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. 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.” 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. (Luke 24:36-43)

As Jesus stood among His disciples, “Peace to you” were His first words to them after His resurrection. But instead of rejoicing, His disciples “were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.” These were the same men who had walked with Him for three years, seen Him feed the multitudes, calm the storms, raise the dead, and teach with unmatched authority. And yet, when the fulfillment of His own words stood before them, alive and resurrected, their hearts were slow to believe.

It might be an initial response to have a “tisk tisk” type attitude towards the disciples, but if we’re honest with ourselves – isn’t that just like us?

How often do we know the truth of God’s Word, having we seen His provision, heard His promises, and tasted His mercy – yet still hesitate to believe when fear, grief, or doubt enters the scene? Sometimes we become so accustomed to the routine of walking with Jesus that we can lose the wonder of what He’s really said, what He’s truly done, and what He’s still doing.

But look at how Jesus responds. “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.”

Here’s the amazing part – Jesus didn’t shame them. He didn’t turn away. He didn’t demand perfect faith. Instead, He invited them closer - “Touch me and see.” He offered His wounded hands and feet – the very marks of His love and sacrifice – as proof; not because He had to, but because He is gracious and kind. Jesus met them right in the middle of their disbelief.

And then, to further ease their troubled hearts, He asked for food and ate in their presence. Not because He was hungry, but to show them He was real, tangible, alive – risen.

What a Savior. So patient with our fragile faith and so willing to meet us in our weakness.

We are all susceptible to disbelief – no matter how long we’ve walked with Jesus. The key is not pretending that we never doubt, but trusting that He remains faithful, even when we falter. As Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.”

So today, let’s choose childlike faith – the kind that trusts even when we don’t fully understand, the kind that believes because He said it, not because we’ve seen it. And when God, in His kindness, does give us signs of His presence and faithfulness, may we respond with a deep gratitude and humble worship, not demanding more proof, but offering more praise.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24:28-35)

As the disciples walked the dusty road to Emmaus, though the risen Jesus had drawn near and walked with them, their hearts were heavy and confused because they hadn’t yet recognized Him. And Jesus had explained the Scriptures, revealing how the Messiah must suffer and enter His glory, but even with such truth laid bare, their eyes remained closed. It wasn’t until the moment of shared intimacy – when He broke the bread – that their eyes were opened and they knew Him.

This was just an ordinary meal but for them it echoed back to the Last Supper, where He had taken bread, blessed it, broken it, and given it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body, given for you.” (Luke 22:19) That moment of intimate fellowship carried divine significance. And now, post-resurrection, it was in that same kind of moment that their eyes were opened. And how beautiful that it was in that quiet, simple act of breaking bread, that Jesus revealed Himself.

Sometimes we search for God in the grand and the spectacular, yet He so often meets us in the ordinary – at a table, in a quiet prayer, during the simple obedience of daily faithfulness. The breaking of the bread was not just a meal; it was a reminder of covenant love, of sacrifice, of communion. And it was in that space that the disciples weren’t just told who Jesus was – they recognized Him.

Their response is striking. Gone were the long-winded debates and analytical discussions. Gone was the slow-hearted unbelief. Instead, they rose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. Though it was night and the journey was long, they could not contain the truth. Now because of this personal experience, like the women – they were compelled to testify of it.

What a beautiful picture of how revelation leads to action. Their eyes were opened, and their hearts, once burning with mystery, now burned with urgency and joy. The facts they had been discussing were now saturated with faith, and that faith propelled them into bold proclamation.

For us today, the invitation remains the same: draw near to Jesus not only through intellectual understanding, but through intimacy – through remembering Him in communion, in prayer, in fellowship, in studying God’s Word. He is still revealing Himself to those whose hearts are open.

Let us also rise and go to the places God sends us, joyously proclaiming that the Lord is risen and sharing about our personal experiences with the living God.

