Luke 24:8 - Printer Friendly

In the brief mirror-image structure of Luke 24:1–12, this is the central verse. Luke 24:1–3 and 12 record people—the women and Peter—finding the tomb empty. In Luke 24:4–6 and 9–11, messengers tell others that Jesus has risen.

This is a central theme in the chapter: Jesus' disciples couldn't fathom how His prophecies about His death and resurrection could be true, so they didn't remember His words. They don't remember until they are reminded. In the larger picture, they don't believe until they see Jesus personally and He opens their eyes (Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:30–32, 36, 44–45; John 20:14–16, 26–28).

Two angels are at Jesus' empty tomb, talking to a handful of His women disciples. Mary, the wife of Clopas and mother of James and Joses, is there. So are Salome, Joanna, and others (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). It seems Mary Magdalene left before the angels arrived (John 20:1–2).

The angels have reminded the women that Jesus told them this would happen: "Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified an on the third day rise" (Luke 24:6–7). We don't know when the women heard this. It may have been shortly after Peter declared Jesus to be the Messiah (Luke 9:18–22).

Previously the angel had asked the women, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5). Jesus' followers should have known. But, speaking of Peter and himself, John writes, "as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead" (John 20:9). Luke explains that when Jesus told the Twelve about His death and resurrection, "they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said" (Luke 18:34). When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).

We need reminding, too. The disciples saw Jesus die and couldn't believe He would be raised again. We read that Jesus ascended into heaven; it can be hard to have faith He will return. By reading the Scriptures, believing them, and reminding each other, we can stay faithful to the end.

Luke 24:1–12 reports that the women who had prepared spices find Jesus' tomb empty. Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Clopas, Salome, Joanna, and possibly others saw where Jesus was buried and gathered spices before the Sabbath began. Early Sunday morning, they return but the stone is rolled away. Two angels remind them Jesus had promised to rise from the dead. They tell Peter who also finds the tomb empty. Mark 16:1–8 gives a similar account. Matthew 28:1–10 and John 20:1–18 say that the women meet Jesus and John is with Peter.

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.