WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday April 1, 2018
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HE
HAS RISEN!
(The
evidence of the Resurrection)
(Luke
24:1-34)
Unlike
the other three Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke’s Gospel account of the
life and Resurrection of CHRIST JESUS is related to us in the light of Old
Testament teachings about the MESSIAH, and, in JESUS’ own view of HIS 33-year mission
here on earth. Also unique to Luke’s Gospel, is the fact that he ends it, not
with the Resurrection, but rather, with the ascension of CHRIST JESUS back into
Heaven.
People often think of JESUS and Christianity
merely as something or someone to be studied, and in a large sense, that is
true, and necessary. However, in a greater sense, JESUS and Christianity are
not only someone and something to be studied, but also must be met and
experienced in everyday life. JESUS is not just a character in a book, albeit
the book, which is “the Bible”, is the greatest book ever written. JESUS
CHRIST, WHO is the origin of Christianity, is also a living, eternal presence
in the world.
The Jews observe Saturday as the Sabbath
because it is the last day of the week, and Scripture tells us that the seventh
day is the day that GOD rested from all HIS labor of creating the Heavens and
the earth (Genesis 1). Church-age Christians, however, observe Sunday, because
it is the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), and the day that Scripture says
that it was discovered that JESUS had been raised from the dead (Matthew
28:1-2).
It is at the very heart of Christianity that
we find the Resurrection of CHRIST JESUS. If you remove this concept from it, Christianity
becomes literally null and void. The fact of the Resurrection of CHRIST,
affirms to all Christians that HE is truly the SON of the LIVING GOD. It also
proves that JESUS’ vicarious sacrifice on the cross at Golgotha was accepted by
GOD the FATHER on behalf of all people who believe on HIM, past, present, and
future, as payment for our sins.
We as Christians must continue to preach about
the Resurrection of CHRIST, because, as humans with sin nature, we continue to voluntarily
and involuntarily suppress the truth about a Holy GOD in Heaven, and HIS Word. We
must often be prompted to “remember”
(Vs.1-8), “trust” (Vs.36-40), “understand” (Vs.44-46), and then, we
must “follow through” (Vs.47-53) on
what we say we now believe. And that is exactly the message that is being
conveyed here by Luke in the final chapter of his Gospel account.
Taking up at verse 1 we see that, early one
Sunday morning, a group of women that had been following and rendering aid to
JESUS and HIS disciples during their travels of preaching the Gospel, healing
the sick, and casting out demons throughout Palestine, return to the tomb where
they had seen JESUS’ body interned three days earlier. However, when they
arrived they found that the stone, that had once covered the entrance to HIS
tomb, had been rolled away, leaving it open.
Puzzled by what they saw, the women then
entered the tomb, and much to their surprise, the body of JESUS was no longer
there. Suddenly two men (angels) appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The
women were somewhat frightened by the figures, and they fell down and bowed low
before them. The men then asked, “Why are
you looking in the tomb for someone who is alive? HE isn’t here! HE has risen
from the dead!”
After being reminded of what JESUS had told
them about being betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and then, being
crucified, HE would rise from the dead on the third day, they ran into the city
and told the apostles what had happened. At first, the apostles all thought it
sounded like nonsense, but then Peter ran to the tomb to see for himself. After
reaching the tomb Peter looked inside and saw only linen wrappings. Not knowing
what to think (he apparently hadn’t taken to heart what JESUS had told them
concerning HIS resurrection), he walked slowly back to the city, pondering about what he had just seen.
When GOD gave people wills that
are free, HE undoubtedly gave us the greatest, and, perhaps, the most perilous
gift, the world has ever known. With freewill, a person can choose to either
invite CHRIST into his or her life, or, they can choose to allow Christ to pass
them by.
In Luke chapter
24, verses 13-34, he writes of the seven-mile walk, of two of JESUS’ followers,
from Jerusalem to Emmaus, just hours after JESUS’ Resurrection victory over
death and satan had been realized.
Suddenly, JESUS
appeared and began walking along with them. Here Luke tells us that GOD kept
the men from recognizing who JESUS was. Knowing that the two were discussing
HIM, JESUS asks the men, “What are you so
concerned about?” They looked at JESUS with sadness in their face, and one
of them, Cleopus replied, “You must be
the only person in Jerusalem, who has not heard about all the things that have
happened there the last few days”.
When JESUS
replied, “What things?”, the men went
on to tell HIM about all the events that had taken place in the previous three
days. JESUS then says to them, “You are
such foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the Prophets wrote
in Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the Prophets that the MESSIAH
would have to suffer all these things before entering HIS time of glory?”
JESUS then began to quote Scriptures explaining those writings of Moses and all
the Prophets, that where pertaining directly to HIMSELF.
As they neared
the end of their journey, the men begged JESUS to stay and have a meal with
them, and perhaps, stay the night, because it was almost dark and too late to
travel back to Jerusalem. JESUS accepted their invitation, and as they sat down
to eat, HE took a small loaf of bread, asked GOD’s blessing on it, broke it,
and then gave it to the two men.
Suddenly, their eyes were opened
(spiritually), and GOD allowed them to recognize who JESUS was, and, at that
same moment, JESUS disappeared. Within the hour, the men were on their way back
to Jerusalem, despite the fact that it was now dark.
The word
“Emmaus”, means “despised people”, and Jerusalem means, “possessor of peace”.
These two men, even though they were followers of JESUS, didn’t really know
JESUS until that day, during their walk along the Emmaus road. Once their
spiritual eyes were open to JESUS, HE allowed them to see their way through the
darkness back to Jerusalem. In fact, that very night they went from the place
of “despised people” (believers in CHRIST), to being “possessors of peace”
(true followers of CHRIST), if you get my drift.
By the time JESUS was killed, HE had become
a “despised person” in Jerusalem. He was despised by the Jewish leaders, and
most of the Jewish populace. After HIS “passion week” (suffering in Jerusalem),
HE once again fulfilled HIS role as the “possessor of peace”, as HE prepared to
ascend back into HIS glorious place of eminence in Heaven.
JESUS always knew
that HIS only way back to glory was through the “cross”, and so it is with
those of us, who follow HIM. With “open eyes”, JESUS accepted the circumstances
of the cross, so that whosoever believes in HIM, would not perish, but rather,
would be able to possess the peace of “Eternal Life” in the presence of the
almighty “GOD the FATHER” in Heaven.
In verse 25, as
expressed in the original Greek, the word Luke uses for “fools” is “anoetos”
(an-o-ay-tos). It is used only six times in New Testament Scripture. Five of
those times it is used in reference to those who are believers, not unbelievers.
Unlike the use of the word “fool” in the Old Testament, which is used to
describe a person whose problems are moral, this word describes an individual
who sees things from a distorted perspective. It describes “one who has “not
fully adopted” the “Divine Viewpoint” of CHRIST.
It is imperative
that, we as Christians, not only be believers in JESUS, but also, get to know
JESUS on a personal level. In doing so, we can develop a “Divine Viewpoint”,
through that personal, experiential relationship. It is not enough, just to
have correct information, but we must also be able to discern and use that
information correctly. And when we are able to discern it correctly, it is our
Christian duty to then, share it with others. In other words we must first
begin to share the mind of CHRIST (the Divine Viewpoint), and then, share that
idealism with others. And always remember, the Christian message is never fully
ours, until we have shared it with someone else.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
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