EASTER (3)

Years ago Cindy, Megan-who was an infant, and Kenny and Melba, from our church were traveling from Allyn, WA to Casa Grande, AZ to assist with some family issues.

I had been in seminary class all day and I snuggled in the back seat and let Melba drive. I slept for some time but was awakened as the car began to slow down.

I looked around and was struck by the intense fog surrounding the car. Since we hadn’t planned on stopping so soon I asked Melba why we were slowing down.

Her answer: “Pastor, it is so foggy I’ve been following the white line on the right side of the highway.” And the line lead to an exit in Grants Pass - which was hours away from our destination!

The fog was as thick as I’d ever experienced. We finally broke through the fog as we climbed the Siskiyou pass!

We were prepared for a long journey, and with three adult drivers leaving Cindy to care for Megan we hoped we could drive without needing a hotel room. (Josh was being cared for by another church family - not left home alone - even at his precocious age of 4!)

Jesus had always known that Jerusalem was His destiny. Earlier He had remarked,

Luke 13:33 HCSB

Yet I must travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem!

Three times during the journey Jesus began with Peter, James, John, and Andrew Jesus had told these followers exactly what lay in store at the end of His journey: betrayal, arrest, trial, death and resurrection.

Each time Jesus shared these details the gospel writers all tell us that none of those closest to Jesus knew or understood His words.

There was a small group that followed Jesus all the way: John the beloved disciples, some of the women, including Mary the mother off Jesus, and a friend from Arimathea named Joseph.

Peter and the other disciples closest to Jesus (now just 10 of them) were in hiding.

Those who stayed till the end of the journey heard Jesus speak from the cross:

John records Jesus speaking one word : “Tetelestai.” In English it means: ‘It is finished.’ Luke then records Jesus’ last words:

Luke 23:46 HCSB

And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” Saying this, He breathed His last.

From the view of those at the cross the journey was done.

Even the followers who were in hiding recognized that the journey is over.

Luke 24:21 HCSB

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.

Cleopas and a companion were traveling home to Emmaus. Passover, for which they had been in Jerusalem, was done.

As they walked a stranger came beside them. The road was likely full of travelers headed both directions.

This man, overhearing the discussion, asked

Luke 24:17 HCSB

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 original language is captured best in the Amplified Bible:

Luke 24:17 AMP

And He said to them, What is this discussion that you are exchanging (throwing back and forth) between yourselves as you walk along? And they stood still, looking sad and downcast.

Cleopas and his companion literally were stopped in their tracks by the stranger’s question.

Their discussion/exchange of thoughts is explained by Cleopas:

Luke 24:19–24 HCSB

“What things?” He asked them. So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, 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.”

We were hoping…

These two travelers were so trapped by their past they were unable to see the truth that had asked them the question.

The Gospel according to Luke The Road to Emmaus (24:13–32)

“Their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” The Greek for “prevented,”

Their ‘blindness’ was not just the result of grief, but also an act of God with a distinct purpose, to be revealed in vs. 31.

The summary of their conversation reveals the hopelessness and loss of direction all Jesus’ earliest followers experienced.

A prophet powerful in action and speech

It would have been unlikely for anyone in Jerusalem for that Passover to have not heard about Jesus.

Most regarded Him at least a prophet, whom God had empowered to speak and act on God’s behalf.

our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death

They affirmed that the death of Jesus at the hand of the Romans was at the hands of the chief priests and leaders.

We were hoping…

a). Hoping he was the one to redeem Israel

Why would the Jews look for redemption? If you recall, at Jesus’ presentation at the Temple celebrating his circumcision and naming a prophetess named Anna came to Jesus’ family -

Luke records the incident:

Luke 2:38 HCSB

At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Romans had occupied Jerusalem and the surrounding territory. Simeon and Anna were among many who were seeking God for deliverance, particularly from the Roman oppression.

b). but..it’s been three days

If Jesus was to act, it is too late according to Cleopas. The opportunity is gone.

c). there is no body! Luke 24:22–24 (HCSB) 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.”

After the devastating event of Jesus’ death, hope was gone. Redemption would have to wait.

Except for some bizarre reports by some women, the journey was over.

Luke 24:25–27 HCSB

He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Messiah have 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.

Or was the journey over?

The stranger, overhearing the conversation between two people whose hopes had been destroyed.

…we were hoping…

Cleopas, his traveling companion, the disciples hiding somewhere because of their fear had all given up hope.

The end of the journey had come.

With Jesus’ body in the grave, the journey had come to its end.For those following Jesus through Galilee, Samaria, and Judea the journey ended at Jerusalem.

Or so they understood.

But is that where Jesus’ journey to joy ended?

Of course not.

Wasn’t it necessary?

The words in the original language suggests a compulsion, a sense of inevitability. This ‘stranger’ reminds these Jewish travelers that all the events which had confused and perplexed them were actions God Himself had decreed for His Messiah, His Anointed One.

For Jesus the journey was not just to the cross; His was not the journey of a martyr.

The journey was not about the tomb.

The journey for Jesus was an enthronement, a return to the glory as the One and Only Son of God, co-equal with the Father, and the Spirit.

John, the only disciple to stay with Jesus through the end of His life would write decades later this about Jesus:

John 1:14 HCSB

The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

As John reflected on his experiences, beginning with the simple call of Jesus - Follow Me - through the despair and hopelessness of the cross and tomb - he saw a thread of glory about this One to whom he would give his entire life.

Then beginning with Moses and the prophets he interpreted for them the things concerning himself…

Cleopas and his companion were still unable to truly see who was speaking with them. That would occur soon after they sat down for an evening meal -

Luke 24:30–31 HCSB

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.

REFLECT AND RESPOND

There are periods of intense fog in every life. Days, weeks, months, and sometimes years where hope has been destroyed by an unplanned event.

For Cleopas and his companion, for the men who followed up the women’s proclamation that Jesus was alive, and for all those who were in hiding for fear, the fog of uncertainty and doubt was thick.

Luke 24:27 HCSB

Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

Don’t miss the importance of this text:

He interpreted…things concerning Himself

Though the eyes of Cleopas and his companion were not yet opened, make no mistake:

THIS WAS THE RESURRECTED JESUS!

Luke 24:22–24 HCSB

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.”

In Jerusalem the women and the disciples were anxiously wondering…could it be true? When the women arrived at the tomb an angel met them:

Luke 24:5–8 HCSB

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered His words.

Those in Jerusalem were confused, but Cleopas and his companion were in the very presence of the One who had defeated death, emerging from the tomb having fully satisfied God’s demand for a sacrifice for sin once for all.

Cleopas later will remark:

Luke 24:32 HCSB

So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”

…in all the Scriptures

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, the one through whom all things were made, the one in concert with the Father and the Spirit inspired the words of the prophets, poets, and others who wrote God’s Word -

The tool He uses to explain - HIS WORD

In the fog of their grief and confusion these two may not have known till later that it was Jesus with them.

We have no excuse.

He is Risen from the dead.

He is present among us.

His Word is the testimony confirming His presence.

As we celebrate Easter let me ask:

Will you acknowledge His presence in your life

Receive Him as Lord and Savior

Follow in believers baptism

Publicly declare your new life in Christ with a family of believers

Will you receive His Word as your guide - in the midst of the fog in which we so often find ourselves…in the midst of uncertainty we can take our stand:

HE IS RISEN! HE HAS SPOKEN! HE IS PRESENT AMONG US!