The Road to Emmaus

And while it is still on Easter Sunday, the event that we are going to be reading about takes place sometime in the day after Jesus appears to the women at the tomb.

So, we are dealing with the Resurrected Christ and one of his many appearances to his disciples.

And one of the most interesting things about this passage is it’s insight into the mood of the disciples after Jesus’ death and burial.

And as we work through passage this morning I would like for you to put yourselves in the shoes of the disciples, who have just witnessed all their hopes and dreams, like we talked about last week, come crashing down.

Because I am confident that there are many times in our own lives when it seems like the weight of the world is on our shoulders and everything we have hoped for, dreamed about, worked for has been destroyed by life.

But even in those moments we can still be confident that Jesus is with us. That he has in fact, not forsaken us.

He has not abandoned us.

He is still with us.

And with that we can have hope.

So, if you have found in your Bibles, stand with me if you are able, as we read verses 13-35.

Again, that is .

Scripture Focus

Luke 24:13–35 NIV - Anglicised

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognising him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “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. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 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. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going further. 29 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. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 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?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread.

The Walk of Shame

So, if this passage were a scene out of a movie we can imagine the disciples at the empty tomb puzzled and amazed by what had happened and that scene fades out and then we move to a new scene of two more disciples, later that day.

The Bible tells us that . . .

Luke 24:13 NIV - Anglicised

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

Now the scholars and archaeologists haven’t been able to pinpoint the exact location of Emmaus, but they do know from Scriptural and historical references that it was a small village that was about 7 miles northwest of Jerusalem, connected by a well traveled road.

And more than likely these two disciples were headed home from Jersualem after the Passover, which would have been one of the strangest and wildest Passovers they would have ever taken part in.

And as they are walking along their way, which would take them about a half a day to walk . . .

Luke 24:14 NIV - Anglicised

14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

So, they are discussing all of the events that had just taken place.

They were talking about Jesus’ betrayal by Judas.

Jesus’ arrest.

Judas’ suicide.

Jesus’ torture and crucifixion.

Peter’s denial and the rest of the disciples running away in fear.

And all the accounts of the empty tomb that they had already heard about.

And this conversation was sort of a mixed bag of emotions.

On the one hand they were confused by all the conflicting accounts of Jesus’ death and possible resurrection.

But also on the other hand they were greatly saddened and heartbroken because they had placed all their hopes and dreams in this man named Jesus, and it seemed to them like it was all for nothing.

So, the Bible tells us that next . . . .

Luke 24:15

Luke 24:15–16 NIV - Anglicised

15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognising him.

And this is where something amazing takes place.

And I say it is amazing because these two disciples were not one of the 12.

They were not disciples like Peter, James, and John.

They were just two ordinary men, who had come to follow Jesus.

In man’s eyes, they would have been nobody in particularly special.

Just regular ordinary Joes.

So ordinary that one of their names isn’t even mentioned in this account.

But the amazing thing is that Jesus, sensing their hopelessness and despair appears to them.

Now we know that Jesus did appear to the 12 and many others but the fact that this early on in the Resurrection, with all the other things and people to see, Jesus chooses these two insignificant disciples.

And we have to ask ourselves, why? Because Jesus knew that they needed him right then.

At that moment the truth was realized that ALL of Jesus’ disciples are special and precious to Him.

And that Jesus is not only able, but willing to attend to all of our needs, when we need him.

So, the first point I want all of us to realize is that regardless of how insignificant we may feel, we are special in God’s eyes.

We are important.

God knows what our needs are.

And God is able to meet those needs.

Just like Jesus is doing here.

The only problem is at this time they were kept from recognizing him.

Now, we could speculate as to the reason why they were kept from recognizing Jesus.

It could have been because of their own spiritual blindness.

It could have been because they were not looking for Jesus, which is why we miss Him many times when he is right there with us.

Or it could have simply been because it was not the time for Jesus’ identity to be revealed. Because if it would have been at that time, then the rest of the teaching in this passage would not have taken place.

They would have been so amazed that this was Jesus with them that He would have never been able to teach this lesson.

I tend to believe it is a combination of all of these things and we could spend an entire service on each one of them, but today I want us to focus on the overall big picture.

So, Jesus appears on the road and is walking with them. And he engages them in conversation . . .

Hiding Under a Rock

Luke 24:17–18 NIV - Anglicised

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

These two verses tell us exactly what their mood was.

The Bible says that their faces were downcast. They were completely dejected and heartbroken because their hopes and dreams had been destroyed.

Anytime anyone caused them to think about it they were almost moved to tears.

