On The Road To Emmaus

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.