WHAT NOW?
LUKE 24.13-35
‘It ain’t over till its over.’ That was one saying of a baseball player called Yogi Berra. He was famous for other statements on air. ‘Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.’ ‘This is like déjà vu all over again.’ ‘You can observe a lot by watching.’ ‘I didn’t really say everything I said.’ There are many more. Yogi Berra seemed to have a gift for saying things which sounded okay but which were in fact confusing. Confusion seemed to reign when he was speaking to the media. It is easy to get confused. It really can be a confusing world at times. But there is nothing new in that. Turn with me to Luke 24 and we will see two followers of Jesus who experienced confusion as they walked home together.
CONTEXT
Let me set the context of this passage for you. Luke is the only one of the four gospel writers to include this incident. It is typical of Luke to include such a story as it reflects his compassion as a doctor for people. At the beginning of the chapter Luke tells us about the resurrection of Jesus. He tells us that the women had gone to anoint the body of Christ but when they come to the tomb it is empty. The women are encountered by angels who tell them that Christ is risen form the dead. The women run and tell the disciples and Peter goes and sees for himself. That takes us to verse 12. Then beginning in verse 13 Luke relates to us what must be one of the most wonderful and significant walks in history.
THE HEART BREAKING EXPERIENCE.
Two of the followers of Christ, one named Cleopas (verse 18) are walking the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Luke tells us that as they walked along the road to Emmaus they were discussing with one another all the events of the past few days. As they walk along the road they are joined by Jesus (v15), but for some divinely appointed reason they are prevented from recognising who He is (v16). Here they are walking along the road discussing Christ and the events surrounding His death and the news carried by the women and Peter that His body is no longer in the tomb and they are joined by the one they are talking about. Jesus knew exactly where they would be and He joins them. He knew where they were going and what they would be discussing and He joins them. He then takes the initiative in the conversation – verse 17. ‘What are you talking about?’ Christ knew what they were talking about but he wants to know their hearts. What did they believe about Him? What were they truly experiencing and feeling in their hearts at this moment? He wanted to know their hearts in their words?
Look at the end of verse 17 – read last sentence. What a picture is painted here of these two followers hearts. They stop walking. Their heads downcast. Disappointment, disillusionment, despair, defeat, doubt – it is all there in that simple sentence from Luke. Listen to Cleopas as he answers the question of Christ. First he is surprised that Christ does not know what had happened in Jerusalem on the Friday past. But then listen to his answer to the next question of Jesus. Read verses 19-24. Verses 19-24 are a clear and neat summary of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the gospel according to Cleopas. Cleopas speaks of the facts about Jesus. There is the ministry of Jesus in word and deed. The crucifixion which completed his ministry and the hope of redemption which filled it with meaning. There is the conquered grave and the apostolic witness to it. But, do you notice anything about the words of Cleopas? They are all in the past tense. Do you see that?
‘He was a prophet…we had hoped.’ Their hopes have been shattered – isn’t that the meaning of verse 21 ‘we had hoped he would redeem Israel.’ We at one stage had dreamed the dream with him but we don’t expect it now to be fulfilled. At one time we did hope but not now. Human hope is so fragile and it is easily destroyed. It’s been three days since he died on the cross and their hope is shattered. It is gone and they are downcast. The cross for them had been the end. The tomb was empty – it is not that they did not believe the women or Peter. It is just they had not seen the risen Lord Jesus. Everything is there in their testimony concerning Jesus except a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus. They needed a personal encounter with the risen Christ to make the facts live. Mere knowledge of the facts was not, and is not, enough for them, or us. They needed that personal revelation of the risen Lord Jesus to waken their hearts.
THE HEART BURNING EXPERIENCE.
