Luke 24:13-35
I. The Meeting 13-16
1. The Setting (13-14)
Two of Jesus’ disciples were walking toward a small village called Emmaus. They had witnessed everything that had happened to Jesus and were now going back home, discouraged. Verse 13 tells us that this is happening “that same day”, meaning the same day the women went to the tomb and found Jesus missing (24:1-12). They are referred to as “two of them” – this means that they were two of Jesus’ disciples. They were probably present when Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem – they may have even acclaimed His arrival and waved palm branches! They were there in Jerusalem! They were excited that the Savior had come! But now He was dead. And this they could not understand.
So, they were walking along, talking about what happened, trying to understand. Vs. 14 tells us that they “discussed” and “reasoned” together. It had been an unusual few days and they were reviewing what they had witnessed, and what they had been told. The idea from the description here is that this was an intense discussion. The same phrase is used in Luke 2:15, where the shepherds discussed what the angel had proclaimed to them. It is important to understand this as an emotional, conversation.
2. The Appearance (15-16)
As they are traveling toward Emmaus and talking, another traveler catches up with them, walks with them, and listens to their conversation. Luke makes it very clear who this is. In Vs. 15 it says “Jesus Himself”. There is no debate, no doubt that it was Jesus the Risen Messiah who was walking with them, in His Resurrection Body. He also makes it very clear that the two disciples do not realize that it is the Resurrected Jesus who they are talking to. Vs. 16 tells us that “their eyes were restrained”. In the original language, this is in the passive voice, which means that what happens is beyond their control, i.e. it was happening to them. So God hid Jesus’ true identity from them. The veil will be lifted in vs. 31, but in their present uncertainty, God still had things to teach them. (Garden of Eden)
II. The Conversation 17- 27
In verse 17 Jesus speaks up for the first time. He asks them what they are talking about and why they are sad. Their response is one of complete shock – they cannot believe that anyone coming out of Jerusalem would not know what has happened. From their response, it is clear that they are stunned and disappointed by recent events. They had supported Jesus, believed that He was the Messiah, now they ached with grief and confusion, which was evident in their response – “are you the only person who does not know about these events?” (John, sarcacasm)
1. The Question (19)
Graciously seeking to enlighten them, our Lord would not be put off. His second question “what things?” got them to express their confusion and frustration. Notice that in verse 19, they both spoke, because it says, “they said” – and from their response, they were definitely confused about what had happened. (Read 19b - 24).
The last thing that they mentioned was that some of their fellow disciples went to the tomb, but were unable to see Jesus. In many ways, they are like modern people in their skepticism. Only the presence of the risen Jesus would convince them of what had happened. The irony of this story is that there are in the midst of what they desired and what the others had not experienced. But they were so depressed and negative in their confusion that it was beyond their capacity to make the obvious connection.
If you have ever been depressed or tried to help someone who is depressed, you know that such people are amazingly resourceful in finding reasons not to take comfort in anything you say to them. They are determined to take everything as bad news. To them, the empty tomb compounded the tragedy, because they thought that someone had stolen the body, adding insult to injury. Ironically, Cleopas mentioned that it had been three days since Jesus’ death, not recalling that Jesus had said over and over that He would be put to death and rise again on the third day (Lk 9:22, Mk 9:31, Jn 2:19). See, these men were disappointed because Jesus didn’t do what they wanted Him to do! He didn’t meet their expectations!
2. The Response (25-27)
Jesus responds with rebuke, and expresses great disappointment. Just as the women at the tomb were rebuked by the angel (24:5-7), these men are rebuked by Jesus. He tells them that their failure is one of foolishness and slow heartedness. The point is, they had been told over and over that Jesus would be killed and would rise again on the third day, so they should have understood! He had expectations from these men and He has expectations of us as well!
Vs. 26 is what we call a rhetorical question: He did not expect an answer. Jesus is simply stating what the disciples should have known from the prophets: that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and come into His glory. For some reason, 1st century Jews did not anticipate a suffering Messiah, even though the Prophets had such an expectation (Ps. 118 and Isaiah 53). They believed the Prophets, they just did not believe all that the prophets said. (So many times this happens today/ people cut from the Bible what fits their wants)
So, in verse 27, He opens the Bible and explains to them what the Scripture says concerning Himself. Why did He do this? Warren Wiersbe states the principal found in Rom. 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” This is why Jesus opened the Word to these two men as the three of them walked to Emmaus. Their problem was not in their head, but in their hearts. That is why Jesus opened the Scriptures and then opened their eyes – so that they would understand everything His Word said about Him.
He explained to them, we are told, from Moses and then the Prophets. Perhaps He started in Genesis 3:15, the first promise of the Redeemer. He may have mentioned Gen 22, which tells the story of Abraham placing his son on the alter. Surely He touched on the Passover, the levitical sacrifices, the tabernacle ceremonies, the Day of Atonement, the serpent in the wilderness, the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53 – the list could go on and on. But, here is the important thing to remember – the key to understanding the Bible is to see Jesus Christ on every page. All scripture points to Jesus and this is something that Luke stresses in his Gospel. Here in verse 27, it doesn’t say that He taught them just prophesy and doctrine, it says that He taught “things concerning Himself”. He was able to do this because all scripture points to Him. You see, the more that 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, but receiving Bible truth and walking with the Savior will lead (as we will see) to a burning heart.
III. The Meal and Revelation 28-32
1. The Meal
When they finally arrived at Emmaus, Jesus “pretended” or “acted”, or in some way indicated that He was going on further down the road. It seemed that the meeting was over, but the travelers did not wish Jesus to go on, so they urged Him to stay with them. The reasons given were because it was ‘toward evening and the day was far spent”.
2. Jesus’ Revelation (30-31)
The travelers still do not know who Jesus is as He reclines at the table with them to share a meal of fellowship. I believe that they were divinely kept from recognizing Christ so that they would base their understanding of revelation squarely on the scripture and not on experience. I believe that they understood the resurrection already at this point, because Jesus just explained it to them from the Scripture, and their belief in the resurrection was based on this, not the revelation of who their guest was.
The language used to describe this meal recalls the feeding of the five thousand and the Last Supper. Jesus served as the host of this meal, which was unusual and indicates that they already realized that He was someone special, but they still didn’t realize just how special He was! We are told that He took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them, then their eyes were opened and He vanished! So, as soon as the veil is lifted and they realize with whom they are eating, Jesus disappears.
And they started talking together and they said, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the scriptures to us?” What He taught them impacted them intensely and emotionally.
IV. The Report 33-35
Their hearts burned within them, and this demanded a response. So intense was their passion for sharing what they had witnessed, that they immediately got up, and walked all the way back to Jerusalem to share it with the other disciples. (expound)
Conclusion
At this very moment, Jesus knows where we are. He knows the geography of our lives inside and out. He knows the temperature of our souls, whether there is ice or fire. Whatever our state, His method is the same, to meet us where we are with His own Person framed in the beautiful context of His Word. The life-giving, energizing truth is that Christ suffered and died for our sins. Then, on the third day, He rose from the dead. He delights to bring fire to cold hearts, we do not need more light, we need more heat!
