When There’s Nowhere To Go Series

When There’s Nowhere to Go

Series: Encountering Jesus (through the Gospel of Luke)

April 19, 2020 – Brad Bailey

Series #67 / Luke 24:13-35

Intro

Welcome …such a privilege to have this time with you.

For all who were able to join last Sunday... Easter Sunday... it was so significant to engage the reality of the resurrection... in the midst of this particular season.

As noted last week… this is dynamic time to engage the events that took place long ago.

Friday... death had reigned....and they were all self-quarantined in fear of that death coming to them.

It connects to this time in which we live with death containing our lives in more ways than one.

It’s a time in which we feel there’s no place to go...in more ways than one.

And that is right where we pick up today.

While we heard about the first discovery of the tomb being empty...and Christ having risen... it was only the start of the process of discovery.

And now he continues…with perhaps the most interesting encounters with His risen presence. As we walk through this encounter, I believe we can hear the Lord’s heart for us. It's found in Luke chapter 24. At this point Luke has told us of the crucifixion and burial of Christ...and then the first discovery of the empty tomb and appearances.

Luke 24:13-35 (NIV)

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Luke 24:13-14

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

One of the marvelous things about this event, is that it does not involve one of the twelve primary disciples.

We know little about these two… one is referred to as Cleopas (Claopus) and the other remains un-named. They are simply a part of the larger circle which had followed Jesus. Luke had just described how the women returned to the 11 disciples and the “others”... and these two are part of those others.