Luke 24:13-35 - The Walk to Emmaus
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
The Bible refers to living the Christian life in many ways.
We see it referred to as a race - which is seen in various Scriptures given in your handout (Hebrews 12:1, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 2 Timothy 4:7, Philippians 3:13-14, Galatians 5:7).
We see battle-like language throughout the Scriptures as well. Consider the armor of God in Ephesians 6:11-17, that we are more than conquerors in Romans 8:37, the resistance we must put up against the devil as seen in James 4:7, and the spiritual warfare that rages against us as seen in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
But one of the most common ways that the Bible uses to illustrate how we live out our faith is shown by the metaphor of walking.
Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us to walk in love. Ephesians 2:10 tells us to walk in the good works that Christ has prepared beforehand. 1 John 2:6 urges us to walk in the same way in which Christ walked as we abide in Him. Galatians 5:16 reminds us to walk in the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 loftily commands us to walk in a manner worthy of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 encourages us to walk by faith and not by sight. 1 John 1:7 reminds us to walk in the light. And 1 Peter 2:21 urges us to follow in Christ’s steps. And this isn’t even all of the references to walking the Christian walk in the Bible!
Today we are going to see two disciples of Christ walking. However, their walk is not one that we should emulate. It is one of sadness and hopelessness. They appear to be completely disoriented. They have missed everything that has happened. They have heard the prophecies of the resurrection and they have heard witnesses to it. Yet, they continue to remain faithless and disillusioned.
However, by God’s grace, Jesus is going to completely change their walk. Their walk is going to go from one of doom and gloom to one of exuberant joy.
And as we go through this message today, I pray that each of you have had your eyes opened to the truth of Christ’s resurrection. I pray that He has drawn near to you and opened your eyes to the truth of the Gospel.
Let’s pray as we get started…
Prayer
Scripture References: Race (Hebrews 12:1, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 2 Timothy 4:7, Philippians 3:13-14, Galatians 5:7); Battle (Ephesians 6:11-17, Romans 8:37, James 4:7, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Walk (Ephesians 5:1-2, Ephesians 2:10, 1 John 2:6, Galatians 5:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 1:7, 1 Peter 2:21)
As we go through our Scripture today, may we see how we are called to rightly walk with Christ. The verses we have today give us four ways that we are called to walk with Christ. The first is…
I. We Are Called to Walk in Resilience (13-24)
I. We Are Called to Walk in Resilience (13-24)
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.
We will see a lack of resilience in these two followers of Christ as they walk. But before we see that, Luke gives us some information that shows us where we are on the timeline after Jesus’s death.
That very day signifies the day that Jesus was raised from the dead. This is still Sunday or the Lord’s Day (see Luke 24:1).
We are told that two of them were going to a village named Emmaus. These two are followers of Christ, and we are given one of their names in the account - Cleopas (v18).
Emmaus was a city of debatable location that we are told here was around seven miles from Jerusalem. Most commentators think they these two disciples were heading home after a long day of being with the other followers of Jesus.
As they were on their way, the are talking together about all the things that had happened. This likely refers to the crucifixion, death, burial, and reported resurrection of Jesus.
Verse 15 gives us some more insight into their conversation…
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
The Greek word for ‘discussing’ here can mean emotionally discussing or debating. They are having an emotive discussion. In their confusion, they are having an intense and lively discussion. They likely have many questions, but are not finding the answers that they are looking for.
In the midst of this emotional dialogue, we are told that someone begins to approach them. Quietly in the background, Jesus draws near and continues walking silently. He is overhearing their conversation. He hears their questions and lack of answers.
Before moving forward, let’s consider a couple of things here…
Do you realize that Jesus is always overhearing your conversations?
Does or should this change how you talk to others?
Listen to Psalm 139:2-3
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
Not only does God hear all of our conversations, He knows our thoughts as well!
May we live in such a way that acknowledges this.
Yes, we should be wise in what we say and avoid careless talk and foolish words. But we also are shown in today’s passage that Christ hears our cries and prayers. He hears our confusion and questions. And He draws near to those who call out to Him. Take heart in knowing that Christ draws near to us even as we struggle.
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.
