As Prophets Had Spoken -- "Ought Not Christ To Have Suffered These Things And To Enter Into His Glory?" -- Part 2205

"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 there in 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 ..." (Luke 24:16-33)

As you can see, Jesus had already gone to the cross, being buried in a tomb for three days and three nights (as Jonas was in the belly of the fish). And when the women had come to the tomb with the spices they had prepared, they found the stone rolled away. It was the first day off the week and very early in the morning.  (Luke 24:1-2)

"And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus." (Luke 24:3; Luke 24:23) 

Much perplexed about the situation, behold two men stood by them in shining garments who 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 to tell these things to the eleven. (Luke 24:4-12)

What is interesting in these scriptural accounts is that the hearts of Jesus disciples had to be open to receive and believe that the Jesus they once knew as the son of a carpenter had risen from the dead. That this same Jesus whom was crucified was resurrected -- both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) That after His kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4) And to believe what  the prophets had said from afore -- "ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" (Luke 24:26)

When Jesus later appeared to the ten, 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." (John 24:44) Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. 

"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." (Luke 24:46-49)

Sing praises to His mighty Name as we too lift our voices unto the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Stand in the offering plate.