Christ in All the Scriptures
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
Luke 24:13–35
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Introduction
Introduction
We’ve been looking together at Luke’s gospel, and of the past couple of weeks we’ve been able to really delve into the heart of the gospel as we looked at the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, his burial in the tomb, and then his resurrection to life which we considered last week Sunday.
These events are really the focal point not only of the gospel accounts but really of all the Scriptures. From the perspective of the Old Testament, everything was pointing forward to these glorious events transpiring in order that salvation might be brought to mankind. In the New Testament, everything builds on the implications of what took place in Jerusalem at this time.
Last week we looked at the resurrection very briefly. As we considered that, we saw that Jesus appeared to a group of women who then conveyed to the disciples that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. The group of women had gone to the tomb in order to embalm the body of Jesus. When they arrived at the tomb, they found the stone rolled away, and the body missing. You will recall also that I mentioned that Christ had appeared to these women. They had seen the risen Saviour.
That, however, was not to be the only resurrection viewing of Jesus. In fact, it’s interesting to note that Paul makes special mention of the fact that Jesus appeared to numerous people over the span of about forty days which was an affirmation or a confirmation that indeed Jesus had been raised from the dead. It wasn’t a select couple of people that gathered together and made up a story about Jesus being alive. The evidence was extensive, across a vast array of people.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
This morning will be considering one of those appearances of Jesus Christ to two eyewitnesses that were walking on the road to a town called Emmaus.
As we begin our study, notice firstly with me...
1 Christ Concealed (vv.13-16)
1 Christ Concealed (vv.13-16)
Verse thirteen of our passage sets the context for what is about to unfold as Jesus makes this glorious appearance to these disciples.
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
Keep in mind that this was the time of the Passover festival. There were a host of Jews that had gathered in Jerusalem in order to observe the festival and the required feasts.
At this time, we find two disciples walking from Jerusalem where the Passover was being observed, and were heading to a town called Emmaus. The journey according to our text, was 7 miles, which converts to just over 11 km.
It is evident from verses 28 and 29 that these disciples lived in Emmaus. They were on their way back home having observed the Passover.
As we look at verse fourteen, we see what it was that was burdening these men as they walked along the road.
14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
It is very evident from this verse that all that had been unfolding in terms of the trials of Jesus, both before the Sanhedrin and before the Roman officials, along with the crucifixion of Jesus and his burial, was the talk of the town.
These two disciples were walking home discussing these events. Further on in our text, we will find that these two men had in fact believed that Jesus was indeed the Messiah that was to come. They had at least been living with the hope that Jesus was the promised King that would sit on the throne of David. With all that had unfolded with Jesus be putting to death however, we find that they were dismayed. And this is what they were discussing as they walked along the road on the journey home.
These men with us walking along the road, which probably would’ve taken them a good couple of hours, and discussing together all of these events. This would not have been with a sense of hope or eager anticipation terms of looking to the future. Rather, it would be in a discussion of disbelief and disappointment. They were probably dismayed at how they got it wrong.
But all of their misconceptions were about to be radically transformed.
15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
In the midst of them discussing these various matters related to what unfolded, Jesus suddenly appears among them and walks along the road with them. It’s an incredible thought and scene to think about actually. The very man that they believed to be dead comes alongside them as they walk.
However, verse 16 tells us...
16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
It is evident from this verse that their inability to recognize Jesus was because of a veiling of their understanding or their spiritual eyes by God. It’s one of those divine passives - where God is at work, keeping their eyes from seeing and recognizing Jesus.
Now, that does not mean that they did not know how Jesus looked. But I do believe that there was probably some distinguishing features in the resurrected Savior. Although they were great similarities, particularly in the sense that the wounds that Jesus received at the cross remained following his resurrection, a number of the disciples did not actually recognize Jesus when they saw him.
At this point, we find Christ engaging with these men is the walk on the road. He will begin to discuss with them what it is that they are talking about, and he will explain to them what they truly needed to know.
2 Christ Engages (vv.17-24)
2 Christ Engages (vv.17-24)
In Verse seventeen we read:
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast.
Now, Jesus would know precisely what it was that they were talking about as they walked along the road. But his manner of engaging them is one of leading them into this discussion.
As he asks them this question about whether discussing as they walk along the road, we note their posture and their demeanor as they respond. Their faces are downcast. There were dismayed. They were dejected. Just like the woman that going to the tomb and found that the body was no longer there, these men were clearly disappointed at the events that had been unfolding of the last couple of days.
