Luke 24:1-12

Luke 24:1-12

1. We see the reality of Christ's resurrection.
2. We see how dull the member of the disciples was about some of our Lord's teaching.
3. We see how slow of belief the first disciples were on the subject of Christ's resurrection.

"If we choose to deny the truth of their account [of the resurrection], then we may deny everything in the world. It is not as certain that Julius Caesar once lived as it is that Christ rose again."

"The true cure for a dull memory in religion is to get deeper love toward Christ and affections more thoroughly set on things above...The more our affections are engaged in Christ's service, the more easy shall we find it to remember Christ's words."

"The unbelief of the apostles is one of the strongest indirect evidences that Jesus rose from the dead. If the disciples were at first so backward to believe our Lord's resurrection, and were at last so thoroughly persuaded of its truth that they preached it everywhere, then Christ must have risen indeed."

Questions:

1. We see testimony of the great fact that Jesus truly did rise again from the dead. Does this great truth fill our hearts with a joyful sense of the fullness of gospel salvation?
2. The text before us spoke of the disciples remembering the words Christ had spoken to them in the past. Ryle points out that this dullness of memory is a common spiritual disease and that the remedy is not a better memory but deeper love toward Christ and affections more thoroughly set on things above. I don't know about you, but that strikes me as helpful and profound. How does that land on your heart?
3. It is easy and marvel at the disciple's unbelief, and yet, as Ryle points out, we would do well to look closer to home at our own church and our own hearts. We must admit we do not believe as we ought when we consider the powerful truth of Christ's resurrection and the final judgment. May these truths dig deeper into our hearts, and may we live them out by God's grace and for His glory.