Scripture
If you are familiar with the life and ministry of Jesus, you know that he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, April 1, 30 AD, to the cheering of vast crowds who were there for the annual Passover celebration. He predicted his imminent death and visited the Temple before returning to Bethany, where he and his disciples spent the night.
On Monday, Jesus returned to Jerusalem, which was two miles to the west of Bethany. Along the way, he cursed a fig tree. Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Jesus cleansed the Temple.
On Tuesday, Jesus taught his followers the lesson about the fig tree, which had withered overnight. He returned to the Temple and taught there. Jesus also predicted the future in his so-called Olivet Discourse.
On Wednesday, a plot against Jesus by the desire of the Jewish leaders to have him killed was hatched and put in place.
On Thursday, Jesus got ready to celebrate the final Passover with his disciples. This was also the inauguration of the first Lord’s Supper. After supper, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden Gethsemane.
Later that night, which was now Friday, Judas Iscariot led a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple police to arrest Jesus. You recall that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Throughout the night and the early morning hours, Jesus met with the Jewish Council, who were the Jewish religious leaders. They agreed that Jesus should die but they could not do so by the law of that day. So, they sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor. He dismissed Jesus and sent him to Herod Antipas, the Jewish king, but Herod could not do anything with Jesus. So, Jesus went back to Pilate, who eventually sentenced him to death when the crowds shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” and wanted Barabbas released instead of Jesus. So, at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Jesus was crucified. He hung on the cross for six hours and died at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 30 AD. Before sunset, Jesus’ body was released to his disciples and Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.
On Saturday, the Jewish leaders had a Roman guard posted at the tomb for they feared that Jesus’ disciples might come and steal his body.
On Sunday morning, April 8, 30 AD, some of Jesus’ closest women friends went to his tomb early in the morning. But they discovered that it was empty! Well, not quite empty. Jesus’ graveclothes were there but his body was gone! The women returned and told the rest of the disciples what they had seen. Peter and John rushed to the tomb and they also saw that Jesus’ body was gone. After that, Mary returned to the tomb and she encountered the resurrected Jesus Christ.
Later on Sunday, April 8, 30 AD, two followers of Jesus were walking to Emmaus, about 7 miles west of Jerusalem. This is where we will pick up the narrative for today’s lesson.
Let’s read Luke 24:13-27:
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:13-27)
Introduction
Some of you may remember Candid Camera, a popular and long-running American hidden camera television series. Over the years, there have been many similar kinds of shows. The show involved concealed cameras filming ordinary people being confronted with unusual situations, sometimes involving trick props, such as a desk with drawers that pop open when one is closed or a car with a hidden extra gas tank. The person being tricked did not know what was going on, whereas the others around the person did know what was happening. When the joke was revealed, victims were told the show’s catchphrase, “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera.”
The two followers walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus must have thought that Jesus clearly did not know what was going on when he asked them what they were talking about. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (24:18). As far as they were concerned, every Passover pilgrim knew that their hopes had been dashed by the unexpected death of the itinerant prophet, preacher, and healer named Jesus. They had hoped that he might be their Messiah, their deliverer, the one who would free them from Roman oppression. But instead of mounting a massive revolt against the Roman establishment, their own Jewish leaders turned Jesus over to be hanged on a cross and buried in a tomb. Moreover, some women reported that his body was missing. Some of Jesus’ disciples also could not find the body of Jesus and the two travelers had no idea of the significance of the empty tomb.
Cleopas’ question—“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”—must have been amusing to Jesus for he was the only one who really knew what happened there.
Lesson
Luke 24:18 teaches us that Jesus was the only one who really knew what happened regarding his resurrection.
Let’s use the following outline:
1. Pilate Didn’t Know What Happened There
2. Herod Didn’t Know What Happened There
3. The Women Didn’t Know What Happened There
4. The Disciples Didn’t Know What Happened There
5. People Today Often Don’t Know What Happened There
I. Pilate Didn’t Know What Happened There
First, Pilate didn’t know what happened there.
The Gospel of Luke records that the whole company of the Jewish religious leaders brought Jesus before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” They knew that Rome did not tolerate any rivals to Caesar and so they chose this line of argument to get Pilate to take action against Jesus.
Pilate thought that Jesus was just another trouble-maker. So Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered him, “You have said so.”
