On The Road To Emmaus – 8th April 2007 pm
The chief priests and the Pharisees were determined that Jesus was going to stay in his grave. They used every resource and power available to see to that.
They secured the tomb by placing a seal on the great stone that had been rolled in front of it to close the entrance Mat 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
They also posted guards at the entrance of the tomb the elite koustodia were the Roman army’s Special Forces.
In spite of all their human efforts, the Jewish leaders were unable to prevent Jesus from accomplishing what had already been determined and promised: After three days I will rise again Mat 27:63. These carnal-minded, religious leaders did not know that NOTHING in the physical realm has the ability to hinder the divine will from accomplishing its purpose.
Paul states that all who are baptized into Christ are baptized into his death, and in the same manner that Christ was resurrected they are to be resurrected to a new life in Christ (Rom 6:3-7).
God’s incomparably great power is available for those who believe. Eph 1:19-20. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, If you deliberately decide in your heart that you are going to bury your old self and be resurrected to a new life in Christ, you have God’s promise that you cannot be stopped.
However, if you are looking for an excuse for living the same old life day after day, you will find one. There are numerous people and things to blame. You can blame society, or your friends or your children, or your parents, or your neighbours or hypocrites in the church. You can blame bad luck, the wrong side of the bed, circumstances, or your tough childhood. Excuses are endless, but if you want to be resurrected to a new life you will be. Nothing can stop you.
If you are a fake, you will always have an excuse why you cannot change. If you are genuine, you will not be stopped.
Luke 24:13-35
The long eventful first Easter Sunday was drawing to a close. Two of the disciples were heading home from Jerusalem. One was named Cleopas, and the other could have been his wife. Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. [ 7 or 8 miles]
They left Jerusalem by the Western ate, a little less than half an hour’s walk brought them to a plateau with the city behind them. Another half an hour and they could pause, look back and see the wide view as far back as Bethlehem.
Before long, they’ve left the paved Roman road and headed up a lovely valley with Emmaus in view above and beyond them.
The couple talked together. They had so much to talk about – the treachery of Judas and then his suicide, the plots and guilt of the Sanhedrin, the weakness of Herod and Pilate, the terrible crime of Calvary, and, today, rumours of Christ’s resurrection and the solid fact of the empty tomb.
Verses 15 – 17
It was evident from their tearful faces, their drooped shoulders, and the tone of their voices that something was wrong. These two travellers were probably only too glad too have this stranger with them so that they could use his shoulder to cry on so to speak.
Cleopas says Verse 18 – How could anyone be in Jerusalem and not about the events of the past few days. “What things?” Jesus asks. Then out comes the whole story, Verse 19 – Oh what miracles He had performed, what messages He had proclaimed.
But where had it all ended? With a coronation? No, with a crucifixion! Verse 20 – 24
The longer Cleopas talked, the more he incriminated himself of unbelief. What more evidence was needed? Witnesses had seen the tomb empty. Angels had announced that Jesus was alive. Witnesses had seen Him alive and had heard Him speak. The proof was there.
Now it was the Lord’s turn to speak.
Verses 25 – 27
Where does faith come from? What verse?
Romans 10:17 – This explains why Jesus opened up the Word to these two as the three of them walked to Emmaus. Their real problem was not in their heads but in their hearts.
What was their basic problem? They did not believe all that the prophets had written about the Messiah. That was the problem with most of the Jews in that day: they saw the Messiah as a Conquering Redeemer, but they did not see Him as a Suffering Servant.
As they read the Old Testament, they saw the glory but not the suffering; they saw the crown but not the cross. Similar to some of today’s teaching – there are those who do not preach the whole Bible – just what appeals to them.
I would like to have been a part of that Bible conference that day!!! I wish I could have been there. Imagine this – the greatest Teacher explaining the greatest Book and bringing the greatest blessings to people’s lives:
Eyes open to see Him, hearts open to receive the Word, and lips open to tell others what Jesus said to them. – this should be us…
Perhaps Jesus started at Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This being the first promise of the Redeemer, and then traced that promise through the Scriptures.
He may have lingered at Genesis 22, which tells of Abraham placing his only beloved son on the altar.
Surely He touched on :-
the Passover,
the Levitical sacrifices,
the Tabernacle ceremonies,
the Day of Atonement,
the brass serpent in the wilderness,
the suffering servant in Isaiah 53
the prophetic messages of Psalms 22 & 69
The key to understanding the Bible is to see Jesus Christ on every single page.
He did not teach them only doctrine or prophecy; He taught them the things concerning himself. [Luke 24:27]
Verses 28 – 32
The miles melted away, and, before they knew it they had entered Emmaus and come to their turning so to speak.
These men had talked to Jesus and listened to Jesus and when He made as though He would go on alone, they asked Jesus to come home with them. They had been won by the Word of God. Their hearts were burning within them and they wanted the blessing to last.
The more we receive the Word of God, the more we will want fellowship with the God of the Word. Understanding Bible knowledge can lead to a big head – 1 Cor 8:1 (Knowledge puffeth up) but receiving Bible truth and walking with the Saviour will lead to a burning heart.
Christ took His place at the table. He reached out for the bread, broke it and gave it to them with His blessing bestowed upon it. They had seen this before. Was it when He fed the hungry multitudes. He had done the very same thing in the upper room. Perhaps that was what had opened their eyes. Or was it when He broke the bread that they saw the nail prints in His hands?
Jesus opened the Scriptures to them and then He opened their eyes so that they recognised Him. Now they knew for sure that Jesus was alive. They had the evidence of the open tomb, the angels, the witnesses, the Scriptures and now their own personal experience with the Lord.
The best evidence that we have understood the Bible and met the living Christ is that we have something exciting to share with others. The two men immediately left Emmaus headed for Jerusalem to tell the believers that they had met Jesus.
They had no thought of going to bed. Verse 33
Back down the hill, over the bridge, and past the fork in the road.
Back along the paved Roma Road to the spot where they could see Bethlehem.
On into the city through the Western Gate.
All seven or eight miles of it on feet that flew.
Back into the house, up the stairs, and in at the door.
“We’ve seen Him!!”
They found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them. The word used suggests that the place was packed. However, they had to compete with their news. The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
That was what greeted them, but then they had their turn Luke 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
