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Luke 24:13-32

Sunday Morning Bible Study

July 9, 2017

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid to die? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Regular: 2900 words Communion: 2500 words Video=75wpm

We’ve arrived at the pinnacle of Jesus’ ministry.

Luke told us what Jesus’ main purpose was in life:

(Luke 19:10 NKJV) for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

He would do this by dying for our sins.

We saw Jesus arrive in Jerusalem on the previous Sunday, Palm Sunday, to the shouts of an adoring crowd, crying “Hosanna”.

By the following Friday morning Jesus had been arrested, tried, and crucified.

He was buried in a borrowed tomb on Friday afternoon.

Early Sunday morning, some women went to the tomb, found the stone rolled away, the tomb empty, and two angels told them that Jesus had risen from the dead.

When the ladies went back to tell the disciples, the disciples thought the women were crazy. Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty. Mary Magdalene went back to the tomb as well, and she would be the first person that Jesus appeared to.

24:13-32 The Road to Emmaus

:13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.

:13 two of them were traveling

traveling – poreuomai – to lead over, carry over, transfer; to pursue the journey on which one has entered, to continue on one’s journey

Two of the disciples.

These are not guys who are part of the “twelve”, but just “ordinary” disciples.

:13 that same day

It’s still Sunday, the day of the resurrection.

:13 to a village called Emmaus

Emmaus – Emmaous – “warm baths”

Today the spot is known as the town of Al-Qubeiba in the West Bank.

Video: Road to Emmaus map

We’ll take a helicopter down Israeli Highway #1 which is the road from Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv. Then we veer off into the Palestinian foothills until we reach Emmaus.

Being a seven-mile walk, this is going to take a couple of hours.

:13 which was seven miles from Jerusalem

Literally “sixty furlongs” – stadion – a space or distance of about 600 feet (185 m)

60 furlongs is about 7 miles.

A seven mile walk is going to take a couple of hours.

:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

they talked – homileo – to be in company with; to associate with; to stay with; to converse with, talk about

which had happened – sumbaino – to walk with the feet near together; to come together, meet with one; of things which fall out at the same time, to happen, turn out, come to pass

They were talking about all the events that had just happened in the last couple of days, all the things that had just come together.

:15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.

drew near – eggizo – to bring near, to join one thing to another; to draw or come near to, to approach

went with them – sumporeuomai – to go or journey together; to come together, to assemble

:15 while they conversed and reasoned

conversed – homileo – to converse with, talk about

This is the same word that’s translated “they talked” in verse 14.

We get the word “homiletics” from this word.

When I took my “homiletics” class in seminary, it was about learning how to prepare and present a “sermon”

Though some of us preachers get all fancy with our sermons, ideally it should just be about “talking” about the Scriptures.

reasoned – suzeteo – to seek or examine together; dispute, question

They are taking turns discussing and questioning the other over the things they had seen and heard the last few days. And Jesus shows up.

Basically, neither of them knew what was going on.

I think it’s a good idea for us to have a place to talk and reason with each other concerning the Scriptures.

That’s what we hope to achieve in the Men’s and Women’s Fellowships as well as the Home Fellowships.

It was while these two were talking and reasoning that Jesus showed up to join the conversation.

:16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

eyes – ophthalmos – the eye; metaph. the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing

were restrained – krateo – to have power, be powerful; to be chief, be master of, to rule; to get possession of; to become master of, to obtain; to take hold of; to take hold of, take, seize; to lay hands on one in order to get him into one’s power; to hold

know – epiginosko – to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly; to know accurately, know well; to know; to recognize; by sight, hearing, of certain signs, to perceive who a person is

:16 their eyes were restrained

These guys don’t recognize Jesus.

In Jesus’ resurrected body, He had the ability of exercising influence on their minds in such a way that they were kept from recognizing Him for a time.

It reminds me of the story when Joseph’s brothers came down to Egypt looking to buy grain during the famine, and they found themselves standing before their very own brother who had risen to become a great leader in Egypt, and they didn’t recognize him.

It reminds me of what happened an hour or so in our time line when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.

