Burning Word and Tangible Sacrament (Luke 24:13-35) (4/19/26)

Jesus is risen. Let us now pray together. Glory

be to you O God the Father who did raise your

son Jesus Christ from the dead and has made us

partakers of his victory over sin and death.

Glory be to you O Lord Jesus who for our sakes

became flesh and has overcome death and has opened

up the gates of eternal life for us. And all

glory be to you, O Holy Spirit, who has made

us your people, your temple, and who day by day

does lead us in all truth in Jesus Christ. We

ask that you please make the words of my mouth

and the meditations of all our hearts acceptable

in your sight, O Lord, our nearest kinsman, Redeemer,

Jesus Christ. Amen. Let's once again hear words

from Luke chapter 24, beginning in verse 13.

Luke 24 · chapter mention

Now behold two of them were traveling that same

day to a village called Emmaus which was seven

miles from Jerusalem and they talked together

of All these things that had happened so it was

while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus

himself drew near and went with them But their

eyes were restrained that they did not know him

and he said to them What kind of conversation

is it that you are having with one another as

you walk? and are sad. Then one whose name was

Cleopas answered and said to him, are you the

only stranger in Jerusalem? And have you not

known the things that have happened these days?

And he said to them, what things? So they said

to him, the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth,

who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before

God and all the people. And now the chief priests

and our rulers delivered him to be condemned

to death and crucified him. But we were hoping

that it was he who was going to redeem Israel.

Indeed, besides all this, this is the third day

since these things happened. Yes, and certain

women of our company who arrived at the tomb

early astonished us. And when they did not find

his body, they came saying that they had also

seen a vision of angels who said he was alive.

And a certain of those who were with us went

to the tomb and found that it was just as the

women had said. but him they did not see. Then

he said to them, O foolish ones, slow of heart

to believe in all that the prophets have spoken,

ought not the Christ to have suffered these things

and entered into his glory? And beginning at

Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them

and all the scriptures the things concerning

himself. Then they drew near the village where

they were going, and he indicated that he would

have gone farther. But they constrained him,

saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening,

and the day is far spent. And he went in to stay

with them. Now it came to pass, as he sat at

the table with them, that he took bread, blessed,

and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their

eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished

from their sight. And they said to one another,

did not our heart burn within us as he talked

with us along the road? And while he opened the

scriptures to us, So they rose up that very hour

and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven

and those who were with them gathered together,

saying, The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared

to Simon. And they told about the things that

had happened on the road and how he was known

to them in the breaking of bread. These are the

words of Almighty God. Receive them in your hearts.

Today is the third week of Eastertide. Today,

we have our final look of this Easter Tide season

of the day of resurrection. On Easter Sunday,

we focused on Jesus' resurrection at dawn, the

women's encounter, the puzzling circumstances

for the disciples, and Jesus' garden encounter

with Mary Magdalene, reminding us of the single

story of the Scriptures. A man in a garden with

a woman. And here we see not just that first

man who failed the woman in that garden, but

we see now that this man, Jesus, had laid down

his life to redeem his sin -stained bride. And

in this place, this garden, we find a meal. Last

week we saw the doubt and fear ridden disciples

encounter Jesus who declares his peace to them

and sends them out as the Father had sent him

out. And so it was for them a life of serving

others that others might know Christ Jesus to

proclaim that Jesus is the remedy for all men.

