Today’s passage: Luke 24:36-53

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus’ appearance was not shiny or startling in any way.  In His previous appearances, the others did not perceive Him to be anything strange.  What startled everyone was His ability to simply appear in the room.
  • Jesus, in His resurrection body was able to appear and disappear…and also to eat food, to be touched, etc.
  • The same will be true of our bodies in the resurrection (Philippians 3:20-21).
• What Jesus did for the two on the road to Emmaus, He now does for the rest of the disciples.
  • Scripture is taught.
  • Their minds are graciously opened.
• The Gospel (The Word of Christ) is to be preached in the power of the Spirit to all nations.

Questions to consider:

1. Is repentance necessary for salvation?  What did Jesus say in verse 47?
2. Sometimes we think as though we are Jerusalem and the Gospel is going out from here to the ends of the earth…but Jerusalem is Jerusalem.  What does the fact that we are in Mt. Pleasant, MI, in North America, reading and studying the Bible, believing in Jesus, and still telling others about Him prove?  How has Scripture continued to be fulfilled?
3. Knowing that Jesus could have simply disappeared/vanished, why did He ascend in the sight of all the disciples?  What things should this affirm/confirm?

Today’s passage: Luke 24:13-35

Helpful thoughts:

• These disciples, even after hearing the testimony of the empty grave, had relegated Jesus to the level of prophet, not Messiah.  They had hoped…
  • This testimony further affirms that the disciples did not steal the body, as the Jews declared (Matthew 28:11-15).
• Jesus death and resurrection were not a change of plans.  Jesus did exactly what the Old Testament (“Moses and all the prophets”) taught He would do!
• The women shared eye-witness testimony, Jesus instantaneously vanished before there eyes, and the thing that elicited awe from these men…the teaching/exposition of the Word of God.
  • Romans 10:17 – So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Questions to consider:

1. What had to happen for these men to believe?  What did they hear?  Who opened their eyes?
2. What was Jesus’ evangelism strategy?  What did He do first?  On what basis of authority did He share the message?
3. Who could you pray for and share the Word of God with today, that their eyes might be opened in belief?

 

Today’s passage: Luke 24:1-12

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus is alive!  Right now!
• The resurrection was not a twist in the plot.  The angels reminded the women that Jesus had told them this was going to happen.  This was all God’s plan and doing.
• The disciples initial response was similar to that of the women.  “They did not believe…”  (Verse 11)

Questions to consider:

1. If Jesus was still dead, where would the Roman soldiers have been?  What would the Jews have been doing?  Would the disciples be perplexed?  How do all of these responses give further evidence to His resurrection?
2. Why might it be troubling that the disciples still do not believe?  Who heard Jesus the most?  Who saw all of His miracles?  How is the natural condition of our hearts being evidenced?
3. If Jesus was a sinner or if His mission was left unfulfilled, where would His body have remained?  Why can’t you believe that Jesus was a prophet or a good teacher and also believe that He isn’t LORD and/or remains in the grave?  What kind of belief does His resurrection demand?

Today’s passage: Luke 23:44-56

Helpful thoughts:

• The sixth hour is noon, the ninth hour is three in the afternoon.  Darkness fell on the land for three hours as the cup of God’s wrath against our sin was poured out on Jesus.
• The curtain in the temple separated man from the holiness of God because of our sin.  When Christ atoned for our sin, the veil was torn. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
• When Jesus declared, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” we see that fellowship between the Father and Son had been restored.  This means the time of wrath had been completely fulfilled.
  • The fact that Jesus was able to cry these things out showed he still had breath in his lungs…he laid down his own life.  No one took it from him. (John 10:17-18)
• All of these events gave everyone, Gentiles and Jews alike, reason for pause and reflection.  This was not a normal crucifixion.
• Jesus’ burial came only after His death was confirmed and continued to fulfill prophecy (Isaiah 53:9).

