In the 1960’s through until about the early 1980’s it was very common to see people hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers. And you would meet some very interesting people that way. I know of several married couples who met their future spouse hitchhiking. Once I picked up a young guy who told me that he had hiked many world-famous trails. He would work for a year or so to make enough money then go on theses hikes. He hiked the West Coast Trail which I also hiked a couple of times. He hiked the Pacific Crest trail which runs from Southern California and ends in Manning Park. But his most interesting trail was the lower Himalaya trail in Nepal and India. He was a very interesting guy and we became friends and together we hiked a lot of the lower mainland and Howe Sound trails.
On Easter Sunday I spoke of the women who went to the tomb first thing in the morning – it wasn’t those – maybe not so brave 11 apostles or any of the other male disciples hanging around Jesus – no it was the women. I suggested that they may have believed Jesus when he said he would rise from the dead after three days. The woman saw that the tomb was empty but when they returned to tell the others - the others thought they were talking nonsense. Luke records their response; “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” (Luke 24:11) Only Peter and John went to look and saw the empty tomb.
Luke’s account of the disciples encounter at the tomb is:
“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke 24:12)
And John’s account is:
“Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) (John 20:8-9)
Among the disciples and the followers of Jesus there must have been a mix of sadness and confusion and doubt. Did the authorities take the body away – he must be dead - but wait- maybe it is true that Jesus has risen from death unto life.
Gospel Luke 24: 13-33
Let’s pray.
Over the years as I prepared to write sermons – I have learned that the appointed Scripture verses have a lot more to say that just the words that we read. The LORD shows me so much more – and I can never write it all down. It is never just one issue. And as Luke records the account of the two on the road to Emmaus it is no different. There is a lot of teaching in these verses.
The arrest – the anger of the religious leaders and the anger of the crowds and then the crucifixion was an overwhelming - devastating emotional event for all of Jesus’s followers. They were all hurt and traumatized from it.
In the gospel story from Luke - there are two of Jesus’s followers leaving Jerusalem and travelling to a nearby village called Emmaus. And it is the third day – they have heard about the empty tomb because they comment about the women and Peter and John going to the tomb and reporting that it was empty. As they are going along – they are; “…talking with each other about everything that had happened.” (Luke 24:14)
Then all of a sudden there is a guy walking along beside them. It is Jesus but they do not know it is him. Luke says; “…but they were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:16) The Scriptures don’t say why Jesus appeared to these two in particular but the event is recorded and we can learn some important lessons from it.
The Bible is full of teaching moments for them and for us. And Jesus is going to teach them about all the Old Testament passages that refer to the crucifixion and the resurrection. And this is one of those moments. And we are all going to learn a few things here.
When you are stressed or hurt or in trouble – who do you call. It might be a family member or a friend but - don’t we get down on our knees and pray. Jesus comes to us in our time of need to help us deal with whatever our issue is. He can calm a hurting heart and give us a peace that the world does not have and cannot understand.
Jesus says that he will be with us and; “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)
Last week Pastor Ed explained how Jesus is always here with us. The difference is that he is visible to these two travellers on the road to Emmaus.
Some might wonder and non-believers might ask how can Jesus be with so many believers all over the world at the same time. Well – for sure it is a mystery. But if you are an omnipresent God you can be every where at the same time. After all he is God.
After Jesus starts walking beside the travellers he innocently asks “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” (Luke 24: 17) Of course Jesus knows what they are talking about but he wants to hear it from them - from their heart. Isn’t that the same for us when we pray. He wants to hear from our heart even though he knows what our issues are.
