Trust
Trust does not come easily, especially if we have been let down before. But staying guarded, although it can feel safe, can also be exhausting.
1.
What helps you to trust someone or something? How easy do you find the process of trusting?
Jesus’ death had shaken the trust his followers had in him. How could this happen to the Messiah? What hope of a rescue do they have now? What would happen to them?
Jesus’ followers are scared and so hide. Apart from the women. Having seen him die, now they go to prepare his body with spices.
Read Luke 24:1-3
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
2.
What questions might these women have as they arrive to find an empty tomb?
Read Luke 24:4-12
4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Two angels visit and remind the women of what Jesus had said about his death and what would follow. It is only then they realise what has happened: Jesus is alive. Their trust in him is restored.
However, as they share the news, the disciples remain sceptical.
3.
To what extent do you sympathise with the disciples’ responses?
4.
What do you think causes Peter to run off and look at the tomb for himself?
5.
The linen cloths that Peter sees in the tomb were used to wrap Jesus’ dead body. Why do you think they leave him ‘wondering to himself’?
Read Luke 24:36-43
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
We find the disciples hidden away, exchanging reports of what they have witnessed. The idea that Jesus had risen from the dead was as unbelievable to them as it us for us today. Dead people stay dead!
But an increasing number of people are reporting sightings. In verses 13 - 35, Jesus appears to two followers and separately to Peter. Along with the women they too are saying that Jesus is alive. But the rest of the disciples struggle to trust what they hear.
6.
Jesus’ disciples first think he is a ghost. What does this show us about their expectations?
7.
Why do you think Jesus speaks and acts in the way he does? What does he want the disciples to realise?
Read Luke 24:44-53
44 He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, ‘This is what is written: the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Jesus gently helps the disciples to see that what seems too good to be true really has happened: he is alive and that changes everything.
8.
Imagine yourself as a disciple who has seen the resurrected Jesus. How might you be feeling now?
9.
Having ‘opened their minds’, what does Jesus want the disciples to see?
10.
Knowing that Jesus is risen from the dead, how do you think the disciples would have been transformed?
The disciples’ encounter with the risen Jesus was so undeniable that the most reasonable response was to trust him. Their disappointment was transformed to joy: a joy that caused them to go and share this hope with others, even though it led some to be imprisoned or killed.
11.
From what you have seen in Luke, what message of hope do these disciples now have to share?
Process Together
As we come to the end of Luke’s account, we end where we began.
Unexpected people in expected places have had their eyes opened to see a bigger story. A story of hope and joy. A story centered on Jesus. He is the long-promised Messiah, come to bring about a different kind of world.
In Luke’s account, we have witnessed glimmers of this world: a kingdom where the vulnerable are welcomed, where human pain and suffering matter, where life is restored, and people can be brought back to God.
What was hinted at in the opening pages of Luke is now fully visible: the resurrected Jesus shows he really is the saviour that people were hoping for.
12.
How has your view of Jesus changed as you have read Luke's Gospel?
13.
What, if anything, keeps you from coming to Jesus to experience the hope and joy he promises?
Throughout his gospel, Luke has encouraged us to come to Jesus as needy people, to come with empty hands to receive his compassion and forgiveness. Like the disciples, as we trust him, our lives will be transformed. We can find new joy and purpose as our lives are shaped by knowing a risen saviour.