Road to Emmaus

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

PREAMBLE

Readings

Ps 116:1-4, 12-19 

Luke 24:13-35

Main Points

1. Do not forsake the Old Testament: it gives a depth of knowledge of God to be able to fully worship and glorify Him.
2. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus was foretold in the Old Testament, first mentioned in Genesis 3.
3. Jesus Christ is our Saviour – witnessed by the entire Old Testament and the New Testament

Prayer

Father, I pray now that this new week dawns, that as we turn our gaze to your Word and to your Son, that you will accomplish the purposes that you have for your Word today. For we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Introduction

Evidence – antecedent or historical and eye-witness

When thinking about evidence around an event – some monumental happening, whether an accident or a war, there will be two aspects to that evidence:

1. the antecedent or what went on before or was said before, or written about, and,
2. the eye witnesses to the event.

Both are important; as one will corroborate the other or refute or deny it.

The war in Ukraine was not a sudden surprise – history tells us Russia’s desire to be its former glorious USSR was going to drive Putin to take more than the Crimea which he annexed in March of 2014 – a place of conflict; which some might remember as being the birth place of modern nursing[1].

Along with understanding what went on before, we listen to those who were present. And thus we read the history, and we talk to those who are present and so form a view of the reality of the event in question, in this case the truth.

Jesus rose from the dead - fundamental

That Jesus rose again is the most fundamental aspect of Christianity, indeed, the resurrection is that most fundamental aspect of what we believe and has been so since Adam and Eve; for, as the Bible says if there is no resurrection, we are, as the Apostle Paul put it – people most miserable or pitable;

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.  (1Co 15:17-19)

If you had to argue that Jesus indeed was the Son of God, came as a man, was crucified and was raised again; could you do it? [2]

Our passage today

In the passage today we see we see both aspects of evidence gathering in operation:

1. Jesus presents the evidence of the historical antecedents – for 4000 years or so, God had worked to point people to the fact they were sinners and required a redeemer.
2. In technical terms Jesus provides the antecedent – evidence that many authors – prophets, priests, rulers, kings, poets, and historians had written of the coming Messiah, his suffering and resurrection.
3. And Jesus, now walking and talking to two disciples, became unwittingly witnesses to the most important event of all time – the resurrection of Jesus

The question that perplexes many is, what did Jesus speak about to the two men?

Some have suggested this is the greatest loss to all humanity – the fact the Holy Spirit did not prompt Luke to record what Jesus speak about. But the Holy Spirit is perfect, so this question does not have merit.

1. So what was Luke’s purpose in recording this event that takes up 22 whole verses?
2. And why did he not record what was said; or at least what Scriptures was used?

The passage before us is quite wonderful. Going back to what happened on that Passover week and Sabbat:

Jesus is falsely accused killed

Jesus, nearly dead is dragged to a place outside of Jerusalem, up a steep hill, where he is nailed to a rough wooden cross, naked (something artists avoid showing), have being scourged (Matt 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1), which nearly kills him, and his Father forsakes him for 3 hours (Matt 27:45; Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44), and he gives up his life (John 19:30)[3], this being the most tremendous event ever to occur in the entire cosmos (or universe), all of which was pre-ordained, and recorded in Scripture as having to have happen; a monumental event!

Sense of humour

And yet here we find Jesus with an incredible sense of humour as we walks with a couple of men, who are clearly Jewish and from Jerusalem.

Mark records the same passage in but using only two verses (Mark 16:12, 13);

After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.  (Mar 16:12-13)

In v12 of Mark’s account Jesus appeared to two as they walked in the country and v13 says they told the other followers of this encounter. The result: “they did not believe them either.” Remembering they did not believe the first eye witness of the empty grave provided by two women.

The former is such an understatement – the dead Christ appears to them alive! And the later epitomises the world in general – the witnesses of the risen Christ are not believed.

This perhaps forms the crux as to why Luke recorded so much – so that we, some 2000 years later, might not be like those other disciples that did not believe; indeed the long passage’s purpose may have been to ensure readers comprehended the obvious; the dead Jesus is now alive![4]

But Luke, being a great historian (and accomplished writer of Greek), records in great detail what transpired between two men – the name of one being Cleopas, the other is not named and Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

These two men are clearly followers of Jesus and have been substantially affected by the events of the weekend – Jesus notes that were ‘sad’ or ‘down cast’ (v17); the translation being an understatement – the Greek is a strong adjective: “morose, sour, gloomy, or dejected countenance”.

They should not have been sad – as they were returning home from Passover – a joyous feast.

There were morose, and Jesus notices and in verse 17 essentially says: ‘Hi fellows, what are you talking about; why are you so sad?’

Response a surprise

The response is one of surprise – here is a man who appears not to know what has gone on; yet he has come from Jerusalem! And further they do not recognise Jesus.

In the mind of the two men they would have asked themselves; “where has this man been? Has he been under a rock?[5] There has been such things happening in Jerusalem that no-one could have missed it, surely!”

First response by Cleopas (v18)

Cleopas responds rather abruptly and perhaps rudely to this stranger: “"Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?"

Why everyone in Jerusalem would have known about the crucifixion.

