8. . Life beyond this one is promised

24:13-32

..from Jerusalem

"behoved it to suffer "

24 13-32 Wednesday Start It happened that two of them (followers of Jesus) were journeying on that same day to a village about sixty furlongs away from Jerusalem. It was called Emmaus. As they talked to each other about all the things that had happened Jesus himself drew near and journeyed with them. But their eyes were held and they did not recognise him. He said to them "What are you talking about as you walk along? They stood with sad faces. One of them who was called Cleopas said to him. You must be a stranger in Jerusalem not to know what has been happening there during these days. He said to them "What things?" They said to him "The things about Jesus the Nazarene. He was a prophet, a man powerful in work and word before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers delivered him to the judgement of death and crucified him. We had been hoping that he was the one who was to redeem Israel. But with all these things, this is the third day since all this happened. And some of the women amongst us have astonished us. They were at the tomb early. Not finding his body

they returned claiming to have seen a vision of angels who say that he is alive. And some of those with us went to the tomb and found it as indeed the women said. But him they did not see. And he (Jesus) said to them "O foolish and slow in heart fellows. Do you not believe all the things that the prophets spoke about - how it behoved the Christ to suffer and so enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets he explained to them all the things in the Scriptures concerning himself. As they drew near to the village where they were going, he pretended to be going further on. They urged him saying "Stay with us as it is toward evening and the day has now declined." He went in to stay with them. And it happened as he reclined with them he took the loaf and blessed it. Then having broken it he handed it to them. And their eyes were opened up and they recognised him. And he became invisible to them. They said to each other. "Did not our hearts burn within us as he spoke to us on the journey, as he opened up to us the Scriptures."

9. . Proclamation is to repent and forgive

24:33-53

Jerusalem

"forgiveness the nations"

24: 33-53 And rising up within the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem. They found that the eleven had gathered and those who were with them. They were saying "The Lord really was raised and has appeared to Simon." And so (the two from Emmaus) related what happened on the way and how they recognised (Jesus) in his breaking of the loaf of bread. Finish (Even) as they told these things He stood in the midst of them. But they were scared and indeed terrified as they thought they were looking at a spirit. He said to them "Why are you troubled? What thoughts come up from within your heart? See my hands and look at my feet so you know it is myself. A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And yet they still disbelieved, even as they rejoiced and marvelled. He said to them "Have you any food here?" They handed to him a part of a broiled fish. Taking hold of it before them he ate it. He then said to them "These words which I spoke to you (on the way to

Emmaus) are still being fulfilled. It behoves that all the things that have been written in the law of Moses and the prophets and psalms concerning me be fulfilled. Then he opened up to them the mind of the Scriptures so they could understand. He said to them "Thus it has been written that the Christ should suffer and rise again out of the dead on the third day. And so also should repentance until forgiveness of sins be proclaimed to all the nations - starting from Jerusalem. You are the witnesses of these things. Behold I send forth the promise of my Father upon you. Yet you need to remain in the city until you are clothed out of the heights of power." And (after that) he led them out as far as Bethany. And lifting up his hands he blessed them. It was while he was blessing them that he withdrew from them. They returned to Jerusalem with a great joy and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Question: Why does Jesus finally arrive at and then leave from Bethany? Does this fit the pattern of the Jerusalem journey? Luke's underlying theme is about place. But it is also connected with the heart. Jesus' dear friend Lazarus and his two sisters lived at Bethany. It would be a later gospel writer, John, who would explain further what Bethany meant.

they returned to Jerusalem 24:52