Walking but Not Knowing

Luke 24:13–35 Theme: You can be close to Jesus and still miss Him Aim: Move people from casual belief to real encounter and surrender

Luke 24:13–35 CEV

13 That same day two of Jesus’ disciples were going to the village of Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they were talking and thinking about what had happened, 15 Jesus came near and started walking along beside them. 16 But they did not know who he was. 17 Jesus asked them, “What were you talking about as you walked along?” The two of them stood there looking sad and gloomy. 18 Then the one named Cleopas asked Jesus, “Are you the only person from Jerusalem who didn’t know what was happening there these last few days?” 19 “What do you mean?” Jesus asked. They answered: Those things that happened to Jesus from Nazareth. By what he did and said he showed that he was a powerful prophet, who pleased God and all the people. 20 Then the chief priests and our leaders had him arrested and sentenced to die on a cross. 21 We had hoped that he would be the one to set Israel free! But it has already been three days since all this happened. 22 Some women in our group surprised us. They had gone to the tomb early in the morning, 23 but did not find the body of Jesus. They came back, saying that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive. 24 Some men from our group went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. But they didn’t see Jesus either. 25 Then Jesus asked the two disciples, “Why can’t you understand? How can you be so slow to believe all that the prophets said? 26 Didn’t you know that the Messiah would have to suffer before he was given his glory?” 27 Jesus then explained everything written about himself in the Scriptures, beginning with the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets. 28 When the two of them came near the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be going farther. 29 They begged him, “Stay with us! It’s already late, and the sun is going down.” So Jesus went into the house to stay with them. 30 After Jesus sat down to eat, he took some bread. He blessed it and broke it. Then he gave it to them. 31 At once they knew who he was, but he disappeared. 32 They said to each other, “When he talked with us along the road and explained the Scriptures to us, didn’t it warm our hearts?” 33 So they got right up and returned to Jerusalem. The two disciples found the eleven apostles and the others gathered together. 34 And they learned from the group that the Lord was really alive and had appeared to Peter. 35 Then the disciples from Emmaus told what happened on the road and how they knew he was the Lord when he broke the bread.

I’ve had seasons in my life where I thought I knew exactly what God was doing.

I had the plan in my head. I had the expectation. I even had the timeline.

And then it didn’t happen.

Not the way I thought. Not when I thought.

And I remember sitting there thinking, God, what are You doing?

Because in my mind, if this was really You, it would look different than this.

And I didn’t stop believing in God.

But if I’m honest, something shifted.

I was still showing up. Still doing what I knew to do.

But I started holding things a little tighter. Started trusting a little less. Started trying to manage things on my own.

And looking back now, I can see it clearly.

God didn’t leave me in that season.

I just didn’t recognize what He was doing.

And I think that’s where a lot of people are.

Not far from Jesus. Just misunderstanding Him.

Especially on a day like today.

We show up. We hear the story. We know how it goes.

But here’s the question I want you to sit with today.

What if Jesus is closer than you think… and you still don’t recognize Him?

Before we even get to this story… you need to understand the moment they’re living in.

The tomb is empty.

The women saw it. Angels spoke to them. They went and told the disciples.

And nobody believed it.

Not because there wasn’t evidence.

But because they didn’t remember what Jesus had already said.

Luke 24:13 says,

“That same day two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village called Emmaus…”

They’re walking away.

Away from Jerusalem. Away from where everything just happened.

They’ve already decided how the story ends.

Verse 17, Jesus asks them, “What are you talking about?”

And they stop.

Sad.

And then in verse 21, they say something that just sits heavy.

“We had hoped…”

We had hoped He was the One.

That’s past tense.

Hope is gone. Expectation is gone.

And if we’re honest, that’s where some people live.

Not angry at God.

Just quietly disappointed.

You believed something. You expected something. You prayed for something.

And it didn’t turn out the way you thought.

So you kept walking.

But something in you shut down.

Verse 16 says,

“But they did not know who he was.”

They are walking with Jesus…

and don’t even know it.

They were close… but they were missing Him.

And I think this is where it gets uncomfortable.

Because you can be around church, around worship, around truth…

and still miss Him.

You can know the story… and not know the Savior.

You can be close to Jesus… and still miss Him.

So why did they miss Him?

Verse 25, Jesus says,

“You foolish people! Why do you find it so hard to believe…”

It wasn’t that they didn’t have enough information.

It’s that they had already decided what God was supposed to do.

They didn’t reject everything… they just rejected the part they didn’t like.

They believed in a Messiah who would reign…

but not one who would suffer.

And if we’re honest…

we do the same thing.

We want a Jesus who blesses…

but not a Jesus who calls us to surrender.

Then Jesus begins to walk them through the Scriptures.

Not just telling them, “I’m alive.”

But showing them…

this was always the plan.

