Luke 24:13-35

Hobart, April 31st, 1999

Launceston, Ulverstone, April 24th , 1999

© Phil Hopwood 1999

Psalm 116:1-4,12-19

CONTEXT:

1. WHEN, WHERE, WHO?

1. Sunday of the resurrection
1. Mary and some other women had already met Jesus, and had told the 11 disciples that he was alive, but they had trouble believing it

Luke 24:9-12

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

2. Afterwards, two disciples were walking towards the town of Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35

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

1. Archaeologists don’t know exactly where it was, but we are told it was 7 miles out of Jerusalem
2. One of them is named Cleopas, who we don’t hear of anywhere else, and the other is unnamed.
3. V 14 Talking about the events that had taken place;
1. Jesus arrest, trial, crucifixion, and the news that his body was missing…
2. How do you think they felt?
1. V 17 tells us they were downcast

They stood still, their faces downcast.

15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

4. So we have our scene set:
1. The two disciples are feeling lost, confused, upset. They are suffering, grieving about their loss.
1. It is possible that they were on their way back home to Galilee, having lost their Lord, and their direction in life and hope.
2. They are discussing, perhaps debating all that had happened.
2. Along the way Jesus appears, but they aren’t able to recognise him
5. SPS:
1. As people of the resurrection, we are to be like Jesus, and reach out to people with the Good News of victory over life’s problems, sin and death, and of the opportunity of a new life.
2. How do we do that?
3. In our passage today we have the opportunity to watch Jesus reach out to, and care for and teach these two lost and grieving people.
6. PRAYER



EXPOSITION:

2. WHAT DOES JESUS DO TO HELP THIS DOWNCAST PAIR?

1. OPTIONAL EXERCISE: Groups of 2-3:
1. Write down all the things Jesus does and says in our passage that contribute to helping, caring and healing and turning their lives around from despondency and grief to faith, hope and living a new life of love and service (Luke 24:17-35)
1. And you could note some things that he restrains himself from saying as well



3. PASSAGE: Luke 24:17-35

1. How Does Jesus begin the conversation?

17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

1. What can we learn from that?
1. When we first begin to talk to people, seek to hear what their concerns are
2. Start with a general non threatening question that shows your interest in them, and that gives you an opportunity to listen, to gain understanding of their concerns, feelings, needs

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

19 "What things?" he asked.

2. Jesus follows up what Cleopas is saying, by asking politely and innocently, for more information
1. He doesn’t jump in and try to solve all their problems, he simply shows interest by asking very simple, uncomplicated questions
3. Caringly and attentively listened to them, asked them simple questions about their life, their concerns, perhaps their overall religious views
4. Built trust, credibility, a bridge between himself and them

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

5. Side note, this is the third day since Jesus was handed over to be tried and crucified. Very hard to work a Wednesday or Thursday crucifixion into this verse. If you count it out only one day really fits, and that is a Friday.

 

22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

6. Here we have a beautifully simple explanation of the background to the situation up to this point as they saw it
1. They certainly don’t appear to have put any credence at all in what the women had said.
2. What do you think of their thinking at this point?
1. What have they said about Jesus?

v 19 He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

1. How does this compare with what many people think about Jesus today?

20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;

2. How does this compare with what many people think about Jesus today?

21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.

3. What does this indicate about the two disciples thinking?
1. Shouldn’t they have remembered and learned from all the teachings they had heard from Jesus about what he came to do, the kind of king he was, the kind of redemption he was coming to bring to Israel, his teaching about how he was going to die.
1. We might also take time to think of those who may have wandered from the faith in recent times because they had been looking for a dramatic appearance of Jesus to bring an end to the strife of this age, and have become disillusioned, either because he hasn’t come, or because the church doesn’t focus on his return so predominantly anymore
2. With this in mind, perhaps we can better understand Jesus change of tone

25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

1. He had continually pointed them to the words of the Old Testament that spoke of him, and how he had come to fulfil them.

26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

3. The disciples needed to hear the real facts, the truth about Jesus.
1. About what Moses and the prophets were really pointing to…
1. A suffering Messiah, who would die as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. A Messiah who would come to be the spiritual Saviour of all, not through defeating national powers, but through defeating the spiritual powers of sin and death.
3. When we have established a good rapport with people
1. We look for ways of introducing the basic message of the Bible
1. Of explaining, helping them to rethink any false assumptions or wrong ideas they may have accumulated about God, Jesus, and his plan for mankind
2. One reason many people aren’t ready to accept the Christian message is that they have mistaken ideas about it that put them off;
1. May have had bad experiences with Christians, or Churches
2. They may feel many of the world’s problems are caused by religion, including Christianity
3. They may feel it is too demanding, and takes the fun out of life
4. They may feel that God can’t care about us because he allows so much suffering and injustice
5. They may feel the Bible is just made up stories, and that God doesn’t exist
6. They may feel it has nothing practical for their lives
2. After showing interest and care for their personal needs, Jesus used Scripture ("Moses and all the Prophets") to clarify and communicate the basic points of the gospel message
1. He helped correct their misunderstandings, and wrong ideas

