Luke 24.13-35 – Piecing it Together

Jesus encounters two sad, sorrowful and confused disciples on the road to Emmaus.  They had regarded Jesus not just as a prophet but as the Messiah; as the one who they hoped would redeem Israel and set her free to serve God.  Yet that hope had just been nailed to a cross in Jerusalem.  Seemingly it was now dead and buried.  But by an exposition of the story of the Scriptures, of the messianic promises spoken by Israel’s prophets long ago, and by the breaking of bread together, the eyes of the disciples are finally opened.  Jesus is alive.  He really was the Messiah.  And he really has rescued Israel.

• Is your understanding of Jesus shaped sufficiently by the Old Testament story of Israel?

• If someone asked you to explain the Old Testament story of Israel how would you answer? 

• In what areas of your life do you currently feel like the two disciples?  Ask Jesus to reveal himself to you in the midst of those circumstances.

• Ask God to help you see Jesus more clearly in both your reading of the Bible and taking of Holy Communion.

Luke 24.1-12 – Easter Day

Two supernatural beings, three terrified women, a bunch of unbelieving disciples and a perplexed Peter; welcome to the first Easter – an event that simply nobody expected.  Yet God is a God who keeps his word, even when it involves things that seem impossible.  And so the cross is not the end of Jesus’ story.  Death has done the worst that it can do and yet the tomb is empty; Jesus has risen; and the new creation is beginning. The Gospel is indeed good news.

• Of all the people reacting to the good news of Jesus’ resurrection who is it that you identify with most – the women, the disciples or Peter?

• In what ways do the reactions of Peter and the disciples provide comfort to Christians who wrestle with the reality of doubt as a part of their faith? 

• How will you open yourself to the power of resurrection of life today?  Why not ask God to fill you afresh with the power by which he raised Jesus from the dead?   

• Pray for an increase of resurrection life in our church, our community, our city and our world.

Luke 23.26-56 – Execution

This is it.  The moment is here.  In all its apparent foolishness, weakness and failure Jesus deals with evil, sin and death in a way no one expected; bearing in himself the sins of Israel and of the nations, and issuing a clear warning for all those who would refuse, even now, to turn and follow him.  Darkness is very much over the land; the Temple veil is torn in two; and one criminal and a Roman centurion recognise Jesus as King.

• In light of Jesus’ death, ‘there is nothing I can do to make God love me any more, and nothing I can do to make God love me any less’.  In what ways does knowing this give you hope today?

• How might you forgive like Jesus (see v.34)?

• Why do you think Luke presents a Roman centurion (v.47) as his primary witness to the innocence of Jesus?

• Today, no matter what you face, will you trust that Jesus alone can save? 

Luke 22.66-23.25 – Trial

Finally and tragically Jesus steps into the courtroom and is then put on trial before the Roman governor.  This is the point that Jesus knew in some way had to come – his willing and obedient submission to a massive perversion of justice.  Barabbas, guilty of political revolt and murder is set free, whilst Jesus, the only innocent man who has ever lived is condemned and sent to the cross.  But in a real sense it is actually Jesus who sends himself to the cross; in the midst of an audience that rejects his claims, he is faithful to his identity and makes no effort to save his life by denying who he is.

• Why do you think that it’s important that both Pilate and Herod find Jesus innocent of breaking any law?

• Even without believing in Jesus, Herod, a Jewish king and Pilate, a Gentile ruler ‘became friends’ (v.12).  Under the shadow of the cross, reconciliation cannot help but break out.  In what ways or into what circumstances does reconciliation need to break out into your life today?

• Can you see yourself in the figure of Barabbas – guilty, yet set free because of Jesus taking your place?  

• Think of a recent perversion of justice and pray for that situation now.

Luke 22.47-65 – Arrest

Jesus’ arrest means that he will now experience ‘the cup’ that previously he had asked his Father to take from him.  He submits to God’s will and does not permit any attempt to fight his way out of this appointed hour of darkness; an hour in which sin and death, and every kind of evil will do their worst at every level and come to exhaust themselves in his broken body.  The kingdom of God is simply not one that will come by violence, force or oppression.  Jesus is no revolutionary fighter or military-messiah, but rather the suffering servant who is actually disowned by those closest to him.

• What do you think the actions of Judas tell us about the nature of humanity?

• Can you think of any ways in which you could apply Jesus’ example of the way he dealt with his arrest to your life today?

• Should all Christians be pacifists?

• When and in what ways are you tempted to disassociate yourself with Jesus?  Turn any thoughts into prayer.

Luke 22.39-46 – Sweat and Blood

In Gethsemane Jesus expresses the full weight of the vocation to which he was called; in the prayer itself we see Jesus’ intense agony and both his fundamental dependence on God and commitment to doing his Father’s will, even if it means the giving of his life.  Heaven responds not by granting Jesus his request for another way, but by giving him the strength to face what God has called him to do.  The disciples fail however to understand either what he was doing or saying.

• What do you think Jesus’ prayer to his Father reveals about him?

• Can you take both your pain and your need to God in prayer?

• What current temptations might you need to pray about?

• In what ways does it reassure you that as you turn to God in prayer he will strengthen you for what he has called you to do?  

Luke 22.1-38 – The Last Supper

To give his followers (both then and now) a way of understanding and remembering what was about to happen to him, Jesus doesn’t teach a theory; he uses a meal – the bread symbolising his broken body, the wine his shed blood and the call to ‘remember’, the Passover (Exodus 12) as Israel looked back at the Exodus.  Now however, God would act to save his people not simply from Egyptian slavery but from slavery to all evil and even death itself.  Jesus’ own death would enable Israel and the whole world to ‘escape’.  And notice here how the blend of celebration and betrayal mirrors the triumph and tragedy displayed in the cross.

• What difference does it make to your life today to know that the powers of evil and death have been defeated?

• What do you think is happening when we remember Jesus in this way?

• What does re-enacting this meal mean to you?

• In what ways might you be able to ‘serve’ others today?