Jesus Unlocks the Scriptures

On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13–32 CSB

Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. But they were prevented from recognizing him. Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked them. So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures. They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”

Why is Jesus central to our Faith?

That might sound like an obvious question, but I really don’t think it’s as obvious as we think.

Most Christians would reference salvation as the reason Jesus came.

Maybe some would talk about his resurrection and defeat of the grave/death.

While those are essential, they actually miss the point that Jesus is the revelation of who God is and where the world is going in the end.

Matthew 4:17 (CEB)

17 From that time Jesus began to announce, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”

In other words…Jesus came to show us how we were created to be in this world. Not just about behavior, it’s about becoming who we already are in Christ.

“You are becoming what you already are in Christ.” -TM

All of Scripture points us to Jesus

Luke 24:27 “Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.”

Luke 24:32 “They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?””

What that does not mean:

It doesn’t mean that Jesus is represented by a particular character in every Bible story.

[For the Bible nerds like me]…Don’t get carried away searching for “types” and “symbols” of Jesus

Instead look for the ways Bible stories remind us of who Jesus is....

It doesn’t mean that every story in the Bible describes what Jesus would do.

The fact that something happens in the Bible doesn’t mean the Bible is endorsing it.

It doesn’t mean the Old Testament is now obsolete or lessened in importance.

It’s common for Christians to say something like, “the OT is under the law, but Jesus set us free from the law…we are now under grace.”

Well, yes, but if we take Jesus at his word, grace has always been who God is. Jesus reminds us that we misunderstood the law to be the full expression of God when in fact the law was pointing us to Jesus.

Matthew 5:17 (CEB) “Don’t even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven’t come to do away with them but to fulfill them.

What it does mean:

However we understand Scripture, it must always align with the Jesus revealed by the apostles and gospel evangelists.

Jesus stands as both the confirmation and the contrast to the stories in the Bible.

There is a prophetic voice throughout the Old Testament that had been preparing the world for Jesus’ arrival.

The fullness of Jesus is revealed in the entirety of Scripture, not just singular verses or stories pulled from their context.

Jesus Christ is the “Rosetta Stone” for Interpreting our World

A Rosetta stone was a large stone that contained the key letters and symbols to unlock the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

In the same way, the revelation of Jesus gives us the key piece of information that brings all that God has said to light.

Jesus Christ is....

The Word in the Beginning (Genesis 1; John 1; Hebrews 1)

He gives Creation its purpose.

Gen 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Father, Son, Spirit)

Christ is the creative nature of God, bringing form and life to all things.

John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”

Heb 1:1-3 “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The Fulfillment of all Scripture (Jn 5:39)

He gives the Bible meaning.

Jn 5:39 “You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.”

The Lamb Slain before the Foundations of the World (Revelation 13:8)

His death brings life to all.

Revelation 13:8. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

The High Priest who Continues to Speak a Better Word (Hebrews 12:18-24)

He is the perfect word of love that testified against all other voices in the world.

Heb 12:18-24 “For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.”