Merry Christmas Eve everyone!! I’m so excited that we made it through the last chapter of Luke. Alright, let’s dig in to the scripture and go over a few things about God’s Word!
So today I just have thoughts about different verses within this chapter.
Verse 3: They went in and they did not find the body of Jesus….because He is alive! I love this. I sometimes think about how I would have felt or thought if I walked into the tomb and the body was just gone. It would have probably freaked me out and I think I would have had very similar thoughts to Mary’s (You can see that in John 20:2 “Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”)
Verse 4: This verse talks about the 2 men (angels) and what they looked like. I thought it was interesting that their garments were described as “shining garments”. Just thought it was an interesting thing to have pointed out. And I don’t remember that being mentioned within the other gospels.
Verses 5-7: I think it is really awesome that the angels mention Jesus’ words to them. It says in verse 7, “saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'” How often it is for us to forget the Word of God when we are in the midst of chaos and crazy! These angels were reminding them that this was what Jesus had told them would happen!
“And they remembered His words.”
Luke 24:8 NKJV
I love the words of verse 8! Sometimes all we need is a reminder too! That is why God has given us friends and family to help encourage and uplift us with His words. Sometimes God even uses strangers to do this as well. I am so thankful that God knows us so deeply that He uses people to speak truth to us! (John 17:17 “Sanctify them with your truth, Your Word is Truth”)
Verse 11: It says that their words seemed to them like “idle tales”. They did not believe them! Back then the word of a woman was not highly esteemed and so it is amazing that the Lord used these women in this way to give news that He is alive!
Verse 12: This verse shows that Peter had enough curiosity to go and see for himself. And when he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves he went away marveling to himself at what had happened. I thought this was pretty interesting. I am surprised that Jesus’ words did not come flowing back to him in that very moment!
Verse 25: This is when Jesus is walking with the 2 and they are having a full on conversation about Jesus to Jesus! They don’t even realize who they are talking to. Jesus says “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” This makes me look at myself and see if I am slow of heart to believe in regards to the Lord and all He has done and is doing in my life! I pray that God opens my eyes to His promises and that I am not slow of heart to believe!
Verse 30-31: Jesus is eating with the 2 that were traveling. And after He took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them – this is when their eyes are opened to Jesus!! And then He vanishes!! What?? And it’s at that point that they are in awe and run to tell the others! I think this is so cool. I was trying to think about this as if I were sitting there with them…..I would have been in so much awe and ready to go tell the others that I probably would have wanted to run all the way back!
Verse 39: I love that after Jesus appears to them He convinces them that He is not just a spirit. For He has flesh and bones. At this point Jesus is in his glorified body (verse 26 states, “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”) What I find so fascinating is that this gives us a glimpse into the fact that our glorified bodies will have flesh and bones! We will not just be spirits because Jesus is not a spirit-He has flesh and bones and can eat! So cool!!
Verse 45: The Lord opened up their understanding so that they could comprehend the scriptures. This is something that I pray about so that the Lord can give me understanding about the scriptures. I don’t always understand and I am so grateful that the Lord can help us in this area.
Verse 49: The Promise of My Father! This is the Holy Spirit! I am so so grateful for this! I can’t express how amazing it is that we have the Holy Spirit to help us discern. We are never alone because we have the Lord always with us!!
Verse 52: They were so in awe and excited that they “worshiped Him” with “great joy” and they were “continually in the temple praising and blessing God.” This is such a beautiful picture to me! I wonder about where my thoughts and feelings are after I’ve worshiped the Lord-Do I leave with “great joy”? Am I continually praising and blessing God throughout my everyday walk with Jesus? It really convicts me to try and be more joyful even in the midst of my circumstances and discontentment about certain things in my life.
I am so grateful for the BIRTH and the LIFE and the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Jesus!! How amazing this adventure was to read through Luke before Christmas! I hope you all enjoyed a deeper intimacy with Jesus this month. I know I learned a whole lot and am growing all the time.
See you all in the New Year!! 🙂
