Luke
Chapter 24
Resurrection of Jesus
On the Sabbath, the women rested according to the commandment, but on the first day of the week, at dawn, they went to the tomb with the perfumes and ointments they had prepared.
When they saw the stone rolled away from the tomb’s entrance,
they entered and were amazed to find that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there.
As they stood there wondering about this, two men in dazzling garments suddenly appeared before them.
In fright, the women bowed to the ground. But the men said:
“Why look for the living among the dead?
You won’t find him here. He is risen. Remember what he told you in Galilee,
that the Son of Man had to be handed over to sinners, to be crucified, and to rise on the third day.”
And they recalled Jesus’ words.
Returning from the tomb, they told the Eleven and all the others about these things.
Among the women who brought the news were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James.
But, however much they insisted, those who heard did not believe the seemingly nonsensical story.
Then Peter got up and ran to the tomb. When he bent down and looked inside, all he saw were the linen cloths alone. He went home, amazed at what had happened.
That same day, two followers of Jesus were heading to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem
and they were talking to each other about everything that had happened.
but they didn’t recognize him.
While they discussed these things, Jesus himself approached and started walking with them,
He asked:
“What exactly are you talking about?”
The two stood still, looking sad.
Then the one named Cleophas responded:
“Why, it seems you are the only traveler to Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has happened there these past few days.”
And he asked:
“What is it?”
They replied:
“It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people.
But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to be crucified.
We had hoped that he would redeem Israel. It has now been three days since all this happened.
Also, some women from our group caused us trouble. When they went to the tomb at dawn,
they did not find his body; and they told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive.
Some of our people went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had described, but they did not find a body in the tomb.”
He said to them:
“How dull you are, how slow of understanding! Is the message of the prophets too difficult for you to understand?
Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this and then enter his glory?”
Then, beginning with Moses and the prophets, he explained to them everything in the Scriptures that concerned himself.
As they approached the village they were heading for, Jesus appeared to go farther.
But they insisted:
“Stay with us, for night falls quickly. The day is almost done.”
So he went in to stay with them.
When they sat at the table, he took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with them.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
And they said to one another:
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?”
They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together.
They were greeted with these words:
“Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!”
Then the two recounted what had happened on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus revealed himself when he broke bread with them.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them. He said to them:
“Peace to you.”
In their panic and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost,
but he said to them:
“Why are you upset, and how does such an idea cross your minds?
Look at my hands and feet, and see that it is I myself! Touch me and see for yourselves, for a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have!”
As he said this, he showed his hands and feet.
Their joy was so great that they still could not believe it and were astonished; so he said to them:
“Have you anything to eat?”
And they gave him a piece of broiled fish.
He took it and ate it before them.
Then Jesus said to them:
“Remember the words I spoke to you when I was still with you: Everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said:
“So it was written: the Messiah had to suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.
Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all nations beginning from Jerusalem.
And you are witnesses of these things.
And that is why I will send you what my Father promised. So remain in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Jesus guided them close to Bethany, then he raised his hands and blessed them. As he blessed them, he withdrew and was taken up to heaven.
They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with joy.
and they were continually in the temple, praising God.

Commentaries
Resurrection of Jesus.
It is important to remember that the four Gospels affirm Jesus’ resurrection but do not describe it; that is, they do not specify the exact moment or manner of Jesus’ rising from the dead. This suggests that the resurrection of Jesus is not considered historical in the modern sense of the term. The expression “on the third day” should be understood as an indeterminate period—long enough for the disciples and the community to begin to believe in the resurrection. Leading this process of faith are the women, the same ones who accompanied Jesus from Galilee. By visiting the tomb—the place of the dead—they start to realize that this cannot be Jesus’ final destination or his true home. The women’s faith begins to shift: it is no longer just about following Jesus and physically serving him (cf. 8:1-3), but about a new understanding—through proclaiming his resurrection. That is why they go out immediately to share the news of the Lord’s resurrection with the other disciples. Luke emphasizes that no physical evidence alone can prove Jesus’ resurrection; therefore, the goal is not to ‘prove’ the resurrection but to open oneself to an entirely new and different experience of faith.
Road to Emmaus.
The disciples have traveled with Jesus, but while Jesus’ journey aims ultimately to fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation, the disciples’ journey ends in disappointment, sadness, and frustration: “We had hoped that he would be the one to redeem Israel” (21). This is the perfect moment for the Risen One to begin correcting the disciples’ path, and he does so based on two elements: the first is rooted in Scripture, so he begins there and explains it step by step until they understand. The second element involves the experiential aspect of Scripture that Jesus had already demonstrated throughout his life and that he wanted to symbolize through the act of sharing a meal; here, he shares it with two disciples, but during his life, he shared it with all kinds of men and women. The disciples express what the explanation of Scripture inspired in them: zeal and the power of grace. They also needed to see the sign of the table/bread to understand everything, and then go and tell others.
Appears to the Disciples – Ascension of Jesus.
Gradually, the community of disciples becomes ‘infected’ with faith in the resurrection. What starts as an individual experience turns into a shared one for the whole community. Surely, it was necessary to go through doubts, fear, frustration, and feelings of defeat; that’s why those initial experiences of faith in the resurrection and full adherence to the Risen One can be confusing: they thought they were seeing a ghost (39); however, the Risen One does not ‘give up.’ He is understanding with his disciples, and once again, as in the Emmaus passage, he turns to Scripture and opens their minds to understanding. He also uses the food symbol again. In this way, the community of disciples completes a complete formative process, recalling the words and signs of the Master during his public life. They are now equipped to be witnesses throughout the world, starting with Jerusalem.