LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

APRIL 23, 2025

Luke 24:1-12, 33-43

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had

prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not

find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them

in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to

them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he

told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful

men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from

the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and

Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the

apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose

and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home

marveling at what had happened.

[Following the road to Emmaus encounter]

33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who

were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the

bread.

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to

you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them,

“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I

myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And

when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy

and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of

broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

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Review – the women had gone to prepare Jesus’ body for burial at the first opportunity

Like the song says—angels had rolled the stone away.

Angels serve Christ. They were certainly involved in his resurrection, they continue to be

involved in his work according to his will, and they will be involved when he comes again.

They are powerful—and they are always met with fear.

Here (and in other places) they did not merely deliver a verbatim message, but as messengers

they engage with people with questions and encouragement and challenges and instructions.

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”—this was a joyful way of presenting to the

women what had happened.

“Remember how he told you…”—the angels teach and remind

[in parallel accounts] Go quickly and tell his disciples… —instructions

(The women were not believed)

v 12 – But Peter [and John, see John 20:3-10) ran and looked and saw the empty tomb

more lit. “and he went away, wondering in himself at what was happening”

2

v 33-35 – “And they rose that same hour…”

The Greek is not clear about who is saying “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to

Simon!”

But it seems that it must have been being said by the eleven and those who were with them—the

men from Emmaus were met with this news when they arrived. (Otherwise, they would have

been telling Simon that the Lord had appeared to Simon.)

—If so, this refers to an encounter with Peter that we have no other record of.—

The men from Emmaus proceded to confirm and enrich the news!

v 36 – “As they were talking about these things…”

more lit. “he himself stood in the midst of them and says to them…”

“Peace to you”

We do not have any explanations for Jesus’ movement and appearances in his resurrected body.

It is a body; it is a different kind of body, a glorified body.

v 37 – “But they were startled …”

This translation is, perhaps, a bit understated.

startled – ptoeó, terrified, scared

frightened – emphobos, in a state of fear

more lit. “but being terrified and becoming full of fear, they were thinking [themselves] to see a

spirit.”

v 38 – “And he said to them…”

more lit. “Why are you being troubled, and why do doubt arise in your hearts?

“doubts” – dialogismos, reasonings, thoughts, debates…

“See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.”

Although in a glorified body, his hands and his feet could still be identified as his own.

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your

hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ ”—John 20:27

“Touch me …”

“touch” – psélaphaó, handle, touch, feel

“flesh and bones” – Jesus new body still had both flesh and bones. So will ours.

v 40 – “And having said this…”

Jesus showed them his hands and feet. He wanted them to be absolutely sure. And he wants us to

be absolutely sure.

v 41-42 – “And while they still disbelieved…”

more lit. “And while they were still disbelieving for the joy and marveling…”

An honest description and easy to believe! It seemed too good to be true! (Still does. But it is

true.)

“Have you anything here to eat?”

Perhaps Jesus was hungry

But he definitely wanted to continue to impress upon his disciples that he was the resurrected

Jesus, in a body of flesh and bones, and body still recognizable as his, and one which still

requires food.

And having taken it, he ate it before them