We then read the response from at least one of the men as he explains to Jesus what had been happening.
18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
The man that answered Jesus is named over here. His name is Cleopas. This man Cleopas asks a question to Jesus, quite surprised that Jesus doesn’t seem to understand or know about the events that unfolded over the past number of days.
The question that he asked demonstrates that everyone in Jerusalem really knew about the events that unfolded with Jesus.
“Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem?”
That’s the question that he asks. Clearly, any person who had been in Jerusalem of the time of the festival would’ve known what was happening.
This reminds us of the words of Paul before King Agrippa, as he was defending himself for preaching the Gospel.
26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.
Now, quite clearly, Jesus was very familiar with all the events that had unfolded. But he doesn’t say this outright. Rather, he uses this as an opportunity to prompt Cleopas to offload what’s burdening him.
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
As Jesus asked them to continue to explain to him what things have happened, they explained to him about Jesus of Nazareth.
What’s important to note is how they describe this Jesus of Nazareth. This is important because it goes to show us what their beliefs were in terms of who Jesus was.
Firstly, they say that he was a prophet. This is indeed a true and right description of Jesus as he was in the world. The people had recognised Jesus as being a prophet. In Matthew’s Gospel, we read that this was the testimony of the people when Jesus was entering into Jerusalem…
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
However, we also find this truth coming through from the Old Testament, that God promised a prophet to come and speak His words to His people.
18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.
These words were certainly fulfilled in Christ, as demonstrated in his high priestly prayer in John 17. In part of that prayer Jesus had spoken these words:
8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
These men were certainly correct in their belief that Jesus was a prophet.
They also assert that as a prophet, he was mighty in word and in deed, and this before both God and man.
In Matthew 7:28-29 we read…
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Not only was his teaching with authority, but the works that he performed were mighty. Everything that Jesus did had pointed to the fact that this was the Messiah. The words and deeds were a demonstration of His power and authority.
As these two men continue to relate to Jesus what happened, we read in verse 20...
20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
Notice where they place the blame for the crucifixion of Jesus. They place the blame with the chief priests and their rulers - in other words, the Jewish leadership. They placed the responsibility where it really belonged.
But notice how they convey their disappointment at all that had unfolded.
21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
Here they convey the fact that their hope truly was in Jesus to be the one that would redeem Israel.
This is very important. They had faith in Jesus Christ. They had placed their hope for the redemption of Israel person of Jesus Christ. They had recognized him as the Messiah. They believed that Jesus would be the one that would deliver Israel from her spiritual and political woes.
Now, what had taken place over the preceding days was certainly a challenge of their faith. They now sat with the dilemma of a man that they believed would be the deliverer, being dead.
However, what is interesting is that these men also had not been able to comprehend and process the fact that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead.
They had received the report (which will look at in a moment) but they still did not comprehend the salvation plan of God to have His Son, the Messiah put to death and then to raise his son from the dead on the third day.
Read verses twenty-two and twenty-three with me.
22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
We looked last week at the fact that these women were going to the tomb and found the stone rolled away and that the body was missing.
We also saw that as they stood next to the tomb there were angels that stood next to them and said to them that Jesus was risen.
They then run back to the disciples and reported this to the eleven disciples who were the apostles, and and then they had reported this to the other disciples as well. Clearly, the word about what the women had found was spreading quickly.
However, even as they received this report from these women, they could not comprehend the fact that the Messiah would be put to death and they would come alive again on the third day. It simply did not even factor in in their minds as a possibility.
Next, his disciples confirm that there were companions of theirs that had gone to the tomb and found it exactly as the woman had described, and yet even this did not bring them to understand or begin to comprehend what was happening.
24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
As all of this is unfolding, they remain with the conclusion in their minds that this Jesus that they believed to have been the Savior had died and was no more. There was no thought in their minds that perhaps he had come alive again. They simply continued in this idea that he was dead.
Now, in some senses, we may think that the disciples could be excused for their lack of faith or the lack of understanding as to what happened. However, if we look at what Jesus says to them and how he responds to them we need to come to the conclusion that the lack of understanding in this moment was really a failure to believe what God had revealed in his Scripture.
3 Christ Explains (vv.25-27)
3 Christ Explains (vv.25-27)
Note the response of Jesus to these two disciples in verse 25...
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Perhaps these disciples would have been taken aback at Jesus response in that moment. Jesus says to them that they are foolish. Now, I don’t imagine he meant this in any kind of nasty or derogatory way.
