“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 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. He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’ They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’
“’What things?’ he asked. ‘’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 they did not see Jesus.’
“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah 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. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:13-32, NIV.)
Show a video of Devil’s Kettle in Minnesota ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul1b_3eH9sA ).
Until now, no one could explain where the water goes that flows into that rocky “container.”
In the case of spiritual truth, it seems people would regard it just a simple thing that they could just find it in their own way.
On our own, we need to accept our incompetence to do it. But, we can also do something to… GRASP THE TRUTH, which is the title of our topic today, as we deal with our text (Luke 2:13-32).
So, how could we really grasp the truth? Is there anything we can do to have it?
Before we supply the answer, let’s realize that the account in our text happened after Jesus suffered His horrible death on the cross. And on the very early morning of the first day of the week, the women who had prepared spices and perfumes for His body went to tomb of Jesus.
But, they could not find the body and while wondering where it was, two men “in clothes that gleamed like lightning” appeared and told them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!...” (vv. 4-6.)
When they returned from the tomb, they told the eleven and the other disciples, but they did not believe.
Later in that day, as we come to our text, two of those disciples left Jerusalem and went to a village called Emmaus, about two and half hour average walk.
While they walked, the resurrected Jesus joined them. And in their encounter, we could also learn how in our time we could learn to arrive in the truth. So, how could we do it?
First, IDENTIFY OUR NEGATIVE FEELINGS (vv. 17-26)
We read verses 13-26:
“He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’ They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘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 they did not see Jesus.’ He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’”
Realize that though Jesus was with the two disciples, God did not allow them to recognize Him. And though He knew their sadness, Jesus dug out their hearts that they could express more their negative feelings by asking them questions.
And by what they related, they revealed not only their great sadness and disappointment, but their failure to grasp the truth. On their appearance, they displayed their sadness – “their faces downcast.”
In their heart, there was frustration: “…we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” They hoped that Jesus was the one who was going to redeem them from the dominion of the Roman Empire. But now their hope was gone. They could not even locate His body.
In their mind, there was unbelief. For them, Jesus was just “a prophet, powerful in word and deed...” and just died. Jesus pointed out that He was not just a prophet, but He was actually “the Messiah,” who would not just suffer and die. He would be resurrected to “enter His glory.”
And though the disciples seemed to know the event that transpired, Jesus made them to realize that they were “foolish”! They didn’t really know what happened.
Human beings thought they really know what’s going around them. And they have the tendency to believe that they know and understand more than the others. When things happened contrary to their desired expectation, they would easily languish in disappointment.
Because they would just rely on their human observation, human reason or evaluation, they would easily look for others to blame in their frustration.
Instead of learning from the situation, defining their own errors, and examining the extent of their hurt, they are quick to throw the blame to somebody else, or just give up and left their spiritual Jerusalem and walk away from the place from where they could find the answer, the solution, or the truth.
What they need to do is to examine their negative feelings – not only to the extent to find out they are actually foolish, but how sinful they are.
How about us, saints, are we still quick to measure our knowledge by our mere observation of the events? Do we base our feelings wholly on the activity that we see around us? Thus, when things go wrong, we immediately analyze the failure, shortcoming, or error of others than to identify our negative feelings and scrutinize our foolish, even sinful, behavior?
And as we identify the depth of our negative feelings, whether it’s doubt, disappointment, or whatever, let us not just avoid or hide it. Let us not try to forget it. Let us not just bury it under activities to divert our attention. Let us not walk away from the place where we can find the solution. Let us not avoid the source where we can find the answer. Let’s draw near where we can really know the truth.
And that brings us to the next step where we could arrive to the truth.
Finally, how could we find the truth?
Second, IMMERSE OURSELVES IN GOD’S WORD (vv. 27-32).
We read verses 27-32, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’”
After Jesus made the two disciples to realize how foolish and slow to believe they were, “He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” He did not explain just the writings of Moses but “all the Scriptures”!
And I don’t think the explanation lasted just for five minutes or half an hour. It could have been more than two hours. Were the disciples contented with that period of discussion? The text says, “As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.”
When they approached their destination, they told Jesus: “Stay with us…” Remember at this point they didn’t yet know that He was Jesus. They wanted to hear more as He explained the Scriptures. They did not just want to share their food with them. They said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’”
Before Jesus revealed Himself to them, there was burning interest in their hearts listening to the Word being rightly expounded to them.
Ordinary people have no interest in God’s Word. It is not normal for them to read or listen to it. They would rather spend their time in something else. They may spend their time not necessarily in thinking or doing evil. Perhaps, they prefer to immerse in the exciting or thrilling things that this world promotes and extolls.
They prefer to use their time in pursuing the good things in this life. Their hearts are burning within them, so excited to accumulate more and save much than to use their resources to reach and teach others about the Word. Their attention is focused on earning more money, acquire more material possessions, fulfilling more accomplishments, gaining more friends, or making higher grades. Certainly, they are good. But do they experience, if not greater, at least, the same excitement or sense of fulfillment in reading or studying the Bible?
And we could find also “religious” persons, who could spend their time in listening to just anybody quoting the Bible, without any regard if the Word is explained according to the intent of the Divine Author.
How about us, saints, – is our heart burning within us in excitement, as we read, study, meditate, or listen to the words of Christ? Do we prefer to invest our time in receiving declarations or explanations of the Bible in harmony with its Divine Author?
In 1 Timothy 6:3-4A, “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing….”
How could we determine if the teaching does not agree to the instruction of Christ, if we are not familiar with His words?
So, let us not just be content with a half-hour exposition of the Bible, or an hour of Bible study. We may not have the luxury of time to have two hours of daily personal Bible study, but let’s have a personal daily reading, meditation, study of God’s Word. Our Pastor had quoted to us before a part of Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (ESV.)
Is your heart not burning within you – no burning desire, no fiery excitement – for God’s Word, especially in reading it for a longer time? Then, there is really a need for you to immerse yourself in it.
I could not forget the incident how I began to love the smell and to eat the durian fruit (a Philippine fruit with obnoxious smell). When I was still single and joined my godfather and godmother in their travel in Mindanao, my godfather bought durian fruit. When we were in a lodging house, my godmother would not like the fruit to be in their room, because of its bad smell. My godfather, who really loved his wife and would not like to offend her, asked me if the fruit could stay in my room for the night. Of course, I could not refuse. I struggled for the undesirable smell of the fruit in my small room. Thankfully, I was able to finally sleep. When I woke up in the morning, I could no longer smell anything bad. The fruit was still inside my room, but its smell was different. It was already an exotic fragrance!
Saint or believers in this church, immerse yourself in God’s Word. Spend more and more time in it. Invest your time in receiving the right exposition of it – not just from any source that dull, diminish or distort its meaning. Always expose yourself in the pure teaching of the Word. Not only you will grasp the truth, but you will just find yourself saying with the Psalmist:
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps. 119:103.)
CONCLUSION:
In closing, the One who died for His sheep and rose again, would not like that His sheep would wallow in disappointments, doubts or whatever negative feelings. But He would like them to realize that their negative feelings are worse than they feel, or they are worse than what they feel. They are foolish.
So, instead of acting as if they know better than others, they need to identify their negative feelings and immerse themselves in God’s Word. Only, then, they would also grasp the truth they are so sinful, who deserve to suffer in hell for eternity and only Christ could save them. For He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
