Behind Closed Doors
Dearly beloved of God, after Jesus disappeared before their eyes, the two men on the road to Emmaus returned to Jerusalem and reported what occurred while Jesus ate with them.
Luke 24:33 and 34
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.
The two disciples returned to Jerusalem and they found the eleven gathered together with others. Thomas was not present according to John 20:24, so Judas Iscariot was there with them. The first time his absence is mentioned is the day of Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven in Acts 1:11, 13, and following.
They heard reports that, “The lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.” He had first appeared to Mary very early that morning while it was yet dark.
Jesus appeared to Simon Peter after the women returned from the sepulchre and reported what happened early that morning at the rising of the sun when they went to give Jesus a traditional burial.
They saw the empty mummified grave clothes now hardened in the shape of Jesus’ body, and three angels told them that he was risen. The angels said to remember what Jesus told them; he would meet them in Galilee.
Luke 24:35
And they [Cleopas and the other disciple] told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
The eleven and the others were now getting multiple reports confirming that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead.
Mark 16:12 and 13
After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
Even though they had heard report after report during the day by different witnesses they still did not believe that he was risen from the dead.
John 20:19
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
It was now the evening of the first day of the week, which would be our Sunday evening. They had received reports throughout the day that Jesus was risen from the dead. One would think that by now they would be overjoyed about his resurrection from the dead.
Jesus suddenly stood in their midst behind the closed doors where they were meeting.
Luke 24:36-44
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.
They were terrified, afraid, and troubled. They could not believe their eyes.
The day after the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the High Priest offered the wave offering of the firstfruits of the barley harvest. Jesus had completed his duty as the high priest by presenting himself as the firstfruits wave offering: Jesus was the first fruit of those who had fallen asleep.
He let them touch him and observe his hands and feet. He ate with them. He did all he could to comfort them and put them at ease.
Jesus opened God’s Word and showed them that he had fulfilled all that was written of him. He repeatedly took his disciples back to the testimony of God’s Word.
The Old Testament in the Hebrew canon is divided into the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. Jesus went throughout the Scriptures explaining to them everything from his suffering and death to his resurrection from the dead.
Mark 16:14 adds that, “he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart.”
Luke 24:36-44
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved 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.
The Lord Jesus opened their understanding by putting the Word of God together for them so they could understand what was written concerning him. He explained to them that what he did was necessary to fulfill the scriptures.
This concludes the events of the first day of the week, and what a day it had been. Jesus had risen from dead!