Emmaus Road: Hearts Ablaze at the Breaking of Bread

Luke 24, verse 13 through the end, and it encompasses one of my favorite stories.

Luke 24:13

I'm going to take off my glasses though.

That same day, two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus,

seven miles from Jerusalem.

As they walked along, they were talking about everything that had happened.

As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them.

But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, what are you discussing

so intently as you walk along?

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces.

Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, you must be the only person in Jerusalem

who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.

What things? Jesus asked. The things that happened to Jesus,

the man from Nazareth, they said.

He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the

eyes of God and all the people.

But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over we'd condemned

to death, and they crucified him.

We had hoped that he was the Messiah who'd come to rescue Israel.

This all happened three days ago.

Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this

morning, and they came back with an amazing report.

They said his body was missing, and that they had seen angels who told them Jesus was alive.

Some four men ran out to sea, and sure enough his body was gone,

just as the woman had said.

Then Jesus said to them, You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe

all that the prophets wrote in the scriptures.

Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these

things before entering his glory?

Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets,

explaining from all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

By this time they were nearing Emmaus, and the end of their journey.

Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, No,

stay the night with us, since it is getting late. So he went home with them.

And as they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it.

Then he broke it and gave it to them.

Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.

And at that moment, he disappeared. They said to each other,

Didn't our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?

And within the hour, they were on their way back to Jerusalem.

There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them

who said, The Lord is really risen! He appeared to Peter.

Jesus appears to the disciples. Then the two from Emmaus told their story of

how Jesus had appeared to them, as they were walking along the road and how

they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.

And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them.

Peace be with you, he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened.

Thinking they were seeing a ghost.

Why are you frightened? he asked. Why are your hearts filled down. Look at my hands.

Look at my feet. You can see it's really me.

Touch me and make sure I am not a ghost because ghosts don't have bodies as you said I do.

As he spoke he showed them his hands and his feet still they stood there in

disbelief filled with joy and wonder,

then he asked him do you have anything here to eat they gave him a piece of

brawl fish and he ate it as they watched then he said,

when i was with you before i told you that everything written about me in the

law of moses and the prophets and in the songs must be fulfilled,

then he opened their minds to the scriptures and he said yes it was written

long ago the messiah and suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of

his name to all the nations beginning in Jerusalem.

There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.

You are witnesses of all these things. Now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my father promised.

But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them.

While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

So they worshiped him, and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.

And they spent all their time at the temple praising God. May God bless the redeems.

I told you earlier that we're wrapping up the Gospel of Luke today.

We've been on a nice journey together for many weeks, right? Months, actually.

And in the first part of Luke chapter 24, the women went to the tomb expecting

Luke 24 · chapter mention

to find the body of Jesus. We looked at this last week. And instead, what did they find?

They found the stone rolled away, right?

The tomb was empty and angels asking them a question.

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Then came the reminder, hence our title today, part two.

Remember how he told you, right?

Remember how he told you. Now, Luke actually turns our attention to that same resurrection day.

Two disciples are walking the seven miles church from Jerusalem to Emmaus,

and they're talking about everything that has happened.

Their Lord has been crucified. His tomb is empty.

Some women say they've seen angels, but these two disciples don't know what to make of it all.

Then Jesus himself, don't miss this, comes near and begins walking with them.

But scripture tells us they're kept from recognizing him at this moment.

Jesus asked what they're discussing, and they stop with sadness,

and it was written across their faces.

And Cleopas here, it says in the scripture, in effect, are you the only person

in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has happened, right?

I mean, the irony is almost humorous, but they are explaining the death of Jesus to Jesus, okay?

And they know the facts, in other words, but they don't yet understand what those facts mean.

They say these words, they say, We had hoped.

That he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Notice those words.

Let me stop there a moment. We had hoped.

Their hope is in what tense? The past tense, we had hoped.

The cross, church, don't miss this, looked like the end of everything they had believed.

Perhaps you know what it is to say, I had hope, or I had hoped.

I had hoped that the diagnosis would be different.

I had hoped that the relationship would heal. I had hoped the prayer would be answered another way.

And we can know many true things about God and still become so discouraged that

we can't see what he's doing.

But their disappointment, Eastwood, was not the end of the story.

Jesus walking beside them, even when they could not recognize him.

You think that happens in our lives today too, son?

Well, we see that he opened the scriptures. Jesus tells them that they've been

slow to believe all that the prophets had spoken.

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he actually explains what the

scriptures say concerning himself.

What a Bible study. Have you ever thought about this? What a Bible study it must have been.

Jesus showed them that the cross was not an accident and the resurrection wasn't an afterthought.

