The appearance on the Emmaus road.

Q: What does the Bible say about the Emmaus Road encounter?

The Emmaus Road encounter highlights the revelation of Jesus to his disciples after his resurrection, emphasizing their confusion and eventual recognition of Him. In Luke 24:13-32, the account of the Emmaus Road appearance details how two disciples were walking and discussing the recent events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus joined them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. They expressed their doubt and confusion about the events, illustrating the initial disbelief even after his resurrection. Jesus then gently rebuked them for their slowness to believe in the Scriptures and proceeded to explain how all of the Old Testament pointed to Him, highlighting that His suffering was necessary for entering into His glory. Their eyes were finally opened when He broke bread with them, signifying the moment of revelation where they recognized Him as the risen Lord.

Q: How do we know Jesus is truly alive?

The testimony of the Scriptures and the witness of the early disciples confirm Jesus' resurrection and ongoing presence with believers. The reality of Jesus' resurrection is affirmed in various accounts within the New Testament, particularly in Luke 24 where He appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. These disciples were initially troubled and confused, but when Jesus explained the Scriptures concerning Himself, their understanding was illuminated. The multitude of witnesses to the resurrected Christ—over 500 people as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15—along with the transformation of the disciples from fearful to bold proclaimers of the Gospel, provides a compelling case for the truth of His resurrection. This understanding of Jesus as alive is foundational to Christian faith, highlighting that He not only conquered death but continues to work in and through His followers today.

Q: Why is recognizing Jesus important for Christians?

Recognizing Jesus as the risen Savior is essential for faith, salvation, and living in the assurance of His ongoing presence. For Christians, recognizing Jesus as the risen Savior is pivotal to understanding the fullness of the Gospel. In the Emmaus Road account, the moment the disciples recognized Jesus led to a profound transformation in their hearts and lives. This recognition brings clarity and affirmation of faith, allowing believers to experience the joy of salvation. Furthermore, understanding that Jesus has risen assures us of His sovereignty over life and death, and that our hope rests not on fleeting circumstances but on His eternal promises. Jesus' presence in our lives also empowers us to live out our faith boldly, reflecting His character and love to a watching world. In essence, recognizing Him is not just a historical acknowledgment but a daily experience of intimacy and fellowship with our Savior.

Q: What can we learn from the Emmaus Road account?

The Emmaus Road account teaches Christians about the importance of Scripture, the need for understanding Christ's mission, and the joy of His presence. The Emmaus Road account provides several lessons for Christians today. First, it underlines the importance of Scripture as Jesus expounded the Old Testament writings that foretold His suffering and glory. This reminds believers of the ongoing relevance of God's Word in understanding our faith and the plan of salvation. Additionally, the disciples’ journey reflects the human experience of doubt and confusion, yet it is through dialogue with Jesus—found in the reading and preaching of the Word—that clarity and understanding emerge. Finally, the joy of Christ's presence is a crucial takeaway; as the disciples invited Jesus to 'abide with us' (Luke 24:29), believers are encouraged to seek and cultivate communion with Him in their own lives. This account calls us not only to recognize Christ but to desire an active relationship with Him, leading to spiritual awakening.

I want this evening to look at the Emmaus Road appearance that the Lord met on the Emmaus Road that we read of in Luke chapter 24, really concentrating on verses 13 to 32. In Mark 16, 12, we also read, after that, he appeared in another form unto two of them as they walked and went into the country. But in Luke, here we have more detail given. So really, really to sort of go through the verses, I haven't got the points that I had this morning, we're just looking at the verses one by one. So we begin in verse 13. And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem, about threescore furlongs. Furlong is an eighth of a mile. So 60 threescore, 60 furlongs would be about seven and a half miles.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. So you can imagine they were probably in quite a conversation, these two, as they were walking. And then Jesus drew near. Jesus came alongside them, didn't just sort of pass the day with them, just say hello and go on. No, he then went with them.

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, what manner of communications are these that ye have one to another as ye walk and are sad? So they were sad, and it reminds me too of when the Lord, after he'd risen, appearing to Mary Magdalene, where she was weeping, said, why are you weeping? And so there was that, and so there was she being sad at the the empty tomb. And then we read in John 20, 15, Jesus saith unto her, that's Mary Magdalene, Woman, why weepest thou?

Whom seekest thou? And she's supposing him to be the gardener. Saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. So there is this sort of doubt and confusion over who the Lord is. There was with Mary Magdalene and there was with these two here on the Emmaus road, their eyes were holding that they could not behold him.