(John 20:14–16 NKJV) —14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

She finally recognized Him when she heard Him speak her name.

:17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

conversation – logos – of speech; a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea; what someone has said; its use as respect to the MIND alone; reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating

you have– antiballo – to throw in turn

They were “throwing” words back and forth.

as you walk – peripateo – to walk

are sad – skuthropos – of a sad and gloomy countenance

:17 as you walk and are sad

It is good that they were talking about Jesus and debating ideas.

It was good that Jesus was walking with them.

But it wasn’t enough. They are still sad. They still don’t recognize that Jesus is there.

:18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

:18 the one whose name was Cleopas answered

Cleopas – Kleopas – “of a renowned father”

He was married to one of the gals named “Mary” who was at the crucifixion (John 19:25)

(John 19:25 NKJV) Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

Sidenote: It has been suggested that “His mother’s sister” was the gal named Salome, mentioned last week (Mark 16:1)

(Mark 16:1 NKJV) Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

I did a little research last week and found the suggestion that Salome was the mother of the apostles James and John (compare Mat. 27:56 and Mark 15:40)

(Matthew 27:56 NKJV) —56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

(Mark 15:40 NKJV) —40 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome,

That would mean that the gal who asked Jesus to make her sons James and John the right and left hand men of Jesus in the kingdom, being present at the crucifixion. (Mat. 20:20).

Some have suggested that since John (John 19:25) mentions “His mother’s sister” instead of “Salome” or “the mother of Zebedee’s sons”, that Salome was the sister of the mother of Jesus (Mary), and that would make James and John cousins of Jesus.

The language is all a little vague, but it’s possible.

Isn’t it interesting that the first people to see the risen Jesus were NOT part of the eleven?

:18 Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem…

During the Passover, the city was filled with pilgrims, Jews from around the world.

Cleopas can’t believe that this fellow they’re talking to doesn’t know what’s happened over the last few days.

In other words, Jesus’ crucifixion wasn’t something done behind closed doors. Everyone knew about it.

only – monos – alone (without a companion), forsaken, destitute of help, alone, only, merely

a stranger – paroikeo – to dwell beside (one) or in one’s neighborhood, to live near; in the NT, to be or dwell in a place as a stranger, to sojourn

known – ginosko – to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel

:19 And He said to them, “What things?”

what things – poios – of what sort or nature

I can’t help but think that Jesus is trying to hide a little grin on His face as He’s saying this.

I don’t think Jesus has forgotten what’s taken place.

It’s more like what Jesus asked His disciples when they were at Caesarea Philippi,

(Matthew 16:13–15 NKJV) —13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

He’s trying to draw these fellows out. He’s trying to engage them.

:19 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,

Prophet – prophetes – one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation

mighty – dunatos – able, powerful, mighty, strong

deed – ergon – business, employment, that which any one is occupied; any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind; an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work

word – logos – of speech; a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea; its use as respect to the MIND alone; reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating

:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.

delivered – paradidomi – to give into the hands (of another); to give over into (one’s) power or use; to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put to death; to deliver up treacherously

to be condemned – krima – a decree, judgments; the sentence of a judge; the punishment with which one is sentenced; condemnatory sentence, penal judgment, sentence; a matter to be judicially decided, a lawsuit, a case in court

crucified – stauroo – to stake, drive down stakes; to crucify

Not just “those rulers”, but “our rulers”

: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.

we were hoping – elpizo – to hope; in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence; hopefully to trust in

was going – mello – to be about; to be on the point of doing or suffering something; to intend, have in mind, think to

:21 was going to redeem Israel

to redeem – lutroo – to release on receipt of ransom; to redeem, liberate by payment of ransom

They were probably thinking of Jesus redeeming Israel in the sense of buying or releasing Israel from the power of the Roman government.

Instead, Jesus redeemed us from our sins.

Paul wrote to Titus about Jesus,

(Titus 2:14 NKJV) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

:21 today is the third day

We tend to think of the “third day” as referring to resurrection as if they were actually expecting the resurrection and have been disappointed.

They’re just surprised that after three days this guy they’re talking to still doesn’t know what just happened.

Jesus was buried on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, the Sabbath, none of them would have traveled, and now on Sunday, these guys are heading home.

:21 we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel

Lesson

Not What I Expected

Some things are not what we expect.

Video: Just for Gags – Senior Prank

These fellows had been hoping that Jesus would have freed the nation from their Roman overlords.

Instead, Jesus was crucified.

Jesus did come to deliver us, but not from some of the troubles we’re having, He came to free us from our sins.

Peter wrote,

(1 Peter 1:18–19 NKJV) —18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Some folks expect the wrong things at church.

Some people come to church when their life falls apart and are expecting that God will give them a new job, a new wife, and maybe a new car to boot.

Some people listen a little too much to TBN, and expect that when they are sick, that Jesus will always heal all their diseases.

Some people are hoping to get instantly delivered from their addiction to drugs, alcohol, or drinking.

Sometimes God will work this way, but not all the time.

Some of us have learned we need to work our program

Some people are hoping that being a Christian will allow them to be happy all the time.

These are not healthy expectations.

Jesus can do these things, but those aren’t His highest goal for you.

If you are expecting this, you’re probably going to be disappointed.

On the other hand, if you’ve come to church because you want to know God, you’re not going to be disappointed.

Paul wrote,

(Philippians 3:7–11 NLT) —7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

The highest expectation is to know God, not to have an easy life.

:22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.

early – orthrios – early; rising at the first dawn or very early in the morning

tomb – mnemeion – any visible object for preserving or recalling the memory of any person or thing; a memorial, monument, specifically, a sepulchral monument; a sepulchre, a tomb

:23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.

:22 astonished us

astonished – existemi – to throw out of position, displace; to amaze, to be out of one’s mind, besides one’s self, insane

Remember what Luke said last week when the ladies returned?

(Luke 24:11 NKJV) And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

find – heurisko – to come upon, hit upon, to meet with; to find by enquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice and experience

vision – optasia – the act of exhibiting one’s self to view; a sight, a vision, an appearance presented to one whether asleep or awake

had … seen – horao – to see with the eyes; to see with the mind, to perceive, know; to see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience; to see, to look to

said – lego – to say, to speak. Present active indicative. They are saying

alive – zao – to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead); to enjoy real life

:24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

Cleopas is talking about Peter and John going to the tomb and finding it empty.

Even though by this time Mary Magdalene has seen the risen Christ, these fellows don’t know that.

:25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

heart – kardia – the heart; denotes the center of all physical and spiritual life; the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors; of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence; of the will and character; of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions

to believe – pisteuo – to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in

prophets – prophetes – one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation

:25 foolish … slow of heart to believe

The words Jesus uses aren’t pretty.

foolish – anoetos – not understood, unintelligible

slow – bradus – slow; dull; stupid, slow to apprehend

Video: Patrick Star Favorite Moments

These guys were “foolish” and “slow”.

Lesson

Stupid hearts

God speaks. Prophets speak. Do we believe?

In the days of Elisha, the Syrian king decided to get rid of the prophet Elisha because he kept giving the king of Israel an advantage on the battle field by giving him instructions from God.

(2 Kings 6:15–17 NLT) —15 When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. 16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

The servant needed to have his eyes opened to see that the prophet was right, that there were “more on our side than on theirs”.

Later, the city of Samaria was under siege by the Syrians. Prices were sky high. People were starving. Then God’s word came to Elisha:

(2 Kings 7:1–2 NLT) —1 Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.” 2 The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!”

This “officer” couldn’t believe what he heard. And the next day when the Syrian army had run away and the people were able to get out of the city to find food, that fellow was trampled by the crowd.

What if God had a special word for you? Would you believe it?

(Jeremiah 29:11–13 NKJV) —11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Is this something for you?

:26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”

to have suffered – pascho – to be affected or have been affected, to feel, have a sensible experience, to undergo; in a bad sense, to suffer sadly, be in a bad plight

to enter into – eiserchomai – to go out or come in: to enter

glory – doxa – opinion, judgment, view; in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory; splendour, brightness; a most glorious condition, most exalted state

:26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered

ought – dei – it is necessary, there is need of, is right and proper

We saw this last week when the angels told the women that it was necessary for Jesus to be crucified. (Luke 24:7)

(Luke 24:7 NKJV) saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

These men were having problems with the idea of Jesus dying, yet that was the very reason He came to earth in the first place.

He needed to die. It was necessary.

Our sins separate us from God.

Someone needed to do something to pay for our sins by dying in our place.

This is why Jesus said,

(John 14:6 NKJV) …“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

He is the only one who has paid for your sins.

:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

beginning – archomai – to be the first to do (anything), to begin; to begin, make a beginning

the scriptures – graphe – a writing, thing written; the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents; a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture

:27 He expounded … all the Scriptures

expounded – diermeneuo – to unfold the meaning of what is said, explain, expound; to translate into one’s native language

from hermeneuo – to explain in words, expound; to interpret; to translate what has been spoken or written in a foreign tongue into the vernacular

Lesson

It’s all about Jesus

I am sure that’s one Bible study we’d all have loved to have heard.

The phrase “Moses and all the Prophets” means that Jesus taught these guys from the entire Old Testament.

Jesus is using the Old Testament Scriptures to teach about Himself.

I don’t think it means He went through every single verse, but that Jesus showed through all the books that there were hints about Him.

Perhaps Jesus talked about …

Gen. 3 - In Genesis God declared that the serpent would bruise the heel of the woman’s seed.

Gen 22 – the picture of Father Abraham being willing to sacrifice his only son. And in the end God provided the sacrifice.

Exo 12 – the Passover Lamb dying to deliver the nation out of slavery in Egypt.

Leviticus - All of the sacrifices were a foreshadowing of His once and for all sacrifice.

David spoke prophetically (Heb. 10:7) for Jesus when he wrote

(Psalm 40:7 NKJV) Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

Psalm 22 – David describes the crucifixion. His bones are out of joint, they pierced His hands and His feet, and cast lots for His clothes.

Psalm 118 –

(Psalm 118:22 NKJV) The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

Isaiah 53 –

(Isaiah 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Daniel 9 – The timing of His coming, predicted down to the very day.

There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament that speak of His first coming.

:28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.

drew near – eggizo – to bring near, to join one thing to another; to draw or come near to, to approach

the village – kome – the common sleeping place to which laborers in the field return, a village; the name of the city near which the villages lie and to whose municipality they belong; the inhabitants of villages

He indicated – prospoieomai (“toward” + “to make”)– to take or claim a thing to one’s self; to conform one’s self to a thing, or rather to affect to one’s self; to pretend

farther – porrhotero – further

:29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

abide – meno – to remain, abide; in reference to place; to sojourn, tarry; not to depart; to continue to be present

evening – hespera – evening, eventide

is far spent – klino – transitively to incline, bow; to cause to fall back; to recline; in a place for repose; intransitively to incline one’s self; of the declining of the day

The day is reclining.

stay – meno – to remain, abide; in reference to place; to sojourn, tarry; not to depart; to continue to be present

:29 But they constrained Him

they constrained – parabiazomai – to employ force contrary to nature and right; to compel by employing force; to constrain one by entreaties

It almost sounds like they put Him in a headlock or something.

: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.

he sat – kataklino – in the NT in reference to eating, to make to recline; to recline (at a table)

he took – lambano – to take; to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it

bread – artos – food composed of flour mixed with water and baked

blessed – eulogeo – to praise, celebrate with praises; to invoke blessings; to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers

broke – klao – to break; used in the NT of the breaking of bread or communion

:30 … and gave it to them

gave it to – epididomi – to hand, give by hand

The Greek words Luke uses are almost identical to the ones he used regarding the events of three days earlier when Jesus was with the twelve disciples…

(Luke 22:19 NKJV) And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

The only word that’s a little different is the word “gave”. The Greek word in our passage adds a preposition, which gives an added intensity to it.

Jesus went through the same process, but emphasized the “giving” of this bread to these two fellows.

