Eyes Opened on the Emmaus Road

Luke 24:12-35 

Have you ever been in a season of life where you thought you understood God's plan, only to be left confused and disheartened when events didn't unfold as you expected?

I know we went through that a couple of times in our married life.

I remember when I worked for the curriculum company that we use, Michelle, Elizabeth and I were travelling together all over the western states.

It was tough at times, but it was great.

I got a call from my boss saying that they were changing their procedures, and we could no longer travel with our families.

I really struggled with knowing what was God’s will for us.

Should I quit?

Should I keep going out alone, and leaving my wife to raise our child on her own for weeks at a time?

This is not how I envisioned being able to raise our children.

It took time, but God moved us to a new ministry.

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.” – William Cowper

The disciples on the road to Emmaus knew that feeling.

Their hopes seemed crushed, but an encounter with Jesus transformed their sorrow into joy.

This passage speaks to us today, reminding us that Scripture opens our eyes to God's greater plan.

It reveals that Jesus is walking with us, even when we don’t recognize Him.

Today, we will discover how despair can give way to hope when our understanding is corrected through Scripture, how the fellowship of communion can ignite our hearts, and how that experience compels us to declare His truth.

I. The Disciples' Despair

(vv. 13-24)

A. Confused by Circumstances 

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

The disciples were traveling from Jerusalem, walking away from what they thought was the end of a failed hope.

Their faces were downcast, their spirits heavy.

Even though Jesus joined them, they were kept from recognizing Him.

Despair had clouded their spiritual vision.

How often do we walk in confusion and sorrow, failing to recognize that Jesus is walking with us?

He has a plan, but we don’t see it.

“When you cannot trace His hand, trust His heart.” – Charles Spurgeon

In difficult seasons, we may feel abandoned, but Christ is nearer than we think.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I so focused on my disappointment that I cannot see God's presence?

Corrie Ten Boom once said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

B. Concerned with the Crucifixion 

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 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? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

They shared their grief, explaining that they had hoped Jesus was the one to redeem Israel.

But the crucifixion shattered their expectations.

They completely misunderstood God's plan, They expected a political victory rather than spiritual redemption.

Isaiah 55:8–9 KJV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

This reminds us that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours.

What seems like defeat may actually be God's path to victory.

A pastor once said: “Sometimes God lets you hit rock bottom so that you will discover that He is the Rock at the bottom.”

How often do we misunderstand God's plan because it doesn't align with our expectations?

Our disappointments are often rooted in partial understanding.

Trusting in God's greater plan brings peace, even when the road seems uncertain.

C. Confounded by the Claims

22 Yea, and 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.

The ladies that came to the empty tomb told them about the angelic visit, but they remained skeptical.

They had the facts but not the faith.

You know, it's possible to hear God's Word and still walk in confusion if we don't allow Scripture to shape our understanding.

Sometimes we come to Scripture with a preconceived idea of what it says…and we miss out on God’s plan and will for us.

There are also many times when we should be coming to God’s Word and letting it transform our heart, come empty handed and let God move us…but we come to church, sit through a sermon, and walk away unchanged.

II. The Savior's Scripture Lesson

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

A. Correction of Their Confusion

Jesus lovingly rebuked their slowness to believe what the prophets had spoken.

O fools, and slow of heart to believe…

It may not feel loving, but it was.

He highlighted their limited understanding of Scripture.

Despair often comes from misunderstanding God's Word.

Many people have been told that God’s Word says you need to be good enough…your good must outweigh your bad…that’s discouraging.

It’s discouraging because we don’t understand what Scripture truly says.

We are discouraged because we don’t understand what God’s Word says about our trials.

We are discouraged because we don’t understand what the Bible says about our families.

When we study Scripture and grasp God's true plan, and obey, our hearts find peace.

Have we been neglecting the truth of God's Word, relying more on emotion than revelation?

B. Clarification Through the Word 

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Jesus began with Moses and the prophets, explaining how all Scripture pointed to Him—His suffering and His glory.

I used to know a guy in Texas, His name was Richard, He would go out soul winning, witnessing to people door to door.

Now most people that do that memorize key verses and give them enough Scripture to understand God’s plan of salvation…Oh but not Richard.

He would start in Genesis and witness throughout the Bible.

Nothing wrong with that, we used to joke about it…but the truth is the people he witnessed to, really knew the truth!

that’s what Jesus does here.

From the very beginning we are told of Christ’s victory over sin.

Genesis 3:15 KJV

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.

Isaiah 53 describes the suffering servant.

Psalm 22 details the crucifixion.

