3rd Sunday 0f Easter
“From Lent, to Spent, to Sent”
3rd Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2020
Submitted to the church website due to Coronavirus outbreak
Scripture: Luke 24:13-35
Luke 24:13-35 NKJV Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles 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. (16) But their eyes were restrained, 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?" (18) Then the one whose name was Cleopas 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?" (19) And He said to them, "What things?" 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, (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. (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. (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! (26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (28) Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. (29) But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. (30) Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. (31) Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. (32) And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" (33) So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, (34) saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (35) And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Summary: Jesus' appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 shows us how they came to recognize that Jesus was indeed alive, and how two disciples who had been SPENT to excited men who had been SENT to share the gospel.
Introduction:
There is no consensus regarding the exact date of the crucifixion of Jesus, although most Bible scholars believe that it was on a Friday on or near Passover (Nisan 14), during the governorship of Pontius Pilate (who ruled AD 26–36).
According to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary:
The NT accounts, the tomb of Jesus was located in a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified (John 19:41) outside the city walls of Jerusalem (19:20). It was a “new tomb” which had been “cut into the rock” by Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:60 HCSB; cp. Luke 23:50–56) who had apparently prepared it for his own family’s use. It was not uncommon for the well-to-do to prepare such a tomb in advance because of the difficulty of digging graves in the rocky ground around Jerusalem. The tomb was large enough for someone to sit inside (Mark 16:5; cp. John 20:11–12) and required that one stoop down to look inside and enter (John 20:5–6, 11; cp. Luke 24:12). A great rolling stone sealed the entrance (Matt. 27:60; Mark 15:46; 16:3).
I’ve shared this with you as a reminder that Jesus had been crucified. He was absolutely dead. That was so evident to everyone that Joseph of Arimathea had Jesus’ body placed in a tomb, which was then sealed with a large rock.
However, now there were gathering events that began to cast doubt of Jesus’ death.
Three days after His death and burial, on the first day of the week (on Sunday), early in the morning, several women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared to anoint the body of Jesus. As you remember, the women found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they didn’t find the Lord’s body (Luke 24:1-3). Two angels told the women:
Luke 24:5-6 NKJV Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
The first evidence that Luke provided for the resurrection of Jesus was the empty tomb (Luke 24:3). The second evidence was the angels’ announcement (Luke 24:6). And the third evidence was Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).
The gospels record ten appearances of Jesus following His resurrection until His ascension into heaven:
1. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18),
2. To the other women (Matthew 28:8-10),
3. To Peter (Luke 24:34),
4. To ten disciples (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25),
5. To eleven disciples, including Thomas (John 20:26-29),
6. To two disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:13-35),
7. To the disciples in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; John 21:1-24),
8. To five hundred people (1 Corinthians 15:6),
9. To James and the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7), and,
10. Finally, to those who saw His ascension (Acts 1:4-12).
Of all Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection, His appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the more detailed and vivid. This appearance took place on Resurrection Sunday, Nisan 16, the day Jesus rose from the dead.
Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 shows us how they came to recognize that Jesus was indeed alive.
Some people don’t like liturgical seasons, nor taking our weekly Bible lesson from the Revised Common Lectionary. I tend to like liturgical seasons. I enjoy seeing the sanctuary turn from purple, to white, to green, and to red. I enjoy the feeling that everything we do has a reason, that everything has a purpose and a meaning, that we are sharing a common Bible passage with other Christians throughout the world. We are currently in a seven-week season known as Easter. It’s the period of celebration that follows the resurrection of Christ. But, the more I have experienced this season, the more I begin to think our church fathers mislabeled the season. I know this season is supposed to be a celebration, but the reality of what happens has led me to think that a name change is in order.
We have finished with the Season of Lent. I propose a newly named season following Lent… aptly named “SPENT!” It expresses exactly how we act after Easter. Pastors worked so hard on Holy Week that they need a week off… they’re SPENT. The folks responsible for helping with the Easter services and the fellowship breakfast committees that worked so hard to make Easter so special are encouraging the pastor not to do anything too big this next month so they can catch their breath… they’re SPENT. Our attendance on Easter morning is normally at least double what it normally is. The effort that many of those people made to bring themselves to walk through a church door has tired them out so much. We won’t see them again until Christmas. They’re obviously SPENT.
