Luke 24:13-34

Luke 24:13-34

13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 “But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also 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 exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.”

Confusion is one of the tools that Satan uses to discourage and distract us from the life God would have us live.  God is not the author of confusion.  He seeks to give us clarity and expects us to believe His Word.  Jesus wants His disciples and the world be believe the resurrection.  However, it is interesting to see how He chooses to reveal Himself to them.  He does not immediately appear in their midst but revels Himself to some of the women and now to a couple that are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  It is interesting to observe how Jesus interacts with this couple and then how they respond once they know the truth.  The road to Emmaus was a road that took them from doubt to belief. 

THE DANGER OF DOUBT: These two followers of Jesus were walking to their home in Emmaus from Jerusalem.  One of them is named Cleopas and the other may have been his wife or another friend or family member.  Presumably, they had been in Jerusalem for Passover and then stayed through Saturday because it would have been too far to walk on the Sabbath, so they waited until Sunday to walk the seven miles home.  They get a late start because of the news from the women that the tomb was empty.  As they walk, they are distressed and burdened over all that has taken place.  It seems clear that they doubt the testimony of the women that Jesus has risen from the dead.  They doubt the Scripture that had said Messiah would rise from the dead.  They doubt the promise of Jesus that He would rise from the dead after three days.  They are so filled with doubt that as they the walk home they are not rejoicing but they are distressed and apparently so distracted that they cannot recognize Jesus when He joins them on their walk.  Doubt is a dangerous thing that will keep us distressed, discouraged, distracted, and even depressed.  God wants us to believe His Word and the promises He has made to us.  Be careful not to doubt the Word of the Lord.

THE SAVIOR IN SCRIPTURE: Jesus chides the two travelers for being ignorant of the Scriptures and proceeds to go from Moses through the prophets and explain about Himself in these passages.  There are many Old Testament passages that reveal Christ.  It is important to be careful with this passage because some have used it as an argument to say that every passage in Scripture points to Christ.  That is not what the text says.  Certainly, many do, and Christ perfectly exemplified every principle taught in Scripture.  However, when we make every passage explicitly about Jesus, it leads to some pretty “iffy” interpretations.  Jesus simply goes through the Old Testament and points out the various passages that do point to His death and resurrection specifically.  The Old Testament reveals many things about God and His will as well as many things about man and our inability to keep God’s commandments.  This demonstrates man’s need for a Savior, so the Old Testament also reveals God’s plan of redemption through Messiah.  This leads to the promises of man’s restoration from the Fall and the just reign of Messiah over a healed earth and humanity.  Unfortunately, many jump over the redemption parts to the reigning parts which is why the travelers to Emmaus and so many others were confused and distressed.  As we study Scripture, we need to carefully understand what it reveals about God, man, sin, salvation, restoration, and many other truths.  God and His Word are our only reliable source of hope in an uncertain world.

THE RELIEF OF RECOGNITION: When the travelers arrive in Emmaus, Jesus says He plans to go further, but the other travelers invite Him to eat supper with them and spend the night so they can continue talking.  At the meal, Jesus prays and breaks the bread and they finally have their eyes open and recognize Him.  He then disappears.  They remark that His explanation on the Scriptures had caused their hearts to burn inside as they recognized the teaching of Jesus but did not recognized Him.  They are so thrilled that they return the seven miles back to Jerusalem that very night to let the disciples know what they had seen.  There are several things in this passage that are of supernatural nature.  The fact that they did not recognize Jesus seems to imply that in His resurrection body, His appearance was altered enough that they did not recognize Him right away.  Something similar seemed to happen with Mary Magdalene.  The way Jesus appears and then disappears also seems to be a new demonstration of the supernatural in the resurrection body.  It is amazing to see the change in these travelers on the same road in opposite directions.  The first journey was slow and full of confusion, doubt and instruction.  The second was fast and full of joy, relief and reflection.  Knowing of the resurrection and seeing Jesus changes everything. 

APPLICATION: Don’t allow doubt and fear to distract from the promises of God.  Search the Scriptures and strive to understand them so the knowledge of Jesus will be an anchor for our hearts.  Remember the resurrection of Christ and use it as an inspiration for hope in our future resurrection.  Spread the news of Jesus to all the nations.