Bible Commentaries
Luke 24

Verses 1-53

VII. His Resurrection and Ascension

CHAPTER 24

1. The Resurrection. (Luke 24:1-12 )

2. The Walk to Emmaus; the Appearance of the Risen Son of Man. (Luke 24:13-35 )

3. The Appearance to the Eleven. (Luke 24:36-45 )

4. The Commission. (Luke 24:46-48 )

5. The Ascension. (Luke 24:49-53 .)

The account of the Resurrection in Luke’s Gospel has also its characteristic features. He alone reports the full account of the walk to Emmaus. It is a precious story showing forth the fact that the risen One is the same tender, loving, sympathizing friend of His own. He joined Himself to the two disciples, who bad left Jerusalem. Their hearts were filled with Sadness and perplexity. He Himself drew near and their eyes were holden that they could not recognize Him. In a perfectly human way He joined Himself to them and asked them about their troubles. Then He reproved them for their unbelief and opened the Scriptures unto them. Constrained by them, He abides with them, as He always will with those who belong to Him. In the breaking of bread, their eyes were opened and they knew Him and He vanished from them. They returned to Jerusalem where they found abundant proof that the Lord is risen indeed.

The appearance to Simon is not fully made known. What took place between the Lord and the disciple who failed Him is a blessed secret between them. He then appeared again with His gracious “Peace be unto you.” He showed them His hands and feet. He had a body of flesh and bones. He was not a phantom, but a real man. His body was real for He ate fish and honeycomb. All this belongs properly to the Gospel of the Manhood. It is the fullest demonstration of His physical resurrection. All the wicked “isms,” including Russellism and Christian Science, which deny His physical resurrection stand here fully convicted.

It may be well to mention here the twelve distinct appearances of our Lord after His resurrection. He appeared:

1. To Mary Magdalene alone. Mark 16:1-20 ; John 20:14 .

2. To the women returning from the sepulchre. Matthew 28:9-10

3. To Simon Peter alone. Luke 24:34

4. To the two disciples going to Emmaus. Luke 24:13 , etc.

5. To the apostles at Jerusalem, except Thomas who was absent. John 20:19

6. To the apostles at Jerusalem, a second time, when Thomas was present. John 20:26-29 .

7. At the sea of Tiberias, when seven disciples were fishing. John 21:1

8. To the eleven disciples, on a mountain in Galilee. Matthew 28:16

9. To above five hundred brethren at once. 1 Corinthians 15:6

10. To James only. 1 Corinthians 15:7

11. To all the apostles on Mount Olivet at His ascension. Luke 24:51 .

12. To Paul as an untimely birth. 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 .

Three times we are told that His disciples touched Him after He rose. Matthew 28:9 ; Luke 24:39 ; John 20:27 . Twice we are told that He ate with them. Luke 24:42 ; John 21:12-13 ,

The Gospel of Luke ends with the commission given to His disciples and the ascension of the Lord “while He blest them.”