The Emmaus Road
The Emerging Church • Sermon • Submitted
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· 5 viewsCompanionship, Conversation, and Challenge
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It was a Sunday afternoon, over 2000 years ago, everyone in Jerusalem and the surrounding regions were talking about the dramatic events of the last few days. A controversial new leader had been put to death by the religious and governmental authorities, No one was quite sure what would happen next. Two men, friends and followers of this new leader were especially troubled. As they began a long walk to a nearby town, the two tried to piece together the facts, to understand what had happened. Like many they had great hopes, but now with their leader dead-- all seemed lost. It just didn’t make any sense at all. Then, they were joined by a stranger along the road…
I’m describing the context for the “Emmaus road” story. This story occurs later on the resurrection day. Late on Sunday we pick up the story in Luke 24:13:35. Let’s just take time to carefully study this wonderful passage of scripture--
Let ask ourselves some key questions:
What does the story reveal about Jesus?
What does the story reveal about us?
How might we be encouraged to grow in our faith today?
A road of Companionship
A road of Companionship
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
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. 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?”
The story begins and describes two of the disciples of Jesus, discouraged and frustrated, begin to travel to Emmaus, probably their home. As they walked, they talked of the events of the week, and then Jesus came right up along side of them.
For whatever reason, their eyes were kept from recognizing this third person as Jesus, the Risen Lord.
Perhaps they were so preoccupied with their own disappointments and problems. Have you ever experienced this? Where you discovered that the Lord was present with you, but at the time you didn’t even realize it? The important point is not that they did not recognize Jesus, but Jesus recognized them as His own.
His coming to them and walking along side of them illustrates the truth that Jesus promises, "I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20) (Remember the first of our three questions-- What does this story teach us about Jesus?) The road to Emmaus is a road of companionship that indicates Jesus’ desire to walk with each of us. It further illustrates that Jesus is with us even when we do not recognize Him! I think it’s notable also that these two are together with each other. Many times people are either too proud, or too shy to really be close with others-- Our faith is to be “walked” out together in companionship with Jesus AND with each other.
The road to Emmaus is a road of companionship. Jesus desires to walk with us and he also desires for us to walk with one another.
The road of Conversation
The road of Conversation
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,
and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
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.
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 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.
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.”
As Jesus joined them, He begins to converse with them, asking of the events they talked about. In asking, He allowed them to tell their deepest hurts, angers and frustrations. It’s as if he was saying “Open up, let’s talk about this…”
They poured out their hearts to Him as they were counting on this Jesus to redeem Israel. They had placed all their hope in Him and when He had died, their hopes died with Him. They spoke of the resurrection being told of by the women, but it seemed futile for they did not see Him.
Jesus is the greatest empathetic listener.
He is able to listen to our hurts and discouragement with the ability to enter into our pain.
These two had no idea they were talking to the One who had been crucified, dead, buried and raised! The One who would turn their sorrow into joy.
How about us? Do we know that Jesus desires a conversation with us through the means of prayer, reflection and meditation, through studying his word, working together to glorify him? Like these two, we can tell Him whatever is on our hearts and minds. He wants to listen, and talk with us. There’s nothing he hasn’t seen before-- and he can handle it. Zach Williams, a popular musician, song-writer and worship leader wrote and performs a song called “To the Table”. Here’s part of it:
Hear the voice of love that's calling
There's a chair that waits for you
And a Friend who understands
Everything you're going through
But you keep standing at a distance
In the shadow of your shame
There's a light of hope that's shining
Won't you come and take your place
And bring it all to the table
There's nothing He ain't seen before
For all your fear, all your sorrow and your sadness
There's a Savior and He calls
Bring it all to the table
Zach Williams, “To the Table”
He can see the weight you carry
The fears that hold your heart
But through the cross you've been forgiven
You're accepted as you are
The Emmaus road is one of companionship and conversation. But the story continues...
A road of Challenge
A road of Challenge
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Was it not 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.
