By Faith, Not By Sight

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The cantata that we have enjoyed this morning was wonderful, wasn’t it?

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As the narrators spoke and the various ones sang, we have a living hope in Jesus, for he is not dead, but he … is … risen!!!

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On that first Easter Sunday, however, Jesus’ followers were not so confident.

The different gospels share eyewitness accounts of that day a little differently, but when we piece them together, we understand that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome headed to the tomb early that morning to better embalm the body of Jesus than they had done hastily on Friday, as the Sabbath approached.

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When they reached the tomb, they saw the stone rolled away and realized something terrible (at least, that’s what they thought initially) had happened!

Mary Magdalene took off running back to Peter and John to tell them that someone had taken the body of Jesus and they didn’t know where it was.

Mary the mother of James and Salome meanwhile were still at the tomb, and an angel appeared to them to tell them Jesus had risen from the dead.

Peter and John went racing to the tomb and found it empty and then left wondering, although John says he believed. Mary Magdalene headed back to the tomb and while she was there, Jesus appeared to her.

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Can you imagine all the emotions, the fear, the wonder, the anxiety, the hope that the disciples felt that morning? Truly, the initial reports of Jesus’ body gone missing must have felt like a sucker punch.

First, they had watched their Lord suffer and die on the Cross.

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Now, someone had the audacity and the indecency to steal his body?!

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On that same day Jesus rose from the dead, two disciples were going to a village called Emmaus. The location of this village is unknown - Bible scholars have suggested several locations, but the exact location is a guess. It does appear that this village was within a day's walking distance.

We are not told why they were traveling, either. Some have suggested this was a husband and wife returning to the home.

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But… from what these disciples told Jesus on the road, it appears that they had been with the other disciples, or at least heard it from some of the believers, when Mary Magdalene returned from the tomb the first time and then the other ladies returned.

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However, these two believers must have left before Mary returned with the news that she had seen the Lord.

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These disciples were obviously despondent, discouraged, dismayed and confused. They thought Jesus was the promised Messiah, but events did not unfold how they expected.

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Then, at some point on the way, Jesus appeared, drew near and walked with these two disciples. Looking back on this event, it was almost as if Jesus was playing a prank on these two disciples.

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Yet it was much more serious than that. These two disciples had truly believed Jesus to be the Messiah, and now their faith was dashed to pieces.

Luke 24:16–17 ESV

But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.

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Here, we learn the name of one of these disciples - Cleopas. Can you understand the confusion he felt when this fellow traveler asked what was going on?

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Luke 24:18 ESV

Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

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How could this man have been in Jerusalem over the past few days and NOT know about the crucifixion of Jesus? How could this man be ignorant of this mighty miracle worker and teacher that so many of the people believed to be the Messiah?

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Do you see death of hope in Cleopas’ words?

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Luke 24:21 ESV

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

Luke 24:23 ESV

and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

Jesus used this opening as an opportunity to teach these disciples from the Scriptures about himself - the Messiah. Truly, what any of us would give to be there on the road with those disciples, being taught the scriptures from Jesus himself!

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Luke 24:27 ESV

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The reference to Moses, of course, refers to Genesis - Deuteronomy, the first five books of the Bible, which were written by Moses.

So we can assume that Jesus went all the way back to Genesis 1. Did he point out that God said in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”, an inference to the Trinity?

I believe we can safely Jesus pointed out the curse on the serpent that speaks of himself: Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Surely, Jesus pointed out how Noah’s ark of safety prefigures the safety we can experience from God’s judgment as we trust in the Messiah.

Listen as Jesus explained that the promise of blessing through Abraham’s seed referrred not so much to all the Israelites, but to the one - the Messiah - who would bring salvation to the world.

Then, see Jesus make the parallels between the ram God miraculously provided for sacrifice in place of Isaac on the mountain.

It would be too much, of course, to try to list all the scriptures, prophecies, types, and more of the Scriptures that point to Jesus.

Someone has written:

Jesus showed just how the intention and wording of the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures perfectly prepared the way for Jesus to come, minister, teach, heal, exorcise, be betrayed, suffer, die, and enter glory. What happened to Jesus was nothing new and unexpected. God had been preparing Israel for this all along. Scripture was full of Jesus. Any educated Israelite should be able to read Scripture and see Jesus.

Butler, T. C. (2000). Luke (Vol. 3, p. 418). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Someone else has written:

The key to understanding the Bible is to see Jesus Christ on every page.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 279). Victor Books.

We can find Jesus… in God’s Word.

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We know that this time of Jesus’ sharing from the Scriptures (about himself - even though these disciples still had not recognized him) was special, for later

Luke 24:32 ESV

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

But now this traveling party had reached Emmaus, home - or at least the destination - of these two disciples. So Jesus acted as if he would keep on traveling.

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That only makes sense, right? It was not like Jesus would expect these disciples to host him for the night. That would be a bit rude.

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But consider this: what if these disciples had not asked Jesus to stay with them? Would Jesus have continued walking … and these disciples may never have known it was Jesus who was walking with them and interpreting the Scriptures to them that day?

