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BROKEN HEARTS
“The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:20-21).
The disciples didn’t understand that SUFFERING precedes GLORY.
BURNING HEARTS
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:25-27).
Old Testament prophecies of the suffering and glory of Christ:
· He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:3).
· Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me (Psalm 41:9).
· I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting (Isaiah 50:6).
· His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness (Isaiah 52:14).
· A band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet (Psalm 22:16).
· He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5).
· They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son (Zechariah 12:10).
· All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him” (Psalm 22:7-8).
· My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22:1).
· “In that day,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight” (Amos 8:9).
· It was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days (Isaiah 53:10).
· You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay (Psalm 16:10).
· After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11).
· When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train (Psalm 68:18).
· The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” (Psalm 110:1).
· He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth (Psalm 72:8).
· “In my vision at night I looked, and there one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
BUOYANT HEARTS
Three revealing meals in the Gospel of Luke:
1. The Feeding of the Five Thousand
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people (Luke 9:16).
· Jesus is the MESSIAH.
2. The Last Supper
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).
· Jesus would SUFFER.
3. The Meal at Emmaus
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them (Luke 24:30).
The first meal mentioned in Scripture is the eating of the forbidden fruit by Adam and Eve. The result was new and unwelcome knowledge: “The eyes of the both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked” (Genesis 3:7). Now another couple, Cleopas and his companion, are sitting at a table preparing to eat. The result is new and welcome knowledge: “Their eyes were opened and they recognized [Jesus]” (Luke 24:31).
· Jesus has RISEN!
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “The Christ [Messiah] of God.”
Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Luke 9:20-22; cf. 24:7).
A FUTURE MEAL WITH JESUS
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:27-29).
Then the angel said tome, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” (Revelation 19:9).
RESOURCES USED
Darrell L. Bock, Luke (NIVAC)
Craig A. Evans, Luke (NIBC)
Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (NICNT)
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1
N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God