Senior Class Notes – April 7, 2024

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Spring 2024 Unit 1 Session 6 – The Mission of Jesus Shared; Luke 24:44-53; PSG 72-81 CSB.

April 7, 2024

The Point The truth about Jesus is too big to keep to ourselves.

Inspirational verse: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17).

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

This verse opens up the Old Testament as to its prophetic and typical import regarding Christ.13 The Law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms represent the three major divisions of the Hebrew Bible.16 This is also known as The Old Testament.12 The Law of Moses, the first five books of the Bible, is also known today as the Torah (Literally, “instruction”). The prophets are also known as the Nevi’im (which is merely the Hebrew word for “prophets”). The psalms are part of the third section, which is known as the Ketuvim (literally, the writings”). Christian editions of the Old Testament have all the same books, but we arrange their order differently.19 As Jesus reasons with the startled group, He opens their minds to allow them to understand what the biblical prophecies had meant. Paul will later reaffirm that it is only through God’s revelation that anyone can properly interpret and understand the truths of scripture (see 1 Cor.2:6-16; 2 Cor. 3:14-18).17 Having dealt with their fear, doubt, and uncertainty, Jesus proceeds to instruct them. He recalls yet again that all He has undergone is according to the scriptures, a vital point for Jewish disciples for whom the Old Testament was the unquestioned expression of God’s mind and will.14

Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

Jesus now did for the wider group of disciples essentially what He had already done for the two on the road to Emmaus: He explained the scriptures. Jesus had rebuked the two disciples for not believing the Old Testament prophecies about Christ, particularly about His suffering and following glory. Then, during the remainder of the walk to Emmaus, Jesus worked His way through all the major messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Bible (Moses and all the prophets [Luke 24:27] refers to the entire Old Testament), carefully interpreting their meaning to His hearers.16 We know that the Old Testament is revealed in the New, while the New is concealed in the Old.13 Jesus’ comments on this occasion and that of Luke 24:27 “And  beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures  the things concerning himself” indicate the importance for Christians to study the Old Testament for a full understanding of the Messiah. The fact that the New Testament authors quoted extensively from the Old Testament further establishes the importance of studying the Old Testament.19 It cannot be overstressed that knowledge of Jesus Christ is inseparably related to knowledge of the scriptures.14

Luke 24:46 And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.

            Old Testament passages that clearly prophesy the suffering of Christ are:

  1. Psalms 22
  2. Isaiah 53

A key Old Testament passage for the Messiah’s resurrection, cited several times in the New Testament, is Psalms 16:10 “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” The coming of the Son of God into the human sphere is only one phase of God’s plan. It was prophesied and therefore intended that Jesus should die and be resurrected, but this was not the end.19

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

This is a key message that Luke wanted his readers to hear. Faith must be shared, for the salvation of the world is at stake (compare Acts 1:8). Jesus saves the lost “For the son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) as this is spread. These words were not simply for the disciples who were gathered to watch Jesus depart; these words are for us too. As we follow the biblical plan of salvation in accepting Jesus as our Lord, we become witnesses who are charged with spreading this good news.19 From the start, a relationship to Christ carries with it the privilege and responsibility to proclaim the gospel. Repentance is the first step, apparently, in receiving the message aright. The preaching was to start in Jerusalem, but also to extend to all nations.14 Significant Old Testament passages that Jesus may have had in mind about repentance being preached to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem are:16

  1. Isaiah 2:1-4. “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”16
  2. Isaiah 49:6. “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”16

Luke 24:47 is Luke’s version of the Great Commission; for Matthew: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20); For Mark: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15); and for John: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:” (John 20:21-22.).16

Luke 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

The disciples were now witnesses who could testify about the resurrection. They were commissioned by the risen Lord to begin the next phase of God’s plan: The preaching of repentance and the resulting remission of sins to all nations. Compare this with Matthew 28:19-20 above and 1 Timothy 3:16: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”19 Those who are personally aware of Jesus’ identity and saving power are entrusted with the mandate of world evangelization.14

