Perceptions About the Risen Christ
Beginning with Moses • Sermon • Submitted
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Please take your Bible and turn to Luke 24:13-35 as we consider Perceptions About the Risen Christ.
The disciples of Christ who are mentioned in this account had an incomplete understanding of the fullness of who Jesus is, and of what the O.T. writers prophesied about Him. Their perception of Christ was blinded by the misconceptions that they had always been taught. They even, more than likely, heard Jesus address these misconceptions, and yet they didn’t embrace the truth that He taught.
One might be tempted to give them a pass since they didn’t have the N.T. Scriptures which give us a proper understanding of the O.T. But the truth is that they were ignorant of the truth taught in the Scriptures which they did have. Sadly, today many people who identify with Christ have a similar misconception. And this is because they are ignorant in regard to the fullness of the teaching of the Bible. The O.T. prophet, Amos, once wrote that there was a famine in the land for the Word of God. And that is so true in the world in which we live today. God’s Word is more readily available to us today than ever before. And yet, people continue in ignorance of its teaching.
To set the stage for our text, I want to point out that about a week prior Jesus had presented Himself in Jerusalem during His triumphal entry. During the course of the week in between Jesus had cleared the temple of the money changers. He was tested, with the hope of entrapping Him with His own words, by various groups. The Pharisees. The Herodians. The Sadducees, etc. But nobody could fault Him for His answers to their trick questions. After all of this Jesus railed on the scribes and Pharisees for their hand in keeping the people of Israel in ignorance regarding the Scriptures — for their hypocrisy. During this week He had celebrated the Passover meal with the twelve. He delivered two very important discourses — The Olivet Discourse, and the Upper Room Discourse. Then He was arrested. He was tried in a mockery of justice, and handed over to the death sentence by the chief priests and rulers of Israel. He was executed on the cross of suffering, and buried in a rich man’s tomb.
Earlier this very day some women had visited His tomb, only to find it empty. Notice verses 1-3.
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
As these women pondered the empty tomb they had a visitation by two angelic beings who informed them Jesus had risen from the dead. These ladies were reminded of the fact that Jesus had said that He would suffer but then be raised from the dead on the third day. Let’s pick the narrative back up in verses 8-11.
And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.
That last verse, verse 11, describes the attitude of the disciples who are spoken of in our text for this morning. They thought the interpretation of the women regarding the truth of the empty tomb was nonsense. Because of their false perception about the Messiah they did not believe the He could die, let alone be raised from the dead.
As we go through this passage this morning we are going to look at these disciples incomplete and disillusioned perceptions regarding Messiah, and then we will look at the corrected perception that the Stranger on the Road to Emmaus gave to them.
Let’s read our passage together.
And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 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. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 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.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Let’s first consider their
Incomplete Perception
Incomplete Perception
Look again at verse 13.
And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
There is very little that we know about these people who were traveling from Jerusalem to an unknown village called Emmaus. We know that the village was a 7 mile journey from Jerusalem. To us it seems like a very long and inconvenient walk — roughly the equivalent of me walking from our home to Tecumseh. But folks in those days were used to traveling by foot.
We perceive from the text that they were Judeans rather than Galileans. We really don’t know how well acquainted they were with Jesus. On the one hand we get the impression that the bulk of Jesus ministry took place in Galilee. On the other hand we get the impression that Lazarus and his sisters, Mary & Martha, who were Judeans as well, were on very intimate terms with the Lord.
As they were making their way back to the village they were discussing the recent events that took place. As they were discussing these things a “Stranger” approached them and joined in on their conversation. Look at verses 14-15.
And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.
Remember that this was during the time of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It would have been a common thing for many travelers to happen along the road since the men were all required to journey to Jerusalem for these holidays. And though it might be odd in our society for a person to butt into other’s conversation, I’m not convinced that it was all that odd is first century Israel.
Notice verse 16.
But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
We have to ask ourselves why is it that they were prevented form recognizing Jesus? It wasn’t that they didn’t know Him. They had been followers of His. It wasn’t their own doing that prevented them from recognizing Him. The Greek term implies that it was the action of another that prevented them. They weren’t the only ones who didn’t immediately recognize Jesus when He appeared to them after His resurrection. Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Him until He spoke her name. There is an important principle for us to understand:
God determines when to open the eyes of the heart to understand truth
People are completely responsible for perceiving the truth that is presented to them. But God is sovereign in who will perceive truth. We see this truth in the parable which Christ taught. They were hard to understand by all, but only certain ones were given the explanation.
Jesus, being the all-knowing God, knew that these disciples needed to spell out their own ignorance in order for Him to give correction. And so He asked some probing questions to garner a response. Look at verse 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.
When Jesus asked them about their discussion they stopped dead in their tracks and their countenance betrayed their sadness. Then one of them, rather testily, replied to Jesus. Look at verse 18.
One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”
I’m not sure who they thoughts this “Stranger” was, but the certainly didn’t think He could possibly be a local. Dispersed Jews from all over the known world would make a pilgrimage back to Jerusalem for this holiday season. Perhaps they perceived (wrongly) that this man was merely a pilgrim and unaware of what had been going on in Israel over the past three years. Obviously, Jesus was painfully aware of what had happened. But He wanted these men to spell it out for Him. Notice verse 19-20.
