Listened to a really great talk at church tonight which I found really helpful.
Luke 24:13-35 (NIV)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. [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. [17] He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" 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. "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. [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." [25] He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [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. [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. [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?" [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. Today (Easter Sunday) has been a day of celebration because of the truth of the resurrection of Jesus and the triumph over death and sin.
How did the resurrection happen?
We don't know.
But there was resurrection and the reason we are celebrating here today on Easter Sunday.
Following the resurrection Jesus doesn't show up in the temple but firstly in the garden and then on the road to Emmaus.
We can follow the same steps with Jesus. Much of our life is plodding from place to place both literally and in the day-to-day nature of life.
What can we learn from this passage about the way Jesus meets with his disciples and with us?
Lots had happened in the last few days since the Passover meal.
Luke 24:15-16 (NIV)
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.
We know it is Jesus but they don't.
Luke 24:18 (NIV)
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?"
The second encounter here happened as the two disciples were walking and talking about what had happened. Would we recognise the resurrected Jesus walking along side us. Jesus wanted to encounter them where they were.
What about us?
Where do we meet with Jesus?
On the road
With the stranger
In church
With Christian friends
With people with faith and no faith
At work
At school
Encounters are powerful things even if we consider them sometimes simply as coincidences. Jesus wants to meet with us ....
We will encounter him on the road, in everyday life. The disciples had high hopes in Jesus and you can sense the disappointment in their tone.
Luke 24:19-24 (NIV)
"What things?" he asked. "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. [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." But Jesus replied.
Luke 24:25,27 (NIV)
He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Jesus took the time to explain and explore the story as they walked. Jesus personally helps them understand how the scriptures tie together. This gives us a similar challenge - we need also to go deeper into Scriptures to think it through, absorb it and really understand it. We can be very quick to give easy answers and that is not necessary wrong but we do need to have a depth of understanding behind it. We should not be afraid to ask questions. Why? How?
Luke 24:28-29 (NIV)
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.
Jesus only stayed on because he was invited to stay. Jesus walked with them as long as it took.
Luke 24:30-31 (NIV)
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.
Luke 24:32 (NIV)
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?"
Have we experienced that feeling when we knew that God was close. There are times in our walk when we really feel God is close. What did they do when they realised?
Luke 24:33-35 (NIV)
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.
They went and told others about it.
Jesus requires a response, the resurrection requires a response. Do we pray for encounters on the road to talk to others? Does living in response look different from the way we loved before? Will we search or wisdom and deeper knowledge of the Scriptures. Our understanding might become deeper and we can follow him.
Luke 24:13-35 (NIV)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. [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. [17] He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" 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. "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. [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." [25] He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [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. [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. [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?" [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. Today (Easter Sunday) has been a day of celebration because of the truth of the resurrection of Jesus and the triumph over death and sin.
How did the resurrection happen?
We don't know.
But there was resurrection and the reason we are celebrating here today on Easter Sunday.
Following the resurrection Jesus doesn't show up in the temple but firstly in the garden and then on the road to Emmaus.
We can follow the same steps with Jesus. Much of our life is plodding from place to place both literally and in the day-to-day nature of life.
What can we learn from this passage about the way Jesus meets with his disciples and with us?
Lots had happened in the last few days since the Passover meal.
Luke 24:15-16 (NIV)
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.
We know it is Jesus but they don't.
Luke 24:18 (NIV)
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?"
The second encounter here happened as the two disciples were walking and talking about what had happened. Would we recognise the resurrected Jesus walking along side us. Jesus wanted to encounter them where they were.
What about us?
Where do we meet with Jesus?
On the road
With the stranger
In church
With Christian friends
With people with faith and no faith
At work
At school
Encounters are powerful things even if we consider them sometimes simply as coincidences. Jesus wants to meet with us ....
We will encounter him on the road, in everyday life. The disciples had high hopes in Jesus and you can sense the disappointment in their tone.
Luke 24:19-24 (NIV)
"What things?" he asked. "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. [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." But Jesus replied.
Luke 24:25,27 (NIV)
He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Jesus took the time to explain and explore the story as they walked. Jesus personally helps them understand how the scriptures tie together. This gives us a similar challenge - we need also to go deeper into Scriptures to think it through, absorb it and really understand it. We can be very quick to give easy answers and that is not necessary wrong but we do need to have a depth of understanding behind it. We should not be afraid to ask questions. Why? How?
Luke 24:28-29 (NIV)
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.
Jesus only stayed on because he was invited to stay. Jesus walked with them as long as it took.
Luke 24:30-31 (NIV)
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.
Luke 24:32 (NIV)
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?"
Have we experienced that feeling when we knew that God was close. There are times in our walk when we really feel God is close. What did they do when they realised?
Luke 24:33-35 (NIV)
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.
They went and told others about it.
Jesus requires a response, the resurrection requires a response. Do we pray for encounters on the road to talk to others? Does living in response look different from the way we loved before? Will we search or wisdom and deeper knowledge of the Scriptures. Our understanding might become deeper and we can follow him.
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