The last chapter of Luke is a most beautiful piece of history. Part of what makes this concluding chapter of Luke so impactful is the opening purpose statement of the book:
“Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.” (Luke 1:1-4)
This book is all about certainty. Investigated, historical, verifiable, CERTAINTY. And the author was not centuries removed from the events he records. He was a contemporary with Paul, able to speak with the eyewitnesses and obtained first hand testimony. His goal was to record the events so that others could be certain of what they had heard or would hear. With this aim of certainty, we begin the last chapter of the book.
The first four verses of the first chapter of Luke are about certainty, while the first four verses of the last chapter record those who were followers of Jesus filled with anything BUT certainty. This is the theme throughout a bulk of the chapter. And this is why it’s so impactful. Luke is real. Luke isn’t about trying to embellish a belief system in order to make it more palatable to “candidates”. Luke is about recording the frailty of Jesus’ followers. He brutally records their doubt, struggle, and the rebuke they received. We walk through the valley of the shadow of death with these disciples; and when we emerge, the light of certainty is glorious!
The Women:
Luke 24:1-8
It was the first day of the week, and these women were headed to the tomb of Jesus to apply spices to the corpse. They were there to pay their respects to the man they had followed for the past 3 years, who they had hoped was God’s Messiah. Jesus had quite an impact on them as even though their hopes were dashed in Jesus’ purpose, they still loved their Rabbi who had taught them so much and showed them and others so much love. A man who had most assuredly had God’s power on him as he performed miracles; but like God’s prophets of old now lay lifeless in a grave. Think Elisha, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and now Jesus. When they got to the tomb, the state of it was not what they expected. The stone that had been placed there to seal it was moved and his body was missing. The women were perplexed, literally at their wits end or at a loss for explanation. This is the amazing thing. In a book about certainty, when the author gets to the part that should have brought joy to the followers of Jesus, he records that their initial response wasn’t to believe what He had said multiple times during his 3 years of ministry. The women did not initially believe Jesus had risen from the dead. They had to be reminded of it. An angle stood before them and preached the gospel to them by saying “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” (Luke 24:6-7) It was only when they were reminded of the words of Jesus that they believed.
The 11 and the other Disciples:
Luke 24:9-11
Then they went back to where the disciples were gathered fearing for their lives because what typically would happen to those who were associated with an executed revolutionary was a similar fate as their leader. As the women relayed what they had seen and heard, Luke tells us, the words of the women were taken as nonsense. The very apostles of Jesus heard the gospel preached to them by women, who heard it from angels and had actually SEEN the empty tomb with the burial shroud lying there with no body to shroud and met it with outright unbelief.
The disciples thought the women were literally making stuff up. Peter had to go search for some sort of validation, so he ran to the tomb to see for himself if the state of the grave was as they described. Seeing nothing inside but the cloths the body of Jesus was wrapped in he walked off amazed. Amazed, but still not certain of what was going on. So far, NONE of Jesus’ followers believed that he rose from the dead upon seeing the initial evidence of resurrection. You would think those who had so loved Jesus would jump at the slightest glimmer of hope that he had resurrected, but none of them did.
2 Disciples on the Emmaus Road:
Luke 24:13-35
Later that day, two of the disciples who were in the room when the women came in with their unbelievable story were headed to Emmaus. While they were walking along arguing with each other over what they had heard and clearly trying to make sense of it all. Jesus came and joined them on their travels. Being kept by God from recognizing Jesus, he asks them what they’re arguing about. Assuming he’s a visitor to Jerusalem, they recount all that had happened to Jesus, a man who was a powerful prophet who they had hoped would be Israel’s redeemer, but obviously not since he was murdered. They continue to explain how the women were making matters more unbearable by claiming that Jesus was risen and even Peter went to the tomb, but while the tomb was empty, there was no Jesus to be found. Their logic was no Jesus = no resurrection.
Jesus rebukes them by calling them foolish and slow to believe the Scriptures. He teaches them by expounding to them from the books of Moses through the Prophets that all that has happened was needful and part of God’s plan. He doesn’t yet open their eyes to believe. He follows them home and as he breaks bread with them, God opens their eyes and they see that Jesus is right there. As soon as they believe, after having realized they were looking at Jesus in the flesh, he disappears. They immediately head 7 miles back to Jerusalem as they have to tell the others what they just witnessed.
Back to the group of disciples again:
Luke 24:36-53
Upon reaching the room where everyone was previously gathered, they’re told that Jesus appeared to Peter, and they relay to the group what happened to them on the road and as Jesus broke bread with them. As they were sharing all this, Jesus shows up in the room. Having just appeared there, and not entering through a door, they thought they were seeing an apparition. After having just stated that Jesus must be risen as he had appeared to Peter, they now assume this manifestation is anything but physical. Again, their lack of certainty in a book that has certainty as its sole purpose is quite astounding.
Jesus asks them why they’re so doubtful and begins to address their doubts. He shows them his hands and feet, that they’re pierced. Knowing they were still flabbergasted at the entire thing, he requests they hand him some of their own food and he heats it in front of them to show them he has flesh and bones. It isn’t until Jesus reminds them of his words and he opens their minds to understand the Scripture that they believe; showing us that faith is truly a gift from God and is rooted in God’s Word. The proofs he offered only left them in a state of “too good to be true”. It was only when they were reminded of God’s word that their eyes were opened. He continues by commissioning them and promising to empower them to proclaim the gospel and bear witness to what he has done.
You see it? They were not quick to believe. No matter what proofs were offered them, they all fell short of belief. In what you would think would be the one time they were most certain of what was going on, none of them jumped on the resurrection option to explain what they were seeing. It was only through the working of God as they heard God’s word that they believed. Their lack of certainty in a book that was written to provide certainty actually strengthens our certainty.
Jesus is risen, just as he said.