JUST JESUS: CHAPTER BY CHAPTER THRU LUKE
Born to Die Part 3 of 3
LUKE 24:13-35
#borntodie
CHRISTMAS SERIES INTRODUCTION
As Christians, there are some distinct truths that we believe in and because of those beliefs there are philosophies or ways of thinking about life and living we DO NOT believe in. Let me give you several examples.
* Christians do not believe in karma: We do not believe that there is an impersonal force creating balance between good and evil in this life and with our previous lives.
* Christians do not believe in destiny: We do not believe that life is a series of disconnected or even connected coincidences that create a person’s direction in life or their fortune.
* Christians do not believe in fate: We do not believe in a predetermined set of actions or course that creates an unchangeable future that happens no matter what.
Well, Christians do not believe in karma or destiny or fate, what do we believe in when it comes to life and living? We believe in the will of the Eternal Holy God Almighty the Undisputed Righteous Maker of Heaven and Earth Who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Christians believe in God’s eternal will. It is God’s eternal will that sets forth what will happen on the eternal stage and within our lives for certain because His will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Some things are immovable points of existence because it is the will of God. Christians also believe in God’s permissive will. It is God’s permissive will that allows free-will and choice and chance to exist, but never outside of His sight or prevue to intervene because nothing is ever out of God’s control. Some things are up to us and happen out of our control because God allows it in His permissive will.
Today is Christmas Eve! We are going to finish out our time in the Gospel of Luke chapter by chapter (as we have been doing for 23 weeks!). We have one chapter left in Luke and Christmas is tomorrow! This is not happenstance, but by design. Today we dig into Jesus and the undisputed fact that it was God’s will that Jesus was born to die. Jesus was born to die.
A CHRISTMAS SHEPHERD STORY (p)
Now that same day two shepherds were going south to the city of Tekoa, about six miles from Bethlehem, to sell their sheep and barter wool. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened the night before. They talked of angels. They talked of inns and barns. They talked of the little Child who was born. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, a traveler came up in a chariot and rode along with them. This was not unusual, this was a busy road and there was safety in numbers. In addition, the sheep made it impossible for the traveler to pass by.
He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces beaming. One of the shepherds, named Alan, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Bethlehem and the surrounding area and do not know about the things that happened last night?"
"What things?" the traveler asked.
"About the King that was born in Bethlehem," they replied. "He was announced by a whole host of angels. They lit the night sky in announcing His birth. We went and saw the place where He lay. He was there, in a stable next to the inn. He was there, in a feeding trough. He was there cared for by His mother Mary and Joseph.”
The traveler said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of mind you must be for me to believe that a king was born in a stable with no attendants and no fanfare!” And he began by explaining to these poor shepherds all about the expectations of royalty for he was royalty. “In fact,” he concluded, “I stayed at that very inn last night and my horses were in the very stable next to the inn. I saw nothing of importance this morning.”
“We know it is strange to tell you that a King was born in a barn, but it is true!” the shepherds exclaimed all the more. We were there last night and the baby and family were staying in the stable. We have seen it and testify to it!”
As they approached the city to which they were going, the rich traveler on the chariot acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, "Go back and see the child! Go and see the king who was born!” The traveler was unsure if he should believe these shepherds, but they urged him all the more as they traveled along.
Soon, he turned his face north towards Bethlehem and squinted his eyes at the horizon. He wondered: ‘Was that man who hitched the horse team to the chariot this morning involved for he did seem like he had been up all night and looked like he was staying in the stable?’ ‘Should he go?’ ‘Were these shepherds telling the truth?’ ‘He closed his eyes, turned, and went on his way.’
TRANSITION
Luke 24 concludes the entire Gospel with the Resurrection of Jesus (verses 1-12), two stories about Jesus appearing to His followers after His Resurrection (verses 13-49), and the Ascension of Jesus back to Heaven (verses 50-53). We will look at verses 13-35 which is often called the “walk to Emmaus.”
READ Luke 24:13-35 (ESV)
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem Who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a Man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find His body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if He were going farther, 29 but they urged Him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
TRANSITION
As we think about this passage, let’s unpack what we have a little bit so we fully understand what is going on. It is never good to pluck a passage out of context as we may end up with a wrong interpretation. Let’s look at the context and verse 21 and then focus on verses 25-27.
I. CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE AND VERSE 21
What happens in this passage?
The basics of verses 13-35 is that two disciples of Jesus are walking on a road from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem so let’s say it was a 2 hour walk.
The walk begins with the two followers of Jesus talking about all the “things that had happened” (verse 14). What things? I can imagine they were talking about:
* The Passover meal (22:7-23)
* Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus (22:47-48)
* Jesus being illegally arrested in the middle of the night (22:47-53)
* Peter denying Jesus and running away (22:54-62)
* Jesus being subject to an illegal trial (22:63-71)
* Jesus being taken before the Roman governor and being declared innocent (23:1-5)
* Jesus being mistreated and mocked before King Herod (23:6-12)
* Jesus being taken back to the Roman governor and being condemned (23:18-25)
* Jesus was beaten and scourged and carried the cross through the streets (23:18-25)
* Jesus died (23:26-49)
* Jesus was buried (23:50-56)
* Several women followers of Jesus found Jesus’ tomb empty (24:1-12)
These two fellows had quite a bit to talk about and not all of it they understood. I can imagine they did not understand why Judas betrayed Jesus because it didn’t make much sense and now Judas was dead and no one could ask him. I can imagine they did not understand how the Jewish religious leaders could get away with having an illegal trial in the middle of the night and marveled at how corrupt those leaders must be. It would have been a mystery to them as to why the Roman governor Pilate declared Jesus innocent and then also turned Him over to be crucified. They probably wondered why Jesus was beaten and mistreated so much because He was innocent.