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Here is the source of strength for effective evangelism. The promise of my Father stresses that the Spirit’s coming is not an afterthought, but an integral part of God’s eternal will. Endued conveys the picture of one being clothed with God’s enablement. Waiting is part of necessary preparation for reception of God’s guidance and sanction.14 The promise of my Father. This is a reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:4). It was promised in Jeremiah 31:31-33, and in Joel 2:28. Peter called this coming of the Spirit “the beginning” (Acts 11:15) because the real fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation would start in those people united by the Spirit to establish the church.18 Luke echoed these verses in Acts 1:4-8 when he skillfully intertwined the conclusion of his first volume with the beginning of his second volume. “And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-8). The Father’s promise refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit, which would soon come.16

Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Bethany was located just over the mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem. Acts 1:12 specifies that the ascension of Christ occurred at the mount of Olives. “Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath’s day’s journey.”16 A sabbath’s day’s journey is the distance under law by which a person was permitted to travel on the Sabbath – 2,000 paces outside the city wall, or about 3,000 feet (Exod. 16:29-30; Acts 1:12).42 In his remarks on the Ascension, Luke compresses and summarizes what he expands and explains in Acts 1:1-11.14

Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

The ascension culminated and concluded Jesus’ earthly ministry. It made concretely visible to the disciples the power of the gospel they had been preaching. They had been preaching that the kingdom of God began in Jesus, but they had been confused that their king refused to be a political Messiah (John 6:15; Acts 1:6). Finally their king was properly situated not merely over Jerusalem, but over the entire cosmos. The disciples’ expectations to this point had been too small!19

Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

As Jesus had requested, in verse 49, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and stayed there until the events of the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). They worshipped him is one of the strongest arguments for Jesus’ divinity, and one too seldom noted. These Jews, in a militantly monotheistic culture, accorded such praise and honor to One who was at the same time unmistakably and totally human. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy: Doubtless many questions remained; but they knew Jesus was Lord over death and over all, and they knew the task He had given them.14

Luke 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing
God. Amen.

Luke’s gospel begins in the temple with Zacharias; it also ends in the temple with the first Christians glorifying God. This is Luke’s own note of worship to the God who has brought about the events of sending and sustaining His Son.14 Although at least some disciples were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God during that time and later (Acts 2:46; 3:1), it should not be assumed that all of them were always there. Acts 1:13-14 also speaks of the apostles, some of the women disciples, and Jesus’ brothers (the sons of Joseph and Mary) being continually united in prayer in an upper room in Jerusalem. Such devotion to prayer was a fitting prelude and precondition to the wonderful things God would do through Christ’s earliest messengers. Christ’s church was set to explode onto the scene as a beacon of light and hope in a spiritually dark world.16

 

 References: Spring 2024, March 3, 2024 – May 19, 2024

  1. (CERB) – The Common English Reference Bible Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.
  2. (CFSLPB) – The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Copyright © 2017 by Thomas Nelson. Text from the Holy Bible, New International Version copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
  3. (CSBDSB) – Christian Standard Bible Disciple’s Study Bible Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers, One Lifeway Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee 37234.
  4. (CWB) – Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry – Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Ltd. Copyright © 1960. Copyright 1961 by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan. 49506
  5. (CWB#2) – Commentary practical and explanatory on the Whole Bible by Rev. Robert Jamieson, Rev. A.R. Fausset, Rev. David Brown by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan. 49506
  6. (ESVSB) – The English Standard Version Study Bible, Personal size. Copyright © 2008 by Crossway. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway.
  7. (ETB) – Explore The Book by J Sidlow Baxter. Copyright © 1960 by J. Sidlow Baxter. Published 1960 by Zondervan Publishing House – Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  8. (HBAKJV) – The Holy Bible Authorized King James Version, Copyright © 1950 by Book Production Industries, Inc.
  9. (HISB) – The Holman Illustrated Study Bible – The Holman Illustrated Study Bible Copyright © 2006 by Holman Bible Publishers. The Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers.
  10. (HRTB) He Reads Truth Bible Copyright © 2019 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Based on the Christian Standard Bible Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
  11. (IDB) – The Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible Copyright © 1986 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
  12. (IMO) – On occasion, with the prayerful guidance of the Holy Spirit, I will make comments of my own, based on my understanding of the events. I will indicate such times with – In My O
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