The disciples were SPENT.
It’s even in our Bible lesson this morning. We get this insiders’ view of two disciples right after Easter. They had been through a lot: Three years of following Jesus. Three years of walking… of sleeping under trees… of sitting in the middle of crushing crowds all trying to see the Lord… waiting for Jesus to save them from Rome. Now, it has all gone up in smoke… everything they worked for… everything they sacrificed for… gone.
Let’s use the following outline from Luke 24:
1. The Reunion with Jesus (13-16)
2. The Request from Jesus (17)
3. The Reply to Jesus (18-24)
4. The Rebuke by Jesus (25-27)
5. The Recognition of Jesus (28-32)
6. The Report about Jesus (33-35)
I. The Reunion with Jesus (Luke 24:13-16)
Luke 24:13-16 NKJV Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles 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. (16) But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
First, let’s begin by looking at the reunion with Jesus.
Luke said in verse 13, “two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.” “That same day” is of course Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. But at this point the two disciples, Cleopas and his companion (who has never been identified by name), did not yet know what had happened to Jesus. They were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, although scholars don’t know the exact location of Emmaus.
While the two disciples were walking along, presumably late on Sunday afternoon, they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened concerning the death, burial, and disappearance of Jesus from His tomb:
Luke 24:14 NKJV And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
I can only imagine what the disciples were feeling and what they were thinking. They walked slowly… hanging their heads in despair… dragging their feet in the dirt… talking amongst themselves about all their crushed hopes and dreams. They walk towards Emmaus. What is waiting there? The first part of their journey home? What’s left to sustain them?
Luke said that while they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him (Luke 24:15-16). Although Jesus was now in a glorified state (after His resurrection from the dead), and it’s clear that He had a body that was similar to, but not the same as, His former human body. The two disciples walking to Emmaus thought He was just another traveler, and they didn’t recognize Him. However, their lack of recognition was a divine act, since Luke says that that their eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus.
Recognizing God’s sovereign will, God must open our eyes before we can know Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3)
1 Corinthians 12:3 NKJV Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
or the things of Christ (Acts 16:14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16).
Acts 16:14 NKJV Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16 NKJV But as it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (10) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (13) These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. (16) For "WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD THAT HE MAY INSTRUCT HIM?" But we have the mind of Christ.
II. The Request from Jesus (Luke 24:17)
Luke 24:17 NKJV And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
Second, notice the request from Jesus.
As they were walking along, Jesus said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” And they stood still, looking sad (Luke 24:17). These two followers of Jesus were sad about what had happened to Jesus, but they were so surprised that someone from Jerusalem was unaware about all the recent news that they literally stopped in their tracks. Jesus, of course, was engaging them in a way that would enable Him to share the good news about His resurrection with them.
III. The Reply to Jesus (Luke 24:18-24)
Third, observe the reply to Jesus.
Luke 24:18-24 NKJV Then the one whose name was Cleopas 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?" (19) And He said to them, "What things?" 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, (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. (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. (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."
Apparently, everyone in Jerusalem was talking about what had happened to Jesus. There is such a delicious irony in Cleopas’ answer, as Philip Ryken notes,
“In truth, Cleopas was the one who did not know what was happening in Jerusalem! Jesus knew it all, better than anyone, for it had happened to him! . . . Instead of being the only person who did not know what was happening, Jesus was the only person who did!”
Then a stranger caught up with them and asked a simple question: “What have you all been talking about?” One of them, Cleopas, looked at the stranger. He couldn’t believe someone could have asked such a stupid question. In his anger and frustration, I can see Cleopas vent a little bit on this stranger: “What rock have you been hiding under? We’re talking about Jesus! They killed Him! We’ve got nothing left for us back in Jerusalem.”
Luke wrote in verses 19b-21a the answer that the two disciples gave Jesus. They said:
“Jesus was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over the Roman officials to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what’s more, this is the third day since all this took place. Not only that, but some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. They couldn’t find the body of Jesus either.”
They misunderstood who Jesus was.