God had been preparing his people for all of this throughout the entire Old Testament.

The sacrifices pointed to the Lamb of God who would take away sin.

The Passover pointed to deliverance through the blood of a substitute.

The suffering servant of Isaiah pointed to the one who would be wounded for our transgressions.

The promise of a coming king pointed to who?

To Jesus, who would conquer not by avoiding death, but by passing through death.

And rising victorious. Come on. Yeah. Woo. I mean, that's exciting stuff.

The victory of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for your sin and my sin.

You see the promise of a coming king.

In fact, the suffering servant we see of Isaiah pointed to the one who would

be wounded for our transgressions.

The promise of a coming king pointed to Jesus who would conquer.

And the Bible's not merely a collection, y'all, of disconnected stories telling

us to be brave like David or faithful like Daniel. I mean, all that is good

application, but I want you to realize this.

The Bible is one great story of God's rescue centered in Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament actually prepares the way for Jesus.

The Gospels reveal him.

The rest of the New Testament explains his saving work and prepares us for his return.

The disciples actually later said, were not our hearts burning within us while

he was walking with us on the road and opening the scriptures to us?

Their circumstances, don't miss this, their circumstances had not yet changed,

but their hearts had changed because Jesus opened God's word to them.

When your heart is cold, confused, or discouraged, don't move away from God's

word. Don't move away from scripture.

Ask the Lord to open your mind and heart to his truth.

The risen Christ church still uses his word to rekindle hope.

And then you know what else he did? He not only opened scriptures, but he opened eyes.

When they reached Emmaus, the disciples urged Jesus to what? To stay with them.

And at the table, he actually takes bread, he gives thanks, and he breaks it, and he gives it to them.

At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus.

Then, you know what happens next?

He disappears from their sight. Suddenly, everything is different.

A few moments earlier, what?

They were tired, sad, ready to end their day. Now they get up and travel seven

miles back to Jerusalem.

Resurrection truth turns retreat into mission church.

They can't keep the news to themselves. I mean, it's like that fire they're

talking about, right? They find the 11 and the other disciples and hear the announcement.

It is true. The Lord has risen.

Cleopas and his companion then tell what happened on the road and how Jesus was made known to them.

And I believe, church, Christian faith rests on that declaration.

It is true. Jesus truly died as the righteous one, bearing the sins of his people,

and he truly rose bodily from the grave.

Our hope is not built on a religious feeling, a useful legend,

or wishful thinking, by the way.

It is built on the historical victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death. Amen?

And therefore we see peace to you while they are speaking.

What happens? Jesus suddenly stands among them again and he says what?

Those words, peace to you.

The disciples again are startled and frightened, thinking they're seeing a spirit, right?

But what does Jesus do? He then shows them his hands, his feet.

He invites them to touch him.

And then what else does he do? I kind of like this part he eats a piece of fish,

you got something to eat right he eats a piece of fish in their presence,

he's letting them see he is bodily risen from the dead he's not a spirit he's

not a ghost he's there luke here dr luke,

He wants us to understand this was a real bodily resurrection.

Jesus, again, wasn't a ghost or an idea living on the memories of his followers.

The same Jesus church who was crucified had risen with a real body.

Now it was glorified and no longer subject to death like ours will be one day. But that matters.

You know why it matters?

Because a partial resurrection would mean a partial victory.

But Jesus conquered death completely.

Paul actually calls him the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep,

or means those who have died.

His resurrection is the beginning of the harvest, church.

Everyone who belongs to Christ will also be raised.

No wonder Jesus said, peace to you. These disciples had failed him, remember?

They had scattered when he was arrested.

Old Peter had denied him, not once, but three times.

They were hiding in fear. Yet the first word Jesus gives them is not condemnation, but what? Peace.

That peace, don't miss this, please. That peace was purchased at the cross.

Jesus bore the judgment of our sins, the judgment we deserved,

so that we could be reconciled or made right with God.

His resurrection, he would, proves that the price was fully paid and that death was defeated.

Yes, I mean, because Jesus is alive.

Your guilt doesn't have that final word, does it?

Your suffering does not have the final word. Even your failing body,

which some of us have, right, does not have the final word.

Even the grave doesn't have the final word. Jesus does.

That doesn't mean that every difficulty immediately disappears, does it?

But it means that in the middle of a difficult world, believers are at peace

with the one who rules the world.

And one day, don't miss this, Christ will make all things new.

Every trace of sin, sorrow, pain, and death will be gone.

Right? I mean, an ending here that becomes a beginning is what we see.