And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, so we're told the name of one of them, we don't know the name of the other, Answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? So you can imagine these two walking along, having a discussion, and then this one joins them and says, you must be a stranger, you must be a foreigner around here because surely you would have known what's gone on in Jerusalem over the last few days. I mean, if you've been here, you would have been aware of it. You know, so perhaps you sort of come from somewhere far away and so not aware of it. surely if you've been here you would have been aware of what's gone on.

And Jesus said unto them, verse 19, what things? Now it's not as though the Lord sort of was asking them, well I don't know what you're talking about, but the Lord knew. But it was to sort of in asking them a question, it was to get some sort of response from them as to what it was. And then they said unto him concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty indeed and word before God and all the people. and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel.

And beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done." So you can imagine how perhaps confused or how baffled and everything they were, you know, by all this, what had been going on. I mean, nothing like this had ever happened before.

And this one we thought was going to come and sort of overthrow the Romans, but some sort of earthly king. But that, of course, was not the the role of the Lord Jesus Christ, but that's kind of what their thinking was. So there's always been, hasn't there, this misrepresentation, misunderstanding of the work of Christ. And, you know, he was going to be our sort of king, and he sort of came into the everyday He came into Jerusalem and people were shouting Hosanna. It was a bit odd that he sort of came in, not on a stallion horse, but in on sort of an ass, a foal of an ass. That was a bit strange, a bit unusual. But, you know, you can perhaps imagine what might have been going through their minds.

But of course we know, don't we, from John 18 concerning the kingdom of our Lord, that it's not of this world. Jesus answered, my kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is my kingdom not from hence. See, he was put to death, he was crucified and people sort of ran away and they didn't fight because it was the purpose of God that the Lord should suffer and be crucified and die. Because my kingdom is not of this world.

And then further on, you know, they can continue perhaps in this quite excitable state. Yeah, and certain women of our company, they made us astonished, which were really the sepulchre. When they found Noddy's body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre and found it even so as the women had said, but him they saw not. So you can sort of imagine really the state of these two on the Emmaus road. Is it all a fake? You know, is it, you know, is it, You know, we know that happened, but it was difficult to believe that this has since happened, that he's alive and all that. And, you know, very confused and muddled.

And then the Lord said, he said unto them, oh fools. The first thing he says to them is fools. and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." So one of the first things that he said to address them was, oh fools. And Jesus was, he was very candid, wasn't he, in what he would say. He certainly didn't mince his words. You know, often, you know, he said of people like the disciples, O ye of little faith.

And we have the Lord in Matthew 12, 34, and particularly like the Pharisees and scribes, they were the ones that particularly the Lord didn't mince his words over. That verse, Matthew 12, 34 says, O generation or brood of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. And then we have in Matthew 23, from verses one to 33, I'm not going to read all those verses, but again, the Lord there speaking with regard really to the Pharisees and to the scribes. And again, not sort of mincing his words and sort of saying, well, you know, that they have all the outward show and everything, but inwardly it's a different story with them.

And in those verses in Matthew 23, many times, and I've just highlighted it further, I won't give out the verses, you can look for it yourself, these expressions, but woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. Woe unto you, ye blind guides! Ye fools and blind! Ye fools and blind! Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Ye blind guides! Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers!

So that's repeated a lot in those verses. So I think we really get the message there in what the Lord was saying. And our Lord, of course, it was said of him, no man spake like this man. So you would certainly take notice of what the Lord would say. And so there certainly was no mincing of his words.

And then the Lord goes on in verse 26, Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And then he's speaking about, yes, a witness concerning this one who was crucified. Yes, that was the Lord Jesus Christ. He died, but then he rose again and he appeared to many as he was to these two on the Emmaus Road and as he did to many before he ascended, which we read about just at the end of the chapter. Ascended now at the right hand of the Father in glory.

And then beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Of course, there wasn't the full canon of scripture there, but much of the Old Testament, it speaks of Christ, doesn't it? We have the full canon of scripture, the Old and the New Testament. but it all speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's not just, you don't just read about the Lord Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and perhaps other books in the New Testament, but he's there so much, sort of in a hidden way, in a latent way in the Old Testament scriptures.

And that is something that's really thrilling to look at the types and perhaps the ceremonies and things that went on and the characters in the Old Testament and they point to the Lord Jesus Christ and it's remarkable to consider that. It's fascinating to see that.

