The Word Alive

The Emmaus Road

Historical context places the events of Luke 24 the day of the resurrection.

Parallel text is in Mark 16:12-13

Why were the two disciples leaving Jerusalem?

Tourism? in 165 B.C. was the Battle of Emmaus during the Maccabean Revolt. This might be an opportunity for some sight seeing. Josephus details it is his book Of The War vol. 2.

When Josephus writes of an Emmaus in the hill country of Judah, he puts the distance from Jerusalem at 30 stadia (Josephus, Jewish War, 7.6.6). (7 miles, 14 round trip)This can be reconciled with Luke’s account if 60 stadia indicates the total distance, including the return trip. Mozah, a first-century site in the hill country, matches this reference and seems to be the most likely location of biblical Emmaus (Notley, Bridge, 36811 Brandon Ridley, “Emmaus,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

Sixty stadia was about seven miles. Apparently more than one place in Palestine was called Emmaus (1 Maccabees 3:57; 4:3; Josephus reports a different one). The exact site of Luke’s Emmaus is no longer known11 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 243.

What are they talking about?

The two disciples are talking along their way about what has transpired over the recent days and this is where we pick up an unlikely companion--Jesus. Jesus appears to the pair and joins their conversation.

Jesus continues his rabbinical role of teaching and reveals to the traveling duo the Hebrew texts that say the messiah must suffer and die and rise from the dead.

Jesus acts as if he is going to continue on. This attempt but also expected invitation is part of Jewish hospitality.

Jesus takes the bread loves with his disciples. Thus stepping into the role of the head of the household and extending hospitality to his guests.

Meal time has come and this echoes the Upper Room with the disciples.

In the action of the taking, blessing, breaking, and giving Jesus is recognized.

They’ll know you are mine by how you love one another. What does love look like?

Phil. 2:4-11

Proclamation>Invitation>transformation>celebration

Disciples respond “Were not our hearts burning within us when he opened the scriptures to us?”

Christian resurrection involves far more than the limited idea of a disembodied spirit surviving physical death. The resurrection involves physical reconstitution and an undoing of the physical, as well as spiritual, effects of sin. Resurrection involves the rehabilitation of the physical order, both for human beings and for the cosmos itself (see 1 Cor. 15). This sudden, dramatic appearance terrifies the disciples, who think that Jesus is a ghost (or spirit).11 Craig A. Evans, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew–Luke, ed. Craig A. Evans and Craig A. Bubeck, First Edition. (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2003), 525.

Faith comes by hearing

The question?

What am I missing? Fear, doubt, hopelessness, brokenness, confusion, and wandering.

1. The New Revised Standard Version (Luke 24:30–31)

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight Preventative grace.

a. Disciples were broken, fleeing, in doubt. But they got something right. Without Jesus there was no hope, no promise, no salvation.

Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.””

Romans 10:15 “And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!””

Jesus is known the activity

Matthew 7:16 “You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?”

John 13:34–35“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

Testify: The disciples share their experience with the others.

Christ calls us to know him and receive him. We come to know through our knowledge. We learn how God desired the world. We learn of our great need of His grace. We learn that through Christ we have been redeemed, restored, and made new.

Jesus joins us on the journey.

New life and new activity. We live out the transformed life of living the crucified life.

We invite Jesus into our house.

We are transformed as he celebrates our oneness and shows us how to take, bless, break, and give so that we may live into Christ’s ideals.

Revelation 3:20 “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”

Wesley’s example of Sanctification.

porch, door, and house.

We live sanctified lives and share that experience so that others may recognize, receive, and be transformed. The risen and living Jesus meets us on the road of this world and accompanies us out of our hopelessness and fear to a state of hope, salvation, and promise.

Eucharistic Hope!!