This rant reveals every single word of frustration and anger that the disciple was feeling. Jesus WAS a prophet… WE HAD HOPED He was the one. But all of that is gone now. Jesus was supposed to be something great, but now He’s dead and all of our hopes are dead with Him. “You see, stranger, that’s why we walk with our heads held low. That’s why we drag our feet. That’s why we are on our way to Emmaus, to leave that wretched city of Jerusalem behind us forever.
Luke continued with the answer of the two disciples in verses 21a-24:
“Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Not only that, but some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they didn’t find His body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. 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.”
The two disciples told Jesus the astonishing news about the empty tomb and the angelic announcement about Jesus’ resurrection. But at this point they didn’t know what to make of all the news. Had the body of Jesus simply disappeared? Or had Jesus really been resurrected back to life? They didn’t know for sure.
The important point here is that the resurrection of Jesus is essential to the good news of the gospel. As Michael Ramsay said,
“The Gospel without the Resurrection is not merely a Gospel without its final chapter; it is not a gospel at all.”
Philip Ryken put it this way,
“There is no good news unless Jesus rose from the dead. The gospel is the crucifixion plus the resurrection, which equals forgiveness for our sins and everlasting joy in the presence of God.”
IV. The Rebuke by Jesus (Luke 24:25-27)
Luke 24:25-27 NKJV Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Fourth, look at the rebuke by Jesus.
At this point, we can begin to understand why they didn’t recognize Jesus in verse 16, why they never really knew who Jesus was, what He was about, what He was going to do in Jerusalem. So, Jesus took this teaching moment to introduce them to the Christ found in the Old Testament. He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
In calling these men “foolish,” Jesus wasn’t so much accusing them as He was telling them that they lacked understanding about all the Old Testament prophecies regarding Him. Jesus was saying, “Don’t you see what Isaiah meant, ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His wounds we are healed.’” On and on He went, showing them the real Christ found in the Scriptures. The text tells us in verse 32 that the Holy Spirit was moving inside the disciples as he spoke to them and taught them from the Scriptures… that their hearts burned within them.
Jesus continued, “Wasn’t it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:26-27). Jesus preached to them the good news of the Gospel from the Old Testament. I agree with Philip Ryken who said,
“What any preacher would give to hear that sermon, when the Word of God Incarnate explained the Word of God written!”
So, what exactly did Jesus say were “the things concerning Himself”? We don’t know exactly, but I like the way Bishop J. C. Ryle summarizes what Jesus may have said to the two disciples. He wrote:
“How shall we explain these words? In what way did our Lord show “things concerning Himself,” in every part of the Old Testament field? The answer to these questions is short and simple. Christ was the substance of every Old Testament sacrifice, ordained in the law of Moses. Christ was the true Deliverer and King, of whom all the judges and deliverers in Jewish history were types. Christ was the coming Prophet greater than Moses whose glorious advent filled the pages of prophets. Christ was the true seed of the woman who was to bruise the serpent’s head, – the true seed in whom all nations were to be blessed, – the true Shiloh to whom the people were to be gathered, – the true scape-goat, – the true brazen serpent, – the true Lamb to which every daily offering pointed, – the true High Priest of whom every descendant of Aaron was a figure. These things, or something like them, we need not doubt, were some of the things which our Lord expounded in the way to Emmaus.”
The Bible is not primarily a book about parenting or finances or politics or relationships or morality or love or whatever. Instead, it is a book about Jesus Christ and God’s redemption that is found in Jesus alone.
V. The Recognition of Jesus (Luke 24:28-32)
Luke 24:28-32 NKJV Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. (29) But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. (30) Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. (31) Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. (32) And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
Fifth, notice the recognition of Jesus.
So, the two disciples and Jesus drew near to the village of Emmaus which their destination. Jesus acted as if He were going farther, but the two disciples urged Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” So, Jesus went in to stay with them (Luke 24:28-29). Luke didn’t say where Jesus was going when He acted as if he were going further. Jesus had other places to go and other people to see to continue His saving work before He ascended to His heavenly Father.
