Jesus Completes the Story of Israel

Intro

“The Things Concerning Jesus”

The Road to Emmaus

(Give context)

Luke 24:13–19 NKJV

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,

This post resurrection encounter is unique to Luke’s gospel.

Jesus encounters two disciple discussing what had happened over the last few days.

It tells us “their eyes were constrained” so they would not recognize Jesus.

Jesus’ inquiry to their discussion reveals the details of their discussion:

“The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people…,”

Jesus’ words and deeds in and of themselves convinced many that HE was in fact send from God.

Transition: They then reveal their hope, which is very important for our discussion.

“But, We Were Hoping...”

Luke 24:21–24 NKJV

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.”

It’s important to address what these two disciples were hoping concerning Jesus.:

“We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.”

Their hope wasn’t only for “salvation from their sin” and “going to heaven when they died”.

Their hope was that He was going to redeem Israel!

Redeem–to rescue, ransom, set free, liberate from an oppressive condition.

What this means is that the promised Messiah would deliver Israel from the oppression of every enemy.

They would once again experience the blessing and the favor of God as promised by the prophets.

The people of Israel were aware they had strayed from God’s covenants and were facing hard times because of this.

Yet, God had promised to once again step into the world to redeem Israel and turn things around.

Many had put their hope in Jesus as this promised deliverer, much like Moses.

Yet, many misunderstood how God would accomplish this.

Transition: Jesus would help bring understanding to these disciples.

Jesus Expounded the Scriptures

Luke 24:25–27 NKJV

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.

Jesus begins with a rebuke for the disciples unbelief in what the prophets had spoken.

He reminds them of something of great important:

The Christ, the Messiah, would suffer to obtain deliverance for his people before He entered into his glory (Kingdom)

Jesus was exalted King after his death and resurrection.

EMPHASIS: Jesus then expounded (explained thoroughly) to them in all the scriptures what was said concerning himself.

From Moses, the Law, and all the prophets.

Jesus is reminding these disciples of what the scripture revealed concerning the Christ and reason he came.

Transition: The importance of this cannot be overlooked!

What This Matters

EMPHASIS: This has great significance for us “Making Sense of the Bible”.

The story of Jesus completes the story of Israel!

This is the full Story of God.

This helps us understand the singular plot line of the Bible.

The life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus is not an exclusive story of the plan of salvation, how to be a Christian, or the church.

EMPHASIS: These disciples were hoping Jesus would fulfill every promise God had made to Israel, from Abraham, David, to the New Covenant.

And Jesus proves through the scripture, HE DID!

There’s A Reason

There’s a reason two gospels begin with genealogies.

There’s a reason, Jesus quotes Old Testament scripture frequently.

There’s a reason the gospel writers refer to Old Testament scripture being fulfilled in Jesus.

There’s a reason almost every sermon in the books of Acts recounts a portion of Israel’s history.

KEY: God’s redemptive history from the Fall to the final restoration of all things is summed up in Jesus!

Quote: Matthew, then, is telling his story in such a way as to say: “This is it! This is what we’ve been waiting for—even though we would never have thought it would be like this! This is where the single story of Abraham’s family, of David’s offspring, of the restoration from exile was going all along. We didn’t think it would look like this. But now that it’s happened, we can see that this is where it was supposed to be heading all along.”

Wright, N. T.. How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels (p. 72). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

Video–Chosen People Ministries

Final Words

If we retrace our steps:

Creation

The Fall

The Story of Israel

The Story of Jesus

Redemption finds its fulfillment in Jesus.

IMPORTANT

We must know that through Christ, the New Covenant is offered to “whosoever will”, not only the people of Israel.

Everyone suffers the consequences and judgment of sin and rebellion.

Everyone needs redemption and God has offered this gift to all who believe!