What does Luke 24:23 mean?
Earlier this morning, a group of women went to Jesus' tomb. They gathered spices to cover His body, though they didn't know how they would get the job done. His tomb had been covered with a larger stone (Mark 16:1–3).When they arrived, however, the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty. Mary Magdalene ran off to tell Peter and John (John 20:1–2). The others looked inside. Over the course of the next few minutes, they found themselves speaking with two angels. One of the angels said, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 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" (Luke 24:5–7).
The angels then told them to tell the male disciples.
The women suddenly remembered that Jesus had said He would die and rise again three days later (Luke 24:8). Not knowing whether to be terrified or elated, they left to tell the men. As they went, Jesus found them. They worshiped Him, and He reiterated the instructions to tell the men (Matthew 28:7–10).
When the women reached the room where the men were hiding, Cleopas was there. He heard the women's story but couldn't understand it. He and a friend decided to go to the village of Emmaus and spent their walk discussing what they'd experienced. When a stranger asked what they were talking about, Cleopas told Him. He won't realize until later, when they sit at dinner, that this stranger is Jesus.
Luke 24:13–27 contains a meeting between Jesus and two disciples, along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They don't recognize Him. Yet He lets them explain what they've experienced the last three days. When they finish, He points out their foolishness and shows them how the crucifixion and resurrection were prophesied in the Old Testament. When they invite Jesus for a meal, He reveals Himself and disappears. The two men return to Jerusalem to tell the larger group of disciples (Luke 24:28–35). Mark 16:12–13 gives a synopsis, but are likely not part of the original manuscript of Mark.
After Jesus is executed and buried (Luke 23:52–53), the women who had followed Him from Galilee come to improve His burial condition. They find an open, empty tomb and angels. The disciples are informed. Two of them spend time speaking with a stranger while walking, only to realize it was Jesus Himself. Jesus appears to His followers, eating fish and explaining how His role as Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus then ascends to heaven while His disciples worship.