In spite of Jesus’ polite refusal, the two disciples wanted Jesus to stay with them. How glad Jesus must have been to have two of His disciples urge Him to stay with them! Also, it gladdens His heart when His disciples want to spend time with Him. Of course, the two disciples wanted this stranger to continue explaining the Word of God to them. And think about how thrilled Cleopas and his traveling partner must have been when they finally realized who was actually in their home! As Norval Geldenhuys said,
“If they had not invited Him, He would have passed on, and they would have forfeited the inexpressible privilege of discovering that it was their risen Lord who had been with them and had instructed them.”
When Jesus was at the table with the two disciples, He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him (Luke 24:30-31a). It was a divine act that enabled them to recognize Jesus because Luke tells us that their eyes were opened (they finally saw and recognized Jesus clearly).
In the same way, God must open the eyes of every sinner in order to see Jesus as the Savior – as their Savior. By nature, we’re spiritually dead, and we are unable to see who Jesus is. But God opens our eyes spiritually to see Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
As soon as they recognized Jesus, Luke said that He vanished from their sight (Luke 24:31b). In the days following His resurrection, Jesus was showing His disciples that He really had risen from the dead. Once they saw Him, His visible presence was no longer necessary.
Then the two disciples said to each other:
Luke 24:32 NKJV And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
This is such a fascinating statement. Their hearts didn’t burn when they saw Jesus. Rather, their hearts burned within them while Jesus talked to them on the road, and while He opened to them the Scriptures. Jesus’ revelation of Himself to them simply confirmed the Word of God to them.
The point is that every person may have a similar experience as the two disciples in that it’s the opening of the Scriptures that causes our hearts to burn. If you were converted to Christ as an adult, you’ll recall how God’s Word came alive after your conversion. And after your conversion there have been times when you’ve studied God’s Word and your heart burned within you. That happens when we see Christ in the Scriptures. That happens when we see how God’s Word is all about Jesus Christ and God’s redemption that’s found in Jesus alone.
VI. The Report about Jesus (Luke 24:33-35)
Luke 24:33-35 NKJV So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, (34) saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (35) And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
And finally, observe the report about Jesus.
Luke said the following in verses 33-35:
They rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was revealed to them in the breaking of the bread.
The journey back to Jerusalem would have taken them about two hours. Their trip from Jerusalem to Emmaus took the entire afternoon. They had set down for supper when Jesus was revealed to them. By now it was dark, and it was dangerous to be out on the road after dark. But they were so excited that Jesus was alive that they had to share the good news with the others. In a very short space of time, the apostles also saw Jesus, and they too came to believe in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.
These two followers of Jesus passed from SPENT to SENT. Now they wanted to spread the message of Jesus’ resurrection.
I like Darrell Bock’s statement about what happened to them. He said,
“While the apostles did not expect resurrection, once they saw it, they were ready to die for the faith because they knew that death could not conquer them.”
That is so true! In fact, Bible scholars believe that all but one of the apostles were martyred for their belief in Jesus and his resurrection. Who would die for something that they knew wasn’t true? Christians throughout the ages have been SENT to spread the gospel – the “good news”.
It took two disciples who were absolutely SPENT… mind, body, and spirit, and energized them to go and tell the good news. As I read this text, I thought about our condition… a pastor tired from presenting the gospel in a new way each Sunday, a congregation tired of going to a few too many church services… and I find hope for people who are SPENT.
It’s not just church life either, it’s in every bit of our lives: bills, the Coronavirus, making ends meet, especially now… we are SPENT! Our patience… SPENT! Our health… SPENT! We may be in a place in our lives where we can’t wait for this time to be over… because we are SPENT! Our Bible lesson for today speaks to people who are SPENT! It takes disciples who are weary, head down, feet dragging in the dust… to people who are no longer SPENT. Instead, now we have become SENT! That’s the power of this resurrection.
Conclusion:
So, having analyzed Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35, we should believe that Jesus is indeed alive and tell others about Him.
A young father named Phil Callaway said that one sleepy Sunday afternoon when his son was five years old, they drove past a cemetery together. Noticing a large pile of dirt beside a newly excavated grave, his son pointed and said: “Look, Dad, one got out!”
Phil said, “I laughed, but now, every time I pass a graveyard, I’m reminded of the One who got out.”