The cross wasn’t a failure. It wasn’t something that went wrong.

It was the center of it all.

Before there could be resurrection… there had to be payment.

Before there could be glory… there had to be suffering.

God didn’t ignore sin.

Jesus carried it.

Fully.

Completely.

Justice was satisfied.

And the resurrection…

that’s the proof it worked.

That sin was paid for. That death was defeated. That what stood against you… doesn’t stand against you anymore.

And something starts happening in them.

Before their eyes are opened…

their hearts are.

Verse 32, they say,

“Weren’t our hearts burning inside us…”

Their hearts were burning… before their eyes were opened.

Which means something was already happening…

before they could fully explain it.

And I think that matters.

Because some of you feel something right now.

You can’t fully explain it.

But something is stirring.

That’s not just emotion.

That’s God opening your heart.

Then we get to the moment.

Verse 30,

Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it…

and gives it to them.

And in that moment…

their eyes were opened.

And they knew who He was.

And then He disappears.

And everything changes.

These men walked away from Jerusalem discouraged.

But after they encountered Jesus…

they turned around and went back.

Same road.

Same night.

But everything changed.

You don’t just feel better… you go a different direction.

So let me ask you something.

Are you walking with Jesus…

or just walking near things that remind you of Him?

Are you following Him…

or have you already decided what He’s supposed to be?

Because here’s what Easter actually means.

Jesus is not dead.

He is alive.

He is present.

And He is walking with people who don’t even recognize Him yet.

But there comes a moment…

where your eyes have to open.

Where belief becomes surrender.

Where knowing about Him becomes knowing Him.

Today is not about remembering a story.

It’s about recognizing a Person.

And if He’s alive…

then He’s here.

And if He’s here…

then this is your moment.

Some of you need your eyes opened today.

Some of you need to stop walking your own direction.

Some of you need to surrender your life, not just agree with information.

You’ve believed…

but you haven’t surrendered.

And Jesus is not asking you to admire Him.

He’s calling you to follow Him.

So don’t stay where you are.

Respond.

Come forward. Kneel. Lift your hands.

But don’t leave here still missing Him.

Because He’s not hidden.

He’s revealing Himself.

And today…

you can know Him.

——Preaching Notes:

Walking With Jesus and Not Even Knowing It

Walking With Jesus and Not Even Knowing It

Luke 24:13–35 (CEV)

Walking With Jesus and Not Even Knowing It

Luke 24:13–35 (CEV)

Season where I thought I knew what God was doing

Had expectation, plan, timeline

Didn’t happen

Didn’t stop believing… but something shifted

control

guarded

distant

God didn’t leave… I just didn’t recognize Him

What if Jesus is closer than you think… and you still don’t recognize Him?

v.1–12 CONTEXT (Set the scene briefly)

Tomb is empty

Women saw it

Angels spoke

Disciples heard

Nobody believes

Not lack of evidence They didn’t remember what Jesus said

v.13 – WALKING AWAY

Two disciples Emmaus→

Leaving Jerusalem

They are walking away from where everything happened

They’ve already decided how the story ends

v.17 – SAD CONVERSATION

Jesus asks: what are you talking about?

They stop… sad

v.21 – THE LINE

“We had hoped…”

Past tense hope

Press this:

That’s where people live

Not angry… just disappointed

Application:

believed

expected

didn’t happen

kept walking… but something shut down

v.16 – JESUS UNRECOGNIZED

They don’t know it’s Him

They were close… but missing Him

Walking with Him

Talking with Him

You can be close to Jesus… and still miss Him

v.25 – JESUS REVEALS THE PROBLEM

“Why is it so hard for you to believe?”

Not lack of info

They didn’t reject everything… just the part they didn’t like

Wanted glory

Rejected suffering

Application:

want blessing

resist surrender

v.27 – JESUS EXPLAINS THE SCRIPTURES

Walks through all Scripture

This was always the plan

The cross was not a failure… it was the center

Sin had to be dealt with

Justice satisfied

Jesus carried it fully

The resurrection is the proof it worked

sin paid

death defeated

nothing stands against you

v.28–29 – INVITATION MOMENT

They urge Him to stay

Observation:

still don’t fully see Him

but they want Him near

v.30–31 – REVELATION

Breaks bread

Eyes opened They recognize Him

Then He disappears

v.32 – HEART BEFORE SIGHT

“Weren’t our hearts burning…”

Hearts burning before eyes opened

something happening before understanding

Application:

some feel this right now

not emotion

God opening hearts

v.33 – TURNAROUND

Immediately go back to Jerusalem

Same road Same night

You don’t just feel better… you go a different direction

FINAL QUESTIONS (tie back to whole story)

Walking with Jesus… or just near Him?

Following Him… or defining Him?

Jesus is Alive and Here today! What will you do?