For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scriptures read prior to the Message. The assigned readings for today are: Acts 2: 36-41; Psalm 116:1-3,10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23 and Luke 24:13-35.
Only Luke records the story.
Not a word from Matthew, or Mark, or John.
And after reading it, ... the story leaves us ... with more questions ... than answers.
Yet, as I studied the story of the Emmaus Road ..., I sensed ... that I was walking on ... holy ground!
The story that I'm referring to is our Gospel text ... shared by Luke.
BIBLE "Now that ... same day ... two of them ... were going to a village called Emmaus, ... about seven miles from Jerusalem." END
What ... "same day" ... is Dr. Luke referring to?
Looking back to the beginning of the Chapter.
That same day ... is the day that Christians call ...... "Easter Sunday."
As we know .... Jesus was crucified on Friday.
That "Same Day" .... Luke speaks of ... was the day that the stone sealing the tomb ... was rolled away.
Two angels share the glorious news, earlier that "Same Day" ... Remember their words: BIBLE "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" END (Luke 24:5-6)
It is ... "that same day", ... according to Luke, ... that ... "two of them" ... were going to a village called Emmaus."
Who does the "Two of them" refer?
Well, according to Luke ... the women who heard this glorious testimony from the angels ... gave a report Quote ... "to the Eleven ... and to all the others." Luke 24:9
Beloved ... Jesus had many more disciples ... than just the Twelve.
Luke records, ... at the beginning of the book of Acts, ... that there were about 120 followers of Jesus.
The two walking on the road to Emmaus were ... "two of them."
They were ... Two disciples ... of Jesus.
One of these disciples is identified in our text as: ...Cleopas (Clee-o-pus).
Who was this ... Cleopas?
Eusebius, ... a Bishop ... and an early 4th century scholar ... was convinced that Cleopos was the brother of Jesus earthy father Joseph, ... and therefore ... the uncle of Jesus.
Some are also convinced that ... Cleopas is the same as the Clopas ... mentioned by John.
In John's Gospel, we read, BIBLE "Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, ... his mother's sister, ... Mary the wife of Clopas, ... and Mary Magdalene." END John 19:25
If Cleopas and Clopas ...... are one and the same, ... then Cleopas' wife ... was one of the holy women ... who followed Jesus.
She was present at the cross ... with Mary the mother of Jesus, ... with Mary's sister, ... and with Mary Magdalene.
She may also have been among the group of women at the tomb ... who heard the glorious report from the angels, .... "He is not here! He is risen!"
That conclusion seems to be supported by a comment that Cleopas makes later in our text when he says:
BIBLE "some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us ... that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive." END Luke 24:22
Perhaps you are wondering about the other unnamed disciple... with Cleopas.
Who was he?
Well We do not really know.
Some have suggested that this was Matthias, ... the one who would later become the replacement for Judas, ... one of the Twelve
But Dr. Luke does not provide that information.
Yet ...There is one interesting piece of information that Luke does provide.
In our text, these two disciples strongly urged him: "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." Luke 24:29
What can we learn from that comment?
They say ... Stay with ... us?
Perhaps these two disciples were related.
That is certainly possible.
Much Like the related brothers, Peter and Andrew. ......Or James and John.
Perhaps this was Cleopas and this brother.
Or perhaps this was a father and son.
Apparently, ... they are staying in the same house ... and they are both disciples ... of Jesus.
The truth is, "We really don't know very much about these two individuals.
Cleopas could be Clopas, but we're not sure.
We don't know the identity of the other disciple.
And Emmaus ... Where is Emmaus?"
Unfortunately, we don't know that either!
Emmaus was not a city with walls, like Bethlehem or Jerusalem.
Emmaus is referred to in the Greek ... as a village, ... a small settlement.
And this is the only place in Scripture ... that Emmaus is mentioned.
Archeologists are not sure of its location, ... though the text tells us that it was about 60 stadia from Jerusalem.
Probably 7-8 eight miles ... on a winding road.
That distance is important for us, ... because it lets us know ... how long the disciples were walking ... on that road.
It also gives us a clue ... as to when they began their journey.
How long would it take ... to walk 7-to 8 miles?
Well ... About two hours ... at normal walking speed.
But probably the walk to Emmaus took longer.
They were talking to each other as they walked on the way.
And Luke tells us that when they arrived at Emmaus it was already dusk.
The sun sets in that region ... at about 6:30 ... in the evening.
So, ... we can infer with some confidence ... that these two disciples left Jerusalem ... in the early afternoon.
They had heard a report from ... "our women" earlier in the day .... and now they were heading home ... to their small village ... of Emmaus.
Apparently, ... they had not heard the testimony of Mary Magdalene ... who met with Jesus ... near the garden tomb.
So, ... these two disciples ... are walking on the road to Emmaus, ... talking about the events ... of the past few days.
And this is where the story takes an interesting turn.
Look with me once again at Luke's account. BIBLE "They were talking with each other ... about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, ... Jesus himself ... came up and walked along with them; ... but they were kept ... from recognizing him." END Luke 24:14-16
Jesus, ... Jesus the Risen Lord, .... catches up with them on the road.
But notice, "they were kept from recognizing him."
What does that mean?
Did Jesus look different after His resurrection?
I don't think so.
Other disciples recognized Him instantly.
So, ... what is going on here?
They were kept from recognizing Him.
Apparently, ... what is happening is not natural.
Something supernatural is taking place.
Listen carefully to the rest of the story ... and I think that you will see ... why they were kept from immediately ... recognizing Jesus.
BIBLE "He asked them, ... 'What are you discussing together as you walk along?' They stood still, their faces downcast." BIBLE Luke 24:17
You get the impression ... that they were almost speechless.