Jesus is indeed alive!
3rd Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2020
Submitted to the church website due to Coronavirus outbreak
Scripture: Luke 24:13-35
Luke 24:13-35 NKJV Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles 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. (16) But their eyes were restrained, 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?" (18) Then the one whose name was Cleopas 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?" (19) And He said to them, "What things?" 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, (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. (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. (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! (26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (28) Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. (29) But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. (30) Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. (31) Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. (32) And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" (33) So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, (34) saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (35) And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Summary: Jesus' appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 shows us how they came to recognize that Jesus was indeed alive, and how two disciples who had been SPENT to excited men who had been SENT to share the gospel.
Introduction:
There is no consensus regarding the exact date of the crucifixion of Jesus, although most Bible scholars believe that it was on a Friday on or near Passover (Nisan 14), during the governorship of Pontius Pilate (who ruled AD 26–36).
According to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary:
The NT accounts, the tomb of Jesus was located in a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified (John 19:41) outside the city walls of Jerusalem (19:20). It was a “new tomb” which had been “cut into the rock” by Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:60 HCSB; cp. Luke 23:50–56) who had apparently prepared it for his own family’s use. It was not uncommon for the well-to-do to prepare such a tomb in advance because of the difficulty of digging graves in the rocky ground around Jerusalem. The tomb was large enough for someone to sit inside (Mark 16:5; cp. John 20:11–12) and required that one stoop down to look inside and enter (John 20:5–6, 11; cp. Luke 24:12). A great rolling stone sealed the entrance (Matt. 27:60; Mark 15:46; 16:3).
I’ve shared this with you as a reminder that Jesus had been crucified. He was absolutely dead. That was so evident to everyone that Joseph of Arimathea had Jesus’ body placed in a tomb, which was then sealed with a large rock.
However, now there were gathering events that began to cast doubt of Jesus’ death.
Three days after His death and burial, on the first day of the week (on Sunday), early in the morning, several women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared to anoint the body of Jesus. As you remember, the women found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they didn’t find the Lord’s body (Luke 24:1-3). Two angels told the women:
Luke 24:5-6 NKJV Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
The first evidence that Luke provided for the resurrection of Jesus was the empty tomb (Luke 24:3). The second evidence was the angels’ announcement (Luke 24:6). And the third evidence was Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).
The gospels record ten appearances of Jesus following His resurrection until His ascension into heaven:
1. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18),
2. To the other women (Matthew 28:8-10),
3. To Peter (Luke 24:34),
4. To ten disciples (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25),
5. To eleven disciples, including Thomas (John 20:26-29),
6. To two disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:13-35),
7. To the disciples in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; John 21:1-24),
8. To five hundred people (1 Corinthians 15:6),
9. To James and the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7), and,
10. Finally, to those who saw His ascension (Acts 1:4-12).
Of all Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection, His appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the more detailed and vivid. This appearance took place on Resurrection Sunday, Nisan 16, the day Jesus rose from the dead.
Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 shows us how they came to recognize that Jesus was indeed alive.
Some people don’t like liturgical seasons, nor taking our weekly Bible lesson from the Revised Common Lectionary. I tend to like liturgical seasons. I enjoy seeing the sanctuary turn from purple, to white, to green, and to red. I enjoy the feeling that everything we do has a reason, that everything has a purpose and a meaning, that we are sharing a common Bible passage with other Christians throughout the world. We are currently in a seven-week season known as Easter. It’s the period of celebration that follows the resurrection of Christ. But, the more I have experienced this season, the more I begin to think our church fathers mislabeled the season. I know this season is supposed to be a celebration, but the reality of what happens has led me to think that a name change is in order.
We have finished with the Season of Lent. I propose a newly named season following Lent… aptly named “SPENT!” It expresses exactly how we act after Easter. Pastors worked so hard on Holy Week that they need a week off… they’re SPENT. The folks responsible for helping with the Easter services and the fellowship breakfast committees that worked so hard to make Easter so special are encouraging the pastor not to do anything too big this next month so they can catch their breath… they’re SPENT. Our attendance on Easter morning is normally at least double what it normally is. The effort that many of those people made to bring themselves to walk through a church door has tired them out so much. We won’t see them again until Christmas. They’re obviously SPENT.
