“A LIFE-CHANGING WALK” Luke 24:13-35
FBCF – 4/19/20
Jon Daniels
INTRO – Walking – most basic mode of transportation
- Good for you
- Health benefits
- Time w/ spouse, friends, or God
- Get out & get some exercise! Go for a walk!
What’s longest you’ve ever walked?
- Carry the Cross from Crystal Springs to CWBC – 19 miles
I believe the longest walk for a lot of people is the walk away from the grave of a loved one.
- That’s what we see in this passage.
- It was definitely a life-changing walk!
EXPLANATION – Open Bibles to Luke 24:13-35.
Quick outline of the events of this trip of a lifetime for these 2 disciples:
The disciples’ discussion – v. 13-14 – 2 of Jesus’ followers were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus after all the dramatic happenings of that weekend. Not sure who these disciples are, other than the name of one of them was Cleopas.
Jesus appeared – v. 15-16 – In the middle of their walking & talking, Jesus walked up & joined them, “but their eyes were kept from recognizing Him” (v. 16).
The disciples explained – v. 17-24 – Jesus asked them what they were talking about. That question stopped them dead in their tracks w/ sad, sullen, gloomy, downcast faces.
Cleopas then spoke up & gave their perspective on the things that had happened, showing that they didn’t truly understand why Jesus had to die.
- They lacked a spiritual viewpoint on Jesus’ death. Cleopas didn’t mention any divine involvement as he described the crucifixion.
- They had an earthly agenda. Their perspective was like so many others, believing that Jesus was going to overthrow the gov’t & restore the glory days of King David.
- They didn’t acknowledge the resurrection. If they had, they certainly wouldn’t have been walking AWAY from Jerusalem, but would have been running TOWARD Jerusalem.
Jesus taught – v. 25-27 –
- First, a slight rebuke – “You are such foolish, foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures!” (TLB)
- Then, a question that spoke of God’s sovereign design for all that happened
- Then, the explanation of all the OT prophecies that started all the way back w/ Moses & the children of Israel.
o Gen. 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
o Deut. 18:15 – “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”
o Isa 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
o Isa. 53:5-6 – “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—everyone—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
o Zec. 12:10 – “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for him as one weeps for a firstborn.”
The disciples invited – v. 28-29 – With their curiosity aroused in a huge way, they invited Jesus into their home to stay w/ them, which was also a practice of hospitality in that day. Jesus accepted the invitation but maintained His cover so He could continue to teach them.
Jesus revealed – v. 30-32 – Jesus the guest became Jesus the host. He reached for the bread, blessed it, then broke off a piece to begin serving them. Even at this point in His life, He was still fulfilling the statement He made in Matt. 20:28 – “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve…” And in this moment of serving that they had seen Him do before, the immediately knew who He was. It was Jesus! And before they could even speak or move, He disappeared from before their eyes. Then they realized that their hearts had been “burning” as He had shared the Scriptures w/ them.
The disciples reported – v. 33-35 – Their discovery of the risen Jesus prompted them to turn right around & head back down the same road to go tell the other disciples & those who were packed together that they had met Jesus!
APPLICATION – We are all going to have to walk the Road to Emmaus at some point in our lives. And as we do, we need to remember these things:
WE NEED TO LOOK FOR JESUS – Just as Jesus came to them, He comes to us.
- He came to them in their distress
- He came to them in their distortion (confusion)
- He came to them in their disillusionment
He does the same thing in our lives today. He comes to us in our times of distress, distortion, & disillusionment. You are not alone in your journey, even though there may be times you feel that you are. He is with you, even in your faith struggles. Believe that! Trust Him! Lean into Him!
WE NEED TO LISTEN TO JESUS – Just as Jesus spoke to them, He speaks to us.
- E.F. Hutton commercial – When Jesus speaks, we need to listen.
- How does He speak?
o Through His Scriptures
o Through His Spirit
o Through His servants
o Through our situations
WE NEED TO OBEY JESUS – Just as Jesus commissioned them & sent them out, He has commissioned us & sent us out.
- Shortly after this Emmaus Road experience, He commissioned them to carry out His work after He was gone.
o Matt. 28:18-20 – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
o Mark 16:15 – “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
o Luke 24:46-49 – “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
o Acts 1:8
AND THEY DID WHAT HE TOLD THEM TO DO!
CONCLUSION –
- Are you looking for Jesus? He’s looking for you today.
- Are you listening to Jesus? He’s speaking to you today?
- Are you ready to obey Jesus?
