In Luke 24, Jesus appears to his followers not only to prove he is alive, but also to commission them with a purpose. The chapter moves through three powerful encounters: with the women at the tomb, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and finally, the gathered disciples in Jerusalem. In each moment, Jesus responds to confusion with clarity, fear with peace, and doubt with power.
Today’s focus lands on the last two scenes—Jesus walking with the disciples on the road, then standing among them in resurrection glory. These moments reveal three foundational truths: Jesus offers peace through His resurrection, fulfills all Scripture as the promised Messiah, and gives power through the Holy Spirit to proclaim His message to the world.
This isn’t just about what happened then—it’s about what continues now. Believers today stand in the same place: invited into peace, anchored in Scripture, and sent out with power.
1. Receive the Peace of Jesus that Flows from the Resurrection (Luke 24:36-43)
As the disciples gathered in fear and confusion, Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst and spoke words they hadn’t expected: “Peace be to you.” Though common as a greeting, this peace was far more than polite tradition—it was a proclamation rooted in the power of His resurrection.
The disciples had recently failed Him. They had scattered in fear, and now they sat burdened by guilt and doubt. But Jesus didn’t scold. He reassured. He invited them to see His hands and feet and even ate a piece of fish in front of them. He met them in their confusion with compassion, offering tangible proof of His bodily resurrection and comforting their troubled hearts.
Peace with God had been impossible since Eden, when sin fractured the relationship between humanity and its Creator. But now, through Jesus, that separation had been overcome. Romans 5:10 makes it clear—we were once enemies, but through Christ’s death and resurrection, reconciliation is possible. Colossians 1:21-22 adds that this peace presents us as holy and blameless in God’s sight.
Jesus offers not only forgiveness but emotional and spiritual peace—freedom from fear, guilt, and shame. This piece isn’t abstract; it’s deeply personal. Jesus meets individuals where they are and walks with them toward restoration.
His peace remains available today. Those who believe can rest in the truth that the war is over, the penalty is paid, and the tomb is empty. Jesus’ presence brings real and lasting peace, one that surpasses understanding and sustains us through life’s trials.
2. Read the Entire Bible Through the Lens of Christ (Luke 24:44-47)
Jesus not only brought peace, but He also brought clarity. After reassuring the disciples of His physical resurrection, He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He taught them how the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms—all of what we now call the Old Testament—point to Him.
Jesus had already modeled this on the road to Emmaus, where He patiently walked with two disciples and explained how the entire biblical narrative culminated in His life, death, and resurrection. This wasn’t just about biblical literacy—it was about recognizing Him in the text. Every promise, prophecy, and picture in Scripture finds fulfillment in Jesus.
Genesis reveals Him as the promised snake-crusher. Isaiah foretells His virgin birth and suffering. The Psalms echo His cries from the cross. With more than 300 fulfilled prophecies, Christ’s identity as Messiah isn’t guesswork—it’s God’s design, affirmed through history and mathematics alike.
Jesus didn’t just explain Scripture; He invited His disciples into a relationship with Him. Understanding came not merely through intellect but through abiding in His presence. He walked with them, taught them, then gave them space to reflect. His model wasn’t rush-and-retain—it was slow, relational revelation.
Today, He extends the same invitation. Jesus wants His followers to approach the Bible not simply for knowledge, but for transformation. Bible study without abiding becomes empty. But when we seek Jesus in the Scriptures—with prayer and relationship—we encounter the Living Word, and our hearts burn like those disciples on the road.
3. Let the Power of the Holy Spirit Embolden You to be a Witness for Christ (Luke 24:48-49)
After offering peace and proclaiming the fulfillment of Scripture, Jesus gave a promise—the power of the Holy Spirit. He told His disciples that they would be His witnesses, starting in Jerusalem and extending to all nations. But they would not go in their strength; they would wait to be “clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus made it clear: this mission wasn’t optional. Repentance and forgiveness would be proclaimed in His name, and His followers would carry that message. The resurrection wasn’t just personal—it was missional. And it demanded action.
This promise came true at Pentecost, as seen in Acts 1:8. The Holy Spirit descended, filled the disciples, and launched the Church into bold, global witness. That same Spirit still empowers believers today.
Jesus didn’t die and rise again so that His people could remain passive. He saved them, revealed Himself through Scripture, and equipped them to proclaim His Gospel. Whether sharing Christ with a neighbor, praying for missionaries, or considering a call to ministry, every believer has a role.
The resurrection secured our peace with God and provided the fuel for Gospel transformation. And the Holy Spirit brings both the courage and clarity to live that truth out. From the classroom to the workplace, from family tables to foreign fields, believers are called to be witnesses—not just with words, but with lives shaped by the power of resurrection.
Jesus took our place to give us His life. Now, He calls us to live boldly, empowered by the Spirit, and committed to the mission.
Conclusion
The resurrection of Jesus is more than a historical event—it’s a present reality. It brings peace to hearts still plagued by guilt and fear. It opens the Scriptures with fresh purpose and reveals Jesus as the fulfillment of every promise. And it empowers every believer to live on mission through the Holy Spirit.
The disciples didn’t stay in the room. Once Jesus appeared, explained, and equipped them, they went out. They became bold witnesses—not because they were naturally brave, but because resurrection power had transformed them.
That same transformation is available today. Jesus took your place to give you His life. His peace is for your fear. His Word is for your understanding. His Spirit is for your purpose.
So don’t stop at the empty tomb. Go beyond. Live in resurrection power and let the world see Jesus in you.
