Scripture Correctly Reveals Jesus
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Can you know a truth and not understand the full ramifications of what that truth means? Could you even explain something and still be lost yourself?
This morning we will take a look at two men who knew the truth could explain but still didn’t fully understand it. We will see this in Luke’s gospel as we continue our study of Luke 24. Last week we examined the proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We took a look inside the empty tomb, we examined the witness of the angels and the women’s witness as well as a look at the linen wrapping that was left behind in the tomb. This morning we are going to look at Luke’s account of Jesus revealing Himself to a couple of His own disciples as they travel back to a village named Emmaus.
We well see this morning, Scripture Correctly Reveals Jesus.
Scripture Correctly Reveals Jesus
Scripture Correctly Reveals Jesus
We will see this in Luke 24:13-35, Luke writes;
And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.
While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.
But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
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.
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?”
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,
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.
“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.
“But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,
and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also 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 exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.”
And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”
Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.
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.
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.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
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?”
And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,
saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.”
They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Luke sets up the scene very well in verses 13-15. He writes for us, “And behold, two of them were going on that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. It is clear in this verse it is still the first day of the week. The mornings events are still fresh on these men’s minds. There is some controversy surrounding this verse. Scholars are a little confused as to the exact locations of Emmaus. Some see this is a legend because there is no known city called Emmaus especially within a seven mile ratios of Jerusalem. Just because there is no evidence of the city existing doesn’t mean this is a legend in fact if anything it proves just the opposite. Why would Luke fabricate this story even though we may not know exactly where Emmaus is we do know the facts, it was a village and it was about 7 miles from Jerusalem. The 7 miles must be accurate because these men left Jerusalem arrived in Emmaus and they were still able to make it back to Jerusalem that very not before the disciples went to sleep. An average days journey was 20 miles and even if these men left Jerusalem about 8 in the morning they could still have made it back long before the apostles went to bed.
So now as they go along these two men are having a conversation and as Luke puts it in verse 14, “And they are talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.” A lot has happened in the passed week. These men are disciples of Jesus, true disciples. Not they are not a part of the eleven apostles but the apostles are not the only ones who have truly believed in Jesus. In verse 9 we found that the women “returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.” These two men are among the rest who have been following Jesus. They have listened to Jesus teach in the temple and rebuke the religious leaders. They were also witnesses to Jesus’ arrest and they may not have been at His trial but they definitely witnessed Him die on the cross. They were also there when the women returned and told the men about the empty tomb and the angelic visitors. All of this fresh on their minds they are discussing it as they travel.
Luke then provides for us a stranger to these men but not to the reader. Jesus comes along as they are talking and He approaches the men and He travels along with them. Here we something very interesting. In Luke 16 we read here, “But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.” Now I would like to make one thing clear here, they were prevented from recognizing Jesus in physical form. This is not to say they were blinded by the world or by Satan as non believers are. There is something God is doing here that we need to see. Jesus’ physical appearance being concealed from their sight calls into question how much we understand the events that have taken place on a spiritual level.
Jesus in verse 17 asks them a questions which Jesus already knows the answer to. He says in verse 17, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” If Jesus had revealed Himself right here at this moment and asked this question the response might have been different. Instead He wants to know what is truly on their hearts on a spiritual level. And we see exactly what their emotions are and their emotions demonstrate for us how much they truly understand the truth of what Jesus has told them and what has just happened.
When it comes to Jesus revealing Himself we need to Have Spiritual Eyes.
Seeing with Spiritual Eyes
Seeing with Spiritual Eyes
We can see by their demeanor that their faith and hope has been shattered because they have been so focused on the physical. Look at the end of verse 17 with me. After Jesus asks them about what what words they are exchanging we see these men “stood still, looking sad.” They are sad, I mean in most cases yeah I get it they just lost a friend and a mentor a leader so they are grieving. Still with all that these men have seen and all that they heard Jesus teach you would think they would be at least confused if not eager to see what is going to happen next. No instead they are sad. Their hearts are heavy with grief.
Luke next provides us with the name of one of these men, these men are believed to be disciples of Jesus but as we will see later in this passage they are not a part of the eleven and the name Cleopas points this out. Not much is known about this man Cleopas and the name of the second man is not mentioned but one thing is for certain when you stick a name on an account and even though we may not know this man today it is very possible he was known in the time period this was written. The Holy Spirit is the Divine source of this text but by God’s providence He moved Luke to interview Cleopas. These are Cleopas’ words.
I find this to be the most humors thing you could say to Jesus, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” What a foolish fellow, so stuck on the physical he can’t even see the impact of what has happened. It was obvious to them this stranger was in the area of Jerusalem for the Passover. They were more then likely still close to the city when Jesus approached so if this man has been in Jerusalem for the Passover it seems an obvious question to ask Him how He could be unaware of these passed few days and the trial and the crucifixion of Jesus.