Questions to consider:

1. Did Jesus pay the devil off so that we don’t have to go to Hell?  Whose wrath did Jesus take?  To whom was the payment given?  Whose wrath will the devil have to endure?  Is the devil in Hell enjoying punishing sinners or will he too be one of the punished?
2. If Jesus paid the penalty of our sin, and God is entirely just, who exactly did Jesus die for?  Did Jesus pay for someone’s sin who will have to pay for that sin again (God’s wrath already having been poured out) because they reject Christ? (John 10:14)
3. How do the people in this passage model how we should respond to the cross?  If we believe Jesus was innocent of sin, and we come to understand that it was our sin that put him there, what is the only right response?

Today’s passage: Luke 23:26-43

Helpful thoughts:

• Cyrene is a city in modern day Libya.  Simon and his family may have known very little about Jesus when they came to Jerusalem.  But they knew Jesus as their savior and followed Him afterward.  (Mark 15:21, Romans 16:13)
• In Jesus’ instruction to the “Daughters of Jerusalem” (Israel), he quoted from Hosea 10:8.  As the capitals in Israel had fallen before, Rome was about to destroy Jerusalem.
• The mockery of Jesus was centered around the idea that He was the King of the Jews.  For example:
  • The wine was not given as an act of kindness.  They were being the king’s cup bearers.
  • The criminals crucified on either side were representing his court.

Questions to consider:

1. How many types of responses do we see in this passage to who Jesus is?  How do they represent the way the world looks at Him still today?
2. How did Jesus respond to those who were actively crucifying Him?  What did He ask for the Father to do for them?  On what grounds did Jesus ask for mercy for these people?  How could we apply this today?
3. One thief believed and was saved, the other rejected Christ.  What did the man who was saved say that articulated what he had come to believe?  How does this one paragraph beautifully communicate the gospel message?

Today’s passage: Luke 23:13-25

Helpful thoughts:

• Pilate declared Jesus not guilty and attempted to use the tradition of releasing a prisoner to free Jesus.  The crowd called for Barabbas.
  • The innocent man went to the cross and the sinner was set free.
  • The people chose a sinner and rejected the Savior.
• Pilate knew the Jews hated Jesus and was willing to have him scourged in order to appease them.  He was trying to find a middle ground.  The crowd would not accept anything but crucifixion.  Pilate had already encountered “difficulties” with the Jewish people, he probably didn’t think he could risk any further trouble.
• Luke repeats the idea: Verse 24 – Their demand was granted.  Verse 25 – He delivered Jesus over to their will.
  • Yet, this was ultimately God’s will. (Isaiah 53:10)

Questions to consider:

1. What is pictured for us in the death of Jesus and the release of Barabbas?  What if the two on either side of Jesus had been Barabbas’ partners in crime?  Whose place did Jesus take on the cross?
2. What was Pilate’s motivation to give Jesus over to be crucified?  What was the Jews’ motivation to call for His crucifixion?  How were they different and how were they the same?
3. How does this passage serve as an example of the sinful will of man being followed all while the righteous will of God is coming to fruition?  How does this climax of history point to the sovereign power, amazing grace and goodness of God?

Today’s passage: Luke 22:66-23:12

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus’ official crime before the Sanhedrin was this, He believed He was God the Son.
• The crime the Sanhedrin took to Pilate to see Jesus executed was this, He believed He was the Messiah.
  • The Sanhedrin wanted Pilate to see this claim to the throne as a threat of rebellion against Caesar.
• Isaiah 53:7
• Neither Herod or Pilate found Jesus guilty.  They simply held contempt against this man who refused to plead for innocence or mercy, and they shared a mutual disgust with the Jewish leaders.  This was the grounds for their new friendship.