We all need this experience. Jesus begins with a gentle rebuke to them. Maybe, just maybe these followers were guilty of believing the popular teaching about a triumphant messiah who would drive out the Romans and redeem Israel. Maybe they had been selective in their reading and interpretation of the prophets concerning the messiah. So Christ begins what must have been the greatest bible study in history. He begins with the Moses (Genesis-Deuteronomy) and then the Prophets and reveals to them how he, the messiah, must suffer and die in order to bring glory to the Father. He takes them to Genesis and the wonder of creation and the tragedy of disobedience and sin. The breaking of fellowship with God and the promise made by God in Genesis 3.15 about the seed that would bruise the serpents head. On to Abraham and the offering of Isaac as a sacrifice and the provision of a lamb to take his place. Down to Joseph who was preserved by God to be a blessing and saviour of his brothers who desire was to kill him. Down through history to Moses and the Passover Lamb whose blood on the doorposts saved the firstborn of every household covered by that blood when the angel of death passed over Egypt. The great story of the Exodus and the manna from heaven which fed them in the wilderness. The Pillar of Cloud and flame which guided and protected them. The lifting of a bronze serpent for the healing and restoration of all who lifted their eyes to it in the wilderness and reminds them again of John 3.19 how he had said he would be lifted up. Down to the story of Ruth and Boaz and the kinsman redeemer. Then on to the prophets and the suffering servant of Isaiah. The Groom who pursues the unfaithful wife in Hosea. The King Priest of Zechariah. All those wonderful passages we read each Christmas as we retell the foretelling of his birth in Bethlehem. He fills their hearts with the Word of God. Their problem was Christ and their solution was Christ. He revealed himself to them from the Word of God. I think that is a good example for us all to follow. If Christ our Lord chose to reveal himself to his followers from the Word of God then I don’t think we need do anything different.
Read verse 26 and this was the preface to the teaching. The purpose was to show that the cross was no accident, no defeat and no grounds for despair. The cross was in fact the means of glory. The cross was in fact the fulfilment of the Scriptures and the means of redemption they had hoped for.
Christ makes to go on further Luke says. Why? Why would he leave them now? He wants to move them to a response. Did they believe what he has just taught them? Have their hearts been stirred by the revelation from Scripture? He awaits their invitation to stay. Luke tells us they ‘urged him to stay.’ There was a determination now in their voices. They were not going to let him go. This is more than the customary hospitality. They invite him into their home and though he is the guest he takes the role of host at the table. The moment has come for Christ to reveal himself to them. He takes bread and breaks it and gives it to them. Their eyes are opened and they realise who it is that has taught them the Scriptures along the road. Was it the nail prints in his hands that revealed who it was to them? I don’t know. I just know that their eyes are opened and they realise it is him and then he is gone. Again I am left asking ‘Why go now?’ ‘Why leave them at this moment?’ My only answer is that it was necessary for them to learn to live without his physical presence. He had taught them where he would be found and how they would understand – the Word of God.
Now look at their response – verses 32-33. They realise how their hearts had burned as he opened the Scriptures to them. They immediately head back to Jerusalem they could not keep this to themselves. From being downcast and despairing they are now heading back down the same road. The same road but with a different disposition and a different discussion on their lips.
APPLICATION.
Friends you may have come in here this morning with a heart that is downcast, despairing and disappointed. Your dreams and hopes may have been shattered. On whatever road you are now walking Christ comes to restore your hope, to renew your strength and to lift your soul. He comes and reveals himself to you through the Word of God. He comes and this morning he awaits your response. He has walked along the road with you, maybe for a long period of time, and today he has touched your heart, (burned your soul) and he has revealed who he is to you. He waits for your invitation to invite him in. Revelation 3.20 Read. The response is yours.
It was a walk which began in confusion and despair but which ended hearts ablaze with the knowledge and love of the risen Lord Jesus. You too can have that same knowledge and love ablaze in your heart today. It matters not who you are or how bad you are – just come. This morning there are some of you here and Christ has been walking with you a long time. Gently over the past number of weeks and months he has been opening your eyes to who he is, how much he loves you and what he has done for you. This morning he has revealed himself to you and now you must decide. Are you going to invite him in or are you going to walk on without him. With him there is hope. With him there is new life, eternal life. With him there is salvation. Without him there is no hope. Without him there is only death and a lost eternity.
So won’t you come this morning? Amen.
Prayer of accepting Christ.
