THE EMMAUS ROAD EXPERIENCE
Luke 24:14-46
The experience that two of Christ’s disciples had as they returned to their home in Emmaus tells us a great deal about the resurrected Christ. Every born-again believer would loved to have been walking with these two disciples and our Lord as He expounded the glorious truths from the Old Testament.
Without question, the greatest teaching on the Types of Christ in the Old Testament took place on this journey.
The reader must keep in mind that the Emmaus road experience was not confined to just the journey from Jerusalem to the disciples home in Emmaus but also the return to Jerusalem to share their experience with the eleven. This great passage can be divided using the following headings.
THE UNREALIZED PRESENCE OF CHRIST
"And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, ’What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another, as you walk and are sad?" Luke 24:14-17.
THE TWO DISCIPLES RESPOND TO JESUS’ QUESTION
"Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ’Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?’ And He said to them, ’What things?’
"So thy said to Him, ’ The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet might in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him.
"But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
"When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain 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." Luke 24:18-24
THE MARVELOUS INSTRUCTION THEY RECEIVED
"Then He said to them, ’O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’
"And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:25-27
THE MOMENT THESE TWO DISCIPLES RECOGNIZED JESUS
"Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, ’Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’
"And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight." Luke 24:28-31.
THEIR WITNESS TO THE DISCIPLES
"And they said to one another, ’Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?
"So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, ’The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!
"And they told them about the things that had happened on the road and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread." Luke 24:32-35.
THEIR SECOND ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS THAT DAY
"Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ’Peace be unto you.’ But they were terrified and supposed they had seen a spirit.
"And He said to them, ’Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
"But while they still did not believe for joy and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate it in their presence."
"Then He said to them, ’These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’
"And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, ’Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day." Luke 24:36-46.
