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

The Resurrection

1 Now on the first days of the week, at early dawn, the woment went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spicest they had prepared.2 Theyt found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb,s3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.ss4 Whilet they were perplexedt about this, suddenlyt two men stood beside them in dazzlings attire.5 Thet woment were terribly frightenedt and boweds their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the livings among the dead?6 He is not here, but has been raised!st Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,s7 thatt the Son of Man must be deliveredt into the hands of sinful men,t and be crucified,s and on the third day rise again.”t8 Thent the women remembered his words,s9 and when they returned from the tomb they told all these things to the elevens and to all the rest.10 Now it was Mary Magdalene,s Joanna,s Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles.11 But these words seemed like pure nonsenses to them, and they did not believe them.

12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb.s He bent downs and saw only the strips of linen cloth;t then he went home,t wonderings what had happened.ss

Jesus Walks the Road to Emmaus

13 Nowt that very day two of themt were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven milest from Jerusalem.s14 Theyt were talking to each other about all the things that had happened.15 Whilet they were talking and debatingt these things,t Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them16 (but their eyes were kepts from recognizingt him).s17 Thent he said to them, “What are these matterst you are discussing so intentlyt as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad.18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him,t “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t knows the things that have happened theret in these days?”19 Het said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a mant who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophets before God and all the people;20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him overs to be condemned to death, and crucifieds him.21 But we had hopedt that he was the one who was going to redeems Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened.22 Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us.s Theyt were at the tomb early this morning,23 and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels,s who said he was alive.24 Thent some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”t25 Sot he said to them, “Yout foolish peoplet – how slow of hearts to believet all that the prophets have spoken!26 Wasn’tt it necessarys for the Christts to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

27 Thent beginning with Moses and all the prophets,s he interpreted to them the things written aboutt himself in all the scriptures.
28 So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther,s

29 but they urged him,t “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” Sot he went in to stay with them.
30 Whent he had taken his place at the tablet with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it,t and gave it to them.31 At this pointt their eyes were opened and they recognizeds him.t Thent he vanished out of their sight.32 Theyt said to each other, “Didn’tt our heartst burn within ussss while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explainingt the scriptures to us?”33 Sot they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem.s Theyt found the eleven and those with them gathered together34 andt saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!”s

35 Then they told what had happened on the road,s and how they recognized himt when he broke the bread.

Jesus Makes a Final Appearance

36 While they were saying these things, Jesust himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”s37 But they were startled and terrified, thinkings they saw a ghost.s38 Thent he said to them, “Why are you frightened,t and why do doubtsts arise in your hearts?39 Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me!t Touch me and see; a ghostts does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.”40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.ss41 And while they still could not believe its (because of their joy) and were amazed,s he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”s42 Sot they gave him a piece of broiled fish,

43 and he took it and ate it in front of them.

Jesus’ Final Commission

44 Thent he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about mes in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalmss must be fulfilled.”45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures,s46 and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christt would suffert and would rise from the dead on the third day,47 and repentances for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimedt in his name to all nations,s beginning from Jerusalem.ss48 You are witnessess of these things.

49 And look, I am sending yout what my Father promised.t But stay in the citys until you have been clothed with powers from on high.”

Jesus’ Departure

50 Thent Jesust led them out as far as Bethany,s and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.51 Nowt during the blessingt he departedt and was taken up into heaven.sts52 Sot they worshipeds him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,s

53 and were continually in the temple courtsts blessings God.s