Luke 24:30 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Luke 24:30

Comments

We have been told that up till now, ‘their eyes were holden that they should not know him (Luke 24:16), but now that withholding of recognition comes to an end, for Christ wishes them to know who he is. If he had continued his journey and they had not persuaded him to eat with them, they would never have known who it was that was walking with them and opening the Scriptures. But when it comes to the providence of God, we cannot talk about ‘ifs’. What has happened is what God intended to happen, and he has only one plan.This is not the Lord’s Supper – even though we might be tempted to make a pretty picture of it – for there is mention of the bread, but not of the cup, and it would be a strange occasion for the Lord to hold the Supper after a journey when they were in need of real food, and with two fairly obscure disciples. It would also be strange for Christ who had told his disciples to break bread, to come and do it himself in a symbolic way, after the real event of Calvary had taken place. Christ habitually gave thanks for every provision of sustenance, just as he did at the feeding of the five thousand, and that is what is happening here. But we see that Christ is the guest and they are the hosts, and yet so great is his presence among them that he presides over them in their own house. This is entirely in harmony with the elevated status that his instruction has earned for him, even as a stranger. They accepted this as completely fitting, because he was their instructor and they were his pupils. As he distributed the bread, their minds were opened. He worked where no mere man could ever work, and he enabled them to understand what was hidden from them.However, so soon after recognition came to them, he vanished from their sight. This too was a confirmation to them, if they needed any, that this was indeed the risen Lord whose resurrection body possessed new powers which no mortal body ever had. He could appear and vanish at will, passing into locked rooms if he chose, and they would see this happen again before the day was over.

Application

How much they would have wanted him to remain with them, as did Mary Magdalene (John 20:17), but it was not his purpose. This was an interim stage, and they had to learn to do without his physical presence. His appearances were in order to confirm the resurrection and to impart some additional teaching, not to continue his physical presence with them as before. As he had said to them, ‘I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you’ (John 16:7). This very occasion was a marvellous demonstration of the advantage he was talking of, for if he was with the two travellers, he would not also be with the eleven disciples in Jerusalem – Christ has not gained omnipresence for his human nature by having a resurrection body. But by his Spirit, he could be with every one of his disciples, and reveal himself to all of them at once. How blessed are the churches which have Christ in their midst all across the world, and can worship him as present with them by his Spirit.

Oh to have Christ with us. He who understands all mysteries, who can explain all things to us, whose power is unlimited and whose love is unbounded, who can open our understanding and impart spiritual gifts to us. He will not allow any harm to come upon us, and will banish all those who would oppose us. Then he will not vanish, but will be with us forever, showing us more and more of his glory. Now we see him through a glass darkly, but ‘when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is’ (1 John 3:2). In that day he will not condemn us or find fault with us, for he himself will have transformed us to be fit eternal companions with him in heaven.

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Luke 24:30 Commentary and Bible Study

The meaning of Luke 24:30 explained