What does Luke 24:8 mean?

In the brief mirror-image structure of Luke 24:1–12, this is the central verse. Luke 24:1–3 and 12 record people—the women and Peter—finding the tomb empty. In Luke 24:4–6 and 9–11, messengers tell others that Jesus has risen.

This is a central theme in the chapter: Jesus' disciples couldn't fathom how His prophecies about His death and resurrection could be true, so they didn't remember His words. They don't remember until they are reminded. In the larger picture, they don't believe until they see Jesus personally and He opens their eyes (Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:30–32, 36, 44–45; John 20:14–16, 26–28).

Two angels are at Jesus' empty tomb, talking to a handful of His women disciples. Mary, the wife of Clopas and mother of James and Joses, is there. So are Salome, Joanna, and others (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). It seems Mary Magdalene left before the angels arrived (John 20:1–2).

The angels have reminded the women that Jesus told them this would happen: "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 an on the third day rise" (Luke 24:6–7). We don't know when the women heard this. It may have been shortly after Peter declared Jesus to be the Messiah (Luke 9:18–22).

Previously the angel had asked the women, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5). Jesus' followers should have known. But, speaking of Peter and himself, John writes, "as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead" (John 20:9). Luke explains that when Jesus told the Twelve about His death and resurrection, "they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said" (Luke 18:34). When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).

We need reminding, too. The disciples saw Jesus die and couldn't believe He would be raised again. We read that Jesus ascended into heaven; it can be hard to have faith He will return. By reading the Scriptures, believing them, and reminding each other, we can stay faithful to the end.