It Was Necessary

The Problem

What things make you sad? Is it the disappointment of a missed opportunity? you thought that that position at the workplace was going to be yours but someone else got it. What things make you sad? Is it the fact that this was the year you were going to pay-down on that dream house because you were going to get salary increase but instead you have to endure a pay cut because of Covid19? this was the year that you were to graduate and all things were set but now you are battling with a serious illness and you are disappointed, this certainly was not a part the plan. You had high hopes and big plans, but now everything seems like a disaster; there seems to be no hope for tomorrow, no Joy for your sorrow, and you have lost the faith that you need to go through. well you are not alone because these two disciples as they traveled to Emmaus had similar sentiments; they were sad. We know they were sad, because the stranger that joined them on their journey to Emmaus, asked them why they were so sad? Ellen White wrote, “Sadly they pursued their evening walk, talking over the scenes of the trial and the crucifixion. Never before had they been so utterly disheartened. Hopeless and faithless, they were walking in the shadow of the cross.”

Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 795.

Imagine you’re near Kingston city walking and talking with a friend. It’s March 11, 2020 the day after the first Carona virus case was discovered in Jamaica. Unexpectedly, a stranger joins you and asks what you’re talking about. “The news yesterday,” you and your friend reply. “What news?” replies the stranger. “What!” you respond in disbelief. “Ah weh yuh liv, yuh nuh lisen Nyuuz? Yuh nuh ear seh Corona virus deh yah since Yesidey?

This is how the two disciples on the road to Emmaus must have felt when they first encountered Jesus.

places Emmaus sixty stadia, or seven miles (eleven kilometers), from Jerusalem. 13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 24:13.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 24

14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.

15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.

16 But atheir eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad.

18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You 1the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”

19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about aJesus the Nazarene, who was a bprophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,

20 and how the chief priests and our arulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.

21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to aredeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

22 “But also some women among us amazed us. aWhen they were at the tomb early in the morning,

23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also 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 exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.”

25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that athe prophets have spoken!

26 “aWas it not necessary for the 1Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”

Fools and slow of heart (ἀνόητοι καὶ βραδεῖς τῇ καρδίᾳ). Marvin Richardson Vincent suggests that this is an unfortunate translation, in the light of the ordinary, popular use of the word fool. Jesus would never have called those sorrowful disciples fools in that sense. The word is compounded of ἀ, not, and νοέω, which implies, besides seeing, perception of the mind as consequent upon sight. It is therefore equivalent to dull of perception. They had read what the prophets had spoken, but had failed to perceive its application to Christ. While this rebuke relates to the understanding, the following one, slow of heart, goes deeper, and contemplates the region of feeling and moral susceptibility. Your heart is dull and slow to respond to these testimonies of your own prophets.

Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 1 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 435.

the disciples were slow of heart to understand the mission of Jesus. you see they were thinking of an earthly kingdom but Jesus was thinking of a heavenly kingdom. the disciples were thinking of localized Jewish salvation but Jesus was thinking of an universal salvation that included both the Jews and Gentiles, men and women of all nation, kindred and tongue. the disciples were slow of heart to understand that Jesus had to die. they were slow of heart to understand that the Son of man had to be lifted up so that He could draw all men unto Him.

The disciples were sad because they were slow of heart to understand the mission of Christ

the disciples were sad, because they were slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken “In all the Scriptures” this did not mean that every verse of the OT is a prophecy about the Christ but that the entire scope of Scripture prophesies about Him. Some passages are directly prophetic, others are typological; but the whole thing is “messianic.” The OT says little about a Messiah per se, but read progressively, it has much to say about God’s plan to reconcile humanity to Himself and establish His rule over the earth. And it refers frequently to various “messianic” characters, both divine and human, who play a role in this plan. Jesus explained them as culminating in Himself.

Ted Cabal et al., The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), 1564.

Perry G. Phillips, “The Post-Resurrection Appearances of Christ,” in Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels, ed. Barry J. Beitzel and Kristopher A. Lyle, Lexham Geographic Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016), 522.

The disciple’s problem was disbelief, we too today have been slow of heart to believe. we live in a materialistic world. in this materialistic world, our spiritual vision have been clouded because of our humanistic worldviews. We don’t sometimes understand that the things that make us sad in this world are because we are slow of heart to believe.

The Solution

You see the disciples did not know that the stranger that was traveling them all this time was Jesus himself. Christ began to give them a tour of the Bible, and teach about himself. He spoke from Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy) and all the prophets (Isaiah to Malachi) and told them about the true identity and ministry of the Messiah. Later (v. 44) he also referred to the Psalms. If the Old Testament is not true, then Jesus was very much mistaken. He had absolute confidence in the word of God, and so should we (1 Peter 1:10, 11). How wonderful it must have been to hear the Scriptures opened up from the mouth of the Lord himself! Later, the disciples related the fact that, while He was speaking, their hearts ‘burned’ within them (v. 32)

You see it was necessary for Christ to have suffered and died and to enter into His glory. they just got it the world needs Jesus. it is Jesus that gives hope for tomorrow, it is Jesus that gives Joy for your, it is Jesus that rekindles faith that we need to go through.

Desire of Ages Chapter 83—The Walk to Emmaus

Their weariness and hunger are gone. They leave their meal untasted, and full of joy immediately set out again on the same path by which they came, hurrying to tell the tidings to the disciples in the city. In some parts the road is not safe, but they climb over the steep places, slipping on the smooth rocks. They do not see, they do not know, that they have the protection of Him who has traveled the road with them. With their pilgrim staff in hand, they press on, desiring to go faster than they dare. They lose their track, but find it again. Sometimes running, sometimes stumbling, they press forward, their unseen Companion close beside them all the way.

The night is dark, but the Sun of Righteousness is shining upon them. Their hearts leap for joy. They seem to be in a new world. Christ is a living Saviour. They no longer mourn over Him as dead. Christ is risen—over and over again they repeat it. This is the message they are carrying to the sorrowing ones. They must tell them the wonderful story of the walk to Emmaus. They must tell who joined them by the way. They carry the greatest message ever given to the world, a message of glad tidings upon which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend.

Gavin Childress, Opening up Luke’s Gospel, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006), 213.

The Transformation

If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and is now resurrected, raise your hands.

If you believe that Jesus can bring you joy in your time of sorry and peace in your time of turmoil please stand with me.

if you really believe that Christ can make a difference in your life and bring the peace that you so earnestly desire, I invite you to walk to the altar, these are challenging times but we have a powerful savior come to Him.