Luke 24:36-53 (ESV)

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 and 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.” ⁵⁰ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Cleopas and his companion rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others what had happened. The women claimed they saw Jesus, and Peter did too. Things were moving quickly, but the disciples were still confused. Suddenly, Jesus stood among them and explained, “Peace to you!” They were baffled. They thought Jesus was a ghost. Jesus showed them his nail-pierced hands and feet. Still stunned, they couldn’t believe Jesus was actually there, yet they disbelieved “for joy.” If it were true, then Jesus really was the Lord of all heaven and earth and held the keys to life and death. Jesus asked them if they had anything to eat, and he took some fish and enjoyed it in their presence. Then they knew it was him! Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt? They were more than ready to listen to whatever he said. He reminded them that none of this should have caught them off guard. He taught them again that all of it was foretold in the Old Testament. Jesus explained his death and resurrection in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Even after his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus still placed highest priority on the record of Scripture. The Old Testament is loaded with accounts of people and places, offerings and festivals, and predictions and prophecies that point to Jesus as the promised Messiah of Israel. God’s word and his promises were there the whole time. The disciples were caught off guard because the circumstances contradicted their understanding of the Old Testament.

We must continue to remind ourselves that God has communicated through the Scripture. The risen Lord Jesus Christ stood right in the midst of his apostles and referred back to what was written. The disciples were confused because what they experienced didn’t line up with what they believed about the coming kingdom of God. They lost courage when the circumstances seemed to indicate that Jesus was not who they hoped he was. Has God allowed circumstances in your life today that are creating confusion and doubt? We may not see or understand the way he is weaving all together in his master plan, but we can know for certain that not one molecule is outside of his control. Let’s trust him again today. May we never take from or add to what God has revealed to us as recorded in the Scriptures. All will come to pass, just as written.