This verse, Luke 24:24, is part of the narrative of the resurrection of Jesus. It's crucial to understand it within the context of the preceding verses and the overall story. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Some of us went to the tomb..." This refers to some of the disciples (likely Peter and another disciple, possibly John, as hinted in John 20:3-10). The women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others - Luke 24:10) had returned from the tomb earlier and reported to the apostles that they had found the tomb empty and had seen a vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive. The apostles, initially disbelieving the women's testimony, decided to investigate.
"...and found it just like the women had said..." This confirms the women's initial report. The disciples found the tomb empty, exactly as the women had described. This element of verification is important. It adds credibility to the women's account and establishes that the empty tomb was a real event.
"...but they didn’t see him.” This is the key point. While the disciples confirmed the empty tomb, they did not encounter Jesus. They verified the absence of the body, but they did not experience the presence of the risen Christ at this point.
In essence, the verse highlights:
Verification of the Empty Tomb: It emphasizes that the reports of the empty tomb were not just rumors or hallucinations. The disciples independently confirmed the fact.
Initial Disbelief: It shows the initial skepticism and doubt of the disciples. Despite the evidence of the empty tomb, they hadn't yet grasped the reality of the resurrection or seen Jesus themselves. They were still struggling to understand what it all meant.
The Progression of Revelation: The story unfolds gradually. The women receive the initial revelation, the disciples confirm the empty tomb, and then, later, Jesus appears to the disciples themselves, leading them to faith. This staged revelation emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the event.
The verse sets the stage for the subsequent appearances of Jesus to his disciples and the ultimate belief in his resurrection. It underscores that the path to faith involved wrestling with doubt, verifying evidence, and ultimately, encountering the risen Christ personally.
This verse, Luke 24:24, is part of the narrative of the resurrection of Jesus. It's crucial to understand it within the context of the preceding verses and the overall story. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Some of us went to the tomb..." This refers to some of the disciples (likely Peter and another disciple, possibly John, as hinted in John 20:3-10). The women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others - Luke 24:10) had returned from the tomb earlier and reported to the apostles that they had found the tomb empty and had seen a vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive. The apostles, initially disbelieving the women's testimony, decided to investigate.
"...and found it just like the women had said..." This confirms the women's initial report. The disciples found the tomb empty, exactly as the women had described. This element of verification is important. It adds credibility to the women's account and establishes that the empty tomb was a real event.
"...but they didn’t see him.” This is the key point. While the disciples confirmed the empty tomb, they did not encounter Jesus. They verified the absence of the body, but they did not experience the presence of the risen Christ at this point.
In essence, the verse highlights:
Verification of the Empty Tomb: It emphasizes that the reports of the empty tomb were not just rumors or hallucinations. The disciples independently confirmed the fact.
Initial Disbelief: It shows the initial skepticism and doubt of the disciples. Despite the evidence of the empty tomb, they hadn't yet grasped the reality of the resurrection or seen Jesus themselves. They were still struggling to understand what it all meant.
The Progression of Revelation: The story unfolds gradually. The women receive the initial revelation, the disciples confirm the empty tomb, and then, later, Jesus appears to the disciples themselves, leading them to faith. This staged revelation emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the event.
The verse sets the stage for the subsequent appearances of Jesus to his disciples and the ultimate belief in his resurrection. It underscores that the path to faith involved wrestling with doubt, verifying evidence, and ultimately, encountering the risen Christ personally.