We might expect Jesus to say, "I understand, it will be ok, I’m sorry you’re feeling bad.” But Actually--- He says, "You're being foolish, and slow of heart to believe …" His words were not meant to harm or insult, but to challenge them to understand and believe. In what? The Scriptures first, and then to believe in the one who the scriptures are describing!! They probably knew the biblical prophecies of the Messiah to come. But they could not understand why God did not intervene to save Jesus from the cross. They didn’t realize the CROSS and the RESURRECTION are the key factors that all the Scriptures and Prophets hinge on! They were caught up in the political powers at hand and failed to understand the true work of the Messiah- the Redeemer of Israel and all of creation!
Jesus sometimes challenges our belief also. We cannot live without a growing faith.
These two on the Emmaus road were being challenged to consider and understand the OT prophecies in a new and deeper way.
Let me give you an example of this:
Keep your finger in Luke there, but turn to Isaiah 53. This would have been part of their “scriptures”. The writings of Moses, and the records of the prophets like Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. These are all the writings that they would have studied and learned, much like we do with our Bible.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
These were some of the most puzzling passages to the Jewish people—written around the year 740-700 BC. 700 years before Jesus arrives as a baby in Bethlehem! They didn’t know who this was written about exactly— they speculated, they probably had NO idea it was speaking of the Messiah! But when the gospel story plays itself out, people who had studied, learned, memorized these passages--- they were suddenly believers!
What would He say to us today? Are we slow to understand and believe? What might he be revealing to us? I do know you’ve faced hard, confusing and frustrating times in life. Some of us have faced life changing hurts. Jesus loves us-- he wants companionship, conversation-- and he will in time challenge us to believe more deeply, and walk in a stronger faith--not just in spite of the bad things-- NO NO-- He wants you to grow and be sanctified to be more like him-- That is a great reference to Genesis 50 when Joseph says something like this to his brothers-- “what you did, you meant it for evil, but God has turned it for our good”.
Back to our story in Luke:
Jesus’ story, the drama of the previous week for these believers on the Emmaus road was tragic. Life altering disappointment and confusion. But I love that last line, verse 27. He interpreted the scriptures, beginning with Moses and the prophets— all the things concerning himself.
We know the truth that He is risen, and the Bible also teaches that one day He will return to earth. We need to consider if we live like we believe that. What would this mean for your workplace, your school, our church-- if we all really kept this growing faith as central to our fellowship? The Scriptures communicate the spiritual truths we need to know, and Jesus exhorts us to believe and to live out that belief.
The Emmaus road is one of companionship, conversation, and challenge. Thank-you Jesus that you want to be with me, you want to listen to me, and you indeed challenge me to greater understanding!
The road to Renewed Hope
The road to Renewed Hope
Luke 24:28–29 (ESV)
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,
but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
Luke 24:30–31 (ESV)
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
Luke 24:32–33 (ESV)
They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
Luke 24:34–35 (ESV)
saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
As the journey neared an end, the two encouraged Jesus to stop at their home. They still had not recognized Him. Supper time came and this stranger took the bread and broke it, and all of a sudden they recognized Him! "Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him …"
As quickly as they knew Him, He was gone from their midst. They began to speak to one another, but it was not about the weeks events, with all the disappointment and discouragement. It was all about seeing the Risen Lord Jesus!
Their lives prior to this moment were like a smoldering fire that gives no light, just smoke that clouds things up. But once they came into the presence of the Risen Lord their hearts were ablaze! Like pumping air and oxygen onto those smoldering coals—a BLAZE started. A burning fire gives light for all to see, and they saw, understood and believed! All because of the Risen Lord!
Jesus’ victory became their restoring hope. It became the anchor of their lives.
With renewed hope they ran back to Jerusalem. The long discouraged walk to Emmaus now became a joyous run back to Jerusalem with renewed strength.
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
When arriving back in Jerusalem they found the eleven together and with great zeal in their renewed hope they said this … "THE LORD IS RISEN indeed”-- and that CHANGES everything.
How about us? Where is our belief today? Where is our hope? The world waits to hear from those who are burning within their hearts the gospel message - “He is risen!”
The Emmaus road is a road of companionship, conversation, challenge and hope. Walk with Jesus everyday!
Let’s dig deeper together-- even through the tough things that we don’t quite understand yet-- and seek to help each other renew our hope and strength! IN THE GARDEN.