Luke – Wide Open Doors!
When some life event plays out in front of us that we longed for but never really thought would occur happens, the first words we shout are, “I can’t believe it!” Those with us gather around us in disbelief, too. We are full of joy but wonder how in the world did it happen. Has this ever happened to you?Consider how the disciples must have felt while talking about Jesus, Jesus suddenly appears in the room with them! (I believe Jesus has and created a sense of humor in all of us if we think about it. Smiling.) Jesus knows all. He is God’s Son, the God of creation who created us. It can’t be a coincidence that while they are talking about Him, He appears with them. “Where two or three gather in my Name, I will be with them” comes to mind. (See Matthew 18:20)
HOLY PAUSE
So, the more we talk about Him, the more He is with us? Mm.
I would imagine some were breathlessly saying, “I can’t believe it!” Jesus immediately calms their fear and shows them the reality of being risen from the grave. “Touch my hands and feet. Feel the scars.” He is no ghost but a flesh and blood Jesus who walks, talks and eats with them. Their dear Friend and Teacher is back. To those who believe, without doubt, He has become their Savior and Lord.
Wow. Take it all in. Let God’s Holy Spirit fill us with all the Truth that is in this passage of Jesus’ last days on earth.
Luke 24, New Living Translation
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.
44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms 
must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.
must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
The Ascension
50 Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.
THINK ABOUT IT…
Jesus, risen, comes to remind them of two very important truths while opening their minds to fully understand God’s Word:1. “It was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.”
2. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.
In a nutshell, Jesus died for our sins and rose to prove He lives! We who believe are saved. We now proclaim this life-giving news of forgiveness in Jesus Name to the world God loves.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
HOLY PAUSEDo you believe it?
Who do we tell?
Where do we begin?
Dear Heavenly Father,
We praise You for Who you are! We praise You for completing Your plan to save us! We repent of doubt and trust fully in You. You are God and we are not. You don’t need us but you invite us to tell your news of eternal life to others who don’t know you…yet. We cannot keep this news to ourselves! Give us confidence, the right words at the right time, making the most of every opportunity…In Your Name for Your Glory by Your Holy Spirit’s power working in and through us.
Amen. I believe!
But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
The Walk to Emmaus
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
WOW…what a difference the third day made in the the lives of his followers, his beloved. Mourning and sorrow turned into joyful praise and marvelous wonder as Jesus appeared to those who loved Him. Darkness to Light. What a difference a day makes.
So how do the people in the crowd who have been duped by the powerful feel when they realize they traded perfect and best for evil and worst? 
44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
47 When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. 49 But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.
We must keep in mind that what our Lord accomplished on the cross was an eternal transaction that involved Him and the Father. He did not die as a martyr who had failed in a lost cause. Nor was He only an example for people to follow. Isaiah 53 makes it clear that Jesus did not die for His own sins, because He had none; He died for our sins. He made His soul an offering for sin (Isa. 53:4–6, 10–12). 
Our Lord cried with a loud voice, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), a declaration of victory. He had finished the work the Father gave Him to do (John 17:4). The work of redemption was completed, the types and prophecies were fulfilled (Heb. 9:24ff.), and the Savior could now rest. He then addressed His Father in the final statement from the cross, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Ps. 31:5). This was actually a bedtime prayer used by Jewish children, and it tells us how our Lord died: confidently, willingly (John 10:17–18), and victoriously. Those who know Jesus as their Savior may die with the same confidence and assurance (2 Cor. 5:1–8; Phil. 1:20–23). 
When our Lord released His spirit, the veil of the temple was torn in two “from the top to the bottom” (Mark 15:38). This miracle announced to the priests and people that the way into God’s presence was open for all who would come to Him by faith through Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:1—10:25). No more do sinners need earthly temples, altars, sacrifices, or priests, for all had now been fulfilled in the finished work of the Son of God. 
Luke recorded three responses to the events of the last moments of Christ’s death. The centurion who was in charge of the execution testified, “Certainly this was a righteous [innocent] man, the Son of God” (Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47). He was greatly impressed by the darkness, the earthquake (Matt. 27:54), and certainly the way Jesus suffered and died. He must have been shocked when Jesus shouted and then instantly died, for victims of crucifixion often lingered for days and did not have the strength to speak. 
When Jesus died, Joseph immediately went to Pilate for permission to have the body, and Nicodemus stayed at Calvary to keep watch. They tenderly took Jesus from the cross, quickly carried Him to the garden, washed the body, and wrapped it with the spices. It was a temporary burial; they would return after the Sabbath to do the job properly. When they laid Jesus into the new tomb, they fulfilled Isaiah 53:9, and they kept the Romans from throwing His body on the garbage dump outside the city. Condemned criminals lost the right to proper burial, but God saw to it that His Son’s body was buried with dignity and love. 
The ultimate act of forgiveness is to forgive when no apology is given, accusations and insults still fly, and you are being nailed for what they think you have done as told by others who do not know the Truth. How do we forgive them?
