Ryle on Luke 24:1-12
Jenn March 28th, 2008
Here is an excerpt from J.C. Ryle’s commentary on Luke 24:1-12
We see, secondly, in the verses before us, how dull the memory of the disciples was about some of our Lord’s teachings. We are told that the angels who appeared to the women, reminded them of their Master’s words in Galilee, foretelling His own crucifixion and resurrection. And then we read, “They remembered his words.” They had heard them, but made no use of them. Now after many days they call them to mind.
This dullness of memory is a common spiritual disease among believers. It prevails as widely now as it did in the days of the first disciples. It is one among many proofs of our fallen and corrupt condition. Even after men have been renewed by the Holy Spirit, their readiness to forget the promises and precepts of the Gospel is continually bringing them into trouble. They hear many things which they ought to store up in their hearts, but seem to forget as fast as they hear. And then, perhaps after many days, affliction brings them up before their recollection, and at once it flashes across their minds that they heard them long ago! They find that they had heard, but heard in vain.
The true cure for a dull memory in religion, is to get deeper love toward Christ, and affections more thoroughly set on things above. We do not readily forget the things we love, and the objects which we keep continually under our eyes. The names of our parents and children are always remembered. The face of the husband or wife we love is engraved on the tablets of our hearts. The more our affections are engaged in Christ’s service, the more easy shall we find it to remember Christ’s words. The words of the apostle ought to be carefully pondered–”We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Heb. 2:1.)
I love that Ryle rightly identifies the cure for our forgetfulness as increased love for Christ. Our hope is not to be found in a formula, or repeating the right buzz phrase in a mantra like fashion, but in engaging with a risen, living Christ. He might have equated our forgetfulness with unbelief, because I think that too would be true of our forgetfulness. We forget because we don’t really buy it. We may give a mental ascent to the promises we have through a risen Savior, but so often really believe it in a manner that transforms us.
Ryle references 1 Peter 1:3, but the larger section given us even bigger picture of our living hope (emphasis mine):
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Though we have not seen him, may we love him, may we believe in him and rejoice with joy that is expressible, filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith – salvation. We can hope for this because Jesus has risen from the dead.
Our church will be going through a series on Luke, beginning this Sunday. I have found it helpful to spend most of my own personal study time reflecting on the content of the previous Sunday’s sermon. The preaching of the weekly sermon and the application of that sermon is one of the most overlooked means of grace available to a believer. I had been a Christian for many years before I discovered such a simple thing and have found that reflection on the sermon and endeavoring to apply it is a full-time job.
