Luke 24
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women came to the sepulcher bringing the spices prepared before. Others came with them. The stone had been rolled away from the tomb, and entering in they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Suddenly two men stood by them in shining garments. They were afraid and were asked, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: Remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words."
Returning from the tomb, they (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women who had been with Him) told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. But the apostles did not believe them. Peter ran to and entered the sepulcher. As he stooped down he saw the linen clothes laid by themselves. Departing, he wondered at these things.
This last chapter of Luke gives us a sense of what heaven will be like. Two were walking with Jesus on the road, while their hearts burned within them as He opened to them the Scriptures. Angels spoke to them of the resurrection. The heavenly family was gathered together as Jesus appeared in blessing to them. Jesus opened the mind and counsels of God to His disciples. Jesus ate a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb in His glorified body. Jesus opened their understanding. What a day when we shall Imow as we are known.
Two Go to Emmaus
As two of the followers of Jesus went from Jerusalem, on the way to Emmaus, they talked together of all that had happened. Jesus drew near, but they did not know Him. While He went with them, their eyes were blinded that they did not know Him.
Jesus asked the manner of the things that they had been speaking together about as they walked together and were sad. Cleopas answered, Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which have happened here in these days? Jesus said to them, What things? They answered, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how He has been crucified. But we had trusted that He would be the one to redeem Israel. This is the third day since these things were done. Certain women also brought the report of His having risen.
Then Jesus said to them, O senseless and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" Then from the Scriptures He expounded the things concerning Himself.
As they drew near to Emmaus, Jesus made as though He would go further, but they said, "Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." So He tarried with them.
While He sat at meat with them, He took bread and blessed it; He broke it and gave it to them. Their eyes being opened, they knew Him and He vanished out of their sight. They reminisced, saying, "Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?"
Arising, they returned to Jerusalem the same hour, "and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them in breaking of bread." While they were speaking, Jesus came, saying, "Peace be unto you."
Being frightened, they supposed that they had seen a spirit, and Jesus said, Why are you troubled? Why the thoughts in your hearts? "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." When Jesus finished speaking, He showed to them His hands and feet.
Jesus Ate With Them
While they were thrilled with joy, Jesus said, Do you have any meat? They gave Him a honeycomb and broiled fish. Jesus took them and ate before them. Jesus told them that the prophets' words must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms concerning Him.
Following this, Jesus opened their understanding to understand the Scriptures. And He said, 'Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." I will send My Father's promise upon you, and you will tarry in Jerusalem until you are filled with power from on high.
He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. Having blessed them, He was carried up into heaven. Worshipping Him, they returned with great joy to Jerusalem, where they were in the temple continually blessing and praising God.
Openness in Luke
There are often expressions of openness in Luke. In this last chapter there are five: Opened sepulcher; Opened eyes;
Opened Scriptures;
Opened understanding;
Opened heaven.
Bethany
When Jesus went about in His ministry, He often visited Bethany at the Mount of Olives. We are told that Jesus loved Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Mary sat at His feet to learn His Person and His Word. Martha prepared food and saw that Jesus was in comfort while with them. Often His disciples were with Him when at Bethany.
When in Jerusalem, Jesus retired to Bethany in the evening, rather than staying in Jerusalem. There was no other place on earth quite the same. Jesus felt at home in Bethany, and Bethany must have meant much to Jesus. Is it not a picture of the assembly?
When He left this world, He led His disciples out as far as Bethany. He could take them no farther then. Think of what memories of Bethany filled His heart.
As He was carried away into heaven, He blessed the little heavenly family with a promise of His return. "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:1111Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11). Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet. The next time that He appears to the remnant of Israel it will be at the mount of Olives (Zech. 14:44And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:4)).