30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 24 13-35 JESUS IS KNOWN IN THE SCRIPTURES 08 29Mar2022 Luke 24 19-24 Reason for the blindness
📖 Luke 24:13-35
08 – 29Mar2022 – Reason for the blindness - Luke 24:13-35 - JESUS IS KNOWN IN THE SCRIPTURES - Bible reading: Luke 18:31-34
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are patiently reaching out to correct our perspectives. When our perspectives have been corrected, the blessing that flows from us is beyond description. We seek to be dependent on You. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Luke 24:19-24 And He said to them, "What things?" 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, (20) and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. (21) But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. (22) Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. (23) When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. (24) 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."
The Lord encouraged the disciples to share with Him their perspective of what had happened. Their first faulty position was in their understanding of the identity of Jesus. The second was regarding their understanding of redemption.
We know that the Lord worked patiently on these disciples and corrected their faulty perspectives. The evidence of the correction is what we see in the New Testament and all through history.
The third faulty position that these disciples held was concerning the resurrection. The women had clearly testified to these disciples that Jesus had risen again. Besides the report of the women, Peter and John had verified and confirmed the fact of the resurrection of Christ.
This is indeed very sad to note that though these two disciples had all the facts on hand, there was no understanding of resurrection.
This is how we are. However much the evidence is laid before us, we retain our blindness. When we are not open to God, to correct our perspectives, then change is not possible. There needs to be a hunger in us for the things of God.
What was it that the women told these disciples?
Luke 24:5-9 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, (7) saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' " (8) And they remembered His words. (9) Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
The angels told the women that Jesus had risen. The angels reminded the women of how Jesus had told them of His resurrection. The women remembered the words of Jesus of His resurrection. Praise the Lord for the women, for their eyes were now open regarding Jesus’ resurrection.
The women reminded the disciples of the words of the Lord about His resurrection and now resurrection had actually taken place. This should have caused a big shift in the perspective of the disciples, but alas, there was no change.
What were the words of the Lord, to His disciples, regarding His resurrection?
Luke 9:22-23 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." (23) Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
We see Jesus speaking of His resurrection again.
Luke18:31-34 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. (32) For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. (33) They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." (34) But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
We get a clue as to why the disciples did not understand the resurrection.
Immediately, after Jesus told the disciples that He would rise again, He told them that they would need to deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Him.
The follow-through after the resurrection, which Jesus had specified, did not register on the minds of the disciples. Their minds were set on the political redemption of Israel, which they firmly believed Jesus would provide.
The disciples chose to blank out from their minds the matter of denying themselves, taking up their cross daily and following Him. Since they had blanked out discipleship from their minds, the physical resurrection of Jesus had no impact on them, rather they were disappointed with Jesus.
Resurrection of Jesus will only become a compelling perspective in our lives when we are willing to go to the next step, which is discipleship. Discipleship involves denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily and following Jesus.
If we are willing to be a disciple of Jesus, in its true sense, then resurrection will have relevance for us. If we are not willing for discipleship, then, though resurrection has taken place, we will remain discouraged and frustrated as these two disciples.
Thought to ponder
Is Easter truly meaningful for you or is it only a special day on your calendar?