The disciples were SPENT.
It’s even in our Bible lesson this morning. We get this insiders’ view of two disciples right after Easter. They had been through a lot: Three years of following Jesus. Three years of walking… of sleeping under trees… of sitting in the middle of crushing crowds all trying to see the Lord… waiting for Jesus to save them from Rome. Now, it has all gone up in smoke… everything they worked for… everything they sacrificed for… gone.
Let’s use the following outline from Luke 24:
1. The Reunion with Jesus (13-16)
2. The Request from Jesus (17)
3. The Reply to Jesus (18-24)
4. The Rebuke by Jesus (25-27)
5. The Recognition of Jesus (28-32)
6. The Report about Jesus (33-35)
I. The Reunion with Jesus (Luke 24:13-16)
Luke 24:13-16 NKJV Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles 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. (16) But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
First, let’s begin by looking at the reunion with Jesus.
Luke said in verse 13, “two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.” “That same day” is of course Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. But at this point the two disciples, Cleopas and his companion (who has never been identified by name), did not yet know what had happened to Jesus. They were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, although scholars don’t know the exact location of Emmaus.
While the two disciples were walking along, presumably late on Sunday afternoon, they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened concerning the death, burial, and disappearance of Jesus from His tomb:
Luke 24:14 NKJV And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
I can only imagine what the disciples were feeling and what they were thinking. They walked slowly… hanging their heads in despair… dragging their feet in the dirt… talking amongst themselves about all their crushed hopes and dreams. They walk towards Emmaus. What is waiting there? The first part of their journey home? What’s left to sustain them?
Luke said that while they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him (Luke 24:15-16). Although Jesus was now in a glorified state (after His resurrection from the dead), and it’s clear that He had a body that was similar to, but not the same as, His former human body. The two disciples walking to Emmaus thought He was just another traveler, and they didn’t recognize Him. However, their lack of recognition was a divine act, since Luke says that that their eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus.
Recognizing God’s sovereign will, God must open our eyes before we can know Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3)
1 Corinthians 12:3 NKJV Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
or the things of Christ (Acts 16:14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16).
Acts 16:14 NKJV Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16 NKJV But as it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (10) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (13) These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. (16) For "WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD THAT HE MAY INSTRUCT HIM?" But we have the mind of Christ.
II. The Request from Jesus (Luke 24:17)
Luke 24:17 NKJV And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
Second, notice the request from Jesus.
As they were walking along, Jesus said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” And they stood still, looking sad (Luke 24:17). These two followers of Jesus were sad about what had happened to Jesus, but they were so surprised that someone from Jerusalem was unaware about all the recent news that they literally stopped in their tracks. Jesus, of course, was engaging them in a way that would enable Him to share the good news about His resurrection with them.
III. The Reply to Jesus (Luke 24:18-24)
Third, observe the reply to Jesus.
Luke 24:18-24 NKJV Then the one whose name was Cleopas 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?" (19) And He said to them, "What things?" 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, (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. (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. (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."
Apparently, everyone in Jerusalem was talking about what had happened to Jesus. There is such a delicious irony in Cleopas’ answer, as Philip Ryken notes,
“In truth, Cleopas was the one who did not know what was happening in Jerusalem! Jesus knew it all, better than anyone, for it had happened to him! . . . Instead of being the only person who did not know what was happening, Jesus was the only person who did!”
Then a stranger caught up with them and asked a simple question: “What have you all been talking about?” One of them, Cleopas, looked at the stranger. He couldn’t believe someone could have asked such a stupid question. In his anger and frustration, I can see Cleopas vent a little bit on this stranger: “What rock have you been hiding under? We’re talking about Jesus! They killed Him! We’ve got nothing left for us back in Jerusalem.”
Luke wrote in verses 19b-21a the answer that the two disciples gave Jesus. They said:
“Jesus was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over the Roman officials to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what’s more, this is the third day since all this took place. Not only that, but some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. They couldn’t find the body of Jesus either.”
They misunderstood who Jesus was.
