Encountering the Risen Savior - Luke 24

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Completing the Journey Through Luke

Today our message is entitled “Encountering the Risen Savior.” Beginning in February 2022, we began to study the gospel of Luke. Today, we will complete our verse by verse study of this wonderful Gospel.

It has taught me, and I trust you many wonderful lessons from the life and teaching of Jesus. Learning more about Jesus is a never ending journey, both in this life and in eternity. You see, Jesus is an infinite being and we are finite, both in this life and in eternity.

We will forever be exploring more about who He is and what He has in store for us. Imagine yourself standing at the edge of a vast, uncharted forest. On our recent vacation to the Smoky Mountains, we hiked in some large forests.

Only faint glimmers of sunlight came through the dense canopy of leaves. As we hiked up some difficult trails, there was beauty all around us. Even some danger, as there were steep drop-offs on the edge of the trail.

As well as we sighting a black bear prowling in the woods to the side of the trail. Yet, we continued along the hike, because at the end we knew we would find a beautiful waterfall. The beauty of that waterfall made the difficult hike worth it for us.

That hike is a picture of what life’s journey is for each of us as seek to behold the beauty and love of Jesus ever more clearly.

John 20:29 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

We have not yet seen Jesus face to face, that awaits eternity. Yet, each day we grow closer to Him and can know Him even in the journey of life. We have faith and believe He is always present with us through the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The wonderful news is that Jesus did not stay dead, but rose from the dead. Jesus is alive today. He gives everyone the opportunity to be born again into a living hope.

No matter how difficult the journey of life may be, we hold onto this living hope. So today, as we conclude our study of the Gospel of Luke, let us ask God to help us to encounter the risen Savior in new ways.

The reality of Christ’s resurrection

Luke 24:36-37 (ESV) As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

The disciples were talking about the previous appearances of the resurrected Jesus. As they talked, suddenly Jesus miraculously appeared with them. He spoke “peace to you” but they were very startled and frightened.

Jesus had just appeared in the group out of thin air. They though He couldn’t possibly be real, so they assumed it was His spirit.

Luke 24:38-39 (ESV) And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Jesus was going to give evidence that He was not a spirit, but was a genuine human being. He asked them to look at his hands and feet, which bore the scars of the crucifixion. Not only were they to look, Jesus invite them to touch him and feel his flesh and bones.

Jesus did not come back to live as a spirit, but as a human being with a physical body. Yet, Jesus’ resurrection body had other capabilities that our bodies do not have. The ability to appear and disappear wherever He desired was what scared them.

Luke 24:40-43 (ESV) And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Despite seeing and touching Jesus, the disciples still weren’t sure that Jesus was real. So, Jesus asked for something to eat and then ate it in front of them. Again, a spirit could not eat.

Jesus was proving to them and to us that He had bodily risen from the dead. He confirmed the reality of His resurrection.

The resurrection is at the heart of Christianity. Scripture teaches us you must believe that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today in order to be saved. Because the resurrection is at the core of Christian faith it is attacked continually by unbelievers.

Many thousands of people have died on crosses. Simply dying on a cross does not save anyone. But just didn’t just die on the cross, He rose from the dead and is alive today.

That gives us the assurance the He indeed was the Son of God and reigns in heaven today.

Romans 10:9 (ESV) because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

And one day, just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so will every believer be raised from the dead when Jesus returns. We must believe in the reality of Christ’s resurrection.

The relevance of Christ’s message

Luke 24:44-45 (ESV) Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Now, Jesus begins to teach His disciples that everything that happened to Him had been prophesied in the Scripture. The Old Testament was divided by the Jews into three sections, the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Jesus makes the amazing claim that the entire Old Testament spoke about Him.

He was the Messiah who was to come and defeat Satan. He was the Messiah that would suffer, die and rise from the dead. Jesus then opened the minds of the disciples to understand the Scriptures in a new way.

Luke 24:46-47 (ESV) and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Jesus now shows us the relevance of His message. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, the message must be proclaimed. The message, the Gospel must be proclaimed to all nations.