Now like a movie or a TV show, today's text provides

a relevant backstory to last week's text. Having

already studied the beginning of the day of resurrection

and the end of the day of Jesus' triumphant resurrection,

we now get an opportunity to see a little bit

of what Jesus was up to throughout that first

day of the new creation. Now there are three

things that I want you to try to gather out of

this text today. First off, God sovereignly accomplishes

His will with certainty. God sovereignly accomplishes

His will with certainty. And I want you to especially

pay attention to that word, certainty. Second,

left to ourselves, we are foolish and slow to

believe. Left to ourselves, we are foolish and

slow to believe. And last, but not least, Jesus

is revealed and abides with His church in the

breaking of bread. Jesus is revealed and abides

with His church in the breaking of bread. In

our human frailty, we all suffer from time to

time with uncertainty, whether it's from ignorance,

misplaced trust, or just the overwhelming circumstances

of life. Our faith, our certainty, needs two

things. Our certainty needs two things, intellectual

reminders from God's Word and the mystical work

of the Spirit in our lives. So we need intellectual

reminders from God's Word and the mystical work

of the Spirit in our lives, especially in the

sacrament of the Lord's Table of Peace. Now when

I say mystical, I don't mean magic or physical

transformation of the bread and wine, but rather

the unknowable mystery of the work of the Holy

Spirit. As one commentator puts it, the Holy

Spirit makes Jesus present to us in the Supper,

so that He is not only our host, but also our

food and drink. We eat the bread of heaven, and

we drink His blood given for the life of the

world. So He now abides in us, and we abide in

Him. This is a great mystery, more to be enjoyed

than explained. Let me read that last line. So,

now he, Jesus, abides in us, and we abide in

him. And this is a great mystery, more to be

enjoyed than explained. Now the Gospel of Luke,

the whole book of Luke is written with our certainty

in mind. At the very beginning of Luke chapter

Luke 1 · chapter mention

1 it says this, Inasmuch as many have taken in

hand to set in order a narrative of those things

which have been fulfilled, right, made certain

among us, just as those who from the beginning

were eyewitnesses and ministers of the whole

world delivered them to us. It seemed good to

me also having a perfect understanding, and that

word perfect is really a complete, really means

for us in modern language, a complete understanding

of all things from the very first to right to

you. And so this is now he's given us this reason.

He's saying to write to you an orderly account,

most excellent theopolis, that you may know the

certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

So he's telling us, I'm giving you an orderly

account. I know these things. I have a complete

understanding of these things. I'm giving you

an orderly account so that you may know the certainty

of those things in which you were instructed.

Here today in our text found at the end of the

book of Luke his account It is also for our certainty

Now remember, what did it say it told us that

there were two of them? That's disciples traveling

to that same day the day of resurrection To the

city of Emmaus the town of Emmaus seven miles

or as it says actually more accurately 60 stadia,

but that gives us about a seven mile distance

So it's not a terribly far walk, but it isn't

close either. You know, on average flat ground,

the average person walks about three miles an

hour. So it's a little more than two hours, and

it's not exactly flat either in this terrain.

So they had a little chance to have a talk. And

it says they talked together of all things which

had happened. And it says, so it was that while

they conversed in reason, Jesus himself drew

near. went with them. Their eyes, but their eyes

were restrained so that they did not know him.

So these two disciples, they've left Jerusalem,

they're in despair and they've probably left

to flee their own execution. You see the Roman

way of dealing with people who would rise up

in rebellion and insurrection was to publicly

murder the leader and then exterminate all of

the followers. And so, it's very possible that

they were leaving town, perhaps, to avoid execution.

Now, we know the disciples' names of only one

of the disciples walking along. His name is Cleopas.

And one of the early church historians suggests

that Cleopas is the uncle of Jesus, and that

Cleopas is walking along with his wife, Mary.

It's interesting just as a side note that their

son Cleopas and his wife Mary this uncle their

son Simeon later becomes the leader of the Jerusalem

church after James is put to death With all that

in mind we see that Cleopas perhaps his wife

are traveling away from Jerusalem in the middle

of the day and Jesus is intentionally pursuing

his disciples right says While they conversed

in recess, Jesus himself drew near and went with

them. What a great comfort to see that when his

disciples are demoralized and feeling defeated,

that Jesus draws near to them and goes with them.

And yet, their eyes are restrained. God is teaching

them and us today something very important. You

see Jesus here is fulfilling Deuteronomy 31 verse

Deuteronomy 31:6

6 You're familiar with this verse Be strong and

courageous Do not fear or be in dread of them

For it is Yahweh your God who goes with you.

He will not leave you or forsake you And of course

God repeats that same promise to Joshua in Joshua

Joshua 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1, before he goes in to conquer the world,

conquer the promised land. We as his disciples

are called to go out and conquer the nations,

to disciple the nations. Now David also reminds

these very same words to his son Solomon in 1st

Chronicles 28. God is constantly with his people

and is working for his glory. and our benefit.

The circumstances of our lives are not about

what God is doing to me, but rather what God

is doing for me. And their eyes were restrained

initially. Why was he doing that? For their certainty.

You ever feel like, you know, you're trying to

make a decision, you're trying to figure out

things in life, and you're like, I wish God would

just make it really clear. Just cut to the chase.

Make me see and understand everything. And here

we see that He is promised and that He is with

them. And yet, their eyes are restrained for

the benefit of their certainty. And why? To show

that their assurance in Jesus' abiding presence.

Jesus in pursuit of His disciples inquires of

them. What kind of conversation is that you're

having with one another as you walk? And the

Greek here where it says, and sad, it's almost

like a stopping in how this Greek is laid out.

