And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling . . . Luke 24:41 (ESV) What an intriguing phenomena. They were so full of joy they just couldn’t believe what was happening. This scene took place when some of Jesus’ disciples had been hiding from the Jews. Two of them had been walking down the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus when they were joined by a stranger who turned out to be Jesus. He had confronted their disillusionment by opening the Scriptures to them and showing them how all the Scriptures related to him. They are the ones who commented that their hearts burned within them when they finally saw what history was really about (Scripture was history as interpreted by Jesus).
Joy is that unmistakable expression of eternal life that cannot be pretended. It comes from somewhere deeper than emotions, and fills the atmosphere with a zest that reflects life that only God can give. It is a fruit of the Spirit. The natural abilities of mankind cannot produce it. It erupts from the soul that is centered in the word and will of God Almighty. Those who neglect the gospel and ignore the Christian church can’t cope with real joy. It is like honey in that if you get around it, you will get some on you. God-haters in the past have burned the saints but they couldn’t extinguish the joy even in the flames.
What caused this “too good to believe” condition? There are several unmistakable realities revealed in this passage that give us clues. First, they now had a new perspective on history. Like other Jewish men they knew the content of Hebrew Scripture, but it was not clear. There were laws and stories. There were poems and songs. There were parables and allegories. They rejoiced in the record of God’s acting on behalf of Israel. They grieved over the times of slavery. They tried to make sense of the wars and up and down history of their ancestors. They were acquainted with the prophecies and promises of a coming day when God would set things right on earth. Actually they had hoped that Jesus was the one who would bring that about. But now he had been conquered and killed by powers evidently much superior to him. Rome was just too strong. The Jewish leaders were too corrupt for a good man to survive them. Life seemed to be random and justice seemed far away.
But now they had been given the key to understanding it all. The Scriptures had been opened to them by the author. Creation was not just about mankind and the earth. It was about the glory of the Son. Noah’s story prefigured a future savior that turned out to be Jesus. Abraham’s seed is Jesus and his people. Moses’ covenant pointed to the one who would keep covenant for his new people. The judges of Israel each pointed to a deliverer who would finally liberate God’s people from their real enemy. David was a picture of the king who would sit on the throne controlling even death and resurrection. The prophets were talking about something better than a return to the land. They were talking about a restoration of worldwide proportions made possible by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Life is not random. Every choice made in history only worked to fulfill God’s plan to magnify his Son. The Scriptures reveal the Son. History is about Him. Israel played a part, but the real story is greater than any earthly nation. It makes sense. No wonder they disbelieved for joy! They would become Bible students in a new and passionate way now. In a few days, after Pentecost, they would be meeting daily with the people teaching them the Scriptures from a totally new perspective. The pressure of taking care of needy people would have to be delegated to some godly men, because the apostles would need to be spending their time explaining how Jesus fulfills the Scriptures and what that means to the listeners. What had seemed like an uncorrectable injustice was now seen as a vital part of the plan. Jesus had to be crucified. No sacrifice — no forgiveness. Maybe all the other disillusions had a new perspective too. Maybe God didn’t lose control of creation when mankind sinned. God had placed his wrath on the Son and justice was satisfied. No wonder they disbelieved for joy.
Second, they had Jesus back. The history of Israel’s grief was in losing the presence of God among them. They were aware of the times the Ark of the Covenant was lost to the enemies. They remembered the temple being destroyed and the land being occupied by enemy forces. When Jesus was crucified at the hands of his enemies, it was a reminder that their distinctiveness was gone. But now he was back—from the dead. God was back in place for them. No wonder, they couldn’t believe for joy.
Third, they now understood that Jesus’ suffering was not a random act of injustice nor evidence that evil was superior to good. It was necessary for their forgiveness. It was always a part of the prophecies they had read but not understood. Forgiveness! Real eternal forgiveness. No more animals on the altar; no more wondering if their sacrifices were sufficient. Final, complete, satisfying forgiveness. Now they could enjoy God without the terrifying fear of rejection. They could now get on with life without the weight of guilt.
Fourth, they were aware that death had been defeated. Jesus was back from the dead. They had seen him die. It was no hoax. Death is not final. Heretofore they had some knowledge of the afterlife, but it was a nebulous picture. Hades was not a pleasant hope. Resurrection was something they had placed far into the future. But here he was: Jesus alive from the dead. He could just appear on the scene and walk through a closed door. Yet he could eat fish and declare that his body had flesh and bones. Now they had hope of a livable resurrection body. The new creation had begun and they were privileged to see it firsthand. So this is what we have to look forward to: Continuity with our present bodies, but different enough to live beyond the shackles of sinful flesh. This would make a difference for people carrying a message that would probably get them killed. Death is not the victor, and they had a message that makes physical life secondary in importance.
And then they began to understand that they were privileged to carry this new and revolutionary message to the world. They were alive at the moment when the fullness of time inaugurated the new creation that had been the hope for ages. The day of the Lord had come and they were there. They would have the honor of preaching and practicing the new life that was available now. They could go without fear, and with an overwhelming sense of privilege. They were instruments of a plan that had been going on since before time. Sons of God they were! No wonder they disbelieved for joy.
So what do we get from this passage? The same thing they got. We are privileged to live at a time when Jesus has cleared the air about the meaning of history and the interpretation of Scripture. We live when sins are forgiven and death is defeated. We have been commissioned to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and to establish the kingdom of God by doing so. There is no real need for disillusionment or defeat. The only reason to despair would be that in the face of such good news we fail to believe. Let us embrace the good news and refuse to be a part of those who seek to make it more palatable to the rational mind. To those who continually remind us of how bad things are and how hopeless life seems, let us reflect the hope of those who have walked with the risen Christ with burning hearts and new perspectives.
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