Friday, June 28, 2019

Luke 24:36-53 comments: the end of Luke's gospel


    24:36 ¶  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42  And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43  And he took it, and did eat before them. 44  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48  And ye are witnesses of these things. 49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Again, Jesus appears to His followers. Standing in the midst of them He wishes them peace. They are afraid that they are seeing a ghost, the passing figure of someone they loved who was so mercilessly taken from them, of whom they had high expectations. But, Christ points out that He has a physical body that can be touched and can eat with them, a resurrection body.

He again repeats what they have not understood, His mission and the necessity of their Messiah to suffer and die for mankind. It is now their task to preach to people to turn from their sins and be forgiven of them by God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The seal of this command, this commission, will be the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, promised to come on them as they wait in Jerusalem.

Matthew 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ gives this command more fully, as reported by Luke in Acts.

Acts 1:1 ¶  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

    6 ¶  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Then, the promised gift from heaven that empowered them.

Acts 2:1 ¶  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [Note the two types of tongues in the context here, one of a form or appearance and one of another discernible human language.]

    24:50 ¶  And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52  And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53  And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

So ends Luke’s Gospel. He will continue his reporting of these historical events in Acts.

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