The Road From Emmaus

Title: Walking From Emmaus

Theme:

Text: Luke 24:13 – 35

Luke 24:13-35 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day (what same day? On the same day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. On the day God was performing the greatest miracle of mankind they were headed away from God’s hope for humanity.) to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. (IOW they were moving away from Jerusalem) (14) And they talked together of all these things which had happened. (15) So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.

Jesus will meet you where you are. He may not accept you in the sinful condition but He will meet you there and guide you to a changed life. The question begins will you let Him lead you out. Will you listen to Him?

As we will see, but He loves you too much to keep you there.

(16) But their eyes were restrained, (eyes were seized, held by a lack of faith, it is faith that unlocks the door so that we can see who Christ really is) so that they did not know Him. (17) And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"

Jesus recognized their condition. They were sad. Gloomy. Living in the fog of despair.

Their Explanation to Jesus of why so sad?

(18) Then the one whose name was Cleopas (Cleopas’ wife we find at the cross of Jesus in John 19:25) 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?" (This is a mouthful, if only they knew who they were talking to. Let us never forget who we are talking to in prayer) (19) And He said to them, "What things?" (If you want to know how to get answers from God, just follow the questions. God many times will give us our answers by questions so that we can, “Get it”) So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, (Three Areas they were blind: this is the first place where they missed it. Jesus is more than a prophet.)

Matthew 16:13-17 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (14) So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." (15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (16) Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

(20) and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. (21) 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. (this is the second part they missed. The very plan of God. It was more than just to redeem Israel but Jesus came to redeem the world. “For God so loved the world” John 3:16. God’s purpose for Israel was to reach the world) (22) Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. (23) When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. (this is the third time they got it wrong. Their whole thinking was messed up. They were even messing up on the details)

Their lack of faith had blinded them so much that they couldn’t understand reality. This was not a vision that the ladies had it was a real, bonified angel.

(24) 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."

(25) Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Slow – inactive, dull

Jesus had spent 3 years teaching this. Hoping they would see. Yet in their greatest time of need they missed it.

(26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (This was part of God’s plan. This is what Jesus was talking about over and over again. About His suffering, about His death. “to enter into His glory, His purpose, His fulfillment, to truly see who He is) (27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.