The Gospel of Luke
Jesus and the Disciples: Lk 24,33-49
Whereas in the Emmaus story, Jesus first spoke and then ate, here it is reversed. Jesus shows himself as the Lord, verses 33-43 and then with that authority he speaks, verses 44-49. The final verses 50-53 conclude the Gospel as Jesus blesses them, leaves them and the disciples worship him.
The Risen Jesus: 24,33-43
Beginning with verse 33, the scene opens with questioning about just what is going on. This of course is normal human experience. Here this speculation provides a good preparation for the appearance of Jesus himself in verse 36. It's not surprising that they were startled, wondering even more about what was happening.
Verse 33 says "Arising at the same hour..." "Got up" as is usually found misses the nuances here. Having encountered the risen Lord, the disciples too have now risen.
Peace has been a message of the Gospel from the proclamation of the angels to the shepherds (2,14) onward. It is a peace promised again at the entry into Jerusalem (19,38) and now fulfilled in the risen Jesus. It is also the peace brought by missionaries (10,5-6). The Hebrew word "Shalom" is probably closer to the English word "harmony" than "peace". There is a sense of wholeness about it.
In verse 37, the disciples thought they were seeing a spirit. "Ghost" as in NRSV needs to be seen as German "geist" and not as a phantom, which itself comes from a Greek word.
Verse 39 underlines that it is the same Jesus, not a spirit who was present with them.
Verses 37 to 43 therefore bring out the way in which Jesus is the same yet radically different. He is not the ghost they first thought he might be (24,37). He comes to them as the same Jesus and even enjoys table fellowship with them (24,43). Fish (24,42) was part of the feeding of the multitude (9,16). These verses also illustrate how the risen Jesus has conquered death.
You are Witnesses: 24,44-49
Jesus' final speech comes in two parts because both verse 44 and 46 begin "he said".
Looking at what is said, verses 44-45 cover what we now call the Old Testament while verses 46-49 reflect the New Testament. This is an important statement that both parts of the Bible are needed, the OT as foundation and the NT as fulfillment.
The reaction in verse 41 is an unexpected combination of unbelief with joy. Perhaps one is giving away to the other as their encounter with Jesus proceeds.
Paul's words in Acts 26,23 show how Jesus' forgiveness of sins is continued within the Church. Repentance will be a primary theme of the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2,38 onwards).
The commissioning in verse 48 "you are witnesses of these things" is addressed to all disciples, including women. Apostles are not even mentioned as a special group in this final chapter of the Gospel.
Verse 49 concludes with the promise of the Holy Spirit. Here in the Gospel, all of chapter 24 including Jesus' departure takes place on Easter Day. In the first two chapters of Acts, Luke has expanded this timetable to fifty days.
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Ascension: Lk 24,50-53
The Gospel ends with a scene of worship (verse 52): worship is due to God only, the risen Jesus is now Lord (24,34).
Luke refers to Jesus' Passion as his exodus (9,31) and the word reappears here. This is the completion of the new exodus, the new freedom won by Jesus.
Sirach 50,20-24 seems to be the model of praise for the blessing. At the end of the Gospel, lips are open to bless God whereas Zechariah at the beginning was struck dumb (1,21-22).
The disciples are now full of joy, echoing the joy of the good news proclaimed by the angle, 2,10.
The Gospel therefore closes where it began: in the Temple in Jerusalem. The joy of the Messiah's birth (2,10) is there once again with his re-birth as the risen Lord. Blessing or praise is the only response (1,64 and 2,28).
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