While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:15-27)

Some followers of Jesus walked the road to Emmaus, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Their words were filled with facts: Jesus' ministry, His crucifixion, the empty tomb, and even the strange report from the women who claimed He was alive. They had all the information—but still, they were discouraged, confused, and slow to believe.

As they talked and reasoned together, Jesus Himself came near but they didn’t recognize Him. And as He asked them what they were discussing, they poured out their disappointment, their bewilderment, and their hopes dashed. The hard truth is, they knew the Scriptures, they had heard Jesus’ own words, and yet, their faith hadn’t yet connected with what they knew.

How often are we just like them?

We gather facts, quote verses, and try to make sense of God’s ways through discussion and analysis. But there’s a danger in circling through facts without bringing faith into it. Understanding can be helpful—but it’s not a substitute for believing.

The resurrection is one of the most powerful moments in all of history, and yet it’s also one of the greatest mysteries. How did it happen? What exactly took place in those unseen hours between death and life? We may never fully understand it, and we don’t have to, because our faith isn’t grounded in our ability to comprehend – our faith is grounded in the truth that it did happen, and in the One who made it so.

Jesus gently rebuked the disciples, saying, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” The problem wasn’t a lack of evidence – it was a lack of faith. They had been waiting for everything to make sense, when what they really needed was to trust the Word of God.

In our modern world, we often feel pressure to understand every detail – especially when it comes to matters of faith. But some things God has done, and still does, goes beyond our capacity to fully explain and understand. Miracles don’t always follow human logic, grace doesn’t fit into equations, and the resurrection – while historically attested and spiritually powerful – is still a divine mystery that we accept by faith.

As Paul wrote in Romans 6:5, “For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” We may not understand how resurrection works, but we believe that because Jesus was raised, we too will be raised because God has promised it.

Let’s not be content to walk in circles around the facts. Let’s resolve to move toward deeper faith, believing what God has said even when we don’t fully understand how He’ll bring it about. His peace surpasses understanding, so let’s press in by faith and have our hearts and minds guarded by the peace of God.

Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. (Luke 24:10-12)

That morning the tomb was empty, the stone had been rolled away, angels had appeared, and Jesus was alive – just as He said.

That was the message the women returned with to tell the apostles. But rather than spark instant joy or celebration, their message was met with skepticism. “These words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.”

In a time and culture where the testimony of women was often dismissed, the reaction was, sadly, predictable. But what’s remarkable is that despite the culture, the women shared anyway. They didn’t let their cultural position, gender, or the fear of being disbelieved stop them from speaking the truth. They had seen and heard something life-changing, and it compelled them to share.

That’s the essence of a testimony: it isn’t about convincing others—it’s about faithfully declaring what God has done. The responsibility of belief lies with the hearer.

And in this passage, we see two distinct responses. Most of the apostles dismissed the women’s words. But Peter – impulsive, passionate, imperfect Peter – ran. He didn’t argue, he didn’t wait – he ran to see for himself. And though he didn’t yet fully understand, Scripture says he “went home marveling.”

The same is true today. When we share what God has done in our lives – how He has rescued, healed, redeemed, or transformed us – some will dismiss it. They’ll label it wishful thinking, coincidence, or even delusion. But others will hear, and something in them will stir. They may not believe fully in that moment, but they’ll be drawn to investigate and search for truth; and the Spirit of God will work through that curiosity.

So, keep sharing.

Don’t be silenced by the fear of rejection. Don’t let someone else’s potential unbelief prevent you from proclaiming your testimony of truth and hope. You’re not responsible for converting people, but you have been called to faithfully share the gospel. Some will hear and believe, and others will hear and reject – but the response of others shouldn’t shape our faithfulness to the call of God.

My friend has a tattoo of a quote that is a great reminder; it says, “Your story could be the key that unlocks someone else’s prison.” Your story, like the women at the tomb, can be used by God in the lives of others – but that requires actually sharing those testimonies of how God has worked in your life.

