WALKING WITH THE RISEN JESUS

ANCHOR MOVEMENT

Confronted. Ignited. Sent.

BIG IDEA

Jesus does not reveal Himself through feelings or signs, but by opening the Scriptures—confronting our unbelief, igniting our hearts, and sending us transformed.

INTRODUCTION

It is possible to be:

close to Jesus

around truth

hearing Scripture

…and still not see Him.

Not because He is absent.

Not because He is unclear.

But because something in us is resisting what God has already said.

That’s the tension of Luke 24.

Two disciples…

walking away from Jerusalem…

on resurrection day.

They are not hostile.

They are not rebellious.

They are discouraged.

Confused.

Disappointed.

And here’s what makes this moment so powerful:

Jesus is walking with them… talking to them… listening to them…

…and they don’t know it’s Him.

That should stop you.

Because it means:

proximity does not equal perception

So the question is not:

“Is Jesus near?”

The question is:

Why can we be near Him and still miss Him?

And more importantly:

How does Jesus bring us from blindness to belief?

This passage shows us exactly how.

Confronted. Ignited. Sent.

1: CONFRONTED Luke 24:13–27

THE CONDITION: DISCOURAGED BUT MISREADING (v.13–17)

Luke 24:13–17 NIV

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.

“They were going to a village called Emmaus…”

Seven miles from Jerusalem.

Not just distance… direction.

They are walking away from:

the cross

the empty tomb

the testimony

v.17 — “They stood still, looking sad…”

Luke 24:17 NIV

They stood still, their faces downcast.

The word for “sad” (σκυθρωποί – skuthrōpoi) carries the idea of a downcast face, visible grief.

But their sadness is not random.

It is theological.

Your emotions are always tied to what you believe about God.

They are not just hurting. They are misinterpreting reality.

THE CONFESSION: RIGHT FACTS, WRONG CONCLUSIONS (v.18–24)

Luke 24:18–24 NIV

One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

They explain everything to Jesus.

v.19 — “Jesus of Nazareth… a prophet mighty in deed…”

Luke 24:19 NIV

“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

That is true. But incomplete.

v.21 — “We were hoping…”

Luke 24:21 NIV

but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

That phrase reveals everything.

They expected:

political redemption

national restoration

But they missed:

suffering

atonement

resurrection

They didn’t reject Scripture. They believed parts of it.

Partial belief is not harmless it is dangerous.

Luke 24:22–24 NIV

In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

vv. 22–24 — They list:

empty tomb

angel testimony

eyewitness reports

…and still say:

“We don’t know where He is.”

They had enough evidence to believe and still didn’t.

This is not intellectual failure.

This is spiritual resistance.

THE CONFRONTATION: JESUS REBUKES THEIR UNBELIEF (v.25–27)

Luke 24:25–27 NIV

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

v.25 — “O foolish ones… slow of heart…”

Luke 24:25 NIV

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

“Foolish” (ἀνόητοι – anoētoi) does not mean unintelligent.

Foolish means: unwilling to perceive what is obvious

“Slow of heart” (βραδεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ – bradeis tē kardia)

sluggish in belief resistant in the inner person

The problem is not a lack of information, it is resistance of the heart.

THE METHOD: SCRIPTURE BEFORE SIGHT (v.27)

Luke 24:27 NIV

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets…”

Jesus walks them through:

the Law (Pentateuch)

the Prophets

the whole Old Testament

He is not giving random verses. He is rebuilding their entire theology.

CRITICAL MOMENT

Jesus does NOT say: “It’s Me.”

He shows: Himself in the Scriptures.

If you don’t understand the Word, you will not understand Jesus.

MISSEEING THE OBVIOUS

A well-known story:

Sherlock Holmes and Watson are camping.

Holmes wakes Watson and says:

“Look at the stars, what do you see?”

Watson gives a deep answer:

galaxies

theology

weather

Holmes says:

“You idiot… someone stole our tent.”

CONNECTION

They were analyzing everything and missing what was right in front of them.