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Have we forfeited opportunities to know and commune with Jesus unawares because we were too busy, too focused on our plans, too consumed with our grief over plans gone awry?

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Luke 24:29 ESV

but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.

These disciples didn’t recognize Jesus yet, but they recognized this man understood scripture and had something they desperately needed.

Interestingly, as they prepared to eat, Jesus acted as if he were the host. This meal almost seems like a reenactment of the Last Supper, minus the wine.

Luke 24:30–31 ESV

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

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It is interesting to note how many signficant events in both Jesus’ ministry and the life of the early Church occurred around the table at mealtimes.

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Remember Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana? Jesus’ feet apparently were washed two different times at suppers. We think of Jesus when Martha got upset with Mary.

After Matthew became a disciple, he threw a party for his friends and the religious leaders were upset. Much later, Jesus invited himself over to Zacchaeus’ house for dinner and a lost son of Abraham was restored.

In the New Testament, Paul had to correct problems of table fellowship in Corinth where the rich would get there first and eat all the food, leaving little for the poor and slaves who could not arrive till later.

In this instruction, we see the implication that eating meals together was a regular occurence for the church and that celebrating the Lord’s Supper was a part of those fellowship meals.

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The most important thing to note here, however, is that these two disciples welcomed Jesus into their home, their fellowship. They did not treat their encounter with Jesus on the road as just idle road talk. They welcomed Jesus into their lives. And they found Jesus, as a result.

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This story we are studying today truly does read almost like a heavenly prank. Two of Jesus’ disciples are discouraged because Jesus has disappeared.

Jesus shows up and explains how scripture is full of himself. Finally, the disciples recognize Jesus is right there before their very eyes!

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Then he disappears!

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What’s the point? Is this more of joke by Jesus?

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Look again at the response of these disciples.

Luke 24:32–35 ESV

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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You might think these disciples would be confused by the sudden disappearance of Jesus. Why would Jesus show himself, only to disappear?

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Instead, the reaction of these disciples was assurance. Now, they knew Jesus was alive. Even though he could not be seen with them, they knew Jesus was with them. Physically, Jesus was not present, but spiritually he was.

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So they raced back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples the good news: Jesus is alive!

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And before they could even get a word out, the others excitedly told them: Jesus is alive!

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Jesus appeared multiple times in the next 40 days or so before he ascended to Heaven. Those post-resurrection appearances were helpful to the believers’ faith, but what they began to learn then and continued to understand was this: we find, we see, we experience Jesus by living in the assurance of resurrection faith!

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This is the same truth all of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior live by. It does not matter how bright and sunny or how dark and dreary the day may be.

It does not matter if times are good or bad. Jesus is alive! And He longs to walk with us each step of our way through life.

Big Idea: Christ calls us to walk by faith, not by sight.

Then, as now…

1. We find Jesus in God's Word

2. We find Jesus by welcoming him into our lives.

3. We find Jesus by living in the assurance of resurrection faith.

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Think about this: when Jesus taught these two disciples on the Road to Emmaus from the scripture, not one book of the New Testament had been written! Even so, you can find Jesus on every page of both the Old Testament… and the New Testament.

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Are you puzzled about what God is doing in the world? Do you want to understand his will for you? Do you need his presence and power? Start by reading God’s Word. You will find Jesus there.

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But also note that we find Jesus by welcoming him into our lives. The old song says,

What a friend we have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer

O what peace we often forfeit O what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer

We must be careful not to compartmentalize our lives, allowing Jesus into some areas but not all. We must not look at our relationship with Jesus as a one day a week or even two or three day a week thing. Jesus wants to walk with us every day, each step we take in life.

We must welcome him in!

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We find Jesus by living in the assurance of resurrection faith. These two disciples were blessed that they actually saw the risen Lord. But as Jesus told doubting Thomas:

John 20:28–29 ESV

… “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

While we most likely will never see Jesus physically during our life on earth, we can welcome him into our lives and truly know him in the power of his resurrection.

We then live by our assurance given by this resurrection faith. We may not see him, like the two disciples after Jesus disappeared, but we know he is alive and we know he is with us.

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This, then, gives us confidence for life.

There is a story about …

A little girl [who] had grown up hearing stories about her brave father who went off to fight in World War II.

Her mother would tell her tales of his courage and kindness, painting a picture with words.

One sunny afternoon, while she was playing in the yard, she looked up and saw a man approaching.

She recognized him instantly, not because of his uniform, but because of the love and warmth from her mother’s stories.

At that moment, the unseen became seen, and hope became reality, just as God promises to reveal Himself to us.

(Source: ai generated, but based on a real illustration I have used in the past)

Just like that little girl, God calls us to walk by faith, not by sight.

We have never seen him, but we know him. He loves and and we love him. And one day, our faith will become sight, when Jesus returns for His Church, his Bride.

But until that time, remember that we find Jesus in God’s Word, by welcoming him into our lives, and in the assurance of resurrection faith.

Let us then live… by faith in Jesus Christ!