You are Witnesses of These Things
Luke 24:36-53
Key Verse 48
“You are witnesses of these things.”
Introduction
In this passage Jesus appeared to his disciples and helped them to believe his resurrection and mentioned his vision that the gospel would be preached to all nations.
Read verses 36-44. When did Jesus appear to his disciples? (36) How did the disciples respond? (37) How did Jesus rebuke them? (38) How did Jesus help them to believe in his resurrection? (39-43) How did Jesus help them further? (44)
1-1. Read verses 36-44.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
1-2. When did Jesus appear to his disciples? (36)
While they were still talking about this – They talked about what the two disciples had reported, that they had met the Risen Jesus on their way. Yet despite their testimony, the disciples were still not sure about Jesus’ resurrection.
Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you”
God will create a new type of body, no longer subject to death or physical barriers (such as walls or doors). In Jesus’ case, His new body was a transformation of the old one, for his body did not decay.
Even though the disciples disowned him, He returned to them. The first thing Jesus did was not to rebuke them but to give them assurance saying, “Peace be with you” Jesus still loved them. He showed them his mercy and forgiveness.
Jesus helped them to believe in his resurrection even by His direct appearance.
It was so important for the disciples to believe in Jesus’ resurrection. This faith in the resurrection of Jesus’ would be the foundation of their faith and the source of their power. Also they were to be witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.
1-3. How did the disciples respond? (37)
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
They thought that Jesus was a ghost. They couldn’t believe in Jesus’ physical resurrection. A ghost doesn’t have a tangible body.
But Jesus appeared to them with a body.
The resurrection is not about becoming a ghost. The resurrection is to rise again with a glorious new body.
1-4 How did Jesus rebuke them? (38)
He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief.
Jesus predicted his resurrection on several occasions. The disciples had also received two reports of Jesus’ resurrection. The first was from the women who had visited the tomb. The second was from two disciples who had directly me the Risen Jesus. They should have believed based on Jesus’ word and also based on the testimony of direct witnesses. But they held to their own thoughts and failed to believe.
We should believe based on the word of God. When doubt arises in our minds, we should dispel it by holding onto the word of God.
1-5. How did Jesus help them to believe in his resurrection? (39-43)
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Jesus showed them his nail scarred hands and feet. He let them touch him and see the wounds.
He appealed to the bodily senses of the eleven.
He was a material being, and not a ghost.
He took boiled fish and ate it in their presence.
Jesus proved his resurrection so clearly and obviously by showing his wounds and scars and by eating food in front of them.
The disciples could not doubt his resurrection anymore. Now they believed in His resurrection.
1-6. How did Jesus help them further? (44)
Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms
The entire Old Testament talks about Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Jesus also explained to that his resurrection was the fulfillment of the words of God, not something that had happened suddenly or by chance.
We should believe in the resurrection based on the word of God.
2. Read verses 45-49. When did the disciples start understanding the Scriptures? (45; Jn 2:22) What did Jesus teach them about the Messiah and what was his vision? (46-47) What did Jesus call His disciples? (48) What further promise and instruction did Jesus give them? (49)
2-1. Read verses 45-49.
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
2-2. When did the disciples start understanding the Scriptures? (45; Jn 2:22)
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
The disciple couldn’t understand the Scriptures with their own understanding until Jesus opened their minds.
Jesus showed his disciples the full meaning of the words of God. He showed the true interpretation of God’s word in the Scripture.
We need enlightenment from God to understand.
1 Corinthians 2:14 reads,
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
We need God’s help to understand the word of God. Recognizing this, we need to ask God to open our minds so we can understand his word.
Apostle Paul also prayed for believers.
Ephesians 1:17-18 reads,
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.
We can understand the word of God thoroughly when we are taught by the Holy Spirit.
We can learn the Bible from good Bible teachers but nothing can be compared with the teaching of Holy Spirit. When we read the Bible, asking the help of the Holy Spirit, with a humble heart, we can understand better.