So you're walking along. What are you talking

about? And he pauses for this effect. And why

are you sad? And of course, we know what a Cleopas

say. And he does this. such a way in a manner

that sounds kind of snarky and disrespectful

right he says are you the only stranger in Jerusalem

that doesn't know the things that have happened

these days are we ever like that with God sometimes

God don't you see what's going on in my life

don't you see all the present troubles and difficulties

and what did Jesus say Jesus is leading him along

and he says what things an utter disbelief Cleopas

responds Are you a stranger do you not know what's

going on? And so he says of course the things

concerning Jesus of Nazareth who was a prophet

mighty indeed and word before God and all the

people How the chief priests and our rulers delivered

him to be condemned to death? The fire to get

him and we were hoping that it was he who was

going to redeem Israel and Indeed besides all

this It is the third day since these things happen

Why does he say that because the one thing that

they're certain of after three days is what?

Jesus is dead He goes on, of course, talks about

the women of their company. They arrived early,

and they astonished us. Why? Because his body

wasn't there, and they had visions of angels

who said Jesus was alive. And he talks about

how some ran to Peter and John. They run to the

tomb, and they see that Jesus is not there, but

they don't see him. Cleopas and for that matter

it seems that all the disciples could not reconcile

their hopes and dreams of What of Jesus to what

is happening all around them? They had certain

expectations Right, they were certain of some

things about Jesus that he was a prophet and

he was mighty in word before God and man they

were certain that Jesus was proclaiming the words

of God and that Jesus did many miracles before

all the people their hope was that Jesus was

going to redeem Israel but the question is how

was he going to do this and of course the chief

priests and the and the rulers they had rejected

their redeemer and condemned him to death and

crucified him And now three days later, they

were certain that Jesus was dead. And yet they

had the reports of the women saying that his

body wasn't in the tomb, and of course that Peter

and John were there. And they confirmed the testimony

of the women. These two committed disciples could

not reconcile what had happened to Jesus with

their own expectations, even though Jesus had

repeatedly told them. that he would rise again.

He said in Matthew 16, in Matthew 17, in Mark

8, and in Luke 9, and in Mark 10, he actually

said that he must give his life for the ransom

of many. Like Cleopas, the modern church struggles

so much because the Old Testament is ignored,

or worse, despised. Sometimes the Old Testament

is simply misunderstood because it has been disconnected

from the one single story of God's redemption

That is God's redemption of sin of the bride

for his son Jesus responds oh Foolish ones slow

of heart to believe in all that the prophets

have spoken on not the Christ to have suffered

these things and to enter into His glory. Think

about this. Jesus has drawn near to them for

their certainty. They don't recognize Him. So

far, He's been leading them along, walking along.

They think they're kind of driving it because

they've come across this guy down the path. And

then Jesus says, you fools who don't understand.

You are so unwise Psalm 49 20 tells us a man

who is in honor and yet does not understand is

like the beasts that perish Foolishness right

makes us beastly children look up here Now your

parents probably wouldn't be quite as direct

as Jesus, but your foolishness You behaving beastly

now in some ways simply be instructed in other

ways remember that you are a Christian a new

creature in Christ So act like it not beastly

Jesus also points out that they are slow that

is and our modern language stupid or slow to

take hold or believe Think about this Jesus had

been talking to these folks for three years and

Been making all kinds of connections and even

directly told them these things and they still

have their own Expectations don't we do that

we have a certain amount of expectation about

what it means to be a Christian This is important

So Jesus though he's gracious he never leaves

them without remedy In verse 27, it says, beginning

with Moses and all the prophets, he expounded

to them in all the scriptures the things concerning

himself. So Jesus unpacked and expounds. He opens

up and explains thoroughly in the scriptures

concerning himself. Jesus teaches the word, and

they begin to understand. They begin to put things

together. Jesus reveals Himself intellectually

to these two disciples. He makes it plain what

Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms are all about,

and that is Him. And that He did, in fact, come

to serve, suffer, die, and rise again to redeem

His church, His bride. Of course, it says they

then drew near the village where they were going

and he indicated that he would have gone farther

I think part of that is pointing to his ascension.

That's where he's going to end up and It says

they constrained him saying abide with us For

it is toward evening and the day is far spent

and he went in and stayed with him Here in the

late afternoon. They say to the unrevealed Jesus

abide with us All of Jesus' teaching and explanation

helps them to see the why and the what of Jesus.

And they still do not know Jesus. They know about

Him, but they do not know Him. They're going

to know Him in what? In the intimacy of a meal.

