Resurrection

Resurrection
Luke 24:28-35

28 And [kai] they drew nigh [eggizo] unto [eis] the village [kome] , whither [hou] they went [poreuomai] : and [kai] he [autos] made as though [prospoieomai] he would have gone [poreuomai] further [porrhotero] .
29 But [kai] they constrained [parabiazomai] him [autos] , saying [lego] , Abide [meno] with [meta] us [hemon] : for [hoti] it is [esti] toward [pros] evening [hespera] , and [kai] the day [hemera] is far spent [klino] . And [kai] he went in [eiserchomai] to tarry [meno] with [sun] them [autos] .
30 And [kai] it came to pass [ginomai] , as [en] he [autos] sat at meat [kataklino] with [meta] them [autos] , he took [lambano] bread [artos] , and blessed [eulogeo] it, and [kai] brake [klao] , and gave [epididomi] to them [autos] .
31 And [de] their [autos] eyes [ophthalmos] were opened [dianoigo] , and [kai] they knew [epiginosko] him [autos] ; and [kai] he [autos] vanished [ginomai] [aphantos] out of [apo] their sight [autos] .
32 And [kai] they said [epo] one to another [pros] [allelon] , Did [en] not [ouchi] our [hemon] heart [kardia] burn [kaio] within [en] us [hemin] , while [hos] he talked [laleo] with us [hemin] by [en] the way [hodos] , and [kai] while [hos] he opened [dianoigo] to us [hemin] the scriptures [graphe] ?
33 And [kai] they rose up [anistemi] the same [autos] hour [hora] , and returned [hupostrepho] to [eis] Jerusalem [Hierousalem] , and [kai] found [heurisko] the eleven [hendeka] gathered together [sunathroizo] , and [kai] them that were with [sun] them [autos] ,
34 Saying [lego] , [hoti] The Lord [kurios] is risen [egeiro] indeed [ontos] , and [kai] hath appeared [optanomai] to Simon [Simon] .
35 And [kai] they [autos] told [exegeomai] what things were done in [en] the way [hodos] , and [kai] how [hos] he was known [ginosko] of them [autos] in [en] breaking [klasis] of bread [artos] . KJV-Interlinear

28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He would go farther. 29 And they urged Him, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.' And He went in to stay with them. 30 And it came about that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?' 33 And they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, 'The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon.' 35 And they began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. NASB

Mark 16:13
13 And they went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. NASB

There are several items to note in these verses. First the mention of the appearances of Christ to the eleven, and to Peter.

First note that the apostles were often referred to as 'the twelve' even though their number was not twelve after Judas had stepped out of the scene. The group was still called 'the twelve.' It is always presumed that there would be twelve apostles as that is the number which Jesus chose. We know that later on Saul (Paul) will become the replacement for the twelfth apostle. Likewise, when Paul describes the appearances of Jesus following the resurrection, he refers to the group as 'the twelve.' So he is not referring to every member of the group, but to those of the group who were present at the time.

1 Cor. 15:5
5 and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve. NASB

We learn later that Thomas was not present and will not see Jesus for several days, Jn. 20:24.

So since the 'two' who had just received a Bible lesson from Jesus, and then recognized Him, had returned to the 'eleven,' it was 'the place' where they were staying where they returned, even though all eleven were not present at that time. The reference to Peter indicates that Peter was not present. Likewise since the 'two' knew of the appearance to Peter (Simon), they must have met Peter along the way, communicated their story to him, and he likewise his story to them. But Peter did not return to the house with the 'two.' This is implied because they (the rest of the apostles and whomever else was present), did not believe the 'two.' Had Peter been there, then they might (speculation) have had a different response since Peter was viewed as a leader of sorts. Like wise if Peter had been there, then he would have been the one speaking and not the two disciples.

Now back to the beginning.

The 'two' and Jesus have been walking along the road and are now approaching the village - their destination. Jesus has been giving them a detailed lesson in the scriptures, specifically regarding the Messiah. The 'two' state themselves, that their hearts were burning with a hot desire to learn as Jesus was teaching them. So they were very focused on what He was saying, yet they failed to recognize Him.

Jesus indicates He will travel on - a fake move. The 'two' will turn into the village, but they invite Him to stay with them rather than travel along at night. It is late in the day, and night travel was not safe. They still do not recognize Him even though He has just given them probably the most detailed and persuading lesson on scripture, in their lives.

Who else would they know that could teach in that manner? A stranger? A member of the Sanhedrin? Yet they still aren't getting it. They still do not recognize Him.

They sit down for dinner and Jesus takes over the blessing of the meal. They then recognize Him and he vanishes before their eyes. We can imagine how they felt - like fools, not knowing with whom they were walking all of this time. Remember that the trip was about seven miles so they were with Jesus maybe for a few hours at least.

It is late in the day and they no longer are worried about night travel. They hurry back to Jerusalem, or Bethany, or wherever the apostles and disciples were staying. We assume that they met Peter along the way. It would have taken several hours to walk back toward Jerusalem. Peter did not go with them.

This makes sense, since Peter was most probably very ashamed about his behavior just three days earlier when he denied knowing Jesus. And now Jesus was very kind in appearing to Peter in private so as to make him feel better (we speculate about this of course but it makes sense). Anyway, this meeting between Jesus and Peter is never documented other than in this passage. Peter never mentions it, so that implies that it was a very personal and private meeting between the two of them.

Buy the way, personal and private meetings are not restricted to Peter, but are available to each one of us, through our study of Gods word. Bible doctrine in the soul makes Jesus very personal and private to only you. You have to first learn, comprehend, understand, and grow up before you can realize that concept.

There is one other documented single appearance, and that is to James as described by Paul in 1 Cor. 15:5-8. Since James will become the first to be martyred, then that meeting obviously gives him a boost of faith as well, helping him to get through his own death, Acts 12:2. It would make sense that Jesus might have made other appearances, but if so, they are not documented for us. Enough appearances have been documented such that there is more than adequate proof of His resurrection. And enough examples to teach the various lessons, of faith and/or spiritual support.

Jesus revealed the scriptures to the 'two.' He presented their explanation. They all sat down and dined (fellowship) together, to metabolize what they had heard. Then, they saw the truth.

That is the pattern of spiritual knowledge.

You can only see, when you are in fellowship. You can only gain insight into life, from Gods Word. There is no other source for learning the truth.

Now note also, that Jesus uses information that is common knowledge. Everyone knows of the scriptures. Everyone knows of the crucifixion. Everyone knows of the politics of the day. There is no excuse for anyone in not coming to an understanding of the issues of life.

In our current day, we have a lot of talk regarding homosexual marriages. We also have the latest movie released, 'The Passion of the Christ.' Do you suppose that there is anyone who does not know of these two topics? We also have many political issues in the news. These things are on a national scale such that all of society is aware of the many issues, in society.

Now, on a personal level we all have our inner most private thoughts. We all have our personal daily lives, and those things that affect us personally. So God is thorough in bringing life and choices before us.

Last but not least is the Bible. And again, there is no one on the face of this earth that is not aware of it and its subject of content, Jesus Christ.

The apostles were confronted with several reports of appearances of Jesus being alive. Four of them thus far. Yet they refused to believe them. What were they doing? Hiding in fear behind a closed and locked door. We will see that tomorrow.

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