The whole Bible tells the story of redemption.

Just as a lighthouse guides ships safely to shore, Scripture guides our souls to Christ.

When our understanding is shaped by the Word, we can find peace even in the storm.

When confusion and doubt arise, let us run to God's Word.

It is there we find clarity and comfort.

Are we making time for the consistent reading and study of Scripture?

III. The Disciples' Discovery

I love this part of the story.

They got to where they were going, and Jesus makes it seem that he is going to go further.

Of course He knows their future, He knows that they will invite him to stay, which is what they do…

A. Invitation to Fellowship

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 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.

As they reached Emmaus, the disciples urged Jesus to stay.

I love that Jesus doesn’t impose on them.

He doesn’t assume they will invite Him, even though He already knows they will.

He is a gentleman.

If you want Him in your life, you are going to have to invite Him in.

They men they didn’t fully recognize Him, yet they felt drawn to His presence.

Are we inviting Jesus into every moment of our lives, especially in our times of confusion?

Christ will never force Himself upon us, but He responds to a heart that seeks Him.

So there was an Invitation to Fellowship made, that led to an…

B. Illumination at the Table 

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

It was during the breaking of bread that their eyes were opened.

They recognized Jesus in the simple act of fellowship.

Sometimes, it is in the most ordinary moments—a quiet time of prayer, the sharing of a meal, or a whispered prayer—that Jesus makes Himself known to you.

I’ve experienced it driving in my car alone, sitting on a dock by a lake, sitting on a front porch.

Those still quiet times that God speaks to your heart.

Our experiences at "the table" with Jesus, whether in communion or an intimate fellowship with each other, can bring revelation to our hearts.

Make room for quiet, reflective times with Christ where He can reveal Himself to us?

C. Ignition of Their Hearts 

32 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?

After recognizing Jesus, they reflected, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way?"

The Word of God, being explained and revealed, really stirred a passion and clarity inside of them.

“The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God.” – A.W. Tozer

Have you experienced that heart-burning moment when Scripture spoke directly to your soul?

That is God's invitation to deeper fellowship.

Seek to cultivate those moments by meditating on God's Word.

D. Immediate Declaration 

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

The disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem, eager to share the good news: "The Lord is risen indeed!"

An authentic encounter with Jesus compels us to share the Gospel with others.

When Jesus transforms our hearts, we cannot help but declare His truth.

Who is God calling you to share your testimony with this week?

Conclusion

The journey to Emmaus is more than a historical account; it is a spiritual picture of our walk with Christ.

We all experience moments of confusion and despair, but the Scriptures are God's light to guide us.

The Holy Spirit’s job is to illuminate Scripture to us.

1 Corinthians 2:12 KJV

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

We too can have these moments of illumination.

As we engage with God’s Word, Christ opens our eyes, ignites our hearts, and compels us to go out and declare His truth.

If you find yourself confused about God's plan, turn to the Bible.

Invite Jesus to walk with you, and allow His truth to bring clarity and peace in your life.

And when your heart burns with the joy of discovery, share that message with others.

The State of the Bible report released by The American Bible Society showed the lowest regular biblical engagement since the survey began ten years before.

In the survey they asked concerning their believes about the Bible containing everything for a meaningful life.

32% disagreed

31% somewhat agreed

37% Agree Strongly

Ok that is still 68% saying that it is at least somewhat true.

So why then does that same report show this:

Only 9.7% said they read their Bible everyday

Only 3.2% said they read their Bible 4 or more times a week.

Combined that is 12.9%

Then it goes to Once a week 9.7%

Several times a month 10.8%

Once a month 9.7%

That combined —once a month or more is 43.1%

It seems that number ought to be higher, certainly for the regular engagement with the Bible.

We take the Bible for granted.

“A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” – Charles Spurgeon

There is a powerful video of a tribe receiving the Bible in their language for the first time.

As they opened the pages, their eyes were filled with tears, and they whispered, "Now we can see Jesus clearly."

As the first package of Bibles were carried off the plane and handed to the pastor He called the whole tribe together in prayer.

As he cried out his prayer so all could hear him you can see grown men wiping away tears and visibly moved as they praised God that they could read God’s Word in their own language finally.

Do we take for granted that we hold the Word of God in our hands?

Just like the disciples at Emmaus, This peoples heart burned within them.

May our hearts burn with passion when we open the Scriptures, knowing they testify of Christ.

Let us walk with eyes opened and hearts ignited, ready to declare to the world, "The Lord is risen indeed!"

Someone once said, “The Gospel is only Good news if it gets there in time.”