Resurrection Joy!

Luke 24:13-35

I don't know- there is no way for me to know what you are bringing with you into this service today. We are glad you are here, and have prayed that you would come. There are many things happening in our country and the world of grave concern. As a pastor, I have been privy to some of the heaviest burdens that people face. I've walked with some here in this audience through those dark seasons. If you've ever experienced overwhelming sorry in this life, you know how devastating that could be. there are moments of such intense agony, that to feel them is to be on the verge of hopelessness. This was certainly the case for the disciples of Jesus after His death on the cross.

For over three years, Jesus had been the topic of conversation from the hills of Galilee to the wilderness of Judea. His ministry and miracles had stirred the land with hopes of deliverance. But the cross had ended it all.

The fact is, Jesus was dead. The Kingdom He talked about had shrunk to the narrow dimensions of a tomb. The robe His followers had hoped He would wear was now a shroud. The throne He was to occupy was now a tomb. Jesus was dead.

The disciples stumbled blindly down Calvary's Hill. Their hopes had ended in a horror of disaster and defeat. Not a man or woman among them believed He would ever live again.

Given these circumstances, our study today focuses on the disciples' journey into a new found joy.

The joy they were able to experience is a joy that’s offered to us today. It’s really the only kind of joy that promises to be durable and beyond this life, and despite whatever circumstances life can throw at us.

We can find joy in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ by following three steps in the disciples journey to discovery of the reality of Easter.

I. The Divine Conversation (vv. 13-24)

As the disciples journeyed to Emmaus, they talked about the things that had happened. Luke records the context of their conversation.

Luke 24:13–14 KJV 1900

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.

As if tossing a ball between them, they talked about the things which had happened, the words He had said, and the sad events leading up to the crucifixion.

While they talked, a stranger drew alongside and walked with them.

They silently listened as the stranger asked them questions and were amazed at His "ignorance." From what they could tell the stranger knew nothing of the events surrounding the death of Jesus (vv. 19-20).

Luke 24:19–20 KJV 1900

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.

Their faith had been shaken.

Luke 24:21–24 KJV 1900

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. 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 disciples really believed in Jesus.

By witnessing His miracles, their now skeptical hearts had once throbbed with belief as they heard Him speak words like no man had ever spoken before.

Now, however, He had been arrested, tried, condemned, and died a violent death on a Roman cross.

How like our world today.

Somewhere in the complexities of our age, faith has been overcome.

Rather than faith in God, humanity has placed faith in technology, politics, philosophy, psychology, history, science, and religion.

God has been removed not only from the sphere of the reasonable but also from the sphere of faith.

Their hope had been shattered.

It is one thing for faith to be shaken, but an entirely different thing for hope to be shattered.

Forgiveness is forfeited when hope is absent (cp. v. 47).

Luke 24:47 KJV 1900

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Since Jesus died, they were still in their sins. Ours is a world with no hope, a world filled with pessimism and despair. In such a world it remains impossible to see any way out. For the disciples, Jesus was the deliverer. Now, however, the deliverer was dead.

Their love was stifled.

The disciples loved the Lord Jesus. His care for them and instruction to them were already being missed.

Indeed it was not difficult to love someone like Jesus. It never is. He had brought them so much joy.

They experienced His miracles in healing blind men, curing lepers, and calming storms.

He called them His family.

The disciples wanted to shower their support and love upon Him. But Jesus was gone; Jesus was dead.

II. The Divine Confrontation (vv. 25-27)

The magnificent stranger began to speak.

Luke 24:25–27 KJV 1900

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.

As He spoke, Christ confronted the two disciples with a three-fold truth.

Jesus revealed prophetic truth.

The stranger whom they had not recognized unlocked their Bible for them in a way they had never recalled.

However, they could not quite put it together.

YeahHe showed them Jesus was the sum and substance of every word on the sacred pages of the Old Testament. For the patriarchs, Jesus was the law's fulfillment; for the Psalmists, Jesus was love's fulfillment; and for the prophets, Jesus was life's fulfillment.

