Day 319—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and the final day of studying the Gospels.

Day 319 – Luke 24, John 20 – 21 (Thomas restored, Road to Emmaus, Great Commission, Ascension, and John’s epilogue)

Two of Jesus’ followers decided to walk home to Emmaus after the excitement that Sunday. They’d heard the women say the tomb of Jesus was empty, and Mary said she’d even SEEN Jesus.  Peter and John confirmed the tomb was empty, but no one knew what to think.

In the seven-mile walk, these two discussed all that had happened that week concerning Jesus.  Then casually a stranger joined their walk and asked what they were talking about.  They explained, and He said, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into His glory?”  Then He began with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

When they got to their house, the two invited Him inside. When they sat to break bread, Jesus opened their eyes to recognize Him.  Then He vanished.  They were amazed and immediately started back to Jerusalem with the news that they, too, had seen and talked with the risen Jesus.

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The first time Jesus appeared to the disciples in a locked room and ate food with them, Thomas was not there. He vowed he could not believe in the resurrected Lord until he saw and touched Jesus himself. Now, Thomas IS present when Jesus appears. “Thomas, put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  The astonished Thomas falls to his knees  and worships Him, saying “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus encourages us by saying, “Blessed are those who have NOT seen and yet have believed.”

(John puts in an editorial note here: “These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name.”)

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Jesus once again goes over everything that “was written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms that had to be fulfilled.”  Then, He opened their minds to understand the scriptures.

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  YOU are my witnesses of these things.  Behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you (the Holy Spirit). But stay in the city until you are ‘clothed with power from on high.'”

Then, Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them.  While He blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.  The disciples worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

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(John again writes an epilogue to his book in the 21st chapter.)

  He takes us back to when Jesus met some of His disciples in Galilee before he ascended…as He said He would.  There is the story of them deciding to go fishing, catching NO FISH at all, and then catching more than a boatload of fish at Jesus’ suggestion. John and Peter immediately recognize Him and rejoice. They all have a warm breakfast that Jesus made.

But the real reason for this incident is for Peter’s sake.  Remember his boastful attitude and proclamation that he (unlike all the others) would NEVER leave or deny Jesus, only to do just that THREE TIMES that night before the rooster crowed.  Remember his agony of remorse at the realization when Jesus looked at him.  Peter had run off into the darkness (of night and of soul), weeping and distraught.  Later, Jesus made a point to have others tell this disciple in particular that He had risen. (Mark 16:7)

Now, Peter needed to be reinstated in the group as their leader, as well as, in his own eyes.  Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  Peter answers ‘yes’ in humility. He is so different.  He knows that in himself, he can do nothing.  It is all Jesus. Three times, Jesus tells him to feed and care for His sheep.  He is still their leader, but he is a servant too, just like Jesus.

Jesus also warns Peter that he will indeed DIE for His sake.  He will be a martyr, but his eyes are to remain on Jesus.  “You follow me!”