People’s minds are closed and darkened because of their sin and doubt.
Romans 1:21 reads,
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
2-3. What did Jesus teach them about the Messiah and what was his vision? (46-47)
The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Jesus taught them about his death and resurrection.
As Messiah, Jesus saved people through His death and resurrection. The key message from the Bible about the Messiah is concerning His death and resurrection.
The key message of the gospel of Jesus is repentance for the forgiveness of sins based on Jesus’ death and resurrection.
We must preach the message of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. We must also share the message of believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
The goal of preaching the gospel is to help people to repent and restore their relationship with God through forgiveness.
Repentance is necessary for salvation. Repentance and forgiveness are connected to each other all the time.
Forgiveness is the free gift of God in Christ. But without repentance we cannot receive God’s gift. In Jesus we obtain free, full, and immediate forgiveness by faith in Jesus.
Jesus saw the vision that the gospel of Jesus would be preached to all nations.
Jesus’ vision will come true by any means.
We must preach the gospel of Jesus to all nations, obeying his command and believing in his vision.
2-4. What did Jesus call His disciples? (48)
“You are witnesses of these things”
The disciples were witnesses of Jesus’ death and resurrection because they saw everything directly with their own eyes.
Jesus let them see and know everything so that they would become witnesses of his death and resurrection.
Now it is their responsibility to be witnesses of Jesus’ death and resurrection to the world.
God let’s us see and know Jesus’ death and resurrection through his word and also through the testimony of His witnesses.
Now we are witnesses of these things. We also should now be witnesses to the world.
2-5. What further promise and instruction did Jesus give them? (49)
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus promised that he would send the Holy Spirit which is what God promised.
This was to empower them for God’s work, which they couldn’t do on their own. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit, would they be able to do God’s work effectively and with God’s power.
Once Holy Spirit is with them, they could do God’s great work in spite of their weakness and limitations.
God’s world mission command and vision will be fulfilled by those who obey His command, believing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Stay in the city – Jesus instructed them to stay in the city until the coming of the Holy Spirit. We need to spend time to receive the Holy Spirit especially through prayer.
Act 1:13-14 reads,
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
3. Read verses 50-53. What did Jesus do for the disciples? (50) Describe Jesus’ ascension. (51) What did the disciples do after this event? (52-53)
3-1. Read verses 50-53.
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
3-2.What did Jesus do for the disciples?(50)
He lifted up his hands and blessed them.
Jesus’ ultimate blessing was that He would be with His disciple always.
This blessing remains true for His disciples (His church) so that they would be able to carry out His will.
3-3. Describe Jesus’ ascension. (51)
While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
While he was blessing them – Jesus’ blessing for his disciples continues. He is still blessing His disciples and His church.
Was taken into heaven – He will be glorified with the glory that he had before the world began.
John 17:5 reads,
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
He will come back in the same way
Acts 1:11 reads,
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
3-4. What did the disciples do after this event? (52-53)
returned to Jerusalem with great joy…. stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
They obeyed Jesus’ instruction.
With great joy – Upon seeing Jesus’ resurrection, their sadness and fear turned to great joy.
Now the Risen Jesus remained in their hearts even though He now left them, at least His physical form. They knew that Jesus would be alive in heaven and that He would bless them and would come back.
The fact that their Lord Jesus is alive and watches over them made them greatly joyful and ready to carry out the mission.
Conclusion
Jesus convinced His disciples to believe in His resurrection by appearing to them and opening their minds to understand the Scriptures. He also gave them vision for the gospel to be preached to all nations and promised the Holy Spirit. He was taken into heaven while blessing the disciples. Jesus is alive and is sitting at the right hand of God’s throne. There, He is glorified with the same glory that he had with God before the world began. We are witnesses of these things. Jesus’ blessing and the Holy Spirit is with us, according to His promise. It is time for us to preach the gospel of Jesus to all nations.
One word : You are Witnesses of These Things
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