We see here that they are kept from recognizing Jesus at first. This is a passive verb - meaning that God is acting upon them. He is keeping them from seeing Jesus.
Jerome Smith, in his New Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, makes a good assessment as well.
“We often fail to recognize what we do not expect to see.”
Jerome Smith
These followers were not expecting to see the resurrected Jesus and missed Him even when He was right in front of them.
Let us take a warning from this and not miss Christ working in our lives as well.
Jesus asks about what they had just been talking about - this was not because He didn’t already know - it was a segue to join the conversation.
Luke tells us that the two stand there looking sad. This is an interesting interjection. It shows their doubt of the resurrection of Jesus. They must think the body has been stolen. If they had believed Jesus had risen they would have been overjoyed.
This also shows us the power of depression. These two were so downcast that they were unable to see clearly. And in their depression and disillusionment, the blindness of the followers is shown most clearly in the next verse - which is likely the most ironic statement in the Bible…
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?”
Do you see the amazing irony in this verse?
Irony refers to something that expresses the exact opposite of what is true.
Cleopas is looking at Jesus Christ - the Godman who just suffered every single moment of the trials, beatings, scourging, and crucifixion - and is asking Him if He is the only one who doesn’t know what is going on?
It is obvious that Cleopas is the one who is ignorant of what has just happened! He assumes that Jesus doesn’t know anything all the while not even recognizing Whom he is speaking to!
I am always impressed with the amazing patience and tender mercies of Jesus. The natural response here would be to give a laundry list of how incredibly ridiculous that statement was.
Most of us would go on a rant about how much we suffered and how dare you talk to us like that! But not Jesus…
Listen to Jesus respond…
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.
Jesus allows them to tell their side of the story. He hears where they are. He hears their understanding of what has just taken place.
Jesus is kind to bear with us in our ignorance and confusion. He is patient with us as we seek to find the truth. He draws near to those who are seeking truth - even when they seem to be off base in their thoughts like these two followers are!
This is because He is the only revealer of truth. He is the truth as we see in John 14:6.
As these two followers of Jesus express their current state of understanding, we see them show respect for Jesus as a prophet mighty in deed and word. We see the attributing of the crucifixion upon the religious leaders. But we also see a hopelessness at the end. They say, ‘We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel.’ Yet, it is three days later and they have seemingly lost hope.
This hopelessness seems unwarranted. Listen to the proof that has already been given to them - and this is not considering the many times Jesus had spoken of His future resurrection as well. Listen to them articulate the truth without believing it…
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.”
They acknowledge (yet obviously don’t believe) three amazing testimonies in this interchange:
A) The testimony of the women (Luke 24:8-9)
B) The testimony of the angels (Luke 24:4-7)
C) The testimony of the empty tomb by Peter and John (Luke 24:12, John 20:3-6)
These three testimonies seem clear on what has just happened, yet these followers have refused to believe the witnesses. They lack resilience. The word resilience means the ability to recover, bounce back, or the ability to maintain steadfastness despite opposition.
In their depression, they have been unable to see the truth of the witnesses pointing to the resurrection. Sometimes when we get into a dark place like this, we need someone to come alongside us and speak some hard truth. We need someone to shake us from our slumber. And this is exactly what Jesus does which brings us to our second point…
Scripture References: Luke 24:1, Psalm 139:2-3, John 14:6
II. We Are Called to Walk in Recognition (25-27)
II. We Are Called to Walk in Recognition (25-27)
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Jesus has been very patient. He has let them be heard. But now the truth needs to be presented. Jesus goes on the offensive. He calls them foolish and slow of heart to believe all the prophets had spoken.
That is quite a tough word from Jesus.
By foolish, He means that they have been unwilling to use their mental faculties in order to understand what had happened. And by calling them slow of heart to believe, He refers to their lack of the spiritual awareness in understanding the facts in front of them. There had been plenty of witnesses to them. Not only what we already discussed, but also the entire Old Testament!
Listen to Jesus in John 5:39-40:
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
Jesus, Himself, had clearly taught that the Old Testament bore witness to Him.
This highlights much of the danger of many in the modern church who seek to unhinge from the Old Testament. Sadly, many church leaders today deny the importance of the Old Testament. Yet, the Old Testament entirely points to Christ. Everything builds up to the fulfillment of Christ’s death, resurrection, and glorification.