But we have the benefit of the whole of God's Word And we know from 2 Timothy 3.16 that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. It's all profitable. There are certain books that perhaps we don't preach on much. or hear preached on, or perhaps read much or find difficult to understand. But let's remember that the whole of the Bible, from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, it's the Word of God, and it's inspired of God. And those who wrote it, they were moved by the Spirit of God. in what they wrote. So different authors, but they all wrote as they were inspired and moved by the Spirit of God.

And of course, thinking of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel, as I say, we have it throughout the Old Testament and we have it, don't we, right at the beginning in Genesis 3.15. and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. So there we have, you know, right at the start, really, and with the fall of man, the gospel. And we have, like in the book of Leviticus, know, might not always read the Leviticus a lot, find perhaps a bit of a struggle with all those various offerings that are described and various sort of leprosies and plagues. I think like all the priests and that, they sort of had to be sort of multitasked.

They had to be multi-talented, really, to be able to describe various rising damp or various mould and things like that, you know, in buildings and then with people as well, you know, so they must have sort of been quite multi and talented really to be able to do this, but we We read, don't we, in Leviticus 9, 1-3, for example, It came to pass on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel.

And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering. So we see in the offerings, we're thankful that we don't have to do these offerings now, because the one offering was done there at Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ. But we see in these Old Testament offerings, you know, a young animal that was to be taken in the prime of life.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was taken, put to death in the prime of his life, in his thirties, prime of life. And these animals were to be without blemish. And so it was with our Lord. He was without sin. And so we can see, can't we, there, a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. We're thankful, as I say, that we don't have to sacrifice animals now because the one sacrifice was done at Calvary once and for all.

And as I say, many of the characters You know, particularly Joseph, I like Joseph, mentioned him before. And there's so many parallels with Joseph and with the Lord Jesus Christ. I think it was, I think it was A.W. Pink, I think it was, who sort of came up with about a hundred, a hundred sort of parallels between Joseph and the Lord Jesus Christ. And we read, don't we, Hebrews 7, 26, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Colossians 1, 22 and 23.

And you that were sometime alienated at enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now have he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unapprovable in his sight. So here we have a wonderful reconciliation through the Lord Jesus Christ and that it might be that we live lives as a result of what the Lord has done to show something of the Lord in our lives. We won't live perfect lives here, far from it, but may there be that Christ-likeness seen in our lives. As I say, we can't imitate Christ because he was perfect and without sin. But may the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, work in us a Christ-likeness in our spirit.

Verse 28, they drew nigh unto the village whither they went, and he made as though he would have gone further, but they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. Yes, in all their conversation and all their confusion, now they in what the Lord was saying to them. He said, oh, it's getting late. Come, abide with us. And he went in to Terry with them. And that should be our desire, shouldn't it?

That we want to spend time with the Lord and in reading his word and hearing it preached and fellowshipping with those who are the Lord's. And this should give us great joy that we are found in the company and in conversation with the Lord's people. It's good to be in the Lord's house if we're able physically to do so. And but it's good, isn't it, to spend time with with the Lord and with his people over here or in our homes or elsewhere. And it does us good, isn't it, to have fellowship, as I mentioned this morning about fellowship.

He came to pass as he sat at meat with them, he took bread and blessed it and break and gave to them and their eyes were opened and they knew him. suddenly they realised who it was and he vanished out of their sight. So he didn't really, therefore, though he didn't obviously spend very long with them as he then disappeared out of their sight. And they said one to another, did not our heart burn within us while he taught with us by the way and while he opened to us the scriptures.

And it was, I noticed the second hymn that we sung this evening, 1008, and the second verse, how appropriate was that? hast thou imparted to my soul a living spark of heavenly fire oh kindle now the sacred flame teach me to burn with pure desire yes a burning and of course if something is burning then it's obviously very hot and if we are burnt then we certainly feel the effects of being burnt. If it's either getting sunburnt or in some accident, you put your hand on the cooker and it's on the hot plate and it's still hot and you didn't realise it. You thought you turned it off and it was cold and now it's hot and you burn. And so we suddenly feel the effects of burning. don't we?

And may it be that there is a sort of a burning, that there is a real effect that God's word has upon our hearts and our souls. There's a real effect that it has when we read it, when we hear it preached, that it does us good or it puts us right. If we've been walking in the way we shouldn't and then we hear it preached or we read something and then it sort of eats away at us and so we can't sort of ignore it. though the Lord is speaking to us very much through it, either for our comfort and good, or it might be by way of rebuke if we have been going the way that we shouldn't.

