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Luke 24

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words,

And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass therein these days?

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

And he took it, and did eat before them.

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

What does Luke 24:52 mean?

Explanation

Luke 24:52 is a passage that captures a significant moment in the lives of Jesus' disciples following His resurrection and ascension into heaven.

The verse accounts for the reaction of the disciples after Jesus parted from them and was taken up to heaven.

Their response, as noted in the verse, is one of worship and joy.

Worship here is an act of reverence and adoration that the disciples directed towards Jesus, recognizing His Divine authority and acknowledging Him as the Son of God after witnessing His ascension.

The 'great joy' they experienced likely emanates from the understanding that Jesus fulfilled His mission, and the promise of the Holy Spirit to come, which would empower them to continue His work.

The return to Jerusalem signifies obedience to Jesus' command to wait there until they receive the Holy Spirit, as told in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4-5.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 24:52 takes place in the context of the early Christian community, where the ascension of Jesus is a pivotal event.

Within the narrative of Luke and Acts, attributed to the same author, Luke, the ascension marks the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and prefaces the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Historically, this moment signifies a transition for the disciples from having a physical leader in Jesus to embracing a spiritual guide through the Holy Spirit.

The disciples were still within the bounds of Roman-occupied Judea, where proclaiming Jesus as Lord could have been considered subversive due to the implications it had against the Imperial Cult, which venerated the Roman Emperor.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives can be extracted from Luke 24:52:

Traditional Christian Theology views this as a confirmation of Jesus' deity and His successful completion of the salvific mission.
Dispensational Theology might see the ascension as the start of a new dispensation, the Church Age, where the focus of God's plan shifts from Israel to the Church.
Liberation Theology could interpret the joy of the disciples in the context of hope and strength for the oppressed, seeing Jesus' life and teachings as a source of spiritual empowerment.
Eschatological Theology looks at the ascension as an event that sets the stage for Jesus' second coming and the eventual establishment of God's kingdom.

Practical Applications

Luke 24:52 can teach modern believers about the appropriate response to experiencing the divine, worship and joy.

The verse encourages Christians to:

Celebrate Jesus' victory over death and his lordship with joy.
Find peace in the knowledge of Jesus’ continued presence through the Holy Spirit.
Remember to gather with other believers to testify to the works of God in their lives.
Obey Jesus' teachings even when He is not physically present.

Cross-References

Acts 1:9: "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."
Matthew 28:19-20: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Amen."

Philippians 4:4: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Luke 24:52 include:

"Worshipped" (Greek: προσκυνέω, proskyneō): This term often means to bow down or show reverence, typically associated with worship of divine beings.
"Joy" (Greek: χαρά, chara): This is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

In a biblical context, it is often associated with a deep, spiritual sense of gladness.

"Returned" (Greek: ὑποστρέφω, hypostrephō): This implies a movement back to a starting point or a place of significance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader context of ancient religions, ascension narratives are not unique to Christianity. Figures in other traditions, such as Hercules in Greek mythology, are also described as being exalted to a divine status posthumously.

However, the ascension of Jesus is distinct in Christianity for its connection to the idea of the resurrection and promise of the Holy Spirit to the followers. It, therefore, bears both a culminating and anticipatory significance that is different from other mythological ascensions.

Scientific Perspectives

The ascension of Jesus, as described in the Bible, is a miraculous event that transcends empirical scientific understanding.

From a scientific viewpoint, the notion of a physical ascension into heaven does not align with the laws of physics as they are currently understood.

However, believers maintain that the event is miraculous and not bounded by natural laws. The joy and worship described are emotional responses that can be studied psychologically but are understood theologically within the Christian tradition to be prompted by a spiritual experience.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have provided insights into Luke 24:52:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the appropriateness of worship as a response to Christ's ascension, highlighting the fact that Christ's followers were not sorrowful but joyous, signaling their belief in Christ's continuing provision and care.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges points out the significant change in the disciples' demeanor from fear and doubt to joy and worship, following their encounters with the risen Christ.
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible suggests that the worship and joy the disciples exhibited were not only because of the ascension itself but also due to the blessings that were bestowed upon them by Christ before his departure.

Luke 24

Luke 24

What does Luke 24:52 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 24:52 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?