Jesus, still not being recognized by them, then tells them of the necessity of the sufferings of Christ.
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.
This question is more of a rhetorical question. The answer is, of course, a resounding yes. The crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was necessary because it was prophesied and planned before the foundation of the world. All of human history pointed to this fulfillment. From Genesis 3:15 on, the Scriptures continually show the necessity of the coming Savior.
I would love to have heard Christ moving through the Old Testament and discussing the foreshadowing of the coming Messiah in Scriptures such as Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22:1-19, the Passover in Exodus 12, and Psalm 22 which was quoted by Christ on the cross multiple times. The beauty of this exposition would have far surpassed any man-made sermon in the history of the world. I would gladly take this microphone off and sit and listen to the Savior exposit His own Word!
Pastor Jordan Neal Rogers called this the greatest sermon never recorded. Can you imagine how amazing this exposition of Scripture would have been? Jesus expounding the entire Old Testament for these two followers. Obviously time would have prevented Him from going into every single detail, but He likely gave them an overview of the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies that were fulfilled in Him.
Conservative estimates state that there around 300 prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in Christ’s earthly ministry. I would have loved to have heard Jesus break down many of these. I look forward to the day that I can hear that sermon in heaven.
Despite all of this amazing exposition, these followers of Jesus still did not recognize Him!
Spend some time pondering this.
They had a head knowledge of the truth but their eyes were not opened to it.
Brothers and sisters, God tells us in His Word that He is the one who opens our eyes…
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
The only way we can recognize Christ is by the power of the Holy Spirit. We hear in John 6:44 the following teaching from Jesus:
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Later in John 15:16, Jesus tells His disciples that they did not choose Him but that He chose them. The beauty of God drawing near to us and our response to this is a beautiful picture of the sovereignty of God and man’s responsibility.
I pray that Christ has drawn near to you and that, as we will see in a moment for these two followers, that He has opened the eyes of your heart toward Him. If you have not already, respond to His free gift of salvation. Be sure you haven’t just attained a head knowledge about Christ - be sure that you actually have Christ.
Next, we see that those who follow Christ are also called to…
Scripture References: John 5:39-40, Genesis 3:15, Genesis 22:1-19, Exodus 12, Psalm 22, Ephesians 1:18
III. We Are Called to Walk in Remembrance (28-31)
III. We Are Called to Walk in Remembrance (28-31)
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.
Jesus acts as if He is going further but is urged by the men to stay with them. He sovereignly knew what was happening. But see Jesus’s kindness here. We also see the beauty of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility again in this interchange. Jesus drew near to them and then they responded by desiring more time with Jesus.
These two disciples of Christ sought to hear more from Him.
My friends, when Jesus draws near to you, do you seek to be with Him?
As believers, we should desire more time with the Lord. He draws near to us and we should seek to spend time with Him in prayer and through reading His Word.
We see that these two followers see some kind of leadership in Jesus here because they allow Him to be the one who leads the meal. His beautiful exposition of the Scriptures must have let them know that He was a spiritual authority of some kind.
As the leader of this meal, Jesus takes the bread and blesses it. He then proceeds to break it and give it them.
This is no less than a picture of the Lord’s Supper. Listen to the similarity seen in Luke 22:19:
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
We discussed this wonderful account a few weeks back. We discussed how the bread was symbolic of the body of Christ which was broken for us. He is our substitutionary atonement. He died in our place and took the punishment that we deserved so that we could be saved.
But notice a key word in this account as well. We are to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Christ.
Unfortunately, these disciples had failed to remember Christ’s words and they had failed to recognize Christ… that is, until verse 31…
And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
Upon breaking the bread, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. This is a supernatural revealing of Jesus.
In verse 16 we discussed the passive verb used and how that showed God’s divine working in the situation.
Now we see another passive verb with their eyes being opened. God has given sight to these men who were unable to see.
Many commentators think that as He broke the bread, the nail-pierced hands of Jesus were visible to the disciples. The veil was lifted from their eyes and they were able to see their Messiah right in front of them. There was no doubt in Whom they were gazing upon.
