Good Morning Gorgeous!
It’s a brand new day!! A fresh NEW start!!
It’s Christmas Eve!
And our final chapter of Luke reveals that everything happened just as Jesus told His disciples it would.
Luke 24:6 NLT
[6] He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee,
Luke 24:7 NLT
[7] that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
And yet, they struggled, they forgot, or they had never understood the original message.
It is recorded again and again in the gospels where Jesus tells His followers what was to come.
He tells tells them that He must be crucified, but that He would raise from the dead.
And. When He gets crucified.
They FORGET.
They seem to completely forget!
Had they remembered His Words, they may have waited by the tomb.
Had they remembered His Words, they might not have been so shook by the events.
Had they remembered His Words, they would have welcomed the news from the women with more belief than unbelief.
But. They didn’t remember..they forgot the promise. Forgot the plan. Forgot what He told them plainly was going to happen.
And the women get the news FIRST! They go to the tomb after Sabbath and find Him gone. Two angels appear and ask the women, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
The women RUN to tell the apostles!
Luke 24:10 NLT
[10] It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened.
And the disciples don’t believe, but HOPE stirs inside of Peter.
Luke 24:12 NLT
[12] However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
Again, how could He wonder? JESUS had told him what would happen! In another gospel, we learn that Jesus meets Peter on the shore and makes breakfast for him. Isn’t Jesus amazing?! He is so patient with us even in our doubt and when we forget His Words.
Next two men are walking on the road to Emmaus, and Jesus appears to them. They don’t recognize Him and He begins to walk and talk with them.
They share all of the recent events with Jesus and they wonder to themselves, “How could this guy not know what has happened here?” It was pretty big news and everyone was aware of what had happened with the crucifixion.
Look at how Jesus explains everything all over again to them! He starts at the beginning and goes over all the prophecies again. He shows how all the prophecies pointed to Him!
And they still don’t recognize Him!
The disciples perspective:
Luke 24:19-21 NLT
[19] “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. [20] But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. [21] We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago..Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. [23] They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! [24] Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
Jesus’s response
Luke 24:25-27 NLT
[25] Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. [26] Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” [27] Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
They still didn’t recognize Him! But they invited Him to dinner! And the moment they broke bread and dined with Him, their eyes OPENED!
Luke 24:30-31 NLT
[30] As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. [31] Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.24.31.NL
And the same happens for us! When we invite Jesus in and say YES to Him, He opens up our spiritual eyes and the scriptures make SENSE!
Revelation 3:20 says that He stands at the door of our heart and knocks. When we open the door to Him, He comes in and eats with us!
The scriptures also say that the gospel is nonsense to those who are perishing. We have to receive the message BY FAITH and then understanding comes supernaturally by way of the Spirit!
The men go and testify to the others! They’ve seen Jesus! They’ve talked with Him. They’ve eaten with Him! And as they speak, He appears!
Luke 24:36 NLT
[36] And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.
Luke 24:38-40 NLT
[38] “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? [39] Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” [40] As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
And He again tells them the gospel. There would be salvation for ALL who would repent. That they were the first witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:47-48 NLT
[47] It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ [48] You are witnesses of all these things.
He tells them to WAIT for the Holy Spirit.
And then they watch as He ascends to heaven!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Even after the darkest night, the light breaks forth! Just as Christ rose from the dead and everything happened just as YOU promised, so we can count on Every promise in scripture to be fulfilled. You will breakthrough every dark part and bring hope. You will make the most broken pieces while. YOU WILL HEAL, REDEEEM, AND RESTORE that which appears lost beyond repair! Thank You Lord!
In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
Blessings this Christmas Eve!! May you Receive Jesus by faith tonight and your eyes be open to His Wonderful Mysyeries!
Vanessa Lynn
