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Day 343

Luke 24:1-32 "STUMBLED BY THE SUGGESTION OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS"

Day 343 – Luke 24

Text: Luke 24:1-32

STUMBLED BY THE SUGGESTION OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Cleopas and his fellow disciple were speaking animatedly to each other and with sadness about the death of their beloved Teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. They had pinned their hope on His being the One who would redeem Israel. It would seem as if they had been sadly mistaken, for the One they had believed in had been delivered to the Romans and then crucified! How could He be their hoped-for Messiah if He was crucified?

They were among a good number of people who had become disciples of Jesus of Nazareth. Where do they go from here? What should they do next? The two disciples were confused as to what to believe concerning Jesus. They were particularly puzzled by what they had heard about His resurrection.

The two disciples expressed their difficulty in understanding and accepting the resurrection of Jesus. They said,

“Besides all this, today is the third day
since these things happened.
Yes, and certain women of our company,
Who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
When they did not find His body, they came saying
That they had seen a vision of angels who said
He was alive. And certain of those who were with us
Went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said;
But Him they did not see.”
Luke 24:21-24

What puzzled the disciples? Cleopas and his companion spoke as if they had been among the company of disciples that had heard the women folk tell of their encounter with the angels of God? Were they able to accept their story of having seen a vision of angels? If they were able to accept that angels were powerful servants of God, why were they not able to accept that they could have the authority and power to roll away the stone from the tomb? Why could not God raise Jesus from the dead?

The disciples had been fairly accurate with their knowledge of the events surrounding the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. However, it appears obvious that knowledge without appropriate accompanying faith was totally insufficient! Why was it inconceivable that Jesus could be raised from the dead?

We are reminded of what the Apostle Paul once said as he defended his faith in Jesus.

“Why should it be thought incredible by you
that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:8

Wasn’t that a fair question? Why should it be thought incredible that God had the power, the authority, and the right to raise someone from the dead?

THE SCRIPTURES SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THE RESURRECTION!

Was the idea of resurrection alien to the Scriptures? The answer is “No!” We have a number of classic passages that deal with the concept of the resurrection.

The Book of Hebrews in commenting on the faith of Abraham had this to say about his belief in God concerning the resurrection of his son, Isaac.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested,
offered up Isaac, and he who had received
the promises offered up his only begotten son,
of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,”
Concluding that God was able to raise him up,
Even from the dead, from which he also received him
In a figurative sense.”
Hebrews 11:17-19

Abraham demonstrated that he had great faith in God when he dared to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice! In his heart of faith, he believed that God was able to raise Isaac up from the dead! God was able to resurrect his only begotten son! Faith in God must include the concept of the resurrection!

The author of Hebrews added another important comment, as he talked about faith in God’s power to resurrect the dead.

“Women received their dead raised to life again.”
Hebrews 11: 35

Two classic cases of resurrection may be cited in the Old Testament. The first instance was Elijah resurrecting the son of the widow of Zarephath.

“And he stretched himself out on the child three times,
and cried out to the Lord and said,
‘O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul
come back to him.’
Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah;
And the soul of the child came back to him,
And he revived.”
1 Kings 17:21-22

The second instance involving the raising of the dead was found in the ministry of Elisha. He cried out to God for the son of a Shunnamite lady.

“When Elisha came into the house, there was the child,
lying dead on his bed…
He returned and walked back and forth in the house,
And again went up and stretched himself out on him…
And the child opened his eyes…”
2 Kings 4:32, 35

What was the real problem when it came to believing in the resurrection of Jesus?