Before Luke closes his gospel, Jesus opens the disciples' minds to understand the scriptures.

He tells them that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead,

and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed in his name to all nations.

They are witnesses of these things. Then you know what happens?

Jesus promises that they will be clothed with power from on high,

and he leads them towards Bethany, raises his hands, he blesses them,

and is taken up into heaven.

The ascension is not Jesus abandoning his people.

It is Jesus taking his rightful place as the reigning Lord of all. He is seated where?

At the right hand of the Father, interceding for his people.

That's you and me, if you know him, and I pray you all do today.

And he is present with his church through his Holy Spirit.

Wow. The gift of the Spirit, y'all. Wow. I think of another song.

Years ago, sung by a Christian group called Allies, Bob Carlisle,

you might remember his name as the lead singer.

He wrote the famous song, Butterfly Kisses, later in his career.

The voice of the Spirit is calling you.

He gave his Spirit to empower us to be his witnesses.

Luke's gospel actually ends with the disciples returning to Jerusalem with great joy.

The people who began the day confused and afraid, you know how they end it?

Worshiping and praising God.

The resurrection had changed everything, and it still does.

When your heart is discouraged, remember how he told you.

Open the scriptures. Look again to Christ.

When guilt tells you that you have failed too badly, remember his words, peace to you.

When death and suffering make the future look dark, remember the empty tomb.

Jesus is the first fruits and everybody who belongs to him will also be raised.

When fear tempts you or me to remain silent, remember we are witnesses.

You know, the good news of repentance and forgiveness must be proclaimed to

all nations, beginning wherever God has placed us. Where are we at right now?

Eastwood Baptist Church in Babinet, Alabama. It starts here, doesn't it?

Maybe today your hope sounds like the disciples we had hoped.

You know some facts about Jesus, but you've never personally trusted in his

finished work for you on the cross.

You've never realized, maybe today's the first day you realize that Jesus lived

the life you couldn't live, and he laid his life down in your place on the cross.

And if you repent, that just simply means you turn from your sin and turn to

Jesus, turn away from him completely, and say, Jesus, I trust in you.

I believe you rose from the grave bodily on that third day, Lord.

I put my faith and trust in you. And I ask you to forgive me and to cleanse me.

You might know some facts, but you've never personally trusted him. I hope you do that today.

The risen Christ again, y'all, offers us peace with God.

So the challenge today for all of us is turn from your sin and place your faith

again in the one who died in the place of sinners and rose again.

That is key, y'all. The gospel is key because for everyone who trusts Jesus,

the resurrection actually declares.

This is some good news. Y'all get ready. Hold on to your seat.

Sin is forgiven. Death is defeated.

Christ is reigning and our future is secure. Whoa, come on.

It's true. The Lord has risen. Remember how he told you and rejoice. Amen. Rejoice.

I tell you what, I think about this today and I like, I get so excited sometimes

y'all. I apologize. I don't want to scream in your ear.

But our God is never taken by surprise.

Never. You know, I got to remind you before we stand together that the whole

plan of salvation, that means the rescue plan for you and me.

You know when it was formed?

Before the foundation of the world. The cross was not a surprise to God. He planned it.

Are men responsible? Absolutely. In our sin, we crucified Jesus.

But ultimately, God knew that Jesus would stand in the place of sinners.

And let me tell you, that's amazing to me. It's amazing to me that today,

if you don't know Jesus, you can walk out of here forgiven.

You're made right with God. You're at peace with God. You're forgiven.

You are cleansed. You are whole. And guess what else? One day,

when we taste that death, unless Christ comes first, because the soul that sins will die, right?

The wages of sin is death, but what we're talking about today,

the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Because he rose from the grave bodily, that's the assurance that you and I will rise.

Death, as old Russ Taffee's saying, ain't no grave gonna hold my body down, right?

Ain't gonna happen because Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave.

Today, I invite you as we stand together, if you've never put your faith and

trust in the risen Lord, today you will do it.

You'll repent. You'll run to the cross. And if today you know Christ and you're

assured of that, I hope today you remember how he told you.

And as you walk out these doors today, you rejoice.

You rejoice. You go tell somebody else what he's done for you. Tell somebody.

Let's pray together right now. Heads bowed, eyes closed. Right now,

you just do as God leads you.

If you need to talk to somebody, make something right, or come to the altar,

repent, whatever, give God the glory in it. Maybe you want to make this place

your home, your church home.

Come forward. we'll talk to you about a path where we will meet together and

learn what it means to be a church member at Eastwood.

Father God, I pray right now as your spirit moves, we all obey just what you said in Jesus' name.