As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise… so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” God delights in using unexpected messengers to proclaim His power. And yes, sometimes it is a humbling experience every time you share certain testimonies, especially if God corrected you in something – but it not only has the opportunity for God to use that in someone else’s life, but it further cements the lesson God taught you in the first place.

Your testimony matters.

Even if it’s dismissed as “an idle tale,” speak it anyway. Someone like Peter may be listening and end up running toward Jesus because of what you share.

He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (Luke 24:6-9)

When the women went to the tomb that morning, they came with spices to anoint a body they thought was still lifeless. But instead of finding death, they encountered two angels declaring the most glorious news the world has ever heard: “He is not here, but has risen!”

Yet even in that incredible moment, the angelic messengers didn’t introduce a new idea. They simply reminded the women of what Jesus had already said.

“Remember how He told you…”

Jesus had not been secretive about His mission. Over and over again, He told His disciples that He would suffer, die, and rise again. But grief, fear, and confusion had clouded their memories. It took divine prompting to reignite what had been tucked away in their memory. And once they remembered, they moved into action.

The women left the tomb not with spices in hand, but with the truth on their lips, ready to tell the others. Luke tells us, “they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.” The message that Jesus was alive was too powerful, too essential, too life-altering to keep to themselves. Remembering His words, led to witnessing.

We are often like these women. We know the truth – Jesus is risen, His Word is true, His promises are sure; yet in the chaos and sorrow of life, sometimes we forget. We become overwhelmed by circumstances or discouraged by delay, and we lose sight of what He’s already told us.

But when we return to the Word and remember what He has said, our hearts and minds are renewed; and that renewal compels us to speak.

This is the heartbeat of the Gospel: Jesus died, was buried, and rose again – just as He said. And we are not called to come up with something new or flashy. We are called to remember His words and tell them to others.

Paul reminds us in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” As we meditate on what Jesus has said, our faith grows. And as we share it, the gospel spreads.

Don’t underestimate the power of remembrance. And don’t withhold the joy of the resurrection from those who need to hear. Like the women at the tomb, may we be people who remember what Jesus has said and carry that message boldly into the lives of others. May what we do and speak truly be a testimony of God’s redeeming love.

The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (Luke 23:55-56)

Grief has a way of driving us toward action. We want to do something to process the pain, to care for what’s been lost, or sometimes to cling to a sense of control. The women who followed Jesus from Galilee were no different. They had just watched their beloved Teacher suffer and die, and their hearts longed to anoint His body – an act of both reverence and affection. But with the Sabbath approaching, they faced a choice: proceed with their desire to tend to Jesus' body or honor the Sabbath as God commanded.

They chose obedience.

They rested – even in the sorrow, even in the tension of not finishing what their hearts desperately wanted to do. They honored the Lord not by rushing to the tomb, but by keeping His command. Their obedience, even in pain, was an act of worship.

This isn’t really even an issue about whether the act of anointing would technically break the Sabbath. Scripture tells us in Titus 1:15, “To the pure, all things are pure,” and Jesus often challenged the legalistic boundaries of Sabbath traditions that had been added to God’s intent with the command. But for these women who had been taught, lived by, and loved God’s law, their conscience of obedience was to rest. As James 4:17 reminds us, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

Their surrender wasn’t just about Sabbath observance. It was about trusting God’s timing and will above their own thoughts, emotions, and desires. They denied themselves and waited – not knowing that their act of obedience would position them to be the first to witness the resurrection.

Our own griefs, unmet expectations, or sense of urgency can tempt us to take matters into our own hands. When plans fall apart or life wounds us deeply, the natural instinct is to act, to fix, to move. But sometimes, the holiest thing we can do is rest in obedience – even when it costs us something.

Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” These women didn’t just deny themselves the comfort of caring for Jesus’ body on their own terms; they chose to follow God’s Word even in confusion and heartache. Their faith reminds us that obedience is not about comfort – it’s about trust.

May we learn from their example to prioritize God’s voice over our impulses, to obey even when emotions scream otherwise, and to rest in the truth that worship is found in surrender.

Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. (Luke 23:50-54)

In the aftermath of an unjust crucifixion, we are introduced to a man of quiet courage – Joseph of Arimathea. As a member of the Jewish council, Joseph was wealthy, respected, and held a prestigious position. Yet when the Sanhedrin demanded Jesus' death, Joseph “had not consented to their decision and action.” While others went along with the crowd, Joseph stood apart. While Pilate gave in to pressure, Joseph held to conviction. And while others sought to protect their status, Joseph looked for the kingdom of God.

This is no small thing. In touching the dead body of Jesus to prepare it for burial, Joseph defiled himself according to ceremonial law, forfeiting his ability to participate in the Sabbath preparations. He willingly traded religious cleanliness and social standing to honor his crucified Lord.

This kind of faith is costly. It is the kind of devotion that refuses to blend in with the culture for the sake of comfort or appearance. Joseph risked his reputation, his religious privilege, and likely his relationships within the council, all to identify with Jesus in His death.

This calls us to question how we pursue Jesus. Ask yourself this question – do I pursue Jesus with such fervor and resolution?

In Philippians 3:7–8, Paul echoes this kind of faith: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Joseph of Arimathea, like Paul, shows us what it means to live with eternity in view. He wasn’t driven by fear or popularity, he was driven by a longing for God’s kingdom. He wasn’t trying to preserve his life, but to honor the One who had just laid His down.

Today, the pressure to conform to worldly values is just as real. Many remain silent rather than speak the truth of Christ. Some fear being labeled as intolerant, fanatical, or foolish. But true discipleship means dying to the approval of man in order to live fully for God.

Let’s ask ourselves these questions:

• Am I willing to be labeled badly by culture to honor Jesus?
• Do I forsake earthly titles and inclusion to stand with Christ?
• Am I looking for the kingdom of God, even if it costs me my status, comfort, or security?

Joseph may have buried Jesus in a tomb, but his actions proclaimed a living faith. In a moment of greatest loss, he revealed the greatest gain – a heart set on God’s kingdom. May we all have the courage of Jospeh of Arimathea – standing firm when others cave, seeking the kingdom of God above all else, and counting all as loss to unashamedly identify with Christ.

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46)

As Jesus took His final breath, a miraculous and deeply symbolic event took place: the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Matthew and Mark tell us that this curtain was torn from top to bottom. This was an unmistakable detail showing it was God who tore it, not man.

This wasn’t just a tear in fabric, it was a tearing open of what had long been closed off. The temple curtain had separated the Holy of Holies (the very dwelling place of God) from everyone else. Only the high priest, once a year, and only with a blood sacrifice, could enter beyond that curtain. It was a vivid reminder that sin separates humanity from God.

But now, through Jesus, that separation was finished. The final, perfect sacrifice had been made, the atonement was complete, and redemption was achieved. Jesus had fully taken on the wrath of God, satisfied the justice of God, and opened the way for sinners to come into the presence of God.

The torn curtain was the visible sign of what had spiritually been accomplished on the cross. Hebrews 10:19–20 made that very clear, “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body.”

And yet, even today, even among professing Christians – it can be hard to live as though it is truly finished. Legalism creeps in. Pride tries to earn what grace has already given. We feel like we must contribute something to our salvation or prove ourselves worthy of it. But that’s not the gospel.

Salvation is not Jesus plus our efforts – it’s Christ alone. The more we rest in His finished work, the more we walk in the freedom He died to give us. We are not called to work for our salvation but to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, because it has already been secured – we are now encouraged to take our faith seriously and be diligent in our pursuit of close relationship with God.

Just as Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit,” we too are called to commit ourselves fully to God, and not only our lives, but also our trust in His completed work. Romans 12:1 calls us to be living sacrifices, not striving for salvation, but surrendered in response to it. In a world striving to prove itself, may we be people who rest in completed work and remember the torn curtain – living in confidence that we are secure in Christ.

Because truly – it is finished…in Christ alone.