EASTER EVENING.
Luke 24:13-49.
A man named Cleopas and his travelling companion were on their way back from Jerusalem, walking the seven miles to a village named Emmaus. Their conversation was very much taken up with concerns about the death of Jesus. A stranger drew near, and walked with them. Unbeknown to them, it was Jesus. The Lord drew from them a full rehearsal of the facts surrounding His death, and of the reports of the empty tomb (Luke 24:13-24).
It is not enough to know the facts about Jesus. It is necessary that we have a personal encounter with our Lord and Saviour, and allow Him to open up to us the true meaning of the Scriptures concerning Himself. It is no accident that both the Bible and Jesus Himself are known as ‘The Word of God!’
The Saviour was but a stranger to the two on the Emmaus road as they walked and talked with Him. Yet He revealed Himself to them when they invited Him into their home. They recognised Him in the breaking of bread. Does not our heart burn within us, and give us new vigour when we have had communion with Christ and listened to His Word? (Luke 24:25-32).
We do not need to have all the answers in order to become Christians. But when we invite Jesus into our hearts, He will reveal Himself more fully to us. And we will recognise Him in the breaking of bread in the Lord's Supper, and in the fellowship of God's people.
The two now returned to the upper room in Jerusalem. What a scene met them there upon their return! The dejected church was now declaring its Easter message: “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” To which they added their own testimony of the risen Lord (Luke 24:33-35).
At that moment Jesus Himself appeared among them, and spoke the “Peace” (Luke 24:36). Was He a spirit, suddenly appearing in a room with closed doors? Faith and hope and anticipation were momentarily eclipsed by fear and uncertainty. Into our uncertainty the Lord speaks words of reassurance, and presents us with the evidence on which to ground our faith (Luke 24:37-40).
Whatever we may understand of the risen body of our Lord, it was both real and material. Flesh and bones (Luke 24:39-40), and the ability to eat (Luke 24:41-43), were added to the ability to converse, and to pass through walls (Luke 24:36). Our wisdom is to receive by faith what we do not yet understand.
By now the doubts of most were dissipating. They did not fully understand, but now they marvelled with joy (Luke 24:41). Jesus opened the Scripture to the gathered assembly (Luke 24:44-47), and by the time He had finished the only one who still doubted was the one who had been absent from the meeting. But that is another story.
Easter had been a hectic, confusing day: but Jesus pointed the disciples first to His own words, and then to the Old Testament Scriptures in order that they might put some meaning upon all that had happened (Luke 24:44). This is where we must always begin: with Jesus, who is both the key and the fulfilment of Scripture, and with the Scriptures themselves. Trying to understand Jesus without the Scriptures is futile; and comprehending Scripture without Jesus opening our understanding is impossible (Luke 24:45).
“It is written,” begins Jesus, “that the Messiah should suffer and rise” (Luke 24:46). He was giving them - and us - new reading glasses to read already familiar passages and verses. From now on we see these old things as in a new light.
Not only this, but the church’s commission arises out of the Old Testament. Jesus continues, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). If we search the Scriptures, we will find that that was always the plan.
Then we have the link with the New Testament: “you (all) are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48).
Now at last the church finds a meaning in the events that led up to the resurrection of Jesus. The risen Lord opens up the Scriptures so that we may see the reason for it all. He gives us a sense of purpose in evangelism. He establishes the witness of the Apostles through the writing of the New Testament (Luke 24:44-48).
And He promises to endue His fledgling church with resurrection power with the coming of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). The power that is at work within us is the same power by which Christ was raised from the dead! May God bless us to use it for His glory.
As we continue to worship and serve Him in this world, may the Lord bless us with continuing understanding of what He has accomplished for us. May we fulfil our mission in the power of the Spirit and see fruit for our labours in this present ‘waiting’ time. And to His name be all the praise and honour and glory.