:31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

eyes – ophthalmos – the eye; metaph. the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing

vanished – aphantos (“not” + “shining”) – taken out of sight, made invisible

:31 and they knew Him

they knew – epiginosko – to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly; to know accurately

:31 and He vanished from their sight

Jesus had done what He set out to do. It was time to move on to the next encounter, this time with the eleven remaining disciples.

: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?”

burn – kaio – to set on fire, light, burning; to burn, consume with fire

the way – hodos – a way; a traveled way, road; a traveler’s way, journey, traveling

While Jesus had been speaking to them as they walked along the road.

Jesus wants to talk to us as WE walk through life.

opened – dianoigo – to open by dividing or drawing asunder, to open thoroughly (what had been closed); to open the mind of one, i.e. to cause to understand a thing; to open one’s soul, i.e. to rouse in one the faculty of understanding or the desire of learning

the Scriptures – graphe – a writing, thing written; the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents; a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture

:32 Did not our heart burn within us

We have to be careful here.

There are times when the “heart burn” can be deceptive.

There will be clean cut young men showing up on your doorstep telling you that their hearts “burned” when they read the Book of Mormon.

On Thursday August 3 we’ll be showing a movie, “The Bible vs. Joseph Smith” and examine the truth claims of Mormonism because there are some serious problems.

Sometimes heart burn is just heart burn.

Sometimes it’s the pizza you had the night before.

Yet there will be times when God will indeed speak to you, and yes it may feel like burning.

Jeremiah said,

(Jeremiah 20:9 NKJV) Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.

:31 Then their eyes were opened

were opened – dianoigo – to open by dividing or drawing asunder, to open thoroughly

It’s literally pulling back the curtain.

Sometimes we are disappointed when the curtain is pulled back

Video: Wizard of Oz – Behind the curtain

When these guys had the curtain pulled back, they were NOT disappointed!

Lesson

Opened Eyes

I think there are several things that have been happening in our passage that lead to these guys having their eyes opened. It started with:

Fellowship

(Luke 24:15 NKJV) So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.

These two had a bit of a walk ahead of them.

The words “conversed” and “reasoned” speak of a rousing discussion going on between the two.

They were talking about the events of the last week.

As they walked together, they had a third person join them.

Jesus said,

(Matthew 18:20 NKJV) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Having your eyes opens starts with hanging out with people and talking about Jesus and life.

It didn’t open their eyes, but it started something.

Teaching

As they are walking along, Jesus begins to teach to them the Scriptures.

He uses the whole scope of Scripture, not just a few favorite verses.

The Bible says that the person who doesn’t know God will have a hard time understanding the Scriptures.

(1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT) But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

Some of you may recall before you became a Christian how difficult it was to read the Bible.

Yet when you open your heart to Jesus, something wonderful happens and the Holy Spirit came to dwell inside of you.

Jesus said,

(John 14:26 NKJV) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

All you need to learn is a Bible, and the Holy Spirit.

Communion

When these two fellows head back to Jerusalem …

(Luke 24:35 NKJV) And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

I want to be careful here on a couple of points because “breaking of bread” isn’t a term exclusive to communion.

The text doesn’t mention anything about sharing a cup of wine, just the breaking of bread.

Breaking bread with people is about hanging out and eating with them, what we’d call “fellowship”

The Greek word for “fellowship” and “communion” are the same – koinonia.

Our passage has elements of both “fellowship” as well as “communion”.

We read about the Last Supper:

(Luke 22:19 NKJV) And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

remembrance – anamnesis – a remembering, recollection

Communion was meant to stir up your memory, to remind you of Him.

I believe that the presence of Jesus can be very real during communion, but it’s not because the bread becomes His literal flesh and the grape juice becomes His literal blood. It’s because you and I have a chance to draw near to God, and when we do that, God will draw near to us.

Want a good picture of having your eyes opened for the first time? This baby’s eyesight was so bad, he had never seen his mother’s face…

Video: USA Today - Baby glasses

Open your heart to Jesus today and you’ll see for the first time.