Misplaced Expectations For The First Easter? Series

Misplaced Expectations For The First Easter?

Introduction: The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was one of the most significant events in all of history. It goes without saying that there were several different expectations when this event took place, depending on each person’s point of view.

To say the least, that event didn’t meet the expectations of many people, including the disciples! Two of them were walking and talking about what they had seen and heard. Under the surface, though, was a great disappointment based on what they had expected to happen—and what did happen, instead!

(Full disclosure: there is a message already on Sermon Central called “After Easter: On the Road to Emmaus” based on this text. This message is not a copy of that message but was reworked from a sermon preached at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO in April 2025.)

1 The expectations they lost

Text: Luke 24:13-24, KJV: 13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

All four Gospels have the account or narrative of how Jesus was crucified, and buried in Joseph’s tomb. Some of the details may vary but that is not really so important as the fact that all four of the writers agree that He—Jesus—was dead and that His body was buried.

They also, all four, proudly proclaim that He isn’t there any longer! Various groups came to the tomb, looking for the body, but they never found it. It’s simple, why they never did find the Lord’s body—it, and He, had risen from the dead!

We can look back at this and rejoice! Jesus did give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45) and now ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). I don’t know if any of them really understood all Jesus had said about His death and resurrection from the dead. Truth be told, maybe nobody else but the disciples could do this, as they had lived both before and after our Lord was crucified.

Even so, I’m sure they never forgot the promises of the Old Testament about how, one day, the King would come and set up the Kingdom. Those who took part in what’s called the “Triumphal Entry” had just days before chopped down tree limbs and threw their clothing down on the street when Jesus came into Jerusalem riding the colt (donkey). They probably expected the Kingdom was coming because the King was here!

But—we know the rest of that story, don’t we. It’s recorded in all four Gospels that Jesus was crucified and buried, and that He was raised from the dead.

That must have been small comfort, though, to those who believed in Him. They’re still huddled together somewhere in Jerusalem, thinking, what, that they might be able to escape the same death (or worse) than Jesus Himself? Or, maybe, they were waiting for the knock on the door and the arrest just like the Lord had endured? Whatever they were thinking and feeling, one thing appears to be sure, and that’s the realization all their hopes and expectations were gone.

2 The encounter as they traveled

Luke begins chapter 24 with the story of some women who had gone to Joseph’s tomb in order to anoint or place spices on the body of Jesus. Remember, they and many others had no confidence Jesus had risen from the dead. I mean, why bring burial spices, whatever they were, if there’s no body in the tomb?