Luke 24:32-49

“Did not our heart burn within us . . . while he opened to us the scriptures?” (v. 32). These are the words of the two disciples who were unknowingly joined by Jesus as they journeyed from Jerusalem to Emmaus. While they walked, Jesus explained all things concerning Himself, the Christ, in the scriptures beginning at Moses and continuing through the Psalms and the prophets (see v. 27).

Only a portion of all things in the scriptures concerning Christ had been fulfilled when Jesus appeared to Cleopas and the other disciple on the road to Emmaus. Jesus was yet to sit where He sits today, at the Father’s right hand (Ps. 110:1, Heb. 1:3). While we do not know the specific scriptures which Jesus opened to them, We know the scriptures which the Holy Spirit has opened to all who believe. Psalm 22 speaks of His crucifixion and Isaiah 53 speaks of His being made an offering for sin and His resurrection.

“And as they spoke . . .” (v. 36). They that spoke would have consisted of the eleven disciples and those gathered with them. Jesus appeared to this gathering immediately after Cleopas and the other disciple reported that Jesus had appeared and opened the scriptures to them.

The apostles had received an earlier report that Jesus had risen — that from the women who found the empty sepulchre. The women reported the words of the two angels who said, “He is not here, but is risen” (v. 6). The apostles had heard but believed not (see v. 11).

The things which are recorded in verse 37 to 42 are there because God wants us to know that the apostles doubted the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their doubt followed two reports and the very appearance of Jesus before them. Seeing, in this instance, was not believing because they saw and heard and did not believe (see v. 41).

Doubt is a reasonable reaction because it is impossible for what happened to have happened. The disciples reacted to what they saw in a reasonable and predictable way.

The Lord showed them His hands and His feet. His nail torn flesh was exposed; they beheld it but still doubted. Jesus then took fish and honeycomb and ate it before them. The Lord does that which is necessary to erase doubt. The Lord cannot use doubters; He uses believers.

The Lord speaks to all who will ever believe. In verse 44, He told the apostles that all things which are written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning Him must be fulfilled. There are numerous passages in both the Psalms and in the books of the prophets concerning Messiah Jesus. The Psalms speak of His being rejected, His crucifixion, His priesthood, and His future reign. Daniel speaks of His sacrificial death. Zechariah prophesies of the future time in which the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall “look upon me whom they have pierced.” Isaiah prophesies of all these thing and more. One, however, must search the law of Moses to find that which is spoken directly concerning Jesus. In Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Moses prophesied concerning the Prophet who shall come and do the works of Moses and deliver words to which all men must hearken. Jesus is that Prophet and all men who cast Him aside bring condemnation upon themselves.

Verse 45 states, “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” The Lord God has opened understanding of believers (not doubters). When Jesus went to sit at the right hand of the Father, the Father sent the Comforter to teach us all things (Jn. 14:26). The Comforter teaches: That Christ came according to the scriptures. That Christ suffered according to the scriptures. That Christ rose from the dead according to the scriptures. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in JESUS’ name to all nations beginning in Jerusalem.

Jesus told the disciples (Believers) that they were witnesses of these things (v. 49). “These things” is ALL which is recorded in the scriptures. The scriptures are true and that ALL that is written must be fulfilled. Believers are recipients of that which the Holy Spirit has revealed. All believers are employed to be witnesses. There is no such thing as an unemployed believer. Not all witnesses are equal. Some believers are more effective witnesses than others. Jesus did not instruct His disciples to go forth and do the best that they could do. He told them to wait until they were endued with power from on high. We know that this promised power came upon the disciples at Pentecost. Believers of today became believers because they heard and believed the message that was delivered by witnesses who were empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Comforter was sent that we might know that ALL THINGS which are written are true and be witnesses of that truth. Jesus revealed His nail torn flesh and dined with the disciples so that they might know with certainty. Let us be the Spirit-driven witnesses that God intends.