The Glory of Jesus (Luke 24:1-53)

How do we make sense of the big, weighty idea of glory, especially when we are caught up in our own lives and the details of it? Yet, so much of Jesus’ life and death revolves around His glory. The Christian life too, is shaped, seen and moulded by His glory now revealed. What does it mean for us today? How do we make sense of it in light of the cross and His resurrection — where His glory is known? 

(A) The Witnesses (Lk 24:1-12)

Luke 24 begins with a lot of action on the first day of the week, at early dawn (Lk 24:1) — “They went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (Lk 24:1b)” Who are the “they”? In Luke 24:10, we see that “Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them”. 

Earlier, in Luke 8:1-3 were mentioned among those who followed Jesus. This was an interesting, unexpected bunch of women. These women were at the start of His ministry and now wanted to see Him through even at the end of His life. They made their way to the tomb at early dawn and fully expected to see the body of the one they had followed lying in the grave. Even in their grief, there was a sincere devotion towards this Jesus. 

Yet, instead of finding a body, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb (Lk 24:2). On top of that, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Lk 24:3). They were also met by two men in dazzling apparel (Lk 24:4), which we know to be angels from the other gospel accounts. They were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground (Lk 24:5a). 

These dazzling men spoke to them (Lk 24:5b). These men asked a rhetorical question — “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” — which is followed by a proclamation (Lk 24:6a). They were not there to just tell the women that Jesus had risen. The angels also sought to call these women to action. They wanted them to remember His words (Lk 24:6b). 

Now, the women abandoned their original intention to prepare the body for burial and went to tell these things to the eleven and other disciples (Lk 24:8-9). There were two responses from the apostles. There were those that deemed their words as an “idle tale and they did not believe them” (Lk 24:11b). They were probably dismissive because. Women were not treated as credible witnesses in the legal sense. This was also why Christianity was mocked because the testimony of the early eyewitnesses were based on women’s accounts. But read carefully. Whose words are being treated as an idle tale? They were ultimately rejecting Jesus’ own words! 

Peter, however, heard and rose and ran to the tomb and entered the tomb to check it out for himself (Lk 24:12). He saw the linen cloths by themselves and ends up marvelling at what had happened. Perhaps he thought of Lazarus rising from the dead previously. 

Who were Jesus’ disciples and also those who founded the early church? Women. Disbelieving apostles. Peter, who denied and rejected Jesus. These were the people that Jesus revealed Himself to and drew into the Kingdom! He did not seek the rich and the powerful to get His message across. In His sovereign wisdom, He chose people like this! Who is shown to be wise after all these years? Not the Roman philosophers and scholars, for they are forgotten and barely studied today, save for academics. But Jesus’ words are still being studied by us. 

As we read these, do you feel like you’re not glorious enough to share the gospel? May the words of 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 be an encouragement to you —”For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” Remember your identity and heritage as it is written here. We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God! 

(B) The Walk (Lk 24:13-35)

Luke goes on to describe something that happens “that very day” (Lk 24:13). Two of the disciples were going to Emmaus (Lk 24:13). They appear to be engaged, concerned and opinionated. While they were talking, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them (Lk 24:15). They were affected and even shocked that Jesus did not know what happened (Lk 24:17-18). Through this all, they were blind and did not recognise Jesus (Lk 24:16).

Through their conversation with Jesus, we understand what Jesus meant to them and how they understood what had happened. They explained that Jesus was a “prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Lk 24:19) and though they hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel (Lk 24:20), He was delivered up to be condemned to death by the religious leaders (Lk 24:20). Three days had passed and they also received word from the women that Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb and said that Jesus was alive (Lk 24:22-24). 

Jesus then speaks to them then and said,“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Lk 24:25-26). 

As we read these verses, we might wonder why Jesus kept them from seeing Him right from the start. It seems that it was more important for them to understand these things than to recognise Jesus, their risen Saviour. It’s similar to what Jesus said in Luke 16:31. Jesus desires for them to know all that God has taught them (Lk 24:27). Now, Jesus’ words are not merely restricted to just the “red letters” in our Bible. All of Scripture is God-breathed, and given for us to understand! This is why Jesus teaches and opens Scripture to them, interpreting and showing the things concerning Himself — all of it! 

Jesus doesn’t just teach them, but also shares a meal with them. The disciples are in communion with Jesus, even sharing bread with Him (Lk 24:30). They spent time with Him and at that moment, their eyes were opened and they recognised Him. Then He disappeared (Lk 24:31). What stayed with them was the experience of having their eyes opened and their hearts burn when He opened Scripture to them (Lk 24:32, c.f. Ps 119:18).

What do they do? They returned immediately to Jerusalem, where they came from (Lk 24:33). Earlier, they walked in the light of day, met their Saviour but were blind to Him. Yet now, they travel by night, without their Saviour, but they have seen Him and know Him, walking as those who walk in the light. As Psalm 36:9 shows us, in His light do we know light. 

Don’t miss out the radical change in these disciples after they met their Saviour. They marvelled not at finding new links or cool facts. They marvel because they have met their Saviour through Scripture. If you are a Christian, you must have had an experience of reading and realising that this books shows us ourself! It points to the not only the reality of our condition but also the reality of our Saviour. It helps us to find communion with Him. 

Do you also see the intentionality that Jesus has to draw near to them? Is your Bible reading a chore? Consider this text as an invitation from Jesus Himself. Ask that He will open His word to you, that you will see Him rightly.

(C) The Welcome (Lk 24:36-53)

Following that, Jesus appears before the disciples. Firstly, He stands stands among them and proclaims “Peace!” (Lk 24:26). Startled, they think he is a ghost (Lk 24:37).

Next, Jesus converses with them. He asked rhetorical questions — yet displayed neither of rebuke nor condescension but personal invitation (Lk 24:38-40). He also invites them to touch His hands! Yet, they thought it was too good to be true (Lk 24:41).

However, Jesus also asked them for food, and ate fish (Lk 24:41b-43).

From this, we see that Jesus wanted to show how His body was a real, physical, resurrected one. What’s the point in stressing that this is not just a resurrected spirit but a real body? This is to emphasise that sin has really been defeated! Since Genesis 3 when sin has entered the world, we have been suffering the effects of sin. Sin has been thoroughly defeated and the curse of sin has been overturned. Jesus has been raised from the dead as He said He would be. As a result we can trust that all of His words — in the Prophets and the Law — is true! 

Notice also how Jesus approaches those who are struggling and weak. Isaiah 42:3 is true! A bruised reed He will not break and He will not quench a faintly burning wick. He invites us to Himself and also meets us where we are. 

Therefore, we can have a sure confidence that this Son of Man, who has come from Heaven, now returns with a piece of earth in Him. He is our hope that one day, He will really return to make all things new, as He has said. 

As Jesus spoke to His disciples, He stressed that everything written about Him in the Law andProphets and the Psalms must be fulfilled (Lk 24:44). We also see that sin is so serious that He needs to open our minds to understand the Scriptures (Lk 24:45). Sin has such an adverse and deep effect on us. 

And we are to understand how Jesus fulfilled what was written in Scripture — that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations (Lk 24:46-47). This is His glorious work and it doesn’t stop there. He desires for His disciples to believe and to bring it out to the nations (Lk 24:48. This is what He desires for us to do with His glory. 

The chapter ends with the disciples worshipping Him in the temple, after He ascended into heaven (Lk 24:50-53). 

We’ll close this study with these encouraging words in Isaiah 66:1-2: “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

See what God says here. May we live as those written about here. Today, we worship the risen Christ who has also given us His word. May we see Him rightly, and love Him as we read His word.