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

4. He Didn’t push too far
1. Jesus caring actions, and helpful words led them to want more.
2. When he found they wanted more he took the time, and went out of his way to be of further help and encouragement, to be there for them

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

5. WHAT DO WE SEE HERE?
1. What is the message for us, and for those we come across that don’t recognise Jesus for who he truly is?
2. That we are all blind, no matter how much we may have heard or known on the surface of things, until Jesus opens our eyes to who he really is
1. We may have observed or have been part of the Church and heard the words of the Bible, and the stories about Jesus for years, and even been deeply involved with various activities, just as these two had been
2. But until we really see Jesus, and truly recognise him, and commune with him, sit down and eat with him, and share his life, we are as blind and ignorant as these two
6. The Lord’s Supper is a recognising of Jesus and who he truly was
1. Even in the actions of verses 30 we can see the way Jesus works with us;

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

2. Jesus came to earth, to be with us, to sit down with us and commune and share life with us, to sit at our table.
1. Hospitality, sharing meals together in one another’s homes was a hallmark of the post resurrection church, as well as an important part of Ancient Middle Eastern Culture.
1. So eating a meal was highly symbolic, and it was the meal of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, that Jesus instituted for Christians to remember him by.
3. These are the same words and actions we see at the Last Supper earlier in Luke;

Luke 22:19-20

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

1. And so here with these two disciples, it is no wonder that the lights really go on for the disciples when Jesus was at the table, and took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them.
4. This special meal pictures how Jesus came to the earth be with us in our lives, "at the table with us"
1. that he took his body, his life, which is the bread from heaven given for us, and with thanks, gave his body to be broken for us.
2. He gives it to us, all we need to do is accept it
3. This is the heart of the message that Jesus had for not only these two, but the message he has for us,
1. AND THE MESSAGE HE HAS GIVEN FOR US TO TAKE TO THOSE LOST SOULS WE COME ACROSS
5. In the Lord’s Supper, in this breaking of bread after the resurrection, we see the Gospel message
1. Through this action, the disciples hearts and minds were opened, through it they remembered and recognised their Saviour
2. Their Saviour who they thought was dead, but they now saw was alive, and alive and there for them.
6. Jesus then disappeared, because now their hearts and minds were healed, they were turned around.
1. Jesus had helped them see things in their true perspective, and now because of their understanding of him, they were full of joy and hope and courage
7. It is only when we and those we are called to reach out to, recognise this and commune with him, that we truly see, and have our lives turned around from despair to hope.

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

7. What do the two do when their eyes are open to the reality of Jesus resurrection?
1. Literally "to turn round about, turn back", which is what the word repent means
1. They changed their minds, and the direction of their lives
2. What else did they do?
2. They went and told their friends about it!
1. They witnessed to the Good News of Jesus resurrection, they gave evidence, and explained what they had seen, heard, learned.

 



4. APPLICATION:

1. We too have experienced the resurrected Jesus, and are to WITNESS TO OTHERS ABOUT HIM JUST AS THE DISCIPLES DID
1. What do we learn from our passage about encouraging Christian friends who have become discouraged, or who have perhaps wandered off from the body?
2. What do we learn about evangelism from Jesus’ example?
2. Simply put,
1. we are to listen, and tell the story!
1. We are to walk with and listen to Jesus
1. to His word through study, through small groups and church services, through our personal communing with him
2. And then we are to tell others what we have heard
3. OUR LIVES:
1. Are their some principles we can learn for our own Christian walk?
1. Where did Jesus direct the two disciples with their doubts and questions?
2. Where should we turn for spiritual help when we have concerns about our faith and beliefs, or the direction of our lives?
2. Some thoughts for our lives;
1. It is comforting to know that there is always one who walks with us, and he is not a stranger, but is truly the risen Lord.
2. He not only walks with us, but he brings meaning of the scriptures to life for us, he offers understanding and companionship, and even is with us in the breaking of bread and communion around the table.
3. This passage serves to remind us that it is the risen Christ that constantly seeks to break into our lives as we walk our daily paths (sometimes not so smooth and easy) and offer us all we need to complete the journey
4. Some questions for us as we conclude:
1. Jesus reach out to the disciples walking in the road. How many of us take our time to go and find the people in the streets, where they are?
1. Jesus asked them what was bothering them and then he listened and listened and listened to the whole story even though he knew what happened better than them. How many of us take the time to really listen what bothers our people even though we may think we know more?
2. Jesus took the time to explain the scripture again although they should have understood. How many of us take the time to explain the scriptures again and again no matter how many times people need to hear the same?
3. Jesus established a relationship of love with them so strong than been a stranger they invited him to stay. How many of us are are capable of touching the lives of our people in such a way that they will want us to be part of their lives?
4. Jesus blessed the bread and share it with them. How many of us are willing to nurture and care for the needs off our people in such a loving way?
5. PRAYER:

The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.

Liddell, H. G., and Scott, Abridged Greek-English Lexicon, (Oxford: Oxford University Press) 1992.

Mays, James Luther, Ph.D., Editor, Harper’s Bible Commentary, (New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc.) 1988.

 

Notes:

24:13-35, Appearance on the Road to Emmaus.