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Morning Message Text: Luke 24: 13-35
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along? ”They stood still, their faces downcast.
18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.
29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Morning Message:
There is so much that we can learn by walking the road to Emmaus. These two men were disciples of Jesus, perhaps among the seventy-two that Jesus had sent out. Remember in Luke 10 verses 1-17 Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples and tells them to take little or nothing with them. This is the first mission trip and the first time these disciples would be out witnessing on their own. They had heard the message of Christ’s resurrection, but their hearts were broken, believing it was all fraud. Where does this thought come from? What causes us to doubt? Matthew 13: 19 gives us the reason why this takes place. “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sewn in his heart.” The devil is always trying to take God’s word from us.
Most Americans know who said, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” I should preface that thought by saying, most Americans 50 or older, because we stopped teaching American history some time ago. Do you know who said it? President John F. Kennedy. The most important words of famous people are usually well known. But one of the most important things Jesus said is hardly known at all. It is found in Mark’s account of Jesus’ famous parable about the sower, seeds, and soils (Mark 4: 1-20). Mark quotes Jesus as saying, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” Jesus seemed to say that this parable was key to understanding the rest of his parables. Why? Because it has to do with hearing and receiving the Word of God. And specifically, the possibility that Satan is ready to snatch the word away when it is not readily embraced. It is important not to read or hear the Word of God carelessly. Don’t give Satan an opportunity to deny or counterfeit God’s truth by treating it lightly.
Jesus comes and walks with these two, relatively unknown disciples. This is the longest exchange between Jesus and anyone else regarding His resurrection. These men are not prominent; Luke gives the name of only one of them, Cleopas. This is the next point that we should take from the road to Emmaus, Jesus will walk with anyone and answer your questions and help you to understand God’s Word. All we need to do when we don’t understand is allow Jesus to join us on the walk.
These two men revealed they still did not understand who Jesus was. This is the case with many today. They saw Him as a mighty prophet, not as the Messiah and Son of God. They had walked with Him for most of three years, seen so many miracles, ministered in His name to many on their own, and even seen people raised from the dead, and still they saw Him only as a mighty prophet. For these two men, when Jesus died on the cross, all their hopes of rescue from Roman opposition had died with Him. Because their hope was gone, they discounted the testimony of the women at the tomb. So many people today can’t see past Jesus the man. They refuse to hope in something greater than themselves. They hesitate and do not embrace the truth of the gospel when they hear it, and then what happens? The devil changes what they heard and steals it from them.
Jesus rebukes them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” He probably reminded them of scripture that was well known to all Jewish people. For example, (Isaiah 53: 6): “We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” That’s just one example. There are hundreds more that He could have quoted to them. What’s the point here? If you want to walk that road with Jesus let Him teach you scripture. You have to believe that every word in God’s Word is true. If people would only open their hearts to God’s Word and allow the truth to shine through, they would come to Jesus.
Next point; as the men drew near their destination, Christ did not force Himself into their home. He waited until they invited Him in, and then He became a crucial part of their lives. If you allow Him, Jesus will walk with you and talk with you, teach you God’s Word, open your mind to the truth of the gospel, but He will never force Himself into your life. You have to invite Him in. This sounds so simple, and yet, so many don’t take that final step. I give an invitation sometimes to come forward and make that choice publicly. Some churches don’t believe in doing that, but I know that even though it’s a personal decision, a public profession is needed, and you must invite the Lord into your life.
Jesus the guest quickly became Jesus the host. In an Eastern setting, bread was not sliced but came as an entire loaf. To serve the bread, a person broke off a piece and gave it to another. Apparently, Jesus’ distinct way of doing this revealed His identity. Instantly, Jesus vanished from their sight, having previously promised He would not eat with His disciples again until He was in the kingdom. Now the kingdom had come! Communion is just bread and juice, but Jesus commanded us to do it in remembrance of Him. I believe that in Holy Communion, when our hearts are right with the Lord, Jesus is revealed to us. Walking the road to Emmaus gives us so many opportunities to see, hear, and accept Jesus. We should all walk that road regularly. Some still need to find Jesus; others need to remember him.
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
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