Bible Study – Seeing Jesus
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Easter - the unearned gift of grace. Of course, we cannot “figure it out.” How comforting, then, to have these scriptures, showing first how the disciples struggled to grasp what had happened and then stories of Jesus before the crucifixion, which are written in the light of the Resurrection.
As Easter people we know, as Paul said, that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from the love of God. We are people who expect life out of death. And so, in Eastertide we celebrate the wonder and prepare ourselves to take the awesome message out into the world on Pentecost.
Words tumble from the mouths of the excited disciples as they try to convey what happened on the road to Emmaus. In mid-sentence, they hear “Peace be with you.” Jesus is in their midst. Jesus encourages them to touch him and see that it is he. As they scramble to believe what they are seeing, Jesus casually asks them if, by any chance, they have anything to eat! They have broiled fish, which is shared all around.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, for this time we have together and for the stories about Jesus that have come down through the years to us. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Luke 24:36b-48 and read or read the scriptures below.
Luke 24:36b-48
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Reflection Questions: (Answers at the bottom of the page)
- Can anyone remember what Jesus said to the disciples last week?
- What does Jesus say today?
- What do you see in this passage to make you believe that Jesus was patient with his friends?
- Why Jesus asked if there was “anything here to eat?”
- The last time Jesus had eaten a meal with his disciples was the night before he was crucified. Does anyone remember what Jesus told them to do at that meal?
- How might that last meal have helped them recognize Jesus?
- How are we invited to remember Jesus when we receive the bread and wine during the Eucharist?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
Daily Gospel Reading Video St. Luke 24:35-48: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJSUv2SsH4U
Gospel of Luke Summary: A Complete Animated Overview Part 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26z_KhwNdD8
Song: Into My Heart – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0yjBd0k8_4 or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IExVNv8w7tM
Activities:
Each One Reach One Decoupage or Collage: Find a poem or write a poem from today’s lesson and then color the paper and decorate the border edge. Then the poem can be decoupaged onto a thin board or made into a collage on a colorful piece of paper. Hang your poem somewhere in your room or in your home.
Spreading Seeds of Good News: Find a special place outside of your home and plant seeds. You will see your seeds grow after a few weeks just as you will see others coming to know Jesus as you Spread the Good News.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples – Fill in the Blank: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/jesus-appears-to-his-disciples
Open Mind Open Heart - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/open-mind-open-heart
Open Mind Open Heart - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/open-mind-open-heart-2
Each One Reach One – Maze: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/each-one-reach-one-1
Jesus Appears To The Disciples - Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/jesus-appears-to-the-disciples-1
Jesus Appears To The Disciples – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/jesus-appears-to-the-disciples-2
Prayer: Thank you, God, for sending us Jesus to make it possible to do the work you give us to do. Amen.
Answers to Reflection Questions:
- Can anyone remember what Jesus said to the disciples last week? (“Peace be with you.”)
- What does Jesus say today? (“Peace be with you.”)
- What do you see in this passage to make you believe that Jesus was patient with his friends? (verses 39-40.)
- Why Jesus asked if there was “anything here to eat?”
- The last time Jesus had eaten a meal with his disciples was the night before he was crucified. Does anyone remember what Jesus told them to do at that meal? (Eat the bread, drink the wine, in remembrance of Jesus.)
- How might that last meal have helped them recognize Jesus?
- How are we invited to remember Jesus when we receive the bread and wine during the Eucharist? (We are the Body of Christ, and Christ is the Cup of Salvation.)