Shocked ...... Like ...... "Where have you been?"
Then Cleopas expresses his thoughts in words. BIBLE "One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 'Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?'" END (Luke 24:18)
You can pick up a little amazement .... in Cleopas' voice.
But Jesus coaches Cleopas ... to share his thoughts.
"What things?" ..... Jesus asked.
Hear their response BIBLE "About Jesus of Nazareth," ... they replied. ...... "He was a prophet, ... powerful in word and deed ... before God and all the people. ...... 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. ...... And what is more, ... it is the third day ... since all this took place. In addition, ... some of our women amazed us. ..... They went to the tomb early this morning ... but didn't find his body. ......They came and told us ... that they had seen a vision of angels, ... who said he was alive. ...... Then some of our companions ... went to the tomb ... and found it just as the women had said, ... but him they did not see." END (Luke 24:19-24)
What do you hear ... in their testimony?
Disappointment. Discouragement. Doubt.
Cleopas calls Jesus ... "a prophet, powerful in word and deed" ... yet he does not call Jesus ... Messiah.
And Cleopas does not say, ... "The women saw angels who said that Jesus was alive."
But rather ... "they came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels ... who said he was alive."
Do you hear a difference?
Cleopas and the unnamed disciple are not walking along the road to Emmaus rejoicing that Jesus is the Messiah .... that He is risen ... from the dead.
They are Disappointed. ...... Discouraged. Doubting!
You can hear it in their words: "We had hoped".
"We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel"
What happens When God does something you weren't expecting?
Or doesn't do something you wanted him to?
Or when life just feels too unfair.
Some, like these two disciples, walk away from Jerusalem.
Some stop going to church regularly or at all.
But many of us are like that little boy ... who was so upset ... that he would not sit ... and kept walking around the classroom.
The teacher finally managed ... to get him to sit down in his chair.
And he scowls up at her and says, ... "I may be sitting down on the outside ... but I'm standing up ... on the inside!"
Some ... although outwardly they still come to church, .... inwardly they have walked away from Jerusalem.
And they are 7 miles up the Emmaus Road.
Some day's ... life feels much like that Friday when Jesus died and was laid in the tomb.
Discouraged Doubt, Disappointment
But as Tony Compolo says: ...... "It's Friday, ... but Sunday's a comin'"!!!
So ... how does Jesus respond? BIBLE "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?'" END (Luke 24:25-26.)
Why didn't Jesus just say, ... "It is me! Jesus!
I am risen from the dead!"
For the same reason that the disciples were kept from recognizing Him at first.
Jesus has something ... very important ... to share with ... and to teach ... them.
In fact, ... in my opinion, ... it is the most important Bible study ... that was ever given.
What was the content of that Bible study?
BIBLE "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures ... concerning himself." END Luke 24:27.
Don't you wish ... that you could have been there?
Beginning with Moses ... and all the Prophets, ...Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures ... concerning Himself!
So ... What happened to them?
They asked each other, BIBLE "Were not our hearts burning within us ... while he talked with us on the road ... and opened the Scriptures to us?" ..... What do those words mean to you? ..... "Were not our hearts burning within us?" END Luke 24:32.
They were under conviction.
They sensed that they were uncovering ... a sacred treasure.
They sensed that they were walking ... on holy ground.
Before Jesus met with them on the road ... their fire was going out.
Now, ... their hearts were burning ... within them!
Beloved .... That is my prayer for each of you and for me .... that our hearts would burn ... within us!
Well ... As Jesus broke the bread, ... the two disciples recognized Him!
Was it the way that Jesus ... broke the bread?
Or did they see the nail prints ... in His hands?
Or was it now God's appointed time ... for the veil to be lifted?
We are not sure.
But this much is certain.
When Jesus took the bread, ... gave thanks, ... broke it, ... and gave it to them, ... they recognized Him!
And then something else supernatural happened.
Jesus disappeared ... from their sight.
They would see Him again in the upper room after they had hurried back the 7-8 miles to Jerusalem, ... this time in the dark!
That day's journey ... for these two disciples ... was a combined distance of almost two thirds of a marathon.
They were excited!
Their hearts were ... burning within them.
Luke records that when they found where the Eleven were assembled, BIBLE "... the two told what had happened on the way, ... and how Jesus was recognized by them ... when he broke the bread." END (Luke 24:35)
Beloved ... It is a joyful experience ... when a person recognizes Jesus ... for who He really is!
Not just a prophet, ... powerful in word and deed, ... but as Messiah, ... and as Savior.
And not just Savior of the world, .... but your personal ... Savior.
Cleopas and the unnamed disciple experienced that joy ... when they recognized Jesus ... as more than a prophet.
He was their Messiah. ... He was their Savior. ..... He was their Risen Lord.
They were filled with excitement and their hearts overflowed with Joy.
Beloved ... do you know him as your Messiah... as your Savior ... as your Lord.
We all walk on our own Emmaus road.
At times hurting .... discouraged ... in search of answers.
Maybe Your fire and your joy are fading.
Yet When you travel your Emmaus road .... Be assured ... that Jesus is right there with you.
Turn to him and seek his face.
As the glorious Hymn states:
(Sing) Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of hid glory and grace.
It may be a Friday in your life ... But Sunday's a comin.
Before Jesus met with the Emmaus travelers on the road ... their fire ... was going out.
Now, ... their hearts were burning within them!
Beloved .... That is my prayer for you .... that each day you be filled to overflowing ... with the joy of our Lord ... that your hearts would burn within!
That your life would be a witness ... That Sunday is a Comin...
That Christ has risen indeed!
Amen and Amen!
This message is based on a sermon by Derek Morris Titled "The Testimony of Cleopas" and I commend it to you.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Message was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings In Christ Jeff
