Luke 24:33-43

Butler's Comments

SECTION 3

The Eleven Confronted (Luke 24:33-43)

33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34who said, The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon! 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

36 As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. 37But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38And he said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have. 41And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, Have you anything here to eat? 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate before them.

Luke 24:33-40 Disconcerting Demonstration: The two disciples in Emmaus rose from the supper table and returned (rapidly, no doubt) the seven miles back to Jerusalem. It took them about an hour to walk the road back.

e. Sunday evening, late (John 20:19-20; Mark 16:13-14; Luke 24:33-43): Fifth appearance: To the apostles and disciples in Jerusalem, Thomas absent. The Emmaus disciples arrived in Jerusalem and found where the apostles were hiding. John tells us the doors were shut where the apostles were for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). They are now called by the title the eleven instead of the twelve since Judas had hanged himself, But there were not eleven of the apostles presentThomas had absented himself for some reason (see John 20:24). This also shows that the two Emmaus disciples were not apostles. There were others present with the apostles and some of them said, The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon! The Greek word translated appeared is ophthe and is a derivative of the words horao and ophtalmos and carries with it the definite connotation of something seen with the eyes. The Lord's appearance to Peter was objective, not subjective. The two disciples from Emmaus then related to the group their experience of seeing the risen Lord and gave the objective evidences which convinced them it was Jesus, The apostles did not believe even then (Mark 16:13).

As they were talking, Jesus appeared suddenly in the room with them. They were terrified (Gr. ptoethentes, in consternation, in paralyzed fear) and filled with fear (Gr. emphoboi, phobia). Apparently He did not come through a door as normally expected, but materialized right through the closed door. They thought (Gr. edokoun, stronger than supposed) they were seeing a spirit (Gr. pneuma). Jesus chides them for having troubled minds and doubts and suspicions. They have the testimony of the women, the testimony of Peter and the testimony of the two Emmaus discipleswhy do they still doubt? But with the patience and love He had always shown, Jesus offers further evidence. It is very important to note here that Jesus presented proof to three of the sensory preceptors of mansight, hearing, touch. This is scientific evidence; it is what is called experiental and meets the demands of any honest-minded scientist to prove the fact beyond any reasonable doubt. The apostles appeal to this sensate evidence later as the very center of their gospel proclamation (Acts 10:41). The apostles did not seek to persuade men on the basis of their own faith, but on the basis of scientific, eyewitnessed evidence. Jesus invited them to see and touch the hands and feet which had the nail scars in them (as well as His side, John 20:20).

A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have, said Jesus, and then He showed them His hands and His feet. That last phrase is omitted from our printed text (Luke 24:40), but many ancient manuscripts include it (Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus, et al.). We believe it to be textually verified.

Luke 24:41-43 Dazzled Disciples: They disbelieved for joy. That is not an unusual reaction when surprised by a visit from someone one thinks is dead. Many people have had the same experience with returned prisoners-of-war or with miraculously escaped victims of natural disasters and have said, I see you, but I just can-'t believe you-'re aliveis it really yousay something or do something so I will know it is you! The apostles were wondering and Jesus asked for something to eat to prove to them He was Himself (Gr. ego eimi autos, Luke 24:39). They gave Him a piece of broiled fish (some manuscripts add, and honeycomb) and He ate it. Once again, Luke the physician has traced accurately all things and documented evidence of the bodily resurrection of Jesus experiential enough to satisfy his own scientific mind and any other fair-minded person who will investigate the authenticity and credibility of Luke's record.

f.

One week laterSunday (John 20:26-29): Sixth appearance: Jesus appeared to the apostles again in Jerusalem. This time Thomas was present. Thomas was invited to touch the nail prints in Jesus-' body. Thomas was convinced. The only way to call this an hallucination is to call John a liar. The gospel account plainly states it as an empirical event.

g.

Sometime laterunknown time (John 21:1-25): Seventh appearance: Jesus appeared to seven of the apostles while they were fishing. They did not recognize Him at first. He worked a miracle and invited them to breakfast. John then recognized Him. Peter jumped out of the boat and hurried to shore ahead of the others. This is the third revelation of Himself to the apostles. After breakfast, Jesus challenges Peter's concept of love.

h.

Still laterunknown time (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18): Eighth appearance: Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles on a mountain in Galilee and gave them the Great Commission. Some make this the same as the appearance to the five hundred brethren at once in 1 Corinthians 15:6. The text seems to imply this appearance was restricted to the eleven apostles.

i.

Still laterunknown time (1 Corinthians 15:6): Ninth appearance: Jesus appeared to over five hundred brethren at once in a place unknown, but testified to by the apostle Paul. Many of those people were still alive when Paul wrote to the Corinthians.

j.

Still laterunknown time, at Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 15:7): Tenth appearance: Jesus appeared to James. We are not certain which James, but probably Jesus-' half-brotherthe leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:1-41).