Luke 24:48 - Printer Friendly

This is part of what Jesus taught—likely over the course of multiple encounters—about where He fits into the prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures. His followers need to contextualize that truth and teach people how to respond (Luke 24:44–46). Jesus died so that people might repent and find complete reconciliation with God; this is a message "to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47).

The greater group of disciples are "witnesses of these things." They have witnessed how Jesus' experiences match the suffering and resurrection promised to the Messiah in the Psalms, Isaiah, and Jonah. Witnesses don't just watch, however. They tell others the truth. Church tradition says the apostles did this. Many wound up in Rome. Others stayed between Jerusalem and Syria. Thomas, it's believed, went to India. Matthew to Ethiopia. Paul had hoped to get to Spain (Romans 15:24).

Jesus commissioned the disciples to do more than just "talk" about His truth. He asked them—and us—to make disciples: teaching the church to follow His commands (Matthew 28:19–20).

We don't know where Luke 24:44–48 takes place. It seems that between the resurrection and ascension, Jesus spends time in Galilee (John 21). Luke 24:49–53 occurs in or around Jerusalem. Jesus takes the group to the Mount of Olives, near Bethany. He tells them to stay in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then He ascends into heaven. The Jewish disciples of the Jewish Messiah then do what is only natural: they go to the temple and praise God.

Luke 24:44–49 includes the last teachings recorded in Luke, prior to Jesus' ascension. It's unclear where or when this occurs; it seems more of a synopsis than a single event. Jesus opens the disciples' minds to how He has fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. He tells them to stay in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:16–20, John 20:24—21:25, and 1 Corinthians 15:5–7 also record Jesus' experiences during this time.

After Jesus is executed and buried (Luke 23:52–53), the women who had followed Him from Galilee come to improve His burial condition. They find an open, empty tomb and angels. The disciples are informed. Two of them spend time speaking with a stranger while walking, only to realize it was Jesus Himself. Jesus appears to His followers, eating fish and explaining how His role as Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus then ascends to heaven while His disciples worship.

Luke 24 describes how Jesus' followers learned of His resurrection. Luke 23 recorded His legal trials, crucifixion, death, and burial. Acts chapter 1, also written by Luke, explains how Jesus' followers prepare for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. Luke 24's theme is the fulfillment of prophecy from Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. Once Jesus' followers understand, He returns to heaven. Matthew 28 includes how the Sanhedrin bribed the guards. John chapter 20 adds Thomas coming to believe while chapter 21 records Peter's reconciliation with Jesus.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.