Luke 24:19-21 19And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus the Nazarene, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
Jesus’ question invites further response from the two disciples. Asking questions is a good way for people to own the information they are discussing and allows for more personal application. Jesus did the greatest act in human history and was playing dumb about it. He wanted to talk out the situation with the pair rather than put the information in them. This form of teaching can be bring more ownership, which appears to be what he wanted. He wanted them to tell him the story from their own words and perspectives. Their response hints at surprise that he would not know all the events that had just happened in Jerusalem, especially if he was leaving the city like they were. Relationship was more important than impersonal facts. Both of the disciples were involved in the conversation, as the plural verbs indicate.
The first words that come out of their mouths was what they thought about Jesus. First, they identify where Jesus came from. Luke records people identifying Jesus as coming from Nazareth in 4:34; 18:37; Acts 2:22; 3:6; 4:10; 6:14; 10:38; 22:8; 26:9. They saw power in Jesus in what he did and what he taught. According to Acts 1:1, these two activities were the primary focus of Luke’s writing of his Gospel. Jesus followed in the footsteps of famous Old Testament prophets who had powerful messages and were able to perform miracles. Jesus did his deed and word with the authority of God. What he did came from God and not humanity. No one could do the miracles he did. No one spoke the words of truth like him. Jesus also had the approval of all the people. Word about him had spread all over Israel (4:15).
The two disciples also knew the cause of Jesus’ death. The blame lay on the chief priests and rulers. The people loved Jesus but the leaders hated him. They felt threatened by his mighty deeds, which they could not accept as divine, and his authoritative words of truth, which they could not dispute. The last part of verse 20 is passive in voice, referring to the part the Romans played in condemning Jesus to death and crucifying him.
Verse 21 reveals the hope of these two disciples and probably all the rest of those who followed Jesus.
21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
He wants them to tell him the story in their own words.
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