Scripture Reading: Luke 24:36-48
In Luke 24:36-48, we witness not only the resurrection of our Lord but also the commissioning of His followers to be witnesses of His transformative power and unwavering faith in understanding Scripture.
When the disciples gathered in fear, the resurrected Jesus appeared among them one more time before he leaves, offering peace and reassurance. He approaches them saying, “Peace be with you,” but they are too surprised to recognize Him. Fear turns to joy, but they still disbelieved and wondered.
In today’s text, the disciples who met the Lord on the Emmaus Road were also present when Jesus appeared again. While there could have been upset and conflict between those who stayed and those who left and returned, our Lord brought them together in unity. His presence in the midst of holy gatherings brings us to experience our oneness in Christ when He is at the centre of our hearts, our churches, and our communities.
The source of our fear and doubt is our own hearts. They were amazed, terrified, and unable to believe when they saw the risen Lord. May we be able to control our hearts through faith in Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The two disciples at Emmaus didn’t recognize the Lord either, and in today’s text, the disciples were emotionally torn between the joy of meeting the Lord and the lingering doubts they still had. Jesus, however, opened their hearts and eyes by teaching them and sharing a meal with them. The reason Jesus opened their mind was to make them aware of God’s word.
To these unbelieving disciples, our Lord assured them that He had risen, even by eating food together. Having meal together proves that Jesus’ resurrection was physical, not just a spiritual vision. The disciples encountered the Lord, ate with him, and witnessed the evidence of His resurrection. Luke present not a ghost or disembodied spirit but a living, walking, talking, and eating Jesus, as real as you and me.
As Jesus did with the two followers going to Emmaus, He spoke Scripture and referred to the passion predictions for the crowd in Jerusalem. The Risen Christ revealed Himself as the one who fulfilled Scripture through His life, death, and resurrection. He met with his disciples and taught them the words of Scripture, preparing them in advance for what they would go and preach. And that understanding was only possible when Jesus taught them and made them understand, just as he did the two disciples on the Emmaus Road. Through the risen Jesus, the Old Testament words that had been spoken before him were suddenly fully understood.
Jesus, in His post-resurrection appearance, not only reassured His disciples but also enlightened them on the significance of the Scriptures. He opened their minds to understand the prophecies concerning His suffering, death, and resurrection. The Scriptures are not merely a collection of ancient texts; they are a living testimony to God’s redemptive plan for humanity, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ, we are called to diligently study and meditate on God’s Word, allowing it to shape our beliefs, values, and actions. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Scripture becomes a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, guiding us in our journey of faith.
Jesus’ resurrection body bears the scars of His sacrifice, a poignant reminder of His love and victory over sin and death. This encounter with the risen Lord is not merely an event of the past; it is a living reality that continues to transform lives today. Just as Jesus appeared to His disciples, He desires to reveal Himself to each one of us, offering us His peace and presence in the midst of our doubts and fears. The word of the Risen Christ calls us to peace rather than security.
Luke also conveys that repentance is at the heart of Jesus’ words, and forgiveness of sins is possible through repentance. The followers of Jesus witness in Jesus’ name, calling people to repentance and promising forgiveness of sins. Christ’s church witnesses to him throughout the world. It is we, the witnesses who have encountered Jesus, who will share this good news. May we start where we are and spread the name of Jesus.
As the Lord says, the repentance that will begin in Jerusalem will be preached to all nations, not by human power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, whom God has promised. Having encountered the risen Lord and gained a deeper understanding of Scripture, the disciples are commissioned to be witnesses of Jesus’ transformative power to all nations.
As they are called to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name. Similarly, as followers of Christ, we are entrusted with the same mission. Our unwavering faith in the resurrected Christ invites us to share the good news of salvation with boldness and conviction. We are called to be living testimonies of God’s grace and mercy, reflecting His love and compassion to a world in desperate need of redemption.
The disciples are to stay in Jerusalem until they are clothed with power. This “waiting” time is necessary because this is a mission that can only be accomplished with the power of the Holy Spirit. When God sends his power from on high to us, then we can begin the mission. Those who witness the events of the resurrection and the gospel become witnesses of Christ and bearers of the word.
Jesus meets the disciples where they are. Then by inviting the disciples to touch and see, as well as by eating some fish, he encourages them to go beyond where they are. The risen Christ greets us where we are and invites us to go beyond where we are. Jesus, who gives us our mission and calls us to share Jesus Christ and the gospel, also leads us to a strength beyond our abilities and a place of hope and joy.
As time goes on, we may not be able to do some of the things we used to do, and our bodies may not cooperate as much as we would like, but our Lord is with us right where we are now, giving us a mission to do for His kingdom and for Him, inspiring us to serve, strengthening our faith, and enriching our lives. May we all be able to serve the Lord, the Church, and each other beautifully with renewed love, wisdom, and prayer.
What is our communal response to God’s presence and work in the world? How do we participate in God’s work on earth? As people of faith and Jesus’ disciples, we are to be witnesses to Christ’s presence among us, in our words and in our deeds.
As we reflect on the encounter of the disciples with the risen Lord, may we be inspired to cultivate unwavering faith in understanding Scripture and boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ as the saviour of the world. Let us go forth as witnesses of the resurrection of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill His mission of love and reconciliation.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)