They unknowingly make the point of Jesus' words

when they say, abide with us. Right jesus words

in john 15 says as the father loved me. I have

also loved you abide in my love And then he says

a little bit farther these things I have spoken

to you that my joy may remain in you And that

your joy may be made full Dearly beloved the

joy is right around the corner They just don't

know it yet. It's all up here in their heads

But their joy isn't full. It says, now it came

to pass, as he sat at the table with them, that

he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and

gave it to them. And then their eyes were opened,

and they knew him. And he vanished from their

sight. Now in the scriptures, the first time

someone takes and gives food, that action in

the garden where Eve took the food, gave it to

Adam. Adam failed to protect Eve from the serpent

and what happened? Death entered into the world.

Separation from God fell into place and death

entered into the world. But on this first Easter

afternoon we see the reversal of this judgment

of God for the redemption of many. Jesus sat

at the table with them and he took the bread

and he blessed it. broke it and gave it to them

and Then their eyes were opened and they knew

him and He vanished from their sight. So here

we have a pattern set forth for the church We

are to come together on the first day of the

week responding to his call confess our sins

Hear the word read sung and preached And the

culmination of this service, our worship, is

not what I'm doing right now. And a lot of churches

today, they think, oh, the culmination of the

church is the sermon. No, this is also just a

presentation of God's word. It certainly is helpful.

It helps us understand all kinds of things about

God. Brothers and sisters, saints of God, the

culmination of our service is here at the table.

the Lord's table his joyous table of peace remember

what he said right in abiding that your joy may

be full where does their joy come from they have

all the intellectual knowledge right they've

got that part together but their joy is in full

where does that come from it comes from the breaking

of the bread the spirit brings us into the abiding

presence of Jesus The table is the Spirit's work

of abiding, of the abiding presence of Jesus

for us, for all of us. The Lord's table is a

tangible means of grace for strengthening our

faith. The word precedes this sacrament on that

day, and their eyes which were held back are

now opened. God takes real bread and real wine.

The glorified things of his creation by his spirits

and makes them a means of grace Jesus body and

blood His very life confirming of his work for

the forgiveness of our sins and the renewing

the unity of the church And we see that in first

Corinthians 10, but I want to back up just here

for a second. These are glorified things of creation

Right you have bread over there. It grew up in

plant as grain somebody had to grow it harvest

it grind it and Then other things were added

to it and then put into the oven the fire and

it is transformed into bread Right, that's why

you don't see the breaking of bread writing in

The beginning of creation at the fall there wasn't

bread yet Right. What is wine? Wine is you have

grapes. You crush them. The juice comes out.

And by the way, whether you do it professionally

and add specific yeast at certain proportions,

if you grow grapes right at the time that they're

ready to start being made and turned into wine,

yeast shows up miraculously. Scientists still

don't know how that works. It happens. It begins

to ferment. And then when all the alcohol is

All the sugars are consumed, and it is produced

alcohol. You know what happens? The yeast all

dies. It rests. And then it turns into a glorious

thing, wine. And here, all of this is a means

of grace. These real elements, both of them,

destroy Gnosticism and intellectualism, both

problems in our faith. What is Gnosticism? It's

the idea that everything in the creative world

is evil. We're evil. The world is evil. It's

all cursed. It's all bad. So what we have to

do instead is go to the other side and be all

intellectual. It's all about what's in our heads.

No, these real elements and the work of the spirit

in these physical things Turns intellectualism

of our faith on its head. We need to know But

God is at work You see God by the power of his

spirit uses real things in his creation For each

of us needs to understand our work is not towards

simply some spiritual heavenly end alone But

here now in this world is not about getting so

spiritual so that you're just in connection with

The ethereal out there, the esoteric, the secret

knowledge out there, no, no, no. The gospel transforms

you. And God uses physical means of the sacraments

in water of baptism and at this table to, by

His Spirit, transform us. Jesus, through this

sacrament, assures with certainty that His abiding

presence is with His people. Dearly beloved this

includes you all of you We must remember that

all the gifts we are given by God are for us

to give to others That is a life giving to serve

others that they may know Christ Jesus So what

is their response to their eyes that are open?

They said this they said to one another did her

heart not burn within us while He talked to us

on the road and while He opened the scriptures

to us. So they rose up that very hour and returned

to Jerusalem and found the eleven, and those

who were there with Him gathered together. And

what did they do? They declared, the Lord is

risen indeed. He has appeared to Simon. And they

told about the things that had happened on the

road and how He was known to them through the

breaking of the bread. The words of Jesus were

made certain in the breaking of the bread so

that they would be made ready for a life serving

others, that they may know Christ Jesus and that

he is to be proclaimed.