The message is that everyone must repent of their sins and receive forgiveness. This work of reaching the world would begin in Jerusalem and then spread around the world.

Luke 24:48-49 (ESV) You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

These next two verses are extremely important and ignored by so many. They provide the setting for Luke’s second book, the book of Acts. The disciples were witnesses of these things, the death and resurrection of Jesus.

They were witnesses that their lives had been transformed by repentance and forgiveness. In order to carry out the monumental task of reaching the whole, they and we need supernatural power.

Jesus calls this power, the promise of the Father. In Acts 1:4-5, Luke tells us what the promise of the Father is. The promise of the Father is being baptized with the Holy Spirit.

That experience, that encounter will cloth each believer with the power of the Holy Spirit. That power is required for any believer to fulfill their purpose of being a witness to spread the Gospel around the world.

Christ’s message is relevant to us today.

There are three things required for any person to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. The first is to repent and receive forgiveness of sins, to be born again. The second is to be water baptized after becoming a believer, following Jesus’ example.

The third is to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, again following Jesus’ example when the Holy Spirit anointed Him at His water baptism. Notice that Jesus said, stay in Jerusalem, don’t attempt to do anything for me until you receive the power you need.

As we read in Acts, the disciples obeyed and prayed until the power came on the day of Pentecost. This message, this instruction of Jesus was not just for the disciples of 2000 years ago, but for each of us today as well.

We encounter Jesus today through the Holy Spirit.

The responsibility of Christ’s witnesses

Luke 24:50-51 (ESV) Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

These verses are Luke’s summary of Jesus’ final teaching to His disciples. We read some more of this teaching in Acts 1. These were Jesus’ marching orders to His disciples to reach the entire world.

Jesus prayed for and blessed His disciples. Then He ascended up into heaven, where He is today. Jesus will remain in heaven until the task of reaching the world for Jesus is accomplished.

Then He will return and bring in a new heavens and new earth. What a day that will be.

Luke 24:52-53 (ESV) And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

We see the change in the disciples after hearing Jesus teach. They were no longer frightened, they were no longer doubting. They worshipped Jesus, as Lord of Lords and King of Kings as He rose into the sky.

They then obeyed His instructions and returned to Jerusalem. They were no longer sad, they were no longer worrying about what they would do without Jesus. They had their orders and they will filled with joy and prayer.

To see what happened next, you’ll have to read Acts 1.

The disciples and we today have a responsibility to be Christ’s witnesses. To do our part in reaching the world for Jesus.

How can you and I fulfill our responsibility in following Jesus? Just as those first disciples were filled with joy and praising God, so should we. We need the same three experiences the disciples were instructed about.

We need to encounter Jesus through repentance and receiving forgiveness. You’ll have an opportunity to pray with me in a few minutes. Next, when you’ve believe in Jesus, you need to be water baptized.

We have an opportunity for water baptism on July 30. You do not have to do any special preparation to be baptized. You simply need to be a believer in Jesus who obeys Him.

You can sign up on your Connect Card or contact me via email or text. Finally, to have the power you require to be a witness, you need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

You can learn more about it by reading the book Power for Life available for free on the table in the foyer. Then we just ask God for opportunities to share the truth of Jesus with everyone we know.

God has given us the responsibility to be witnesses for Jesus.

Conclusion: Living in Ongoing Encounters With Jesus

Encountering Jesus is not just a one-time experience. Today, we’ve talked about the three initial ways we encounter Jesus. Repentance and being born again.

Being water baptized. Being Spirit baptized. Those encounters equip us to begin to fulfill God’s mission for our lives.

No matter what your age, if you’re a believer, God has a mission for your life. As you’re walking in your mission, you’ll be filled with joy and praise to God. One day, we’ll all celebrate in Jesus’ presence when we see Him face to face.

📘 Continue the Journey

Reflect deeper and apply this week’s message with the Message Study Guide — perfect for personal devotions, family discussion, or your Life Group.

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