Just a Touch
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So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”
But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
In Luke 24 we have the story of those who had experience with the risen Christ trying to communicate it to those who had not!
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
And certain 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.”
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
We find reference to this event in the book of Mark
After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.
It isn’t exactly clear to whom the risen Lord appeared to that day, Clophas - may have been the brother of Joseph tradition holds and many other scholars believe that the other was Peter but there are some valid arguments against it.
What is important is the result of the encounter upon these two men
It was Sunday morning, the stories of the risen Christ unbelievable to these men
It was while on the journey they were recounting the events of the last few months when a stranger suddenly appears!
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
The first thing we learned is that their eyes were “restrained” so they did not know him or rather did not recognize Him!
How many of us have walked through trying times and failed recognize the presence fo the Savior?
The word restrained here is in the Genitive or possessive case meaning that something was holding power over them
The Apostle Paul:
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Those who have yet to know the Savior struggle with the reality of the truth that God is and that He is seeking after them!
They buy into the lie that all is lost and hopeless!
I love Jesus approach - “Hi! What’s going on that your so engrossed in tis conversation which seems to be making you sad!”
He doesn’t rebuke them but seeks to bring them to a point of recognition
Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
You can hear the passion in Cleophas voice as he reiterates the events of the last few days! Look at those words - he is coming from a point of strength because he has seen it with his own eyes!
And then that fateful word…but!
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
And certain 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.”
Oh the mind loves to rain on our parade!
The negative comes sweeping like a flood to carry away our hope!
Now when they are faced with the hopeless reality that its over Jesus steps in!
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
The word foolish here is really a harsh translation - the greek here anoetoi is from the root word Anoetos - meaning a person lacking in understanding or judgement - one whose folly is demonstrated by their acts!
The issue wasn’t the events of the day but rather their failure to correctly discern them!
As we talked about the last two weeks, faith is intension demonstrated by obedience!
Paul uses this word to describe the Galatians because they had not correctly discerned the Gospel of grace!
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
Not walking in the truth which we know! Paul tells the Ephesians:
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
He conducted one of the most sought after Bible Studies in history!
It was the touch of the Master that changed everything that days even no nothing had changed at all!
The doom was gone! The gloom was gone! There was hope on the horizon all because they had received a clear understanding of all the event!
When they sat to eat, He borke the bread and then they realized it was Him!
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
Their eyes were opened once they touched His presence
So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
They were compelled to move!
They couldn’t contain themselves! Is that your response every day? Are you moved again to passion and determination following your time with the Master
It was at that moment that Jesus appeared to all of them
But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
They were afraid of Him - I remember the day clearly that he appeared to me - I was afraid!
His invitation was clear in verse 39 - Handle me that is, Touch me!
God has no Grand children, we each must cultivate our relationship with Him!
I love this verse because it says God has nothing to hide and invites me come, taste and see that the Lord, He is good!