Here is an opportunity to share the truth with someone yet they can’t see the full spiritual impact of it all. Jesus wants them to elaborate on the things they just mentioned. So is verse 19 we find Jesus asking, “What things?” What are these things, now you know Jesus is look for something deeper not just the physical but this questioning is a test to see how much they truly understand what Jesus has taught them. So they begin to explain what has happened.
Verse 19 to 22 is an explanation of what they have seen and what they have heard. They begin by mentioning Jesus name and they provide for Jesus who they believe Jesus to be. He is a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people.” Notice how they use the past tense here was, they shows how much the believe in the resurrection. The resurrection is still confusing them. They recognized one of Jesus’ offices as being a prophet, One who speaks for God. They also recognize His ability and His character. He was the real deal and they believed He was the real deal.
And in verse 20 we see why they talk about Him in the past tense. The say, “and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.” They were there they saw their Savior hang on a cross which explains their grief in verse 17. Their grief is further revealed in the next verse. In verse 21 we read, “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.” Now we are getting a little deeper. The nations has been waiting on a redeemer but their focus has only been on the physical. They were right to be looking for a redeemer but because their focus was solely on the physical they were missing the spiritual.
They allowed their present situation to dictate the impact of what God was doing. The had a narrow view of oppression, they only saw oppression as being physical. They were under Roman occupation. Now they knew the Scripture pointed to the nation being freed from oppression.
Look at some of these text that talk about the redemption of Isreal.
A Song of Ascents.
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.
The psalm of ascents is believed to be psalms that were song as the nation went up to the temple or tabernacle in Jerusalem during one of their three main festivals. Passover being one of those. Here is a song that more then likely these men have sung on a number of occasions through out the year and it points to a redeemer of Isreal. They are correct in Jesus being this redeemer but as Jesus has come to redeem Israel He has in actuality redeemed all mankind from a deeper oppression, which is sin.
Also take a look at this text from Jeremiah which deals with the exile of Israel into Babylon but the hearts of the Israelites are always focused on God’s redeeming them from the nations.
Look with me at Jeremiah 31.
Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
And declare in the coastlands afar off,
And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him
And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob
And redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.
“They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion,
And they will be radiant over the bounty of the Lord—
Over the grain and the new wine and the oil,
And over the young of the flock and the herd;
And their life will be like a watered garden,
And they will never languish again.
“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together,
For I will turn their mourning into joy
And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.
“I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares the Lord.
See verse 11 speaks of the nation being redeemed and even though this was a prophecy by Jeremiah in regard to the Babylon captivity it is at this time a reminder that God is faithful and since the nation is in Roman captivity they are looking for yet another exodus.
The people were very focused on a physical, political ruler and their eyes weren’t open to the spiritual impact their redeemer was having on their nation and on all mankind.
So they are only seeing things with physical eyes not spiritual ones. This is amplified in the rest of their explanation of things. They continue in verse in verse 21, “Indeed, besides all this, it is third day since these things happened.” This recalls to memory what Jesus has prophesied that He would on the third day He would rise.
Next these men provide the proofs of the eyewitness accounts first with the women in verse 22-23. They say the, “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 is alive.” We looked at this last week and remember the women being witnesses to this account is a proof in and of itself because they lived in a patriarchal society and man’s pride would never had allowed them to say this they would skip it and only provide the man’s witness.
The other proof here is the retelling of the angel’s witness, the angels appearance was important also since they hadn’t spoken to anyone since the incarnation of Jesus. So Jesus’ birth and His resurrection and even His ascension are all marked with an angelic presence. Still these men are finding this hard to believe. It is difficult to believe in something you haven’t seen right. These men didn’t see the angel’s they didn’t hear the words directly from the angels so since they didn’t see they weren’t fully believing it.
Then they provide yet another eyewitness. If they didn’t believe the women o.k. but now Peter and John, not believing their witness that is a different story. It all spark some thought in their mind but they were still not ready to see the spiritual because they were to focused on the physical.The thing is faith is based on believing in the unseen isn’t it. If you can see it, is it faith.
These are not the only ones who had a hard time believing Jesus had risen from the dead. In the gospel of John we find another poor man who didn’t believe Jesus was raised from the dead and he wanted proof. He said unless I can see the scars on His wrists and place my finger in His side I will not believe. Let’s look at what happens with this man.
After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
Look at what Jesus says in verse 29, this is a big deal this is faith. We are counted blessed we can find true joy in believing in Jesus and the resurrection by the proof the scripture provides especially since we do not have Jesus standing before us physically. This is faith this is looking at the spiritual over and above the physical.
If there is one man who understands what it means to have faith and look at the spiritual is Paul. Look at what he tells the Corinthian church
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
These men know what had happened to Jesus but their focus was on the physical and when it comes to what God has done and what God is doing we need to look passed the physical and focus on the Spiritual. Our hearts need to be fixed on not only who Jesus is but all that the scripture teach about Him. The Word of God is not just some book written by men it is a book written by God and if we only like at is as how it relates to our physical lives then we miss out on the spiritual truths of God.