The Road to Emmaus
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· 345 viewsThe account of these two disciple’s walk to the town of Emmaus begins a developing theme. The opportunity to personally experience Christ. Their encounter with Jesus began with Heart Break, which lead to Heart Searching and concluded with Heart Burning!
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Introduction
Introduction
Family Business:
Annual Business Meeting next Sunday (Give instructions)
Vision Minute (Funds for Live Streaming)
Missions Need (Love offering today)
Membership class today (going on simultaneously)
A Sunday School teacher asked her students; “What was the first thing Jesus said after He was reserrected? One boy - “I’m Hungry”, Another , “Alright, who did this to me?” Finally, one little girl - “TaDa!”
Joke: A Sunday School teacher asked her students; “What was the first thing Jesus said after He was resurrected? One boy - “I’m Hungry”, Another , “Alright, who did this to me?” Finally, one little girl - “TaDa!”
What did Jesus really do?
The main reason the disciples believed in the resurrection of Jesus is that they saw Him alive after He was dead. Jesus presented Himself alive on a number of different occasions to His followers.
Mary Magdalene ()
Mary The Mother Of James, Salome, And Joanna ()
Peter ()
The Disciples minus Thomas (,,)
All the Disciples - eight days later and this time Thomas was present ()
A mountain in Galilee - eleven disciples (,)
Over 500 people () & James ()
Saul ()
After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
The account of these two disciple’s walk to the town of Emmaus begins a developing theme. The opportunity to personally experience Christ. Their encounter with Jesus began with Heart Break, which lead to Heart Searching and concluded with Heart Burning!
The account of these two disciple’s walk to the town of Emmaus begins a developing theme. The opportunity to personally experience Christ. Their encounter with Jesus began with Heart Break, which lead to Heart Searching and concluded with Heart Burning!
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.
18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,
29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Mark is the only other Gospel that mentions this account:
Mark is the only other Gospel that mentions this account:
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.
The story opens with two people going the wrong way. In Luke’s Gospel, Jerusalem is the spiritual center: it is the location of the Last Supper, the cross, the resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit. It is the location where everything begins and ends. So in walking away from Jerusalem to Emmaus (7 miles), these two individuals identified as disciples of Jesus are going against the grain. These disciples were walking away from their Promise!
4 Road Markers along the Journey:
4 Road Markers along the Journey:
Four Road Markers along life’s journey that most of us can identify with. This story is worth repeating (Mark) because it highlights the ongoing Hope that the resurrection of Jesus Christ brings to our life!
1. Heart Breaking
1. Heart Breaking
15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
The Greek phrase homileo suzeteo, “talking and discussing” (24:15), would be more literally translated as “conversing” and “disputing.”
Luke employed a clever narrative device called literary irony, in which the reader is aware of important facts that are hidden from the characters.
The Gospel accounts of Jesus’s life were originally documents intended to be read aloud in Christian gatherings. When the reader reached the part of the story in which Cleopas recounted the events of the past three days, the tension among the listeners must have been unbearable, because the two followers simply did not have the eyes to see what should have been plainly visible ().
I wonder how many times in our journey (as our story is written) was Jesus there the whole time?
Cleopas responds with what seems like a sarcastic remark. Sometimes heart break causes us to respond in ways that are out of character.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
2. Heart Searching
2. Heart Searching
For me, there is something precious in the picture of Christ walking with us in our darkest hour, which I cannot overlook. So often, as fleshly humans, we desire an answer when His desire is that we have the answer—Himself.
For me, there is something precious in the picture of Christ walking with us in our darkest hour, which I cannot overlook. So often, as fleshly humans, we desire an answer when His desire is that we have the answer—Himself.
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus keeping his identity from them caused them to recount scripture and His teachings. (Jesus directs them to scripture)
Jesus keeping his identity from them caused them to recount scripture and His teachings. Notice that rather than revealing himself to them immediately, Jesus directs them to scripture.
Notice that rather than revealing himself to them immediately, Jesus directs them to scripture.
Jesus keeping his identity from them caused them to recount scripture and His teachings. (Jesus directs them to scripture)
Jesus did not give them some ecstatic experience or some powerful new revelation from heaven, he took them back to the Word of God.
The Word stands forever. The Word will remain even when the flower fades and the grass withers.
It is the Word of God by which the universe was created () and upon which the universe holds together (; )
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Charles Spurgeon said: “I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing place between the two.”
According to 24:16, their eyes were prevented from recognizing Jesus. He revealed His identity only after taking great pains to explain to them “the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (24:27).
Possible meaning of “Emmaus” = “An earnest longing”
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
psalm
3. Heart Burning
3. Heart Burning
30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
In keeping with ancient Near Eastern rules of hospitality, the two followers then invited the “stranger” to stay the night. Jesus accepted their offer, yet maintained His cover in order to complete the lesson He had begun teaching them just outside Jerusalem.
The Greek phrase (ophthalmos dianoigo epiginosko), translated “eyes were opened and they recognized Him,” literally means “their eyes were completely opened” and “they came to fully comprehend Him.” This action was more than a mere recognition of His features.
They came to recognize Jesus in all His significance as the Messiah, the Son of God, and their risen Lord!
4. Heart Surrender
4. Heart Surrender
33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
luke 24.
A true encounter with Jesus will change your life!
Illustration: A man once said to preacher D.L. Moody, “Now that I am converted, must I give up to the world?” “No,” answered the evangelist, “you need not give up the world; if you give a ringing testimony for the Son of God the world will give you up pretty quick. They will not want you around.” The world is not our friend.
“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.” D.L. Moody
Someone well said, “If a man has a religion he is bound to do one of two things with it: give it up or give it away. If it isn’t true, he must give it up. If it is true, he must give it away.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Practical Application
When heartbreak happens it’s ok to be upset, but don’t allow your circumstances to cause you to walk away from the Lord.
Even when we don’t feel like it, always turn to the word. (Study bible, devotional book, topical study)
Ask Jesus to bear with you, and He’ll always go the second mile. He’ll always come through!
I would like to leave with you some powerful scriptural reminders of God’s promise!
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
God’s Assurance to Us
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
Application
Application
Surrender Your Expectations
Seek God’s Perspective
Seek God’s Perspective
To help the two disciples see their circumstances from God’s perspective, Jesus explained the Scriptures. And we have the same opportunity to share God’s vantage point by reading our only completely reliable source of truth, the sixty-six books of the Bible.
Trust God’s Timing
Trust God’s Timing
