The Disciples' Encounter
The Disciples' Encounter
Luke 24:36-49
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
The final encounter is between Jesus and his disciples on resurrection morning. This is an especially helpful story for us, because it introduces us to the risen Jesus, the same Jesus who you and I are dealing with today. What is he like? What does he say to us?
Who Jesus is
In many ways, the Jesus who appears on Easter Sunday is the same: the same familiar voice, the same scarred hands and feet, still eating fish with his disciples. But this Jesus is also different. Paul says his body was “sown in weakness, but raised in power.” (1 Corinthians 15:43) When Jesus rose, he broke death. He now calls himself simply “the Living One.” He says “I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys to Death and Hades.” (Revelation 1:18) Jesus subjected himself to many limits in his earthly life, but no more. He is now the risen Lord! He has limitless power. He can pass through grave clothes, a sealed tomb, and locked doors. He appears without warning, then vanishes just as quickly. When he wants to conceal his identity, he can do that. When he wants to reveal himself with such glory that it blinds you, he can do that too. The risen Jesus has limitless knowledge. He knows where to find the disciples. He knows what they’ve been talking about. Jesus even knows what they’ve been thinking: “why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” He has access to our innermost thoughts, desires, motives, feelings—he understands what’s going on in you far better than you do. He has limitless freedom. He goes where he wants, when he wants. He doesn’t make appointments or wait for invitations. He’s in total control. In all the resurrection stories, those who go look for Jesus can never find him. He just shows up when he chooses, unannounced, and when he does, everyone is at attention. That’s who Jesus is, right now: the risen Lord!
Is this how you think of him? Most of us tend to think of Jesus as much smaller. Tamer. More manageable. We think of Jesus as a nice guy who’s there when we need him, but never makes demands. We work him into our lives when it’s convenient, and believe he’s always grateful for our attention.
Easter challenges us to revise that view!
When Thomas met the risen Jesus, he fell to his knees and said “my Lord and my God.” When John saw him in Revelation 1, he “fell at his feet as though dead.” Jesus is the risen Lord.
Is this how you think of him? Most of us tend to think of Jesus as much smaller. Tamer. More manageable. We think of Jesus as a nice guy who’s there when we need him, but never makes demands. We work him into our lives when it’s convenient, and believe he’s always grateful for our attention.
Easter challenges us to revise that view!
When Thomas met the risen Jesus, he fell to his knees and said “my Lord and my God.” When John saw him in Revelation 1, he “fell at his feet as though dead.” Jesus is the risen Lord.
What Jesus Says
The disciples dread Jesus’s first words. Since they saw him last, all they’ve done is fail him! Now he stands before them, in all his glory and authority, knowing everything. There’s no time to prepare excuses or get their story straight! What will he say to them?
We’re meant to ask the same question. If the risen Jesus showed up there in the room with you, what would he say to you? He heard every private conversation last week. He witnessed every thought. He knows every broken promise and wasted opportunity. He observed how quickly we forgot his mercies to move on to the next complaint. He’s aware of all the bad habits, careless words, embarrassing lapses of judgment, negative attitudes, and jealous, petty spirits. And that’s just the past—Jesus sees your future failures, too! Nothing is hidden from him. What does perfect Jesus say to someone like you? The answer is found in verse 36.
“Peace to you.” (cf John 20:19, 21, 26) These are the first words Jesus speaks to failed, flawed, sinful people, on the first Easter and today. Not “I can’t believe you failed me!” Or “I’m so disappointed in you!” Or “Get it together!” But “peace to you.” May all be well with you. May the favor and the smile of God beam down on you. How can it be?
We’re meant to ask the same question. If the risen Jesus showed up there in the room with you, what would he say to you? He heard every private conversation last week. He witnessed every thought. He knows every broken promise and wasted opportunity. He observed how quickly we forgot his mercies to move on to the next complaint. He’s aware of all the bad habits, careless words, embarrassing lapses of judgment, negative attitudes, and jealous, petty spirits. And that’s just the past—Jesus sees your future failures, too! Nothing is hidden from him. What does perfect Jesus say to someone like you? The answer is found in verse 36.
“Peace to you.” (cf John 20:19, 21, 26) These are the first words Jesus speaks to failed, flawed, sinful people, on the first Easter and today. Not “I can’t believe you failed me!” Or “I’m so disappointed in you!” Or “Get it together!” But “peace to you.” May all be well with you. May the favor and the smile of God beam down on you. How can it be?
How He Can Say It
In the Old Testament, God’s people brought a sacrifice to the priest on the Day of Atonement. He laid his hands on that animal, symbolically transferring the people’s sins. He killed the sacrifice and carried the blood into the most holy place of the Temple, where only he could go. Once he disappeared inside, the people held their breath. Everything rode on what he would do for them in God’s presence. They would know God had accepted the offering and forgiven them if the priest came out alive—but this was not guaranteed! That’s why the priest wore bells on his garment and a rope around his ankle; if the jingling stopped, the people knew God had killed him and could pull him out! So everyone waited in tense silence.
The high moment of the whole year came when the priest emerged, alive. The crowd sighed with relief. He would smile, wipe his brow, and lift his hands in blessing, announcing: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” God forgives your sins. All is well. Go in peace.
All the thousands of times that drama played out was only a rehearsal for Easter. When Jesus hung on the cross, the Lord of Glory became our Peace-making Priest. He presented his own blood as the sacrifice to a holy God for us. Then he disappeared through the veil of death for three days. But on Sunday, the priest appears again, alive! Now, he raises his nail-scarred hands in blessing over a guilty, weak, fearful people. And with a smile of victory he says, “Peace to you. I have done it. My sacrifice for your sins has been accepted. I know everything you have done or failed to do—the repeated sins, the most selfish sins, the most shameful sins—and I forgive them all. You can have peace with me, and peace with my Father, and peace within your own, guilty consciences. And even if your life is anything but peaceful right now, if you are in my care, I am guiding you to a future of resurrected glory. Trust me. Peace to you.”
This is what the risen Jesus says to us this morning. Paul says he came and “preached peace” to us (Ephesians 2:17) It’s what the risen Jesus gathers his people together at the beginning of every Sunday morning to do. The work has been done; he now offers his peace freely.
You only have to receive it from him in faith.
Will you?
The high moment of the whole year came when the priest emerged, alive. The crowd sighed with relief. He would smile, wipe his brow, and lift his hands in blessing, announcing: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” God forgives your sins. All is well. Go in peace.
All the thousands of times that drama played out was only a rehearsal for Easter. When Jesus hung on the cross, the Lord of Glory became our Peace-making Priest. He presented his own blood as the sacrifice to a holy God for us. Then he disappeared through the veil of death for three days. But on Sunday, the priest appears again, alive! Now, he raises his nail-scarred hands in blessing over a guilty, weak, fearful people. And with a smile of victory he says, “Peace to you. I have done it. My sacrifice for your sins has been accepted. I know everything you have done or failed to do—the repeated sins, the most selfish sins, the most shameful sins—and I forgive them all. You can have peace with me, and peace with my Father, and peace within your own, guilty consciences. And even if your life is anything but peaceful right now, if you are in my care, I am guiding you to a future of resurrected glory. Trust me. Peace to you.”
This is what the risen Jesus says to us this morning. Paul says he came and “preached peace” to us (Ephesians 2:17) It’s what the risen Jesus gathers his people together at the beginning of every Sunday morning to do. The work has been done; he now offers his peace freely.
You only have to receive it from him in faith.
Will you?
Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church
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