You remember in Acts 26 about Festus and his conversation with Paul. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Pour thou up beside thyself, much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. So sort of there was Festus and they go at Paul, but here was King Agrippa being almost persuaded.

But it's a sad thing to be almost persuaded. I think that was the case, I think, in Pilgrim's Progress, I think. One who went most of the way with Pilgrim, I think, but didn't get to the Celestial City. Can't remember which carrier it was. Sort of almost persuaded, almost got there. But that's a sad state to be in, to be almost persuaded and not to be fully persuaded. of God and his word and what it says about us and what it says about how we can be saved and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ.

So may we, so may the word of God have an effect upon us in Acts 2 37 and 38. Now when they heard this they were pricked in their heart That was sort of heard when you get pricked. You feel that, don't you? A pricking. They said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Remember those words were preached on the day I was baptized back in 1987 or whenever it was. And they've stuck with me then. Yes, repent, be baptized, every one of you for believing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only one who can take away our sins.

And of course, with Paul, he knew about being pricked as well. Paul himself, in Acts 9, he said, Who art thou, Lord? The Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. So may it be perhaps if we are struggling and maybe we're We're resisting the Lord in some way. We find it hard to kick against those pricks. And may it be that we submit to the Lord and say, yes, I'm a sinner. I can't save myself. I'm a hell deserving sinner.

But I realised that my only hope is the Lord Jesus Christ. the one who died on the cross, the one whose blood was shed, and the one then who rose again. I'm not just putting my trust in somebody who died, and that was it, in one who died and rose again.

And so this is what we have in this the account we see. And we see later on in Luke chapter 4, 24, about peace, the Lord giving peace. And that's a wonderful thing, isn't it? We see that too in John's gospel, when he appeared to the disciples who were frightened and scared. And he said, peace. And the peace that God gives, the peace the Lord gives is perfect peace and passes all our understanding. So it's a wonderful peace. And may it be that we know that peace. even though our circumstances in life might be very, might be upheaval, might be very, a lot going on and this all seems to be a bit chaotic, may in it all we know the peace, the perfect peace of the Lord and know that if we are the laws that all things, whatever they are, working together for our good, because we love God, because he's first loved us.

And that's wonderful, isn't it, to know that. And it's a tremendous testimony. Sometimes you see people, perhaps they're really up against it in life, and yet they're blessing the Lord. They're still rejoicing in the Lord. And They have that wonderful peace about them.

And that's quite a testimony, isn't it, to the world out there where people perhaps are frantically going around, but they don't know that peace because they don't know the Lord and they don't know this security of being saved. and of having, being sure of eternal life, not because of anything they've done, but because of what the Lord Jesus Christ alone has done.

So our forgiveness, our place in heaven, all through the Lord Jesus Christ, his death and his resurrection, and of course his perfect life as well that he led as well. Now it was important that he led that perfect life and also, of course, his very conception and birth as well, all had to be sinless indeed. For if he had sinned in any way, well, he couldn't be the saviour of anyone. And so we would rightly all be miserable if we've got no hope But may we have the joy of the Lord, knowing that we are his by his wonderful grace. Amen.

Let's sing a final hymn for this Lord's Day from Hymns for Worship, number 162. 162. Go, labour on, spend and be spent, your joy to do the Father's will. It is the way the master went. Should not the servant tread it still? Hymns for Worship, 162, tune 409. Your joy to do the Father's will, It is the way the Master went, Should not the serpent tread it still.

Your labour, Lord, is not for naught. Your earthly loss is heavenly gain. May it lead you, help you, praise you, Lord. The Master praises what thou hast. ♪ While it is day ♪ ♪ The world's dark night is hastening on ♪ ♪ Speech made to work us both away ♪ ♪ It is on earth that souls are found ♪ God fear not, keep watch and pray. Be wise, the evering sword to win. Go forth into the world, I pray. Go help the wanderer to come near.

O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

The appearance on the Emmaus road.

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the Emmaus Road encounter?

How do we know Jesus is truly alive?

Why is recognizing Jesus important for Christians?

What can we learn from the Emmaus Road account?

Sermon Transcript

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The appearance on the Emmaus road.

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the Emmaus Road encounter?

How do we know Jesus is truly alive?

Why is recognizing Jesus important for Christians?

What can we learn from the Emmaus Road account?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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