"The
Lord Appears"
International/Uniform
Sunday School Lesson for April 7, 2013
Scripture
Text: Luke 24:36-53
Purpose:
To remember that Easter is the beginning of our continuing pilgrimage
Luke
24:36-53 (CEB)
36
While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them
and said, "Peace be with you!" 37 They were terrified
and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost.
38
He said to them, "Why are you startled? Why are doubts arising
in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It’s
really me! Touch me and see, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and
bones like you see I have." 40 As he said this, he showed
them his hands and feet. 41 Because they were wondering and
questioning in the midst of their happiness, he said to them, "Do
you have anything to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of
baked fish.43 Taking it, he ate it in front of them.
44
Jesus said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you
while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the
Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 He
said to them, "This is what is written: the Christ will suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and a change
of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his
name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are
witnesses of these things. 49 Look, I’m sending to you
what my Father promised, but you are to stay in the city until you
have been furnished with heavenly power."
50
He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lifted his hands and
blessed them. 51 As he blessed them, he left them and was taken
up to heaven. 52 They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem
overwhelmed with joy. 53 And they were continuously in the
temple praising God.
My Thoughts
by Burgess Walter
Today's lesson
is a continuation of our previous lesson. Luke records in his gospel
that all of this from the early morning visit to the tomb, to the
ascension, as happening on resurrection Sunday.
The Gospel of
John records three different meetings between Jesus and his disciples
in a forty day period following the resurrection. Luke's account in
the Book of Acts also reports a forty day period of time between the
resurrection and the ascension.
In today's
lesson it appears the two who hosted Jesus in Emmaus were too late to
be the first to inform the remaining eleven. While they were excited
and rushed to Jerusalem, their story was old news. Jesus had already
appeared to Simon (vs 34) and others.
While there in
that room discussing the events of the day, Jesus suddenly appears
within their midst. Reflecting back to Luke 10:5, Jesus greets them
in the same way he taught them to greet as he sent them out. “5
And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this
house.”
The reaction of the disciples is certainly
understandable, but Jesus does not cut them any slack, he basically
says, “weren't you expecting me?” “I thought I was very clear
about what was going to happen.” “Shame on you for not
believing.” (my translation)
After a short scolding, Jesus reassures those present by
letting them examine his hands and feet and touch his body and he
even eats some leftover fish. Even seeing Jesus in this environment
did not take away some doubts they all had.
Interesting
that Jesus tries to assure them about what had happened through
scripture by mentioning the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms.
Basically Jesus says all of the Old Testament testifies of me. That
he mentions the Psalms I find rather interesting, because it is not
always thought of as a book of Prophecy. Many scholars wonder about
Jesus' words he cried out on the the cross “My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
Since at the time of Christ death on the cross there was no chapter
or verse to direct the attention of an audience. Instead they would
simply quote the first few words of a passage and the sharpest of
scholars would know what they were referring to. If you go back and
read the 22nd
Psalm you can receive the message that Jesus was yelling from the
cross. It is a prophesy that Jesus was shouting to his disciple and
to the world, “this is what is happening”
Jesus
concludes this long day by instructing his disciples to remain in
Jerusalem until they receive the promised Holy Spirit. Notice God
promised, but Jesus delivers. He then in this account leads them to
the west side of the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, and is taken up
to join the Father. This had to be an exhilarating time for the
disciples, and they continued in the Jewish tradition of worshiping
and praying in the temple everyday.
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