And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.
Notice that the things they said about Jesus were accurate, but incomplete. Jesus was a prophet. But He was more than a prophet. Moses had long ago promised that God would raise up a prophet who would be like him.
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.
I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.
And Moses was speaking of Jesus as he wrote these words. But Jesus was not simply a prophet. He was so much more.
Cleopas also referred to Jesus as being mighty in deed. That is, His actions were mighty. He healed the sick. He calmed the storm. He raised the dead.
Cleopas next referred to Jesus as being mighty in word. Nobody ever taught with such authority as did Jesus. Not only was His teaching powerful, but there were instances when He healed people simply by speaking a word.
Finally, Cleopas acknowledged that it was the chief priest and rulers of Israel who handed Jesus over to death. He didn’t blame the Romans, by whose hand Jesus died. He blamed the rulers of Israel.
These disciples of Jesus had an incomplete understanding about the things that were written about the Messiah. And this led to
A Disillusioned Perception
A Disillusioned Perception
Look at verse 21.
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.
Because these disciples had an incomplete understanding of Messiah, they became disillusioned by Jesus’ death. They had been taught that Messiah would live forever. Therefore, since Jesus died, He could not possibly be the Messiah they had been waiting for.
Look at verses 22-23.
But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.
They obviously didn’t take these women as credible witnesses. And of course that was in keeping with their culture. As if to substantiate their low view of the women’s testimony Cleopas stated in verse 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.”
Many godly people throughout all of history have had times when they are disillusioned, disappointed, depressed, or many other such sentiments. But the good news is that “this too shall pass.” We may have a very long night of weeping or of grief — whether due to God’s punishment of our sin or the loss of a loved one. But we hold on to this one truth:
For God’s people, suffering will be replaced with joy
And this joy will be unfathomable. As Peter testified:
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Having led these disillusioned disciples to verbalize their need of understanding what the Scriptures speak of Messiah, Jesus now steps in as the Master Expositor of God’s Word and leads them to
A Correct Perception
A Correct Perception
As we continue on we are going to focus on the source of understanding and the result of understanding.
Note that:
The source of understanding is the entire counsel of God’s Word
Notice how Jesus rebuked them in verse 25.
And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
I put this on the screen for you because I actually believe the NASB didn’t give the best translation here. And I want to point it out. This is the only English translation that I commonly use that refers to foolish men. Notice how it is translated in the KJV.
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Both of these give the emphasis on the foolishness of these disciples. The Christian Standard Bible places the on how slow they are to come to a true understanding.
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Regardless of the translation we see Jesus emphasizing the importance of considering all, all, all that the Bible has to say about the Messiah. And here’s what they didn’t understand — look at verse 26.
Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”
They believed in the glory of the Christ, but they did not believe in the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Christ.
This begs the question as to whether our own understanding of Christ is complete or incomplete? I’m not saying that we can ever have perfect knowledge, because we can’t. But I am saying that we each have an obligation to diligently study the Scriptures — the entire Scriptures, and show ourselves approved unto God, a workman who needs not be ashamed. This is so we can rightly interpret what is written in the Bible.
Notice the source for which Jesus was going to use to correct their misconceptions of the Messiah. Look at verse 27.
Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Here we have the subtitle of today’s message: Beginning with Moses. What I am prayerfully considering is using this account as a launching point to do an overview of the O.T. with a specific focus on how it points to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Messiah.
I’d like us to turn our attention to the result of having a correct understanding. Look at verses 28-32.
And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
The first result of a correct perception is having our eyes opened to the truth of God.
In the case of these men it was the breaking of the bread that opened their eyes.
Jesus’s encounter with these folks was a matter of divine appointment
The Father used the powerful teaching of Jesus to draw this couple from Emmaus to Christ.
Do our hearts burn within us as someone is explaining to us the Word of God? Do ever experience the effect of a light being suddenly turned on in our minds as we are being taught God’s Word? May we have the same response as these men and be those who hearts burn within us as the Lord opens up to us His Word.
The second response to a correct perception of truth is sharing it with others. Notice what these men did in verses 33-35.
And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
As they were obedient to the call to be witnesses they discovered that they weren’t the only ones who had an encounter with the Risen Christ on that day. And notice what happened while they were relating their experience. Look at verse 36.
While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
My desire is that we all avail ourselves to a diligent study of the entire Bible so that we can learn the fullness of God’s revelation to us. Further, I desire that each of us would have hearts that burn within us as we learn the truths of God’s Word. And finally that we would obediently tell share with others the truth that we have learned.
Let’s pray.
Father,
I thank You for your great mercy and grace. I thank You for plan to redeem Your people as Your own precious possession, and I’m thankful to be counted among them!
Lord, I pray that we would be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we will walk in a manner worthy of You, that we might please You in all things, that we might bear fruit in every good work as we continually increase in our knowledge of You.
I pray that we would be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience.
I pray that we would have hearts of gratitude expressed towards You for qualifying us to receive a share of the inheritance of the saints in Light. For You have rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of Your beloved Son. And it’s in His name we pray, Amen.
Closing Song: #633
Open Our Eyes, Lord