252 – Luke 24: How Jesus Has the Power to Change Your Life
But very early on Sunday morning the
women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away
from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body
of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly
appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men
asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! …So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his
eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother
of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the
men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb
to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went
home again, wondering what had happened. That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus,
seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about
everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things,
Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They
stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must
be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have
happened there the last few days.” “What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was
a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of
God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious
leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come
to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this
morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had
seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure
enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.” Then Jesus said to them, “You
foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in
the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah
would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of
Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things
concerning himself.
By this time they were nearing
Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us,
since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and
blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they
recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked
with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way
back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had
gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He
appeared to Peter.”
Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had
appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had
recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus
himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and
frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
“Why are you frightened?” he asked.
“Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see
that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because
ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his
feet. Still they stood there in disbelief,
filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to
eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.
Then he said,…It was also written that this message would be
proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in
Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. LUKE 24:1-48 NLT
I look death in the face practically
every day I live. Do you think I’d do this if I wasn’t convinced of your
resurrection and mine as guaranteed by the resurrected Messiah Jesus? 1 CORINTHIANS 15:31 NLT
Because
Jesus lives, he has the power to change my life
Community Group Bible Discovery Discussion Questions