Yet, as soon as their eyes were opened, Jesus vanished from their sight. Why He vanished so quickly is a mystery to us. But we see the amazing ability of His resurrected body. He was able to appear and draw near to them, and now to disappear and teleport.
These disciples certainly walked in remembrance after this interchange… which brings us to our final point…
Scripture References: Luke 22:19
IV. We Are Called to Walk in Revelation (32-35)
IV. We Are Called to Walk in Revelation (32-35)
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?”
Reflecting on what had just happened they realize the amazing encounter they had just experienced.
They talk about the burning within them as Jesus taught the Scriptures.
Do you experience that burning feeling when the Scriptures are being preached or taught?
Do you sometimes feel a burning inside your heart - conviction, excitement, or something else?
This is the Holy Spirit working in you as the Word is being preached.
The real question is what is your response to it?
Do you leave the church building only to douse the burn with the watered down things of the world? Or do you fan to flame that kindling within you by reflecting on the Word of God and His Spirit working within you?
Sadly, many of us love the feeling of a burning heart while in church. Yet, we leave the service without dedication to fanning the flame of heart change.
God will do amazing things through His Word, my friends. Many people’s lives have been forever changed through a sermon, Bible teaching, or even personal reading at home. But that change can only occur by allowing the Holy Spirit to move and work.
Don’t settle for just a burning heart. Allow the Lord to do His mighty work of sanctifying you - making you more like Christ - by spending time in prayer and meditation on His Word.
Allow the flames of conviction to burn away the sin in your life. Allow the flames of conviction to ignite in you a passion to read the Scriptures and to pray more regularly. Allow the flames of conviction to refine you in ways only the Lord can do.
When you leave this place, think on the message that you have just heard. Read over the Scripture for today. Allow the Lord to work in and through you.
We must not only be hearers of the Word - we must be doers (James 1:22-25).
Listen to the response of these men. They didn’t just have this experience and go back to life as usual…
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.
These two disciples turn and go back toward Jerusalem. They tell the 11 disciples what had just happened and testify to the resurrection of Jesus.
The disciples are now referred to as the Eleven instead of the Twelve because Judas had betrayed Jesus. However, we learn in John 20:24 that there is one disciple missing from the remaining group. Thomas is not there. But they are still referred to as the Eleven - meaning the original group of disciples despite one being missing.
It appears that the entire company of people present are exclaiming the truth of the resurrection. They are having church!
We are told that Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter as well earlier that day! We see this attested to in 1 Corinthians 15:5-6.
This gathered group of believers is celebrating the truth of the resurrection. They are overjoyed at the thought of their victorious Savior.
This is another reason why it is so important for us to continue gathering together in fellowship as a church. We are to gather together and discuss what Jesus is doing in and through us as well.
If we want that fire to be kindled that we just discussed, gathering as a body of Christ is a necessary fuel for that fire.
As we sharpen one another, the flames grow higher (Proverbs 27:17). As we encourage one another to be ready for the return of Christ, the flames grow higher (Hebrews 10:24-25). As we celebrate the salvation of new souls and the baptism of them, the flames grow higher.
That’s what true believers do! They testify to the truth about the Christ! They tell others what He is doing in and through them. Don’t be satisfied with a head knowledge. Respond to the revelation of Jesus Christ - His truth revealed though His Word and preached about by His people.
Scripture References: James 1:22-25, John 20:24, 1 Corinthians 15:5-6, Proverbs 27:17, Hebrews 10:24-25
Conclusion:
As we come to a close, we have seen four amazing points for us to remember.
We must walk this Christian walk with resilience. Things are going to get difficult, yet we must remain steadfast and not waiver.
We must walk in recognition of the true Jesus Christ. We must not be blinded by the cares of this world.
We must walk in remembrance of Christ. We do this through the Lord’s Supper, through reading His Word, and through gathering together.
And we must walk in the full revelation of Jesus Christ. We must know Him as He is. Not just with a head knowledge, but with a Holy Spirit revelation of Jesus Christ as the Great I Am, the Prince of Peace, our Savior.
This Holy Spirit revelation of Jesus should drive us to our knees in repentance and faith.
May we walk by faith and may we walk by supernatural sight - having the eyes of our hearts graciously opened by Jesus.