Rather, he would’ve been using this simple means to convey that they had failed to understand and take heed of the very word of God. Wisdom is to hear the word of God and to believe it. On the contrary, to hear the word and to fail to believe it is folly. Or, to hear only part of the word of God, and to believe only select pieces of that word, is also folly.
This is the sense in which these two disciples were being foolish.
Jesus tells these men that they were slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
Two things are important to note here. Firstly, Jesus is telling these disciples that all that unfolded in terms of the happenings in Jerusalem at this time were foretold by the prophets in the years gone by. They ought to have believed.
But secondly, it was necessary that they believed all that the prophets foretold, rather than only parts of it. They certainly believed the parts that spoke of a Messiah. They believed the parts where there would be a deliverer for Israel. They believed in a triumphant King on the throne forever.
But had they believed all that the prophets had said and foretold concerning this coming Messiah? Or were they selective in their beliefs (even if inadvertently).
26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
In essence, what is he saying to these disciples over here, is that what the prophets had foretold and that which had been recorded in the Scriptures was the very fact of Christ needing to suffer particular things before entering his glory. In other words, the fact of Jesus suffering was not anything that had not been revealed to Israel by the prophets over the years.
One commentator notes:
Luke B. Easter Triumph
The trouble with the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day was that, on the whole, in reading the Old Testament they saw only the glory and victory of the Messiah, not the fact that the path to these blessings was one of suffering.
Indeed, the Old Testament Scriptures had spoken in various places about this suffering that would need to be endured.
Even as far back as Genesis 3:15, suffering formed part of the picture of deliverance…
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
The heel of Jesus was indeed struck. He was injured, although not entirely destroyed. But suffering was certainly a part of what was to be expected.
Another example of the anticipated sufferings is found in Psalm 118...
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
Isaiah is probably the clearest prophet in terms of the sufferings that were to be faced by the Messiah
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
These are just a few of the examples from the Old Testament that would spoken to the sufferings of the Messiah. The fact is that God had revealed clearly in his word that the Messiah would need to endure sufferings prior to entering into his glory. Sufferings would be the path to glory for Him.
As Jesus points this out to these two disciples, he does so by posing this as a question.
“Was it not necessary…??”
He was leading them to think through what God had showed through the Scriptures that they had available to them.
But having done this, he proceeded to elaborate on the manner in which the Scriptures of the Old Testament really pointed forward to Jesus, and His entire life and ministry, including what had unfolded over these past days.
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Essentially, what Jesus does at this point is that he takes the Old Testament Scriptures and begins to explain to these disciples how all of those Scriptures spoke about him.
Our verse here says that he began with Moses, which refers to the five books of the law. We can just picture how he would’ve dug deep into those teachings in the law, including the entire sacrificial system, and how he would have carefully explained how all of the law that God had given to Moses was pointing forward to a true Messiah.
He also drew their attention to all the prophets, and explained to them from those various prophetic writings how all that was said through the prophets to Israel in that context actually pointed forward to the Messiah.
This must’ve been a most glorious Bible study. Think about this...
There would be no error in the teaching that Jesus conveyed from the Old Testament concerning himself. This would’ve been the master teacher himself explaining the Scriptures in perfect detail, and with perfect clarity, showing to these disciples how the Old Testament Scriptures pointed forward to himself. It would’ve been a most wonderful experience.
Just in terms of practical importance from this…
We need to see that there is great importance for us not only in the New Testament teachings, but in the Old Testament as well, including all of the Law and the Prophets.
These Old Testament books give an important revelation on the character and nature of God, the righteous standards and requirements of God, that Christ would ultimately come to fulfil.
In other words, as Christians, as those living in the church age, we cannot simply say that we believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and therefore we don’t need the Scriptures of the Old Testament. No! For us to even begin to understand who this Jesus is, what He came to fulfill, and why this was so important, we must look to the Old Testament. We must have a good and solid grounding in the Old Testament, so that we can have a full appreciation of our Saviour.
4 Christ Revealed (vv.28-35)
4 Christ Revealed (vv.28-35)
having spoken extensively to these disciples concerning himself from the Old Testament Scriptures, we come to this place where all that Christ is been saying to these disciples will actually be revealed to them through their eyes being opened to actually see that this was in fact Jesus.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
In this account as they arrived at the village of Emmaus which is where they were going to be staying, Jesus conveyed that he intended to travel further on along the road.