For all the hope that they had placed in Jesus, in their mind, it was destroyed.

And life seemed meaningless to them at this point.

They honestly didn’t know where exactly to turn.

But they also found it very strange that this man didn’t seem to know what they were talking about, so Cleopas asks Jesus . . .

Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?

In modern language he is in essence asking Jesus, “Have you been hiding under a rock somewhere?”

Everybody knew what had happened.

This was the news story of the Passover, and here this guy acts like he doesn’t have a clue as to what had happened.

So, we have to picture these two standing there looking at Jesus with this puzzled look on their face, but Jesus doesn’t let them off the hook . . .

Luke 24:19 NIV - Anglicised

19 “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.

Luke 24:

And before we go further, notice how they refer to Jesus.

He is Jesus of Nazareth, and not “Jesus the Christ,” to them now.

They go on . . .He WAS a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

They had given up hope and resolved in themselves that Jesus was dead and that everything Jesus had promised had died with him.

So, they continue their story . . .

Luke 24:20–21 NIV - Anglicised

20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 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.

Luke 24:20-

Notice there in verse 21, we hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel, but it’s now been three days since he died.

However, even with their hopelessness and dejection they are still aware of what others were saying . . .

Luke 24:22–24 NIV - Anglicised

22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

Luke 24:22-

And the thing here is that they are telling Jesus what the women said and what the disciples reported about the empty tomb, but they don’t believe it.

They do not believe that it is possible for it to be true.

They saw him die.

And it is the same story today.

We tell people about the Resurrected Jesus Christ, who is able to redeem us and save us from our sin, but they don’t believe it.

Things are so hopeless in their lives, they think that there is no way that Jesus could help them.

They have lost hope.

And the Church rarely does them any favors.

The Church builds up walls and barriers trying to isolate and protect itself from the world that it looses touch with the world.

The Church in many instances becomes a “members only” club, where you have to talk the right language and wear the right clothes to belong.

When the Church stops offering people the hope found in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone, the Church ceases to be the Church and becomes a social club.

The doors of the Church should be open to all, because Jesus is available to all, regardless of who you are or your status in life.

And if there is anyone here today feeling hopeless, you don’t have to leave here hopeless.

Just like Jesus appeared to offer these two men hope, Jesus is also here today, available to offer us hope as well.

All we have to do is recognize Jesus for who Jesus is.

And accept Jesus’ offer of redemption, by forsaking our sins, accepting Him, and following Him.

That’s all that is required.

And that gives us hope.

Not necessarily in the here and now, but in the eternity that is to follow.

In the here and now it gives us hope in the One who will stand beside us, lift us up, and carry us through.

That’s who Jesus is, but these men had lost hope, so Jesus has to teach them something about hope . . .

How Foolish We Can Be

Luke 24:25–29 NIV - Anglicised

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going further. 29 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.

Luke

Luke 24:25 NIV - Anglicised

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

Luke 24:25-

So first, Jesus rebukes them for their lack of belief in all they had been taught.

The question for us in this is how much have we been taught , that we refuse to hear or fail to heed?

How many times has our heart been convicted by the Holy Spirit, telling us that these things about Jesus are true, and we failed to respond?

That’s really what Jesus is talking about here.

And when Jesus has their attention, he begins to recount for them the history about himself.

And even though they still did not recognize this man as Jesus, their spirits did begin to lift because this man was offering them some hope, so they urged Jesus to stay with them for the evening.

And then, as they began to eat and have fellowship . . .

Luke 24:30–31 NIV - Anglicised

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Luke 24:

And they were so excited and astonished that this man who had been with them all this time was actually Jesus . . .

Luke 24:32–35 NIV - Anglicised

32 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?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread.

Luke 24:

Altar Call

I wonder this morning, if Jesus appeared to us, would we recognize Him?

Would we know without a doubt that this is Jesus who’s presence we are in?

If the answer to that question is “No” or “I don’t know,” then this morning ask yourself, why?

Why would I not recognize Jesus?

Is it because life has left you hopeless and broken?

Is it because you cannot hear God speaking?

Is it because you are not looking or hearing for God to speak?

All of this can be remedied today.

But it requires you to act.

It requires you to release yourself to God.

To allow the Holy Spirit to begin the cleansing work within your soul.

The question remains though, are you willing to do this?

Are you willing to take a step of faith this morning?

If you are willing, Jesus will meet you along the way.

And he will not just meet you, he will stay with you.

And He will lead you home.

This morning you have an opportunity to take that first step.

Don’t let this opportunity slip away.

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