Bible Study - Luke 24

S - Scripture

"And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!'"
Luke 24:33–34 ESV

O - Observation

According to early Christian tradition and the New Testament, Jesus appeared to Peter (also called Cephas) privately, separate from the other disciples. While none of the Gospels give us a narrative account of exactly what happened during this private meeting, it's directly referenced in two key places:

• The Gospel of Luke: When the two disciples return to Jerusalem from Emmaus, the rest of the group tells them, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (Luke 24:34).

• Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians: In recounting the resurrection appearances to the church at Corinth, Paul writes, "He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve" (1 Corinthians 15:5).

A - Application

I learned something new today. I didn't realize that Jesus appeared to Peter one-on-one, before He even appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. There are so many questions and assumptions about that conversation, given Peter's denial of Jesus and his future role in the church. The main takeaway is this: Jesus met Peter in his grief, shame, and denial, and restored him to relationship and to hope for the future. Just like us. So cool!

R - Response

Heavenly Father, You are grace and truth. Thank You for meeting us where we are today. In our own shame and fears, You meet us and restore us to relationship and hope. We are so grateful for Your love and faith in us.