This led them to urged him strongly to stay with them. The reason that they give for having them stay with them is that it was evening and that the day was almost over.
Within that context, it would’ve been very dangerous to travel at night. There was increased risk of attacks or assaults from robbers along the way. Given that they weren’t traveling along smooth tar roads, there was increased risk of physical harm.
The physical risks to Jesus were part of what they were thinking, but it’s more likely that there was another reason behind their insistence.
They had heard Jesus’ teaching along this walk to the village of Emmaus, and they had been profoundly moved and impacted by his teaching. This is obviously playing into their minds far more prominently than what they’re acknowledging to Jesus. We’ll see this come through in a moment.
Jesus heeds their request and he goes in to stay with them. He sits down at the table with them and as he sitting there he takes the bread and begins to break it and to hand it out to and it’s at this point that they actually have their eyes open that they can recognize him.
We must note that what Jesus did here in terms of breaking the bread was usually the role of the host. Jesus here took on the role of host in this house. Very clearly His authority has been established with them already before the meal.
But it’s during the breaking of the bread that their eyes are suddenly opened. Their spiritual eyes are opened in this moment.
There are all kinds of questions and thoughts on what it was specifically about Jesus breaking the bread that led the eyes to be opened. One commentator writes:
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke (2. On the Emmaus Road (24:13–35))
As to whether it was through the actual breaking of bread or through divine intervention that the moment of truth came and the two disciples recognized Jesus, the answer must be that it was through both. Whether the two noticed the nail scars (Luke does not say they did), Jesus’ acting as host led to the recognition. At the same time, the passive verb .... (“were opened”) implies divine action (v. 31), as was the case when Jesus’ identity was hidden from them (v. 16).
In this instance, their eyes were opened by God to recognise Jesus. But immediately as their eyes are opened Jesus disappears from this site.
And suddenly, the realization of all that had been happening over the last number of hours as they had walked along the road made sense.
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
The response from the disciples was that their hearts had been burning within them while they talked with Jesus and he explained the Scriptures along the way.
He had been opening up the Scriptures to them he had been revealing the word of the truth, the word of God to them and this was a revelation that was incomparable to any other kind of revelation that ever taken place because he was revealing how the Scriptures spoke about him.
I don’t want us to miss this. We stand in this side of the cross and all that unfolded, and what we know as Christians through the complete revealed word of God is the full revelation of His mysteries that had not previously been known.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Later on in the same letter, Paul wrote:
1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote…
25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—
All of these passages speak of this mystery that was hidden for ages past and was ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ.
And for these two disciples by God’s gracious and providential working, they were honored to receive first hand from Jesus the very fact that he indeed was the revelation of God of that mystery that had long been concealed.
The Scriptures were opened up to by Christ, concerning who Christ truly was. What a glorious encounter this was.
Having come to this realization, notice how they respond.
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
You will recall that they had said to Jesus that he should not travel further because it’s evening and they didn’t want him traveling into the night.
Suddenly traveling into the evening is of no concern!!
They had revelation and news so important and riveting and glorious that they had to immediately get up from the table and make the return trip to Jerusalem.
I very much doubt they even ate the bread that Jesus had just broken!! They got up, got out of the house, got back on the road, and traveled another 11km straight back to where they’d come from - Jerusalem.
As they arrived in Jerusalem they found the eleven disciples together with a number of other disciples. Clearly the disciples were a close-knit group, and they knew where to find these disciples.
On the other hand, we see that the disciples in Jerusalem were all gathered together… they could not sleep with all that had been unfolding, trying to figure this all out. They’re gathered together.
And these two disciples, coming into the presence of the other disciples, burst with their news!!
34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
The excitement is growing. Not only was it the women that had seen and reported. Not only was it Simon (possibly they had heard about Simon’s seeing Jesus as they had arrived with the other disciples). But they break forth with their own words - it’s true!! We’ve seen it for ourselves!!
All I can say is, what a buzz of excitement must have been filling that room where these disciples had gathered!!
Application / Lessons / Conclusion
Application / Lessons / Conclusion
As we close, I just want to ask one question.
These disciples were thrilled at the reality that Jesus was indeed raised from the dead. These events would transform the world.
Have these events transformed your world?
We should live transformed lives, because the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus, as testified to by eye-witnesses, gives us this eternal hope.
The resurrection of Christ brings hope. Death is not victorious, Christ is. Sin is not victorious, Christ is.
Is He your hope?