The Main Topic Of The day

Luke 24:13-35

The previous Sunday, Jesus rode the donkey colt into Jerusalem to great acclaim. He spent Monday through Wednesday teaching his disciples and the crowds in the Temple. Wednesday night, he celebrated the Passover with his apostles, and was arrested. Thursday he was tried, acquitted, and crucified anyway. Friday had been a busy day, making funeral arrangements and preparing for the Sabbath. For the believers, Sabbath probably was a pretty sad day.

the very same morning the women reported that Jesus’ body was missing and what the angels had told them, and Peter and John confirm that the body is missing. Long dead people had been sighted walking around town, according to Matthew 27, and the veil in the temple, which tradition tells us could not have been torn by seven teams of oxen, had ripped in half. To top it all off, the Roman guards had returned to the city in a panic, and were claiming that they had gone to sleep and the disciples had stolen the body, as Matthew 28:11-15 tells us. Can you imagine the talk? It would have been bigger news than the earthquake in Japan.

“And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.” (Luke 24:13-14)

These two disciples had been closely involved with Jesus and consequently had even more interest than the general population. They were walking along about their regular business, heading for a town about two hours walk from Jerusalem. They had plenty of time to discuss what had occurred and try make sense of everything. The one thing they were sure of was Jesus’ death.

“And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” (Luke 24:15-16)

Jesus’ death had been unexpected, and the news that his body was missing just added to the sorrow. Despite the soldiers’ claims, they knew the disciples had not stolen the body. If you’ve had to live through a period of uncertainty, you have some idea of the stress such a thing would incur. The last thing they expected was to see Jesus.

“And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, 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?” (Luke 24:17-18)

The events of the past few days were so widely discussed that anyone who didn’t know what had happened must have come from a considerable distance, and have spoken with no body from the area. When he asked, they filled him in on the events and what they had expected., as well as the shocking claim that the angels said he was alive.

“And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed 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, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his 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.” (Luke 24:19-24)

Peter and John had confirmed that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb, and that the grave clothes were still there, lying as if they still contained the body, except for the separate piece around his head, which had been folded up, clearly discrediting the Shroud of Turin as being Christ’s. John, and probably Peter, had believed when they saw but the others did not accept what they heard.

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24;25-27)

Jesus had repeatedly told them he would be killed and rise the third day. The old prophets had testified the sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Messiah. Moses had made prophecies and given commands to illustrate what Christ would do when he came. Jesus had to do all those things to be the true Messiah. Had they believed the prophecies, it would have been a source of joy, rather than sadness , to see them fulfilled. Their sorrow was the result of their decision not to believe. Much of our struggle today is the result of our failure to believe.

“And 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. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” (Luke 24:28-31)

They were fascinated by his explanations and wanted him to spend more time explaining, and used the excuse of the lateness of the hour to entice him to spend more time with them. Only when he prayed and shared out the food in the familiar way did they realize who he was. They were amazed that they had not recognized him sooner. Perhaps you’ve had a similar feeling when some passage or teaching you’ve struggled with suddenly becomes clear.

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)

Suddenly, in their joy, it didn’t seem nearly as late. They couldn’t wait to share their experience with the others.

"And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.” (Luke 24:33-35)

Peter had already told how he had seen the Lord, although we have no description of his experience. Mary had told her story. The two disciples were not doubted when they told what they had experienced.