A Happening on the Roadway

Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35            NKJV

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 so it was while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk are sad?”

18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are YOU the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You have not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 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, 20  “and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him.” 21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. “ 22 “Yes, certain women of our company who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.” 23 “When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angles who said He was alive. 24 “And certain of those who ere with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said: but Him they did not see.”

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” 26 “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went into stay with them. 30 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. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “ The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the tings that had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Lord asked a question:

"What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk are sad?"

From the Lord's view, He had finished what He came to do. In that view, He came to set the captives free. 

But in Cleopas' speaking that He must be a "stranger" in the area, as the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth had brought them to that place of sadness. Cleopas spoke that :" a Prophet mighty in deed and work before God and all the people and how the chief priests their rulers had delivered Him to be

crucified. 

And if that was not enough, those women came with astonishing news! "Yes, certain women of their company (group) had come....and arriving....early the tomb was found empty. The women did not see HIM!"

But Jesus continued to speak. But He spoke O foolish ones....and slow of heart. .....meaning speaking with unwise words...!  Then Christ spoke: "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"

And then Jesus revealed scripture after scripture to them. Yes what a teaching that would have been.

Being revealed from the prophets of Old to all that was witnessed while He walked this earth, surely all those miracles and sufferings were all found in Jesus' obedience to His Father's plan.

 While drawing near to the village of Emmaus, Jesus wanted to go further. But they were ready to recline. YOU know it was well into the evening......and they evidently wanted to entertain their new teacher.

For what hours they walked, they certainly got a lot from what was written of how Jesus would come and what the end would be. Jesus provided that touch of the knowledge of truth and they knew they did not want it to end. So they invited Him in.

AS they took of the meal, Jesus evidently led the group there. As was His custom, he took bread, blessed it and then broke it..........handing it out.

Even though the "guest" now Jesus took the lead role of the Master. And in that moment of recognizing their regular time together to taking communion, their eyes opened. Their spiritual eyes and ears were open to Jesus. And they really saw and experienced His presence.

Do we communicate sadness? Do you arrive at a believer's gathering only to bring sadness? We can experience those things, and must be reminded that our Lord and Savior paid the high price with His own life.

Sometimes like at this Bible Study hike to Emmaus, these two were reminded of the tender communication of ONE who showed the love of the Father to the world. In His life, in His teachings and in His sufferings, death came, but oh how wonderful the glory the Father has bestowed on the Son. Because His word speaks louder now!

In whatever pain, conflict or tribulation, sadness came appear and in that moment it appears as darkness covering one with darkness. But in the light and glory of our Lord, we come to know that He cares for us, reminds us of what He has spoken and will continue to speak to us when we truly take the time to communicate and have communion with HIM!

In a true walk to Emmaus, one may have left the city in despair. One may have suffered a loss. But gathering together to actually hear the Lord speak His words, brings us to joy and peace. I know, because in my life I have certainly experienced loss of loved ones, loss of great friends who inspired me in their walk with Jesus, a loss of time with close family and even a loss of ministering in groups, but still, I walk in health that comes from a God who desires us to be whole with nothing missing or lacking in our lives.

These rose up the same hour Jesus left their vision, and there they gathered by the 11 already gathered for prayer in the Upper Room.

Allow your life to be touched in these ways. Go find a good Bible study and hear the doctrine of truth about Jesus and His crucifixion. Understand that He rose from the dead and some women noticed it first. Then be ready to pray with others. Be ready to give the reason of that hope in you.

May we not shrink in telling others of Jesus.

Psalm 66:16...." My lips and cheerful heart, prepare

To make his mercies known:

Come, ye that fear my God, and hear

The wonders he hath done.

"When on my head huge sorrows fell,

I sought his heavenly aid;

He saved my sinking soul from hell,

And death's eternal shade."

These two were not apostles. No they were like you and me. They left the city to get away from the pain and in their flight to hide their sadness, they found joy, gladness and reason to keep going forward. They saw the Lord with their own eyes. And they heard with their spiritual ears. For the words that Jesus speaks are spirit and they are truth.

What they gained will never fade from them. Though thousands of years have come and gone, still their testimony lights up the pages of Luke. In their time with Jesus, they had gained discipline. They gained the time of communicating and communion in the breaking of bread together. This is 

a skill to be learned and passed on to others. It is never lost!

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching:

Living a Full Life without Strongholds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oHfyyDl-bo



You can also visit my You Tube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at:  http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV