JCSLK 72 Jesus On The Emmaus Road - Luke 24v13-35

 

JCSLK 72 Jesus On The Emmaus Road

Luke 24v13-35

Introduction:

Resurrection Timeline: The Last 40 Days of Jesus Earthly Mission

Jesus is resurrected and appears to His Disciples for 40 Days – Matthew 28:2-4

Women visit the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body – Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1-4, Luke 24:1-2

Women discover the empty tomb, Mary runs to Peter and John – Matthew 28:5-7, Mark 16:5-8, Luke 24:3-8, John 20:1-2

Peter and John hurry to the tomb, Mary weeping, lingers – Luke 24:9-12, John 20:3-10

1st appearance Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene – Mark 16:9-11, John 20:11-18

2nd appearance Jesus sends the women to tell the disciples – Matthew 28:8-10

Guards report and the Sanhedrin bribes them to lie – Matthew 28:11-15

3rd appearance Jesus Walks the Emmaus Road, appears to two disciples – Luke 24:13-35

Chronological Life of Christ - There seems to be a discrepancy here between Luke and John. John focuses on Mary and her unbelief. She is convinced that Jesus’ body has been stolen, not that Jesus has been raised as the angels (in Luke) have announced (Jn 20:2, 11–15). Luke, however, speaks of the whole group of women. As a whole, they believe the angels and remember how Jesus predicted his resurrection (Lk 24:6–8).

Mary may have looked at the empty tomb and run away quickly before the angels appeared. Thus, she reports to Peter and John, who then run to the tomb only hearing that it was empty. The other women report to the nine remaining Apostles and only later to Peter and John. They deliver the whole “scoop” which is, of course, rejected by the Apostles. Mary follows Peter and John to the tomb where she weeps bitterly and sees the angels for the first time (Jn 20:12). Just then, Jesus appears to her. She, of course, believes. She then runs and reports to the Apostles what turns out to be the first actual resurrection appearance (Mk 16:9–11).

The narrative is so compressed, it is impossible to see just exactly where each of the pieces fit. But we really don’t need to. We can be certain of the following: (1) Peter and John learn from Mary that the tomb is empty and they bolt for the door. (They may have stayed long enough to hear the report of the other women also). (2) At least nine Apostles hear the other women talk of an angelic announcement that Jesus has raised from the dead. (3) The women are growing in faith (Lk 24:8), but the men think their emotions have gotten the better of them. - Mark E. Moore, The Chronological Life of Christ

It is interesting that the first three appearances were to other believers, other disciples, not to the apostles. Not what we would expect at all. Jesus was once again is working in ways and on a level that was beyond what we could see or understand. Like the apostles hearing these reports before seeing Jesus themselves, our faith first must be in the words of promise and prophecy but one day soon, like the apostles, we will see Jesus, face to face.

So, this morning we are hearing the reports of those who did see Jesus after His resurrection. We covered Mary, John and Peter’s story back in April during on Resurrection Sunday today I want to look at the 3rd appearance of Jesus to the disciples on the Emmaus Road.

As I worked on the sermon, I kept singing “On The Jericho Road.” And I thought there should be a song about the Emmaus Road as well. I couldn’t find one so if you’ll bear with me, I modified one. Are you ready? Here it is you may recognize the tune.

As you travel along on the Emmaus road,

Does the world seem all wrong and heavy your load?

Just walk with the Lord, your questions confess,

On the Emmaus road your heart He will bless.

 

Refrain: On Emmaus road there’s room for you and two,

No questions or doubts, He has answers for you;

At day’s end, bread he’ll bless and break

Our hearts will burn, even if there’s no steak.

Walking and Wondering – Luke 24:13-16

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

Dazed Disciples

Luke tells the story of two men, two disciples of Jesus who left Jerusalem after Sunday morning. One of them was named Cleopas, who was married to one of the Mary’s and my have been the father of James the apostle. Luke may have gotten this details of this appearance from Cleopas. After the Passover, these two men are traveling to Emmaus, which was a small village between 7 and 8 miles from Jerusalem. (A furlong is the distance of one furrow along one side of an acre field (furrow length) about 1/8 of a mile.)

As they travel, they are wondering about the events of the last few days, probably beginning with the joy of the Triumphal Entry and ending with the crushing sorrow of the crucifixion. They waited until the sabbaths were over and then made their way home, talking, communing and reasoning as they walked. The word used here means they were tossing it back and forth.

As they walk, lost in their conversation, Jesus begins to walk with them, but their eyes, the Bible says are “holden.” Their recognizing Jesus is prevented, reserved by the Lord for a dramatic and necessary revealing. Something that happens several times after the Lord’s resurrection.

Worried Walking

Many people today are walking their own Emmaus roads. Walking in confusion, walking in ignorance, walking in doubt. They have questions, they are asking these questions but they still walk in ignorance because, like the disciples they lack the full understanding of the Resurrection and the Word of God. Also like these travelers, they can’t see Jesus, walking beside them, reaching out to them, willing to make them understand, but they walk still in confusion because  they can’t see how a risen Savior Jesus fits into the daily events of their own life.

In fact, this isn’t just true for individual lives, its true of all events, all history, all lives and all the future, none of it makes any sense and will only result in confusion unless we see Jesus in the center of it all. History only makes sense if we understand that it is His story. Then and only then can we see the hand of God setting up empires, kings, kingdoms and the very events of time for the purpose of bring His Son into the world through His nation Israel. And that same great hand of power and fate that sets up nations in order to bring salvation into this world, is the same great power that brings salvation to us. If we could see the twists and turns of providence that brought us to our own day of salvation is would utterly amaze and humble us.

The events of this world only make sense when Jesus is understood as its center and our lives will only make sense when He is the center of our soul.

Listen to Colossians 1:16-18 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Like the song that we often sing, “Its not about me, its not about them but its all about Him!”

Back in our narrative, we see something that is characteristic of Jesus. He quietly walks joins himself to the two travelers, and instead of immediately setting them straight and giving them all the answers, He first asks them to tell Him what is happening. Look at verse 17

Questioning and Considering – Luke 24:17- 24

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

Incognito Christ

Jesus joins the conversation. Jesus asks them what are you discussing? Now, If anyone knew what they were talking about, if anyone understood all the details of the events of the last few days, it was Jesus. But here His is incognito and so instead, He acts as if He is totally unaware. “What are you talking about and why are you sad?”

You can see how amazed Cleopas is by the first question he asks in response, Luke 24:18 Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? In other words, “Have you been in total isolation all the time you were in Jerusalem? Don’t you know all the things that have happened in the last week?” 

Jesus’ response shows a bit of humor He says, “What things?” He had to be smiling when He said that.

So, they begin to tell their new traveling companion about “Jesus of Nazareth” about himself. He was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. They tell of the conspiracy to murder Him. They tell of their faith that he was the Messiah, the redeemer of Israel. They tell how long it’s been since he had died, they are now on the third day passed.

To add to their confusion, they heard a report that morning as they prepared to travel home. Luke 24:22-24 certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Their explanation tells us a lot about why Jesus hid his identity from them and why they were so confused.

They called Jesus a great prophet, a miracle worker and hoped that He was the Messiah who would free Israel. But they did not call Him the son of God. They did not call Him the Savior of Mankind. They still did not understand who Jesus fully was.

They did not realize that Jesus was not just a man, or prophet and a miracle worker, therefore, they could not comprehend how He could overcome His own death. They didn’t yet understand the necessity of His death and they weren’t even sure is they could accept the testimony of the women who reported the tomb was empty and angels saying, “He is not here.”

They had only confusion instead of confidence, only fear instead of faith. They were hopeless instead of hopeful because they did not fully know who Jesus was.

Seeking Answers With the Savior

As we read this account, it reminds me that Jesus often comes into our lives the same way.  He doesn’t barge in, he doesn’t demand, or start taking control of our life when you first meet Him. He begins quietly, slowly, almost imperceptibly and suddenly you realize, Whoa, I’m walking and talking with Jesus, the creator, savior, lord and King.

That encounter with Jesus may begin with a family member, a friend, a co-worker or a shared scripture. It almost always involves questions, life questions, spiritual questions, practical question, eternal questions.

Until we start asking those questions and searching for Jesus, most of life doesn’t make sense most of the time. We have questions; why is sin is so strong, why does evil seems to win so often, why do terrible, painful, hurtful things happen to so many good people?

Even, these disciples who had known Jesus personally, had heard him preach, watched him heal are dazed when life took a turn they didn’t see coming, they didn’t know what to think. They had no good answers. They were left with only their confusion and their questions. And yes, that’s just like us, sometimes when our life takes those unexpected turns or worse those expected crashes.

Nor is this new. We find many in the Bible, people like the psalmist Asaph, who struggled with his questions.

Psalms 73:1-14 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

And when those times come in our lives, and they will always come, always, when they come we stop, pause and need to look around us, for whether we realize it or not, Jesus is right there. He is walking beside us and He is the only One who has the hope, the comfort, the answers we so desperately need in the times hurt and confusion.

Look at the answers He had for Cleopas and his traveling companion. Look at vs. 25

 Expounding and Explaining – Luke 24:25-27

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Christ Quiets The Questions

Let’s break down what Jesus says when he corrects their thinking. First, He says, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe.”

Why did Jesus call them fools? At the Sermon on the Mount, He said to call a brother a fool is to bring judgment upon ourselves. You probably know this but just in case you run into an scoffer who think the Bible contradicts itself, the word used in Matthew 5:22 is a different word than the one used here. The word in Matthew is a word that denotes contempt, it is term reserved for the wicked and should not be used when talking about or to brother in Christ. This word has the meaning of foolishness, not understanding, of simply being unwise.

Slow in heart is a very appropriate phrase, we immediately know what Jesus is saying. He is talking not about their intellect but about their spirit, their heart, their faith.

Because of their misunderstanding of scripture and their hesitancy in trusting the Word of God they were left with confusion, questions, doubts and fears.

Then the Bible says that Jesus taught them, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” What a Bible lesson that must have been.

Years ago, W. A. Criswell the much-loved and admired pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas would preach a message during their watchnight services on New Years Eve. He would begin in Genesis and trace the foreshadowing, the prophecies, and the types of Jesus Christ. He called that sermon, “The Scarlet Thread Through The Bible.” He began at 7 PM and would finish by midnight. Let’s see that a 5 hour message. I feel bad when I go over 45 minutes. I’m sure they took some breaks in that marathon message but that is quite the feat for both the preacher and the people in the pew. They still sell Criswell’s book with that message reprinted and you can read it for yourself. See if you can do it in 5 hours.

I wonder how long it took Jesus to expound this first “Scarlet Thread” message that day to these disciples on the Emmaus Road.

We don’t exactly where Jesus started, with Moses means in the Books written by Moses so it would include Genesis. Nor do we know all that He included but His story begins in Genesis and can be traced like that scarlet thread in every book of the Old Testament. He expounded, which means He explained, He taught, He showed them plainly, what the Bible said about the Messiah and how that the Messiah had to suffer, to prove that He was truly the Messiah.

It could have been passages like…

Genesis 3:15 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Numbers 21:8  8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

Isaiah 53 3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4    Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6            All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7    He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth

Or Psalms 22:14-18 or  Psalms 69:20-21 or so many others. Jesus could have tautht for hours. Emmaus was 8 miles away from Jerusalem and if they walked 2 miles an hour that would be at least 4 hours that Jesus could expounded all this and yet He still doesn’t reveal himself.

Christ Quiets Our Questions

Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to walk with Jesus those hours on the Emmaus Road and hear Him teach from the Old Testament, the scriptures the Jews call the TaNak, and what Luke called, “Moses and all the prophets.” No wonder later they would say Luke 24:32 Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

When you are seeking answers, nothing will give you the comfort of hope like God’s word. We all have our own Emmaus road where we often walk in confusion, fear and hopelessness. Along that road we often stive to find answers. We turn to friends, or family, or perhaps philosophy or science, but the only place we can turn to that will light the fire of hope and understanding is to the Word of God. If Jesus used it to answer their questions, shouldn’t we be turning to it for ours? Shouldn’t we be turning to God’s word for answers when our family is struggling with the unknown, our church is hurting from apathy, our friends are lost in sin and our nation is sinking in despair and disunity?

Turn here, turn to the word of God, it declares itself to be the hope, the help and the healing we need in times of doubt, fear and confusion. 

Psalms 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The Wealth of the Bible all in my suitcase

I was quite a fan of Tennessee Ernie Ford when I was little because my grandfather left me a record player and an album of hymns by Tennessee Ernie. I still am a fan. I hear that clarinet into to 15 Tons and I’m singing away.

In an introduction to a hymn on that album my grandfather left me, he says this, “The story is told of a young man who was preparing for a long trip. He told his friend, “I am just about packed. I only have to put in a guidebook, a mirror, a microscope, a lamp, a telescope, a volume of fine poetry, a package of old letters, a few biographies, a book of songs, a sword, a hammer, and a set of books I’ve been studying.” “But you can’t get all that into your bag,” said his friend.  “Oh, yes I can,” he replied. “It doesn’t take much room.” With that, he placed his Bible in a corner of his suitcase and closed the lid.”

The answers you need are in the book, place it in the corner of your life’s luggage and then bring it out often, look in the Word of God and you will find the answers you need.

Through all this lesson, Jesus does not reveal himself nor do the disciples recognize Him. We are not told anything but that “their eyes were holden.” I think that means this is something God did as a way of making Jesus’ resurrection all the more amazing and real to them. But those holden eyes are about to be released in another very characteristic way of Jesus. Look at vs 28.

Conclusion: The Broken Bread – Luke 24:28-34

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. …… And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, (absolutely, without a doubt, literally and positively) and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Dining With the Disciples

Jesus took the bread, broke and blessed it. Isn’t this Jesus way? The ceremony of breaking the bread and asking the blessing was the responsibility of the master of the home, just as it is today, I might add. But when an important or honored guest is present, the master of the home will ask the guest to say the blessing.

And so Jesus, the one who had walked with them, had expounded scripture to them, had given them hope again, when He asked the blessing, “Blessed art Thou, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.” This familiar, Jewish blessing of the bread, had been said by Jesus in the presence of the disciples, many, many times before. At the feeding of the 5 thousand, the feeding of the 7 thousand, at every Passover, at every shared meal. Jesus who was the master of every event and every home he entered, would say those words. And when He said them now, they knew. They recognized and understood this is Jesus, the living, risen Savior, the promised Messiah, the Hope of Israel and the Promise of Eternal life. When He took His place as Master and Lord they fully knew this was Jesus Lord of Lord, Son of God, Savior of mankind, and now the Conqueror of sin and death.

Mastered by The Master

If you are struggling with questions, dealing with doubts, fightings the fears of life, then you also need an Emmaus Road experience like those disciples. We all do, we all need to walk and talk with Jesus.

We need Jesus walking beside us, quieting our questions. We need His word calming our confusion and we need our closed eyes opened so we can truly see Him. When Jesus blessed and broke the bread that day, He blessed their hearts and broke through their doubts and fears. When Jesus walks with you, when you hear His word, when He breaks the bread of life to you, then this life and the life to come will hold no doubts or fear, only the assurance and hope of Jesus beside you.