But Pilate did not find Jesus to be much of a threat to Rome at all. He did not care if Jesus was the King of the Jews. As far as Pilate was concerned Jesus was not making any threat against Rome. Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”
But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place” (Luke 23:1-5). The Jewish leaders were trying to force Pilate to see that Jesus was a threat to Rome. But at this point, Pilate would not budge. When Pilate heard that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent him to Herod Antipas. Pilate tried to dismiss the problem by sending Jesus to Herod.
Later that morning, however, Jesus was brought back to Pilate. He told the chief priests that he would punish Jesus and release him. But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”—a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” Eventually, Pilate released Barabbas and delivered Jesus over to be crucified (Luke 23:13-25).
Pilate had no idea that he was sending to the cross the Savior of the world. He did not know that he was condemning a King who was the Son of God. Pilate did not know that he could never destroy Jesus.
Pilate really didn’t know what happened there.
II. Herod Didn’t Know What Happened There
Second, Herod didn’t know what happened there.
The Gospel of Luke records that when Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So Herod questioned Jesus at some length, but Jesus made no answer. Jesus would not cater to Herod’s desire to see what he thought were magic tricks, like some cheap magician. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing Jesus. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate (Luke 23:8-11).
Herod thought that he was getting rid of a rival. He thought he was getting rid of a troublemaker. Herod did not know that one can never get rid of Jesus.
Herod really didn’t know what happened there.
III. The Women Didn’t Know What Happened There
Third, the women didn’t know what happened there.
The Gospel of Mark records that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him (Mark 16:1). If they had known what had really happened, they would not have wasted their money buying spices that they would never use. Nevertheless, at this point they did not know what had happened there.
And very early on the first day of the week, on Sunday morning, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:2-3). If the women had known what had really happened, they would not have been concerned about who would roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb. But, at that point, they did not know what had happened there.
When they arrived at the tomb, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid (Mark 16:4-8). Again, if the women had known what had really happened, they would not have been afraid. But, at that point, they did not know what had happened there.
The women rushed back to tell the other disciples what they had seen and heard. Peter and John ran to the tomb and also found the body of Jesus gone, although they saw his graveclothes still there. Then they too returned to the other disciples.
Mary Magdalene then returned to the empty tomb. She stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:11-13). Clearly, Mary did not know what had happened at this point. If she had known what had happened there, she would not have said, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
So, the women really didn’t know what happened there.
IV. The Disciples Didn’t Know What Happened There
Fourth, the disciples didn’t know what happened there.
When the women went to the tomb early on Sunday morning, they found it empty. But two angels told them Jesus was not there; he had risen. And they remembered Jesus’ words that he would rise from the dead, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them (Luke 24:8-11). These disciples did not know what had happened there.
Later on that same Sunday, two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Jesus came alongside them and asked them what was going on. When Cleopas asked Jesus, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” Jesus answered by asking, “What things?”
The two disciples said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:18-21a). They expressed their hope in Jesus in the past tense, “But we had hoped.” At this point, these two disciples did not know what had happened there.
In those first hours on Sunday, the disciples really didn’t know what happened there.
V. People Today Often Don’t Know What Happened There
And finally, people today often don’t know what happened there.
The fact is that later that same day Jesus appeared to his disciples. He had risen from the dead! He was—and is—alive!
Many people today are skeptical that Jesus really did rise from the dead. Jesus no longer appears to people as he did during the forty days following his resurrection. So people don’t examine the evidence that is still available for all to examine for themselves that Jesus really is alive today.
People don’t know that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead gives assurance to those who believe it on the day of judgment. When Paul preached in Athens, he concluded his message with these words in Acts 17:30–31, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Jesus has been raised from the dead. There will be a judgment. The way to avoid condemnation on Judgment Day is to believe that Jesus paid the penalty for all of your sin.
People don’t realize that Jesus’ resurrection gives assurance of the forgiveness of sins. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” But Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead. And forgiveness for sins is found only in him.
Finally, people don’t realize that Jesus’ resurrection gives us our only hope. Paul went on to write in 1 Corinthians 15:18–19, “Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” But Jesus is alive, and if we believe in him, we can have hope that will bring us safely to glory.
Conclusion
Therefore, having analyzed Jesus’ resurrection in Luke 24:18, let us believe that Jesus lived and died and rose again so that we might have new life in him.
So many people did not know happened there on that resurrection Sunday. They did not know that Jesus would come back to life again. He was able to come back to life because God the Father accepted Jesus’ death as a full and sufficient payment for sin. So, if you know yourself to be a sinner in need of Savior, and if you believe that Jesus paid the penalty for all your sin, then you may receive the gift of eternal life today. Turn to him now and receive new life in him. Amen.
