” (v. 46)
🔍 CAPTURE THE SCENE (What do I see?)
- The Resurrection of Jesus:
Jesus rises from the dead, fulfilling His own prophecy and confirming His victory over death - The Women at the Tomb:
Women discover the empty tomb and encounter two angels who announce that Jesus has risen - The Road to Emmaus:
Jesus appears to two disciples walking to Emmaus, and He opens the Scriptures to them, revealing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again - Jesus Appears to the Disciples:
Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room, proving He is alive by eating with them and showing them His hands and feet - Jesus’ Final Instructions and Ascension:
Jesus gives His disciples the Great Commission, instructing them to go and make disciples of all nations, and He ascends into heaven
📖 ANALYZE THE MESSAGE (What does it mean?)
1. The Resurrection (vv. 1–12)
“Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.”
The women go to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices, expecting to find Him dead
“But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.”
When they arrive, they find that the stone has been rolled away, and the tomb is empty
“Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
The women are confused and alarmed because Jesus’ body is missing
“And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.”
Two angels appear and speak to the women, explaining what has happened
“‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee.’”
The angels remind them of Jesus’ words, that He would rise from the dead, confirming His resurrection
“‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”
The angels confirm that Jesus’ resurrection was foretold and part of God’s plan
“And they remembered His words.”
The women remember what Jesus had said about His death and resurrection, and they rush to tell the disciples
“Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”
The women report the resurrection to the disciples, but they do not believe them at first
“And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.”
The disciples are skeptical and do not believe the women’s account
“But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.”
Peter runs to the tomb and finds it empty, with only the linen cloths left, and he marvels at what has occurred
2. The Road to Emmaus (vv. 13–35)
“Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.”
Two disciples are walking to Emmaus and discussing the recent events of Jesus’ crucifixion and the rumors of His resurrection
“And while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.”
Jesus appears to them, but they do not recognize Him
“But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”
For a moment, God restrains their ability to recognize Jesus
“And He said to them, ‘What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?’”
Jesus asks why they are so downcast and troubled, even though they should have been filled with hope
“Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?’”
Cleopas is surprised that this stranger (Jesus) does not know what has happened in Jerusalem
“And He said to them, ‘What things?’”
Jesus asks them to explain what they are referring to, setting them up to share their confusion
“So they said to Him, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.’”
They explain their sorrow, recounting how Jesus was rejected and crucified, despite being a mighty prophet
“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.”
They had hoped that Jesus would be the Messiah who would redeem Israel, but His death crushed their hopes
“Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.”
They mention that it is the third day since Jesus’ death, and they have heard reports that He is alive
“Yes, and certain women of our company who arrived at the tomb early astonished us.”
They explain that women from their group found the tomb empty and were told by angels that Jesus had risen
“And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”
They report that others went to check and found the tomb empty, but they did not see Jesus
“Then He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!’”
Jesus rebukes them for being slow to believe the scriptures and the prophecy about the Messiah
“‘Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’”
Jesus reminds them that the Messiah’s suffering was necessary in order to fulfill Scripture
“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
Jesus opens the Scriptures to them, showing how the Old Testament prophecies point to Him as the suffering Messiah
“Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.”
As they approach Emmaus, Jesus acts as if He is going further, but they urge Him to stay with them
“But they constrained Him, saying, ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’”
They invite Jesus to stay, and He agrees
“Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.”
Jesus breaks bread with them, and in that moment, their eyes are opened, and they recognize Him
“Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.”
Jesus reveals Himself, and immediately He disappears from their sight
“And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’”
They realize that it was Jesus who was speaking to them, and they remember the profound impact of His words
“So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together.”
Filled with excitement, they rush back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples what has happened
“Saying, ‘The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’”
They confirm that Jesus has risen and appeared to Peter
“And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.”
They share their story with the disciples, confirming that Jesus is indeed alive and revealed Himself through the breaking of bread
3. Jesus Appears to the Disciples (vv. 36–49)
“Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’”
Jesus appears suddenly among the disciples, greeting them with peace
“But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.”
The disciples are startled and think they are seeing a ghost
“And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?’”
Jesus reassures them, asking why they are doubting
“‘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.’”
Jesus shows them His wounds, proving He is not a spirit but has risen bodily
“When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.”
He reveals His pierced hands and feet as proof of His crucifixion and resurrection
“But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’”
Though they are overwhelmed with joy, the disciples still struggle to believe, so Jesus asks for food to further prove His physical resurrection
“So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.”
Jesus eats in front of them, showing that He is not a ghost, but fully alive
“And He took it and ate in their presence.”
Jesus confirms His resurrection by physically eating with them
“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’”
Jesus reminds them of the Scriptures that foretold His suffering, death, and resurrection
“And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”
Jesus enables them to understand the scriptures, revealing how everything points to Him
“‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.’”
Jesus explains that His suffering and resurrection were necessary to fulfill God’s plan of salvation
“‘And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’”
Jesus commissions His disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness to all nations
“‘And you are witnesses of these things.’”
The disciples are called to be witnesses of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the message of salvation
4. The Ascension of Jesus (vv. 50–53)
“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.”
Jesus leads His disciples to Bethany, where He blesses them before His ascension
“Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.”
As Jesus blesses them, He is taken up into heaven, symbolizing His ascension and return to the Father
“And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.”
The disciples return to Jerusalem, worshiping Jesus and filled with joy as they await the fulfillment of His promises
🔁 COMPARE THIS CHAPTER WITH THE REST OF SCRIPTURE
- The Resurrection of Jesus:
- Matthew 28:1–10 – The resurrection and the appearance to the women
- John 20:19–23 – Jesus’ appearance to the disciples and the giving of the Holy Spirit
- The Road to Emmaus:
- Mark 16:12–13 – Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road, revealing Himself through the scriptures
- 1 Corinthians 15:5–8 – Paul’s summary of Jesus’ appearances to the disciples
- Jesus Appears to the Disciples:
- John 20:24–29 – Jesus appears to Thomas and rebukes him for doubting
- Acts 1:3–9 – Jesus’ final instructions and ascension into heaven
- The Great Commission:
- Matthew 28:16–20 – Jesus commissions His disciples to make disciples of all nations
- Mark 16:15–18 – The Great Commission to preach the gospel
🙌 EXECUTE (So what? How does this affect my life?)
Principle: The resurrection of Jesus brings eternal hope, transformation, and a call to share the good news.
- Live in the Power of the Resurrection
Jesus’ resurrection brings victory over death and offers new life to all who trust in Him - Share the Good News
As Jesus commissioned His disciples, we are also called to proclaim the gospel to all nations, offering the message of repentance and forgiveness - Worship the Risen Savior
Like the disciples, we are called to worship Jesus, the risen King, and live in joy and gratitude for His sacrifice and victory - Study and Understand Scripture
Just as Jesus opened the Scriptures to His disciples, we must continually study the Bible to understand and live according to God’s truth
🗣️ GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How can we live in the power of the resurrection and share the gospel with others?
- What does it mean to you that Jesus’ resurrection offers victory over death and new life?
- How can we be witnesses of the resurrection in our daily lives, as the disciples were?
- In what ways can we worship Jesus, the risen King, and reflect His love in our actions?
- How does studying Scripture help us grow in understanding Jesus’ mission and our role in it?