Jesus forgives his enemies from the cross. Jesus forgave and forgives us now when we ask. Jesus is the only One who can forgive us completely and forever. Once forgiveness is given, it is finished. God’s Plan to save us completed. There is NO greater love than this…
26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ 31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
I am overwhelmed at your act of forgiveness this morning. We get easily offended by others remarks caused by human frustrations in and out of your church. Help us to extend forgiveness quickly before they ask, extending the same kind of grace You gave to us. Help us to pray for our criticizers the way you prayed for yours when you were mocked and dice thrown for your clothes. Wow, yes I am overwhelmed by the depth of your love for us and price paid for our salvation. You are the model of forgiveness. You are forgiveness. Be our strength to always forgive first and keep moving along with you to achieve your purpose and plan in us. To YOU be all glory, honor and praise. You are God and we are not. Only through Jesus is forgiveness complete.
47 But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. 48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Peter Denies Jesus
66 At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council, 67 and they said, “Tell us, are you the Messiah?”
THE GARDEN – Human history began in a garden (Gen. 2:7–25) and so did human sin (Gen. 3). For the redeemed, the whole story will climax in a “garden city” where there will be no sin (Rev. 21:1–22:7). But between the garden where man failed and the garden where God reigns is Gethsemane, the garden where Jesus accepted the cup from the Father’s hand. 
THE CUP – Jesus is the Son of God and knew full well that He would be raised from the dead, and yet His soul experienced agony as He anticipated what lay before Him. In the hours ahead, He would be humiliated and abused, and suffer shame and pain on the cross. But even more, He would be made sin for us and separated from His Father. He called this solemn experience “drinking the cup.” 
THE KISS – not all kisses are born out of a loving heart, for kisses can also be deceitful. In the case of Judas, his kiss was the basest kind of hypocrisy and treachery. It was customary in that day for disciples to greet their teachers with a loving and respectful kiss. Judas used the kiss as a sign to tell the arresting officers who Jesus was (Matt. 26:48–49). Jesus had taught in the temple day after day, and yet the temple guards could not recognize Him!
Why did Peter do this? For one thing, he had to back up the boastful words he had spoken in the Upper Room (Luke 22:33) and again on the way to the garden (Matt. 26:30–35). Peter had been sleeping when he should have been praying, talking when he should have been listening, and boasting when he should have been fearing. Now he was fighting when he should have been surrendering!
THE CROWING OF A ROOSTER – Our Lord endured six different “trials” before He was condemned to be crucified, three before the Jews and three before the Roman authorities. First, He was taken to Annas, the former high priest who was an influential man in the nation and retained his former title (John 18:12–13). Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, his son-inlaw, who was the official high priest (Matt. 26:57). Finally, at daybreak, He was tried before the Sanhedrin and found guilty (Luke 22:66–71). 
This is a lot of information from Warren Wiersbe, obviously my favorite commentator and researcher of the times of Christ. But the significance causes us to ask ourselves,
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior,
Was He tempted one more time by the evil one to stop God’s Plan? Is that why the Son of Man prayed continuously, without ceasing, alone with God, His Father throughout His ministry on earth and even now in the last moments of mission completion? But Jesus, Son of God, lays down His will for God’s will,
Praying daily that we would not yield to temptations, asking God to “deliver us from evil” strengthens our focus on God and His plan for our lives. When we are following Jesus with all that is in us, the evil one will fight back with all that is in his simple, limited arsenal. He will lie to us, cause us to second guess, introduce fear back into our lives causing us to wonder if the time of suffering, mocking and teasing is worth following God’s plan for us to join Him in his work to help others find and follow Him, restoring a pure, holy, intimate relationship with Him.
Jesus prayed for his disciples, for Peter specifically, that his “faith should not fail”. Jesus knew what was going to happen to him. He knew Peter well and knew what His response would be to a threat against his beloved Friend when arrested in the garden. This is why He asked Peter and the others to pray so they would not be tempted, but they fell asleep.
Jesus also knows that (Simon) Peter will be sorrowfully repentant as soon as the words, “I don’t know this man” comes from his lips a third time. So He tells Peter before it happens, “I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Dear Friends reading this today, I believe for every temptation avoided, through the power of prayer, our lives experience another extreme growth spurt in our maturing faith! So, we must continually pray that we will not give in to temptation. Hour by hour. One day at a time.
When a loved one dies in your family, you immediately look back to the last time you were together. You think about what they said and you reflect on every word. You remember their behaviors in all circumstances of this life. If it was a loving relationship, your heart aches. If you know they are with God because of their admitted salvation in Jesus, then you rejoice in the heartache. It is a strange mix of feelings but that’s how it is.
The Last Supper
17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ 26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
People gave their leftovers to the work of salvation, changing the spiritual address of youth and young adults forever while helping them develop the most important relationship they will every have in their lives…an intimate, growing relationship with Jesus Christ! Even when we were young, Randy and I wondered why people gave broken down appliances to camp instead of investing in what worked. In some cases, old stoves were a safety hazard!
21 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
20 “And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. 22 For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. 23 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. 24 They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.
29 Then he gave them this illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. 30 When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. 32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
The only explanation is that Messiah must be both God and man. As eternal God, Messiah is David’s Lord, but as man, He is David’s son.
The second tragedy is that they rejected their own Messiah and voted to crucify Him. They led the nation into ruin because they would not admit their sins and confess Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that these men were “experts” in the Bible, yet they did not apply its truths to their own lives. Their religion was a matter of external observance, not internal transformation. 
What do we learn?
