Luke 24:13-35 ESV
On the Road to Emmaus
13That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18Then 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?” 19And 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, 20and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21But 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. 22Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and 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. 24Some 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.” 25And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29but 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. 30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32They 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?” 33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
So the Disciples that Jesus encountered were experiencing the opposite of Joy.
Luke 24:13-14 ESV
13That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
The word doesn’t tell us why they were going, but it does give us some indication of the turmoil in their hearts.
They were talking about all the things that had happened.
I suspect that it was more than just the details of the crucifixion. The disciples were definitely distraught about this, but one more thing that bothered them, is that they thought Jesus had come to save the world…and in their eyes, He had just been defeated.
Add a note
And we see that with the Disciples here…Christ comes to them in their moment of despair:
Luke 24:15-17 ESV
15While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.
Add a note
Why were their eyes kept from recognizing Him? I don’t know, but I presume it is intentional and He meant to teach them something.
Maybe He wanted them to hear their own words.
In their hearts, they build up their own despair and confusion, But in the perfect moment of clarity and demolishing the despair, Jesus would once again rescue them.
Luke 24:18 ESV
18Then 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?”
There is some discussion among scholars as to who these disciples were…actually, we know who one of them was…but who was the other one? It is not really important…but it is an interesting chain of thought.
If you go back to some of the accounts of the Crucifixion, you will see that there were three Marys. One of the Marys was the wife of Cleopas. Then at the tomb, you see Mary the mother of Joses, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary (likely the wife of Cleopas). So some scholars think that the two people walking to Emmaus were Cleopas and Mary his wife. Some believe the disciples to be both men. In any case…we know that one of them is Cleopas…who was not one of the 11 apostles, but was a close follower of Christ.
Add a note
Luke 24:20-24 ESV
20and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21But 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. 22Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and 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. 24Some 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.”
They just layed out for Jesus their reason for anguish. Note here that they have accurately recounted the things that have happened, but they also enumerated their reason for despair. And this is exactly what Jesus would zero in on.
They called Him a prophet, a man mighty in word and deed before God and all the people. They said we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel.
Their eyes were still on the world…and their circumstances…not on Christ. They thought Christ had been defeated. But He would very soon change that.
Add a note
But listen to Jesus response to these Disciples who were in despair:
Luke 24:25-27 ESV
25And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
The Wiersbe commentary says here that “The longer Cleopas talked, the more he indicted himself and his friend for their unbelief. What more evidence could they want? Witnesses (including the Apostles) had seen the tomb empty. Angels had announced that Jesus was alive. Witnesses had seen Him alive and heard Him speak. The proof was there!”
Romans 10:17 ESV
17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Jesus would begin to reveal to them about Himself through the recounting of what the Scriptures say.
They would still be slow to believe, until something else happened. What was that?
Luke 24:28-29 ESV
28So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29but 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.
Add a note
Luke 24:30-32 ESV
30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32They 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?”
This was the moment…Jesus was revealed to them in the breaking of the bread…and they instantly realized who it was that had been walking with them!
And immediately He vanished.
When Jesus broke the bread they would instantly be drawn back to when He was with them…before the crucifixion.
Add a note
So what did they do with this new found information?
Luke 24:33-35 ESV
33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Add a note
It may seem that you can’t see the purposes for where we find ourselves today.
You must continue to ask yourself the questions…what is God teaching me, and what does He want me to do with this information?
You see, the truth is that we shouldn’t be looking to the past to find our Joy. We need to find our Joy in the now and in the future. Why were the disciples so sorrowful? Because they had not believed the reason for which they should have joy for today.
So here it is…their reason for joy…they finally arrived at, but it took some time for them to get there.
1. Jesus has come and demonstrated how to have irreplaceable and incorruptible Joy in Him.
2. Jesus wants us to find joy, not in the things of the world, or in our circumstances…but in Him alone.
3. Jesus wants us to communicate that joy to others.
Are you a follower of Christ on Mission with God?
Then there are three things you can do as a follower of Christ that will help you to experience and communicate your Joy.
Worship - Develop intimacy with God and worship Him
Connect - Move into community with believers and connect on a more personal level
Serve - Develop influence with others, as you serve them in an area of their need.
All of these have one purpose…the spread of the Gospel and redemption of the lost.
Add a note
“Make Room” — Jonathan McReynolds
“Your Love Awakens Me” — Phil Wickham
“Lord I Need You” — Chris Tomlin
“Way Maker” — Leeland
“Nothing Else” — Cody Carnes
Please use the Give Online button on the Home tab.
Every gift helps.