Multitudes of eloquent and learned men have expounded Moses, the Writings, and the Prophets.

Yet no one ever heard such an exposition as the risen Christ gave to the two confused disciples.

He needed no scroll to bring the sacred Scripture to life. He made them see Scripture in a new and living way.

The pages burned with light and direction as He explained their meaning.

They confessed after He left,

Luke 24:32 KJV 1900

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?

We do not have a record of the exact Bible Study that Jesus expounded to them that day, but I recently read something that could cover some of what he wrote.

The late Presbyterian preacher, D. James Kennedy gave this annecdote.

Some time ago I had the opportunity to speak to a man who had no belief whatsoever in the Scriptures as any sort of divine revelation from God. He was a writer who was articulate and well-educated. While he was well-read, he was completely ignorant of any evidences for the truthfulness of the Christian faith and the Scriptures which reveal it. He said the Bible was simply a book written by men, just like any other book. I said, “That’s very interesting. I would like to read some statements to you about someone and have you tell me, assuredly, without question, about whom I am reading.”He agreed and I began to read:

Psalm 69:4 “4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: Psalm 2:2 “2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,” Psalm 41:9 “9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.”

Zechariah 13:7 Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: And I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” Zechariah 11:12–13 So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” Micah 5:1 They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.” Isaiah 50:6 “6 I gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” Psalm 22:16 “16 For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet.” Psalm 22:1 “1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” Psalm 22:7–8 “7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: Let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” Psalm 69:21 “21 They gave me also gall for my meat; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 22:14 “14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted in the midst of my bowels.” Isaiah 53:4 “4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:7 “7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.” Psalm 22:18 “18 They part my garments among them, And cast lots upon my vesture.” Isaiah 53:12 “12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” Exodus 12:46 “46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” Psalm 34:20 “20 He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken.” Zechariah 12:10 “10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, The spirit of grace and of supplications: And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, And shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” Isaiah 53:9 “9 And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Psalm 16:10 “10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Psalm 68:18 “18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; Yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.” Psalm 110:1 “1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” I said to him, “About whom did I read?”

He replied, “Well, you obviously read of the life and ministry and suffering and death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.”

I said, “Is there any question in your mind about that?

”He answered, “No, that could refer to no one else.”

I replied, “Well then, I would want you to understand that all of the Scriptures I just read to you are taken from the Old Testament, which was completed some four hundred years before Jesus was born. No critic, no atheist, no agnostic has ever once claimed that any one of those writings was written after His birth. In fact, they were translated from Hebrew into Greek in Alexandria some 150 years before He was born. If this is merely a book written by men, would you please explain to me how these words were written?”

He said, “I haven’t the faintest idea.” He was completely nonplussed. He had never heard those things before in his life. Indeed they cannot be explained by any purely humanistic presuppositions.

If we ever allow the Son of God to be the key to interpreting the Word of God, the Bible in all its parts will clearly unfold to us in unprecedented ways.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "Wherever I am in Scripture, I make a beeline to the cross." Such was Spurgeon's way of saying every page of Scripture must allow Christ to be the interpretive key.

Jesus revealed historic truth.

Good prophecy is not bad history.

In fact, truth cannot be truthful apart from factual history. God is the God of history.

The life of Jesus was prophecy fulfilled in flesh and blood. If the cross of Christ had failed, Christianity would have never existed.

Satan had to be conquered so completely that there never would be any question (cp. Gen. 3:15). Satan's ultimate power was death.

However, Jesus Christ conquered death and consequently stripped Satan of all power.

Believers now no more fear death. Jesus Christ is alive. And, because He lives, so do we!

Jesus revealed dynamic truth.

As Jesus spoke, the Holy Spirit worked on the hearts of the two disciples. Thick scales fell from their eyes.