APPLICATION

You can:

analyze Scripture

talk about Jesus

know the facts

…and still miss Him.

PASTORAL APPLICATION

Some of you are not far from Jesus.

You are close.

But your understanding is:

selective

partial

incomplete

And until that is confronted you will remain blind.

TRANSITION

Jesus confronts them…

but He doesn’t leave them there.

Because once truth is seen clearly…

something begins to happen inside.

2. IGNITED Luke 24:28–32

THE INVITATION: MOVING FROM INFORMATION TO RELATIONSHIP (v.28–29)

Luke 24:28–29 NIV

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

📖 “He acted as if He were going further…”

Jesus is not manipulating.

He is drawing out desire.

“They urged Him strongly…”

Revelation invites response.

They move from:

listening to wanting Him to stay

THE TABLE: THE GUEST BECOMES THE HOST (v.30)

Luke 24:30 NIV

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

“He took bread, blessed it, broke it…”

This echoes:

Luke 22 (Last Supper)

Luke 9 (feeding of 5,000)

They invited Him in and He takes over.

You don’t add Jesus to your life; He becomes Lord over it.

THE REVELATION: EYES OPENED (v.31)

Luke 24:31 NIV

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

“Their eyes were opened…”

Passive verb.

They did not:

discover

reason

figure it out

God opened their eyes.

Salvation is not achieved. It is revealed.

You don’t come to Jesus because you’re smart, you come because God opens your eyes.

THE FIRE: HEARTS IGNITED BY TRUTH (v.32)

Luke 24:32 NIV

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

“Were not our hearts burning…”

Not emotional hype. Scripture understood.

Truth rightly understood ignites the soul.

Jesus doesn’t fix your feelings first, He fixes your understanding.

ILLUSTRATION: THE CONVINCED MIND

Someone drinks a milkshake thinking it’s pumpkin.

They’re convinced.

They taste pumpkin.

Others confirm it.

Until someone opens the lid…

and it’s chocolate.

CONNECTION

When you are convinced of something, it is hard to see what is actually true.

APPLICATION

Some of you have been convinced:

about Jesus

about truth

about your life

…and it’s kept you from seeing clearly.

PASTORAL APPLICATION

If your heart feels cold, it may not be because God is distant.

It may be because the truth has not been fully received.

TRANSITION

And once the heart is ignited…

you don’t stay where you are.

3. SENT Luke 24:33–35

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE (v.33)

Luke 24:33 NIV

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together

“That same hour they returned…”

Seven miles.

At night.

Immediately.

Real encounter produces real movement.

When you truly see Jesus, you don’t wait, you move.

REVERSED DIRECTION

They were:

leaving Jerusalem

Now:

running back to it

OBSERVATION

Same road.

Different direction.

When Jesus opens your eyes, He changes your direction.

PUBLIC DECLARATION (v.34–35)

Luke 24:34–35 NIV

and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

“The Lord has risen indeed…”

They move from:

confusion → clarity

silence → proclamation

Truth doesn’t just inform it sends.

ILLUSTRATION — EMPTY INSIDE

Some people look fine on the outside.

Put together.

Functioning.

Smiling.

But inside:

empty hollow disconnected

CONNECTION

That was them until Jesus revealed Himself.

APPLICATION

That may be you.

CONCLUSION

At the beginning:

They were:

confused

discouraged

walking away

At the end:

They are:

burning

believing

running back

What changed?

Not the circumstances.

Not new evidence.

Jesus opened the Scriptures and God opened their eyes

GOSPEL CONNECTION

Jesus had to suffer.

Jesus had to die.

Jesus had to rise.

Not as a possibility.

As a necessity.

For your sin.

For your life.

For your salvation.

FINAL CALL

Some of you:

have heard truth

know the story

have evidence

…but you are still resisting.

Not because God hasn’t spoken.

But because you haven’t surrendered.

You don’t need more proof; you need your eyes opened.

FINAL LANDING

Don’t keep resisting.

Don’t stay where you are.

Step into:

Confronted. Ignited. Sent.