This rant reveals every single word of frustration and anger that the disciple was feeling. Jesus WAS a prophet… WE HAD HOPED He was the one. But all of that is gone now. Jesus was supposed to be something great, but now He’s dead and all of our hopes are dead with Him. “You see, stranger, that’s why we walk with our heads held low. That’s why we drag our feet. That’s why we are on our way to Emmaus, to leave that wretched city of Jerusalem behind us forever.
Luke continued with the answer of the two disciples in verses 21a-24:
“Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Not only that, but some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they didn’t find His body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. 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.”
The two disciples told Jesus the astonishing news about the empty tomb and the angelic announcement about Jesus’ resurrection. But at this point they didn’t know what to make of all the news. Had the body of Jesus simply disappeared? Or had Jesus really been resurrected back to life? They didn’t know for sure.
The important point here is that the resurrection of Jesus is essential to the good news of the gospel. As Michael Ramsay said,
“The Gospel without the Resurrection is not merely a Gospel without its final chapter; it is not a gospel at all.”
Philip Ryken put it this way,
“There is no good news unless Jesus rose from the dead. The gospel is the crucifixion plus the resurrection, which equals forgiveness for our sins and everlasting joy in the presence of God.”
IV. The Rebuke by Jesus (Luke 24:25-27)
Luke 24:25-27 NKJV Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (27) And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Fourth, look at the rebuke by Jesus.
At this point, we can begin to understand why they didn’t recognize Jesus in verse 16, why they never really knew who Jesus was, what He was about, what He was going to do in Jerusalem. So, Jesus took this teaching moment to introduce them to the Christ found in the Old Testament. He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
In calling these men “foolish,” Jesus wasn’t so much accusing them as He was telling them that they lacked understanding about all the Old Testament prophecies regarding Him. Jesus was saying, “Don’t you see what Isaiah meant, ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His wounds we are healed.’” On and on He went, showing them the real Christ found in the Scriptures. The text tells us in verse 32 that the Holy Spirit was moving inside the disciples as he spoke to them and taught them from the Scriptures… that their hearts burned within them.
Jesus continued, “Wasn’t it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:26-27). Jesus preached to them the good news of the Gospel from the Old Testament. I agree with Philip Ryken who said,
“What any preacher would give to hear that sermon, when the Word of God Incarnate explained the Word of God written!”
So, what exactly did Jesus say were “the things concerning Himself”? We don’t know exactly, but I like the way Bishop J. C. Ryle summarizes what Jesus may have said to the two disciples. He wrote:
“How shall we explain these words? In what way did our Lord show “things concerning Himself,” in every part of the Old Testament field? The answer to these questions is short and simple. Christ was the substance of every Old Testament sacrifice, ordained in the law of Moses. Christ was the true Deliverer and King, of whom all the judges and deliverers in Jewish history were types. Christ was the coming Prophet greater than Moses whose glorious advent filled the pages of prophets. Christ was the true seed of the woman who was to bruise the serpent’s head, – the true seed in whom all nations were to be blessed, – the true Shiloh to whom the people were to be gathered, – the true scape-goat, – the true brazen serpent, – the true Lamb to which every daily offering pointed, – the true High Priest of whom every descendant of Aaron was a figure. These things, or something like them, we need not doubt, were some of the things which our Lord expounded in the way to Emmaus.”
The Bible is not primarily a book about parenting or finances or politics or relationships or morality or love or whatever. Instead, it is a book about Jesus Christ and God’s redemption that is found in Jesus alone.
V. The Recognition of Jesus (Luke 24:28-32)
Luke 24:28-32 NKJV Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. (29) But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. (30) Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. (31) Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. (32) And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
Fifth, notice the recognition of Jesus.
So, the two disciples and Jesus drew near to the village of Emmaus which their destination. Jesus acted as if He were going farther, but the two disciples urged Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” So, Jesus went in to stay with them (Luke 24:28-29). Luke didn’t say where Jesus was going when He acted as if he were going further. Jesus had other places to go and other people to see to continue His saving work before He ascended to His heavenly Father.