Now the travellers are surprised that someone hasn’t heard about “everything that has happened.” So - Jesus asks the obvious question; “What things?” (Luke 24:19)
Now let me tell you about witnesses in some of the trials that have resulted from my investigation in the RCMP or as an investigator with the province of BC. Before a trial - myself and the prosecutor would talk with the witness and ask them to be specific with their answers and not to ramble on. But – of course - some just never know when to stop. We understood that for some witnesses the issue or the crime against them is a traumatic event. At a trial they just have to blurt everything out at once – it is like they have to get it off their chest. And sometime their rambling is more helpful to the defence and than the prosecution. And when I read the response of the travellers it reminded me of these types of witnesses. So the travellers tell Jesus what has happened.
As I read their response – it almost sounds like they are saying it in a staccato manner.
· “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
· “He was a prophet,
· powerful in word and deed before God
· and all the people.
· The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death,
· and they crucified him;
· but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
· And what is more,
· it is the third day since all this took place.
· In addition, some of our women amazed us.
· They went to the tomb early this morning
· but didn’t find his body.
· They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels,
· who said he was alive.
· Then some of our companions went to the tomb
· but they did not see Jesus.” (Luke 24: 19b-24)
And Jesus hearing their distress and their hurt and their confusion - gets right to the heart of their unbelief and their lack of knowledge of the Old Testament and what it said about him.
“How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24: 25-26)
Everything that happened to Jesus is in the Old Testament and these Jews were suppose to know the Old Testament or what they called the Torah and the Law and the Prophets.
Sone years ago a woman- whose deceased husband had been a pastor – said that the Old Testament was not important. I didn’t contradict her but it seemed to me to be an inconsistent statement from a respected Christian lady.
I think about it this way - isn’t the whole Bible an epic story of God’s love and plan to redeem humanity through Jesus. It points to Jesus – his life – his teaching – his crucifixion and his resurrection. You can’t read the New Testament without reading the Old Testament.
Then Jesus proceeds to explain for the travellers - and for us that he is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law and the Prophets. in Matthew - Jesus confirms this at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)
Now Jesus opens their eyes. And then they can a lot more than the physical world around them.
As they arrived at Emmaus – the travellers invite Jesus to stay the night with them and he agreed. As they began to eat the travellers have an AH HA moment when Jesus breaks the bread and gives it to them;
“…he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” (Luke 24: 30-31)
What about us - when we come to know Jesus - our eyes – our heart – our mind – and our soul is opened to know that Jesus is truly alive and that he is the Messiah – the Christ - the Holy one of God. He lives within us and with the Holy Spirit guides us unto all truth. And during communion when we are fed the body and blood of Jesus it will keep us in his truth.
After all the sadness and depression of the last three days these two travellers must have been so wonderfully overjoyed – to see the LORD alive and talking with them and teaching them. They must be bubbling over with joy and enthusiasm. We get a sense of how they felt when we read;
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24: 32)
They have this joy that has to be shared and they want to tell someone - they have just seen Jesus. So they immediately return to Jerusalem to tell the disciples what they had just experienced. Luke records what they say to the others.
“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen…” (Luke 24: 33-34)
Now shortly after Jesus met the two travellers - he also appeared to the disciples and found them still in a state of fear and doubt. (That meeting is a whole new sermon.) And he opens their eyes and minds as well so they could understand the Scriptures and see that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law and Prophets.
“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, his is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24: 45-47)
And over the centuries - the Disciples and the other Followers of Jesus pass their knowledge of his teaching and his commands to believers – like us - around the world.
When the Holy Spirit confronts us with the reality of a resurrected holy Jesus – not only our eyes are opened but our heart and mind and soul as well. With God given wisdom and understanding we see the world and the people in it – in a new light – a light that flows from Jesus. We recognize the wonder and the beauty of God’s creation but we also see the evil in a fallen world.
A fallen world system that wants to deny Jesus and the resurrection and most likely Christian history as well. It seems to me that – in today’s world - too many want to follow the prince of this world rather than the King of this world. But for me I’ll place all my bets on the resurrected King because only he can save us from God’s wrath and bring us into paradise.
But for now a question for Christians today - how do we blurt out our joy in the resurrected Jesus in a fallen world?
AMEN COME LORD JESUS
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