The Greatest News
Read: Luke 24:36-53
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,[a] 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for[b] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension
50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
COREM DEO
We finally arrive at the end of Luke’s gospel account. His aim from the beginning was to give us a faithful account of all the things reported about Jesus so we could have confidence in the credibility of the claims. Jesus himself is now explaining a faithful account to his disciples of how all the Scriptures communicate the good news. He then leaves them with the confidence to proclaim this news to all the nations. There has never been, nor will there ever be, better news than the gospel. Therefore, Luke and Jesus both believe that it needs to be shared confidently by those who hear and receive it.
Here’s a convicting thought that I’ve struggled with this week: could the same be said of me? What’s the news that I’ve been most eager to share this week? What’s my most frequent conversational subject? How does it compare in significance and impact to the gospel? How might the truth of the gospel shape the way I think and speak about the things important in my life?
