What Happened There? Series

Scripture

If you are familiar with the life and ministry of Jesus, you know that he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, April 1, 30 AD, to the cheering of vast crowds who were there for the annual Passover celebration. He predicted his imminent death and visited the Temple before returning to Bethany, where he and his disciples spent the night.

On Monday, Jesus returned to Jerusalem, which was two miles to the west of Bethany. Along the way, he cursed a fig tree. Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Jesus cleansed the Temple.

On Tuesday, Jesus taught his followers the lesson about the fig tree, which had withered overnight. He returned to the Temple and taught there. Jesus also predicted the future in his so-called Olivet Discourse.

On Wednesday, a plot against Jesus by the desire of the Jewish leaders to have him killed was hatched and put in place.

On Thursday, Jesus got ready to celebrate the final Passover with his disciples. This was also the inauguration of the first Lord’s Supper. After supper, Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden Gethsemane.

Later that night, which was now Friday, Judas Iscariot led a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple police to arrest Jesus. You recall that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Throughout the night and the early morning hours, Jesus met with the Jewish Council, who were the Jewish religious leaders. They agreed that Jesus should die but they could not do so by the law of that day. So, they sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor. He dismissed Jesus and sent him to Herod Antipas, the Jewish king, but Herod could not do anything with Jesus. So, Jesus went back to Pilate, who eventually sentenced him to death when the crowds shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” and wanted Barabbas released instead of Jesus. So, at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Jesus was crucified. He hung on the cross for six hours and died at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 30 AD. Before sunset, Jesus’ body was released to his disciples and Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

On Saturday, the Jewish leaders had a Roman guard posted at the tomb for they feared that Jesus’ disciples might come and steal his body.

On Sunday morning, April 8, 30 AD, some of Jesus’ closest women friends went to his tomb early in the morning. But they discovered that it was empty! Well, not quite empty. Jesus’ graveclothes were there but his body was gone! The women returned and told the rest of the disciples what they had seen. Peter and John rushed to the tomb and they also saw that Jesus’ body was gone. After that, Mary returned to the tomb and she encountered the resurrected Jesus Christ.

Later on Sunday, April 8, 30 AD, two followers of Jesus were walking to Emmaus, about 7 miles west of Jerusalem. This is where we will pick up the narrative for today’s lesson.

Let’s read Luke 24:13-27:

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. (Luke 24:13-27)