In spite of Jesus’ polite refusal, the two disciples wanted Jesus to stay with them. How glad Jesus must have been to have two of His disciples urge Him to stay with them! Also, it gladdens His heart when His disciples want to spend time with Him. Of course, the two disciples wanted this stranger to continue explaining the Word of God to them. And think about how thrilled Cleopas and his traveling partner must have been when they finally realized who was actually in their home! As Norval Geldenhuys said,
“If they had not invited Him, He would have passed on, and they would have forfeited the inexpressible privilege of discovering that it was their risen Lord who had been with them and had instructed them.”
When Jesus was at the table with the two disciples, He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him (Luke 24:30-31a). It was a divine act that enabled them to recognize Jesus because Luke tells us that their eyes were opened (they finally saw and recognized Jesus clearly).
In the same way, God must open the eyes of every sinner in order to see Jesus as the Savior – as their Savior. By nature, we’re spiritually dead, and we are unable to see who Jesus is. But God opens our eyes spiritually to see Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
As soon as they recognized Jesus, Luke said that He vanished from their sight (Luke 24:31b). In the days following His resurrection, Jesus was showing His disciples that He really had risen from the dead. Once they saw Him, His visible presence was no longer necessary.
Then the two disciples said to each other:
Luke 24:32 NKJV And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
This is such a fascinating statement. Their hearts didn’t burn when they saw Jesus. Rather, their hearts burned within them while Jesus talked to them on the road, and while He opened to them the Scriptures. Jesus’ revelation of Himself to them simply confirmed the Word of God to them.
The point is that every person may have a similar experience as the two disciples in that it’s the opening of the Scriptures that causes our hearts to burn. If you were converted to Christ as an adult, you’ll recall how God’s Word came alive after your conversion. And after your conversion there have been times when you’ve studied God’s Word and your heart burned within you. That happens when we see Christ in the Scriptures. That happens when we see how God’s Word is all about Jesus Christ and God’s redemption that’s found in Jesus alone.
VI. The Report about Jesus (Luke 24:33-35)
Luke 24:33-35 NKJV So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, (34) saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" (35) And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
And finally, observe the report about Jesus.
Luke said the following in verses 33-35:
They rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was revealed to them in the breaking of the bread.
The journey back to Jerusalem would have taken them about two hours. Their trip from Jerusalem to Emmaus took the entire afternoon. They had set down for supper when Jesus was revealed to them. By now it was dark, and it was dangerous to be out on the road after dark. But they were so excited that Jesus was alive that they had to share the good news with the others. In a very short space of time, the apostles also saw Jesus, and they too came to believe in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.
These two followers of Jesus passed from SPENT to SENT. Now they wanted to spread the message of Jesus’ resurrection.
I like Darrell Bock’s statement about what happened to them. He said,
“While the apostles did not expect resurrection, once they saw it, they were ready to die for the faith because they knew that death could not conquer them.”
That is so true! In fact, Bible scholars believe that all but one of the apostles were martyred for their belief in Jesus and his resurrection. Who would die for something that they knew wasn’t true? Christians throughout the ages have been SENT to spread the gospel – the “good news”.
It took two disciples who were absolutely SPENT… mind, body, and spirit, and energized them to go and tell the good news. As I read this text, I thought about our condition… a pastor tired from presenting the gospel in a new way each Sunday, a congregation tired of going to a few too many church services… and I find hope for people who are SPENT.
It’s not just church life either, it’s in every bit of our lives: bills, the Coronavirus, making ends meet, especially now… we are SPENT! Our patience… SPENT! Our health… SPENT! We may be in a place in our lives where we can’t wait for this time to be over… because we are SPENT! Our Bible lesson for today speaks to people who are SPENT! It takes disciples who are weary, head down, feet dragging in the dust… to people who are no longer SPENT. Instead, now we have become SENT! That’s the power of this resurrection.
Conclusion:
So, having analyzed Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35, we should believe that Jesus is indeed alive and tell others about Him.
A young father named Phil Callaway said that one sleepy Sunday afternoon when his son was five years old, they drove past a cemetery together. Noticing a large pile of dirt beside a newly excavated grave, his son pointed and said: “Look, Dad, one got out!”
Phil said, “I laughed, but now, every time I pass a graveyard, I’m reminded of the One who got out.”
Jesus is indeed alive!