We know something specific they did not understand and we are introduced to this mysterious conundrum in verse 21.
RE-READ LUKE 24:21 (ESV)
“But we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.”
These two disciples believed that from Jesus would come the redemption of Israel. They believed whole-heartedly that Jesus was the Redeemer. They say that in verse 21 and they do not understand how Jesus would redeem anything now that He was dead. Death stops most things. These two who had listened to Jesus and believed in Jesus were not sure what to do with themselves three days after He died and now that they have heard His body was missing.
They did not understand that it was because Jesus was born to die that salvation could come. Jesus told this to Nicodemus in John 3 when He shared that God loved the whole world and gave His Son to die so that the world would be saved from sin. Jesus told this to Martha in John 11 when He shared that He Himself was the resurrection and life and anyone Who believed in Him would live and be saved. Jesus told the disciples this in John 14 when He told them He was the only way to God. Jesus told the disciples and His other followers, but they didn’t understand. Some of it was a mystery that was only clear after the presence of the Holy Spirit explained and reminded and connected all the dots for them. The mysterious truth at the center of all of this was that Jesus was born to die.
TRANSITION
I want us to also notice verses 25-27. These two disciples, we will call them Cleopas and Dumber, were kept from recognizing Jesus the entire time He was walking and talking with them. They were amazed at hearing that Jesus had risen and then chatted with a Fellow about it.
II. VERSES 25-27
RE-READ LUKE 24:25-27 (ESV)
“And He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
Jesus is explaining to these two disciples all about Himself and how it was always the plan that He be born, live, die, and then rise again. Jesus begins with Moses sharing that He had fulfilled God’s plan. By Moses, Jesus is referring to the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Thousands of years before Jesus was born He was predicted.
Where do we find these predictions in Moses? Let’s start with the very first prediction in Genesis 3:15. As God is cursing the serpent and by extension Satan for his role in sin entering into creation, God looks far forward to a time when a Child of a woman would crush Satan under foot. In the verse, the crushing is the total victory of Jesus over Satan and the bruising is Jesus’ death.
READ GENESIS 3:15 (ESV)
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;
He shall crush your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Later in Deuteronomy 18, Moses is speaking to God and God lets Moses know that the people will not be faithful to Him and they will sin and go their own way. God promises Moses that He would not leave Israel alone, but that one day God would send a perfect Prophet to show the way. This Prophet should not be ignored under any circumstances.
READ DEUTERONOMY 18:18-19 (ESV)
“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And whoever will not listen to My words that He shall speak in My Name, I Myself will require it of Him.”
In verses 25-26, we see that Jesus is a little frustrated with them because they did not understand that everything He had endured was predicted by the prophets of God for centuries. It was always God’s plan that Jesus be born to die. Jesus is explaining to these two disciples all about Himself and how it was always the plan that He be born, live, die, and then rise again.
Where do we find these predictions in the prophets? In Isaiah chapters 50-55 alone, we have around 50 predictions about what the Christ would endure! Here is one from Isaiah 50:
READ ISAIAH 50:5-6 (ESV)
“The Lord God has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. 6 I gave My back to those who strike, and My cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not My face from disgrace and spitting.”
The prophet Daniel says about the Messiah that He will come and be cut off and have nothing before Jerusalem and the temple is destroyed by a foreign power:
READ DANIEL 9:26 (ESV)
“And after the sixty-two weeks, an Anointed One shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.”
Lastly, and I only chose three for the sake of time because there are hundreds, the prophet Zechariah talks about the Messiah Who would come and that He would be pierced and that also people would mourn His death:
READ ZECHARIAH 12:10 (ESV)
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him Whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”
Jesus showed Cleopas and the other disciple from Genesis to Malachi how He was predicted and how He fulfilled all of God’s will. We know this was a stirring conversation because in verse 32, the men say to each other that their hearts were stirred and they were excited about everything they were discussing with this Stranger. They knew in their hearts that Jesus was predicted by Moses and the prophets and everything that had gone on with Him was significant.
Jesus was born to die.
CONCLUSION OF THE PASSAGE
This road to Emmaus adventure for these two disciples ends in verses 30-35 as they sit around a meal with the Stranger they met. I love verse 30 because it was when Jesus took bread and prayed that they recognized Him. In my imagination, ain’t nobody pray like Jesus! Verse 31 tells us their eyes were opened and they knew it was Him and He vanished.
Verse 33 says they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. If I were them, I would have ran and ran and ran and a 2 hour trip walking probably only took me 1 hour running. They get back to the disciples to find that Jesus had appeared to them as well.
Yes, Jesus had died.
Yes, Jesus had risen just as He said He would.
CHRISTMAS SERIES CONCLUSION
As we look forward to Christmas tomorrow, may we keep Jesus at the center of our Christmas. Yes, Christmas is all about focusing on the birth of Jesus and the miracles and fulfilled prophecy that His birth brings. It is all about that! But Christmas is also about understanding that Jesus was born to die. We are so thankful that Jesus chose to obey God’s will and to take on our sin for us.
Thank You, Jesus for being born of Mary!
Thank You, Jesus for living a sinless life!
Thank You, Jesus for dying on the cross for us!
Thank You, Jesus for rising on the third day!
Thank You, Jesus for ascending into Heaven!
PRAYER
INVITATION
