4/28/19 A.M.

Never changing: Seeing Jesus through a hope rooted in this world. No matter what hope and Jesus meant to them it resulted in a blindness to the real Jesus. Today the trend continues.

Jesus removed their blindness by walking them through scripture. Unbeknown to them Jesus was walking along with them. But, they didn’t invite Jesus into the discussion but were amazed at His lack of knowledge on recent events. The were downcast or “sullen.” Cleopas asks Jesus if Jesus is the only person ignorant of recent events.

Isn’t this the point? The travelers were walking in life devoid of the true Jesus. They were on topic, discussing (maybe even arguing) about recent events in the life of Christ.

Walking Blind

Jesus is Listening

To Your Discussions: Walking With Jesus In Overwhelming Life Issues

Luke 24:13–18 NIV

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 recognizing 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 the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Verse 15: As they discussed these things - Jesus walked along with them. Is God interested in what you say and do?

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15–16, NIV)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” (Philippians 2:3, NIV)

Negative Ambition: ““What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”” (Mark 10:36–37, NIV)

“All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.” (Isaiah 44:9, NIV)

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4, NIV)

“This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’” (Matthew 13:13–15, NIV)

“Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9, NIV)

Matthew 18:12 NIV

12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

Matthew 18:20 NIV

20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 28:20 NIV

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Misplaced Hope

Missing the Real Jesus

Luke 24:19–24 NIV

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 they did not see Jesus.”

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”” (Genesis 3:8–9, NIV)

““The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” (Acts 17:24–28, NIV)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NIV)

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, NIV)

“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22, NIV)

“The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” (1 John 3:24, NIV)

The Step of Faith

Opening the Eyes The Beginning of understanding Jesus Waits to be Invited

Luke 24:28–32 NIV

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 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 recognized 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?”

I wonder what would have happened if they hadn’t invited Jesus to stay with them.

They were getting close to home. Jesus was also getting close to home in their lives. He did this by opening the scripture!

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18, NIV)

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8, NIV)

“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.” (Luke 7:36, NIV)

“Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” (Matthew 20:30–34, NIV)

He opened their Eyes

Luke 24:31 NIV

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

They became fully acquainted with him

They were slow to believe

Why are you troubled

He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Their hearts burned.

Jesus walked along

Luke 24:15 NIV

15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;

Verse 14 introduces what they were doing. Verse 15 emphasizes that they were doing more than just talking, they were discussing.

While they were discussing Jesus came up and walked along with them. But, they were kept from recognizing him. Implying that they lacked the full understanding of Jesus.

They Urged Him to Stay

Luke 24:29 NIV

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.

Jesus Walked Alongside

The Road to Emmaus

Jesus walks along

They didn’t recognize Him

Jesus asked a question

They were in mourning - downcast

Who doesn’t know the events of the day?

They describe who Jesus was -

the Nazarene

a Prophet

powerful - in word - in deed -

The chief priests and rulers handed him over - they crucified him

But, we had hoped (expected) - he was going to redeem Israel

Ransom - to liberate - redeeming a captured person - paying the prince

What is more, it is the third day -

Even more, some of our women amazed us

They didn’t find his body this morning at the tomb

They saw a vision of angels who said he was alive

Some of our companions confirmed that the body was gone - but they didn’t see Jesus

How slow are you to believe?

what the prophets have spoken

Question: didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory

Beginning with Moses and all the prophets he explained to them what was said concerning himself -

Jesus acted like he was going to continue -

Are You Ever Really Alone?

John 8:29 NIV

29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

Matthew 28:20 NIV

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Road to Emmaus

An Exegetical Summary of Luke 12–24 24:13–14

They were returning to their home in Emmaus after the celebration of the Passover

Have you invited Jesus to Stay?

Luke 24:29 NIV

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.

The eye opening aspect of fellowship -

Have you spoken to Jesus Lately?

Luke 24:16 NIV

16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

I wonder if Jesus has a habit of being with us incognito?

John 20:14 NIV

14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

John 21:4 NIV

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

On the day of the resurrection, Jesus was present but not recognized.

Point: Is this a common activity of Jesus?

I cannot imagine what it would be like to be able to transport from one place to another at will.

What Questions has Jesus Asked?

Luke 24:17 NIV

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.

Jesus Disappears

Mark 16:19 NIV

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

Luke 24:51 NIV

51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Acts 1:9 NIV

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

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