Lesson 65 - Senior

Memory Verse

"I am the resurrection and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25).

Cross References

I The Women Early at the Sepulchre

1. They came prepared to anoint the body of our Lord, [LUK:24:1]; [MAK:16:1-2].

2. The stone was rolled away -- the tomb was empty, [LUK:24:2-7]; [MAT:28:2-6]; [MAK:16:4-6]; [JHN:20:1-8].

3. The angel's message was carried to the disciples according to the angel's instructions, [LUK:24:8-10]; [MAT:28:7-8].

4. The words of the women were met with unbelief, [LUK:24:11-12]; [MAK:16:9-11].

II Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus

1. While they talked together about the crucifixion, Jesus drew near and walked with them, [LUK:24:13-15].

2. The disciples did not recognise the Lord, and told Him of the crucifixion and the report of the women at the sepulchre, [LUK:24:16-24].

3. Christ expounded the Scriptures to the disciples as they walked together, [LUK:24:25-27].

4. Since night was near, they constrained Him to abide with them, [LUK:24:28-29].

III The Revelation of Christ in the Breaking of Bread

1. The disciples' eyes were opened and His identity was made known to them before He vanished, [LUK:24:30-31].

2. They returned to Jerusalem immediately and told the disciples, [LUK:24:32-35]; [LUK:16:12-13].

3. Christ appeared in the midst of the assembly of His disciples and followers, showed them His hands and feet, opened their understanding, and revealed the reason for His suffering and resurrection, [LUK:24:36-48]; [ZEC:13:1]; [1TM:1:15]; [1PE:1:18-19]; [HEB:9:22].

Notes

The Women Early at the Sepulchre

Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee [LUK:23:55]) returned to the sepulchre where He was buried. This day was the same as our Sunday and was the day following the Jewish Sabbath. They had waited from the time of Christ's burial on Friday till this early hour because it was commanded in the Law that they should rest on the Sabbath ([LUK:23:56]). No doubt, as they walked, their hearts were saddened, because they expected to find in Joseph's tomb the body of their Master, which they intended to anoint. Therefore, they carried with them the spices and ointments ordinarily used in the preparation of a body for burial. Joseph of Arimathæa and Nicodemus had already prepared the body of our Lord for burial when it was laid in the tomb ([JHN:19:39-40]); however, this must have been hastily and imperfectly performed because of the approaching Sabbath.

The women must have been filled with amazement when they discovered that the stone had been rolled away from the sepulchre opening; and were more amazed than ever when upon entering they found that Jesus' body was gone. But in the midst of their perplexity two men in shining garments stood by them and delivered the wonderful message that has echoed and re echoed in the Christian world down through the past twenty centuries: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen" (Luke 24:5, 6). One can scarcely imagine the effect all this had upon these who loved Jesus so much.

Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus

The distance from Jerusalem to Emmaus was seven and a half miles and probably took the two disciples, one of whom was Cleopas, about two hours to cover. As they walked they talked of all that had happened, probably concerning the Last Supper and the false trial and tragic death of Jesus. They might even have discussed the conversations with Jesus when He told them of His coming death and resurrection. Christ joined them along the way, but concealed His identity and opened a conversation with them.

Jesus' question, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?" (Luke 24:17) was no doubt asked that they might open their hearts and tell Jesus all that was troubling them. He appeared to be a stranger to them at the time but showed an immediate interest in their saddened state. This might have ordinarily aroused their curiosity as to the identity of the questioner, "But their eyes were holden that they should not know him"; and they did not perceive that this stranger was their risen Lord and Master.

David may have had a similar experience when he wrote: "For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness" (II Samuel 22:29). God never forsakes those who love Him. These two poured out their sad hearts, and Jesus listened sympathetically and understandingly. They paid a certain tribute to the Son of God when they said that this Jesus of Nazareth "was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." But it might be said that they did not fully realise or comprehend that He was more than a prophet, that Jesus was the Son of God -- the Incarnate Word of God.

Possibly the faith of the men had been shaken during the tragic events of the last few days; for Cleopas added, "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel" (Luke 24:21). Their words seem to imply that they might have given up the idea that Jesus was the Redeemer of Israel. But the Lord spoke reassuringly to them of the prophecies concerning Himself, and their hearts were warmed by His gracious words; for when their eyes were opened, they said, "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"

The word fools used in [LUK:24:25] should be understood more as though the Master had said foolish or childish ones, and not with the severity with which it is now used in our English language. Jesus necessarily spoke to them of prophecies of Him found in the Old Testament, because that was all the Bible they had then. The great theme in the Old Testament is the coming of the Messiah and His wonderful plan of salvation, and they should have understood all that had happened better than they did.

Christ Revealed in the Breaking of Bread

When Jesus sat at meat with the two disciples, He "took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them." This was the office of the master and father of a family, and it was the manner in which Jesus had eaten with His disciples before, at least once at the Lord's Supper. These two disciples may have known of that recent night before Jesus was betrayed and the blessings received there, for at Emmaus immediately their eyes were opened and the blessed Guest was recognised. He then vanished from their sight.

Immediately that same evening (verse 29) they retraced their steps to Jerusalem to tell to His followers assembled there the glad news of Jesus' appearance. And while they were telling the group who had already begun to assemble on the first day of the week, the Lord appeared in their midst, thereby putting His seal of approval on their newly instituted day of worship. This assembling on the first day resulted in its becoming a memorial of Christ's resurrection.

The Old Testament Law, the Old Covenant, had been fulfilled in Christ and by Christ. The veil of the Temple had been rent when He died, signifying that we all may now enter into the spiritual Holy of Holies and obtain blessings that the Old Testament saints could not enjoy. The moral principles of the Law were not discarded, for they were in existence long before the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Sinai and were now brought to a much higher plane in the teachings of the One Who came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it. The ceremonial worship was replaced by a more spiritual worship. The penitent no longer needed to go to a certain locality or a specific building made with men's hands, to come in contact with God ([JHN:4:21-24]); for the true worshiper is one who worships the Father in spirit and in truth.

The old Sabbath, which some who teach much false doctrine declare was instituted as a memorial of creation, was no longer observed by the Christians. The apostles and disciples continued to go into the synagogues on the Jewish Sabbath day that they might use that opportunity to make contact with the Jews assembled there to tell them of Jesus and His power to save ([ACT:14:1]). But the first day of the week became the day of their worship and they kept it, as we do today, as a memorial of the New Creation under the dispensation of grace -- the completion of that stage of the plan of our redemption when Jesus arose from the dead and proved His power over death and Satan.

The first reaction of the disciples to the sudden and unexpected appearance of Jesus was one of fright and astonishment. But Jesus comforted them and removed all their doubts and fears as He showed them the things in the Scriptures concerning Himself, explaining that all this was brought about "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations" (Luke 24:47).

Questions

1. What was the reason for the women's early visit to the sepulchre?

2. What was the message of the angels to those who sought the body of Jesus?

3. Name three who carried the news to the disciples.

4. How was the message received?

5. What was the subject of conversation of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?

6. Was Jesus recognised by them?

7. What did Jesus do to explain these things unto them?

8. When was the Lord made known to them, and what did these two disciples immediately do?

9. Was doubt and fear still apparent at Jesus next appearance?

10. What was the message of Christ concerning the things written of Him by Moses, by the prophets, and in the Psalms?