He’s Not Dead Anymore

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As a physician, Luke sat beside many people as they died. He witnessed their struggle to breath and their final gasp. But Luke tells us Jesus died differently—voluntarily. He dismissed His Spirit and entrusted Himself to His Father.

Why did Jesus have to die? Why is it important He was buried and rose from the dead? What does this good news mean to you? Do you believe He died for you? Do you believe that when He was buried, your sins were buried, too? Do you believe when He rose again, that you rose with Him? To believe this puts you in Christ.

Back at the cross, there was the matter of what to do with Jesus’ body. Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, openly declared his faith in the Savior, took on the role of family, and asked for Jesus’ body.

Once down from the cross, Joseph wrapped Jesus in a shroud and laid Him in a tomb he had bought for himself. A small group of women, all followers of Jesus, stayed with Him to the very end. They watched where Joseph buried Jesus so they could return after the Sabbath to finish caring for His broken body.

When they returned to the tomb on Sunday with the prepared spices, Jesus was gone! Looking in the open doorway at the tomb, the women met men in shining robes who asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen, just like He said.”

Later that morning, two men who had followed Jesus were returning home to Emmaus. As they walked, they grieved all that had happened in Jerusalem. Along the road, a stranger joins their conversation, asking first why they were sad.

One of the men said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what happened?”

They told the stranger they hoped Jesus Christ would redeem Israel, but now it was too late. He was dead. Then the stranger told them their hearts were slow to believe what the Word of God had already told them. As the men neared Emmaus, they invited the stranger to stay with them for dinner.

They were at the table as Jesus took bread and blessed it and gave it to them. He opened their eyes to who He was and, as quick as that, Jesus disappeared.

Back in Jerusalem, as the disciples listened to the men from Emmaus tell about how Jesus walked with them, Jesus Himself stood right in front of them.

“Peace to you” (24:36), He said. “Don’t be afraid—it’s Me.” He showed them His hands and feet and invited them to touch Him. Then He asked, “Got anything to eat?” As proof that He was human, Jesus ate some broiled fish and a honeycomb right in front of them. And while He ate, He taught them all about how His death and resurrection had fulfilled what Scripture taught about Him.

Finally, Jesus told them to take this message of His death and resurrection worldwide, beginning in Jerusalem and then to the whole world. The message should be that by believing in His name and trusting Him, sinners could be saved. He promised that in His Spirit we would have the power to carry this message to the world.

Can you not wait to know Him better? May the truth of His Word through Luke’s Gospel bless your spirit, enrich your mind, and strengthen your will.

1. Why do you think Jesus’ death finally caused Joseph of Arimathea to publicly stand for Christ?

2. Why do you think Jesus had to caution people not to be afraid of His appearance after the resurrection? Would you have been afraid?

3. The Gospel of Luke wasn’t intended just to be read; it was meant to be delivered. Its message of Christ’s coming, and our need to believe in Him, is intended to be spread. What ways can you take the Gospel of Luke to people who need to hear its message?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on Luke 23:44—24:7 and Luke 24:7-53.

For a deeper study of Luke, download the Luke Bible Companion free!