Luke 24:31 KJV 1900

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

For the first time, they began to realize it was Jesus with whom they spoke. Undoubtedly, they began to recall how He said He would rise from the dead in three days.

Didn't Jonah remain three days in the fish before he came forth?

Didn't the women say His body was not to be found?

Didn't Peter and John substantiate their report? One thing after another began to make sense.

When Jesus Christ becomes the key to interpreting the Scripture, we began to connect the dots. Scripture makes good, clear sense.

Our hearts begin to move within us.

As these truths are impressed upon us by the Holy Spirit, just like the disciples our hearts and minds begin to glow with heaven's message. Faith sparks and spiritual life burns within our hearts.

III. The Divine Consummation (vv. 28-35)

When the disciples arrived at their destination, the stranger acted as if He would move on along. Being the perfect gentleman, He must have an invitation; He must be invited in.

We cannot expect the Lord Jesus to burst down our heart's door and come barging in. He will not do so. He awaits our invitation. Some people put off inviting Christ into their life. It cannot be overemphasized; Christ awaits our request for His presence.

Perhaps someone you know awaits some "sign" that God loves him or her and desires him or her to be saved.

The fact is, nothing more can be done than God's sending His only Son to die on the cross for our sin (John 3:16; cp. Isa. 5:1-5).

Calvary proves God loves everyone and desires them to be saved.

What happens when Jesus comes in? Note carefully Luke's words,

Luke 24:29–31 KJV 1900

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. 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.

Jesus satisfies our hearts.

When Jesus began to converse with them in their home, they sensed a new satisfaction. Their gloom was dispelled, and their sadness evaporated.

The completion of any journey into joy must bring a warm heart. That's exactly what the disciples experienced—a warm heart. Indeed a warm heart is what we all need.

We may have all the facts right about the resurrection, but we need the fire. We have theology but we also must have doxology!

In the end, Christianity is not primarily a matter of the head, but a matter of the heart (cp. Rom. 10:9).

Jesus sanctifies our home.

Jesus entered the disciples' home as a guest. Almost immediately He became the host.

Jesus not only is Lord of heaven, He is also Lord of our home.

No area of our life escapes the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Joy is incomplete unless it goes home with us. Our home ought to be the most joyful place on earth.

Too often the home is a tragic place of contention. Indeed more policemen are injured in the line of duty settling disputes between family members than almost every other situation. If joy is complete, Jesus must reign in our homes.

Jesus seals our happiness.

Luke 24:32–35 KJV 1900

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? 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.

When Christ comes home with us and enters our haven, He seals our happiness.

The disciples saw His hands and then he vanished.

The same hour, the two renewed disciples returned to Jerusalem

The seven mile run seemed like a short sprint to them. Their excitement spilled over into the fellowship of the disciples. They exclaimed, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon" (v. 34). Our journey to joy is complete when Jesus satisfies our heart, sanctifies our home, and seals our happiness.

Wrap Up

In this study, we observed a journey from mourning to joy. The disciples were distraught because Jesus was dead. However, He did not stay dead! Nothing could hold the Son of God in the grave. No boulder could keep the risen Savior in the tomb. Prophecy had predicted an empty tomb, and the demons from hell could not hinder it from taking place. Even more, since the risen Savior is the center of the prophetic Word, He remains the interpretive key in understanding the Word of God. And, when we allow the Lord Jesus full access to our lives, the inevitable result will always be a journey into the full joy of the Lord.

Golden Greek Nugget

The two disciples queried after the Lord left them concerning their experience with the Lord Jesus, "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (v. 32). Jesus "opened" the Scriptures for them. The Greek term translated "opened" is dianoigô, which means "to open up completely," "to open fully." Jesus leaves no question when Scripture is interpreted in light of Him. All shadows and foggy sayings disappear. He makes Scripture clear.

Copyright 2008© Jerry Vines Ministries. All rights reserved. No portion may be altered or copied without written permission. For more information about this and other teaching and growth resources, contact www.jerryvines.com