Luke 24

Looking for the Living One in a Cemetery

1-3 At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus.

4-8 They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" Then they remembered Jesus' words.

9-11 They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn't believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.

12 But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that's all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

The Road to Emmaus

13-16 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

17-18 He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"
They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"

19-24 He said, "What has happened?"
They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."

25-27 Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

28-31 They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

32 Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"

A Ghost Doesn't Have Muscle and Bone

33-34 They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!"

35 Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

36-41 While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you." They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. He continued with them, "Don't be upset, and don't let all these doubting questions take over. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it's really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn't have muscle and bone like this." As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true.

42-43 He asked, "Do you have any food here?" They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

You're the Witnesses

44 Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled."

45-49 He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."

50-51 He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising his hands he blessed them, and while blessing them, took his leave, being carried up to heaven.

52-53 And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy. They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes.

Luke 24

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.4 And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel:5 and as they were affrighted 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 that the Son of man must be delivered up 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 tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.10 Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles.11 And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them.12 But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass.13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem.14 And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened.15 And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that 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 communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad.18 And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days?19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who 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 up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.21 But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass.22 Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb;23 and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.24 And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.25 And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!26 Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further.29 And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them.30 And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he 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, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?33 And they rose up that very 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 rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.36 And as they spake these things, he 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 beheld a spirit.38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart?39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat?42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.43 And he took it, and ate before them.44 And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.45 Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;46 and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.48 Ye are witnesses of these things.49 And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.50 And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:53 and were continually in the temple, blessing God.