Questions to consider:

1. What is ironic about the charges against Jesus?  How do they prove that the nation (Represented by the whole of the Sanhedrin) had rejected their Lord and Messiah?
2. Why was Herod excited to see Jesus?  What did he want?  In what way are each of the people in this account treating Jesus based on what they want and whether or not they got it?
3. Why didn’t Jesus plead for His innocence or plead for mercy?  What would Herod and Pilate have been used to seeing when they were questioning people accused of a capital offense?  What did He know and what had He come to do?

Today’s passage: Luke 22:54-65

Helpful thoughts:

• “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat…” (Verse 31)
  • When identifying with Christ didn’t seem to be personally advantageous in the moment, Peter denied Him.
• It might seem easy to suspect that Peter was asked these questions in quick succession, in as little time as it takes us to read the passage.  But there was time in between each question and denial (Verse 59).  Peter had time to think about what he was doing, time for the pressure to build up to the moment the rooster crowed.
• There will be several violations of the law in how Jesus was tried as we continue to read through this account.

Questions to consider:

1. Why do we ever think it not advantageous to be identified with Christ?  What cares and concerns cause us to keep our mouths shut and our allegiance hidden?  Is hidden allegiance true allegiance (Matthew 10:33)?
2. Why do you think Peter wept bitterly?  What kind of battle was going on in his heart? How confident had he been that he could withstand any attack or temptation?  How had he responded to the warning he had received?
3. When a person denies the deity of Jesus Christ (or even the existence of God), are they simply holding a different view than ours or are they blaspheming God?  How can we respond in truth and love?

Today’s passage: Luke 22:39-53

Helpful thoughts:

• We are blind to our blindness and are often prone to think too little of our sin.  Jesus knew what he was about to go through.  He knew the judgment that was coming.  He was in agony.
  • Example: Jesus told the disciples to pray about temptation, they slept.
• God the Son (Holy and righteous) did not desire to have our sin placed on Him and to endure judgment.  He did desire and was willing to submit to God the Father’s perfect will.
  • Blood oozing from the skin is a real thing.  It is called hematidrosis and it only occurs under extreme physical and/or emotional distress.
• There were three reasons Jesus told Peter to put the sword away.  (Matthew 26:52-54)
  • ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
  • ⁵³ Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
  • ⁵⁴ But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”
• The only reason they were able to arrest Jesus at this time is because it was God’s sovereign will (Verse 53).

Questions to consider:

1. What was so ironic about the manner in which Judas betrayed Jesus?  Why is flattery sinful?
2. How did Jesus treat those who had come to capture Him?  How did He embody truth and love?
3. Was Jesus captured against His will?  Were the “bad guys” winning in this passage?  Who was in control and accomplishing all He had purposed to do?

Today’s passage: Luke 22:24-38

Helpful thoughts:

• The conversation among the disciples of who would betray Jesus quickly turned into who was the greatest.  This is the natural, selfish, sinful condition of our hearts.
  • To “sit at the table” with Jesus is to be a servant.
• All of verses 31-34 will be fulfilled before the end of this chapter in Luke.
  • Christ commissions Peter to “Strengthen his brothers and to “feed my sheep” in John 21:15-19.
• Jesus did not intend for the disciples to literally take swords and fight back when they would be persecuted (See verses 50-51, or see Luke 6:29).  While Jesus was with them in His earthly ministry teaching, healing and doing miracles, they were able to move about more freely.  Now, persecution was coming.
  • When Jesus said, “It is enough” He was probably saying something more along the lines of, enough of that kind of talk.  If Jesus had intended us to fight back, two swords wouldn’t have been enough.

Questions to consider:

1. What does it mean that Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors?” (Isaiah 53:12)
2. In what way did all the disciples who engaged in that discussion in verse 24 betray Jesus for at least that moment?  What is greatness?  How will you pursue true greatness in how you serve Christ and others today?
3. How is Jesus’ lordship in view in saying that he “assigned” the apostles their place in the kingdom (Verse 29)?  Is Jesus your Lord?  How could this thinking help the maturing Christian view the nature of their obedience?  How does the promise of reward make God’s gracious kindness to us even more compelling?