Road to Emmaus

 Review 

1. Sunday - Nisan 18 - At the tomb, at the earliest visit to the tomb READ

1. Joh 20:1-2 MM @ tomb while it is dark. Stone is already rolled away. She runs to disciples, telling them the body has been taken and she doesn't know where.

2. Luke 24:1-11 Women @ tomb @ early dawn. Stone is already rolled away. No body. Two men w dazzling apparel tell them Jesus has arisen like he said he would. Women report it to the eleven. Disciples don't believe. Includes MM, other M, Joanna and other women.

1. Luk 24:12 Peter runs to tomb and looks in, sees the linens. Goes home, wondering what will come to pass.

3. Mat 28:2-10 MM & other M @ tomb, earthquake and angel descends from heaven, rolls away stone. Guards afraid. Angel w white clothes tells women he is risen. Go tell disciples. Jesus meets MM and other M who worship at feet. Says don't be afraid, tell disciples I'll meet them in Galilee.

4. Mark 16:1-11 MM, M and Salome @ tomb after sun risen. Stone already rolled away. Young man w white robe says “Jesus has risen. Don't be afraid. Go tell disciples/Peter. You will see Jesus in Galilee.” Ladies flee. Jesus appears to MM. MM tells disciples who don't believe her.

1. John 20:3-10 Peter and John run to tomb. Both go in. See linens, napkins. John believes. Neither know scripture that say Jesus must rise again. Both leave and go home. 

5. John 20:11-18 MM back outside the tomb weeping again. Sees 2 angels who asks why she is weeping. She turns and sees the gardener, but doesnt realize it's Jesus. Asks him where the body is. Jesus says “Mary” but tells her not to touch him for he hasn't ascended to the Father. Go tell the disciples. She goes and tells disciples.

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Little later on Sunday, the first day of the week…

Luk 24:13-18

13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem. 14 And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad. 18 And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days? 

1. Threescore furlongs = btw 7-8 miles

2. Why were their eyes restrained from knowing him? It seems they knew Him. But why not show himself to them?

3. One of the two was named Cleopas. Some scholars see this as being the same person as Clopas in John 19:25. His wife is the other Mary, the mother of James the less and Joses. Some even think this “other Mary” is the sister of Jesus's mom. Not sure why both would be named Mary…

4. But it would suggest that Jesus doesn't just willy-nilly show up and walk alongside people that don't know him. He seems to do this to one of the fathers of his own disciples.

5. Still, why does he hide himself?

Cleopas continues speaking…

Luk 24:19-24

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass. 22 Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; 23 and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 

1. Vs19 Cleopas describes Jesus as being:

1. Mighty in deed and word before God and ALL THE PEOPLE

2. Vs21 …we hoped it was He who should redeem Israel.

1. Redeem? - release, deliver

2. Redeem from what? Prob Roman rule

3. Vs22-24 describes the resurrection as…

1. Certain of our women early at the tomb…

2. They didn't find the body but encountered angels who said Jesus was alive…

3. Certain of them also went to the tomb and found it as the women said but didn't seem to encounter angels or Jesus…(keep in mind, Matt, Mark and John say that Jesus appeared to MM)

Luke 24:25-29

25 And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  26 Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?  27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. 29 And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them. 

1. Vs25-26 O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?

1. It seems that none of the disciples, women, or outer disciples had any understanding of the path that Jesus had to take.

1. What did the OT prophets speak that they didn't believe?

2. Which prophets?

1. Dan 9:24-27 

24 Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. 25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the anointed one, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times. 26 And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing of abominations shall come one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out upon the desolate.

2. Deu 18:15 Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

3. Eze 37:24-27 24 And my servant David shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in mine ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, for ever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

4. Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

5. Isa 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

6. Isa 9:1-2 1 But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

7. Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

8. Mic 5:2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.

9. Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol;  Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption.

10. Psa 22:1 For the Chief Musician; set to Aijeleth hash-Shahar. A Psalm of David.  My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?  Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

11. Psa 34:20 He keepeth all his bones:  Not one of them is broken.

2. Vs25-26 Don't you realize that the Christ had to suffer these things in order to enter into his kingdom?

1. That'd be pretty sure that the disciples and anyone in the inner circle would have had difficulty understanding God's plan.

2. Vs27Jesus starts with Moses and from all the prophets and interprets his appearances in the OT.

1. Are these things easy to see in the Old testament?

2. And if you go back and read some of them, they make mention of events that occur at the latter end.

3. What might that reference? Probably the second coming…but things that are very difficult to decipher or discern.

3. Vs28 Why might Jesus have made as though he would go further? Not sure. Maybe to bring out the zeal that was in their hearts?

4. Vs29 they urged Jesus to stay with them, cause it's getting late. And he did.

Luke 24:30-35

30 And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.

1. Vs30-31 What might have happened in verses 30 that may have caused their eyes to be opened? Possibly Jesus taking the loaf and blessing it and breaking it and giving it to them?. Maybe like he did at the last supper or when he fed the 5,000 or 4,000? It's not entirely clear but mixed with him clarifying the messiah's appearances in OT Scripture, seems like their eyes were opened.

2. Vs31 do you think his appearance changed? That he turned into the Jesus they knew? And then he vanished?

3. Vs32 was not our heart burning when he spoke as he opened the scripture to us?

4. Vs33 it seems that they hustle back to Jerusalem and find the eleven and the rest.

5. Vs34 They tell the disciples that the Lord has risen and appeared to Simon. How did they know that he appeared to Simon? It's not clear, did Jesus tell them? Was Peter the other person here?

6. Vs35 this verse tells us that they rehearsed their story all the way back to Jerusalem about how the breaking of bread made them realize that it was really Jesus.

Pause here…

Here is a shorter, second version of the same story…

Mar 16:12-13

12 And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. 13 And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them.

It seems the disciples don't believe yet even though Jesus has appeared to Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, seemingly Peter already and the two guys on the road to Emmaus.

Mar 16:14

14 And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.

According to this, all elevn seem to have hardness of heart. How could this be if Peter has already seen the risen Christ. Confusing

Meanwhile, back to Luke’s version. The two guys who returned from Emmaus are telling the disciples what happened to them…

Luk 24:36-42 

36 And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat?  42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.

1. How many of the 11 do we assume are here? All of them but we'll find out one of the 11 is missing. Who is missing? Thomas

2. Any thoughts might Jesus ask for food? 

1. Possibly to give them a further proof that he was not a spirit; and that he was risen from the dead in a true and real body, which was capable of eating and drinking.

2. He didn't get the chance to eat back in Emmaus because he vanished after he broke the bread.

Luk 24:43-48

43 And he took it, and ate before them. 44 And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.  45 Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures; 46 and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;  47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  48  Ye are witnesses of these things.  

Same story repeated in John…

Joh 20:19-24 

19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: 23 whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

Joh 20:26-29 

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the todoors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

1. Eight days later, 26th day of Nisan or May 7th, 31AD