Some may think that the crucifixion of Jesus occurred in secret, or in the back-blocks of Jerusalem and no one noticed; yet the event turned Jerusalem upside down because many of the events the centre of the city, or just outside it’s walls

• Jesus had ridden in on a donkey, the crowds of thousands (a very great multitude Mat 21:8) who hailed him: “"Hosanna! 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord!' the king of Israel!" (John 12:3); this was a very public act.
• The Roman judiciary had been turned upside down with multiple appearances of the Jewish leaders with and without Jesus, who had been scourged Jesus with a whip that contained metal pieces, which would have cut his flesh to the bone.
• The Jewish leaders had spent nearly 24 hours convincing the Romans, and in particular  Pilate, that Jesus was a threat and needed to be put to death. Pilate publically before a multitude of people (Matt 27:24) acquiesced after a mob nearly rioted, demanding the murderer Barabbas (Mark 15:6-15; John 19:6-16).
• Jesus was dragged through the entire length of Jerusalem with his cross that was carried by Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:21) – tradition from Josephus (rather than the Catholic Church) has it that he carried the cross about 600 m, which was prophesied by Isaiah 53:7-8a) – many saw this.
• He was crucified before many at 9 am (3^rd hour), and the entire world became dark at the 6^th hour, or 12 midday, until 3 o’clock in the afternoon (9^th hour) (Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44) because the sun was ‘darkened’;
• At the exact time Jesus gave up his life – 3 pm,
• There was a great earthquake - the earth shook and rocks split open (Matt 27:51, 52, Mark).
• The veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Holy Place was torn in two (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) an event that polluted the Holy of Holies; it could only be entered once a year by one man who had especially prepared for entry – failure resulted in death.
• Thus the entire city would have been very aware of what had happened!

Jesus Responds

Jesus responds: “What things?” (19a) (καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ποῖα)

It is perhaps the most understated response in the entire Bible – Jesus the centre of the most monumental event of all times – responds with ‘what things’ as if he is completely unaware of what transpired. Indeed, in the Greek – it is one word: ποῖος (poios).

Jesus does this to elicit a response – he is trying to ascertain whether these men actually understand what has happened.

The second response by Cleopas and other man

The men respond with four statements: three of fact, and one of value;

1. The first statement of fact was the acknowledgement that Jesus was:
1. from Nazareth,
2. was a prophet, and
3. had been recognised for his mighty work; this was a statement of respect; and yet it appears that even at this point they do not recognise him as the Messiah; but did recognise that God had worked though him (Luke 24:19, 20);

This clearly shows the two men know Jesus, and been with him and had observed his work; yet they did not comprehend the risen Christ;

2. The second statement of fact was that Jesus had been crucified which was orchestrated by the Jewish leaders

[The] chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.  (Luke 24:19, 20)

3. The third was statement of fact but in really a statement of perplexity, indeed it was more a question than a statement – that the body of Jesus had simply disappeared and they did not know how or why.

..certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.  When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.  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."  (Luke 24:24)

Although they had probably witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11) – the fore-runner to Christ’s resurrection (a sign of Jonah); their mind could not process the fact Jesus could have risen from the dead.

4. The fourth statement was a statement of value and hope; they had valued Jesus because they had hoped he was going to restore Israel to its former glory – the days of David and Solomon; and remove the tyrannical Roman rulers.
   
   Rather than an everlasting spiritual redemption, they were looking for a temporal relief from the Romans; thus they had misinterpreted all what Jesus had told them.

Jesus was valued, not, as I have heard some say, to restore the relationship of Israel to God:

1. John the Baptist had attempted this by preaching repentance – most refused, and had he been beheaded, and
2. the nation of Israel as a whole rejected their Messiah; where in Matthew 12 we see the entire leadership commit the unpardonable sin, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, by saying the Son of God was demon-possessed, and a slave to Satan.

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.  (Luke 24:21)

But rather, these two and the other disciples had hoped Jesus was going to remove the tyrannical Roman rule.

RESPONSE BY JESUS – THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

Introduction

Jesus responds

Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.  (Luke 24:25-27)

What Scriptures?

Jesus responds, by using Scripture to expound what had happened to himself.

If Jesus had encountered the men just outside of Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus, which there were several to choose, and if taking the shortest route (Emmaus is east of Jerusalem towards the Mediterranean coast), they would have walked about 11 km (no-one really knows where the exact town was) – so Jesus could have had 3-5 hours to expound the Scriptures, so clearly he did not go through the 400 hundred or so passage the showed that Jesus, the Son of God was come to die and be raised again. And my text book on this subject is about 1400 pages long.

What did Jesus refer to?

Luke does give some clue, because, Jesus undertook this challenge not once, but twice. The first is recorded here, but in a few verses further forward in verse 44 Jesus again takes up Scriptures again and says to them

"These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me." Luke 24:44 

So we know what parts of Scripture he used – basically most of it! The Hebrew Old Testament is has three main divisions;

1. Law of Moses (Genesis – Deuteronomy)
2. The Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel etc along with the 12 minor prophets, along with some historical books including; Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings – which were one book each, not two) (Note Daniel was not included in this group
3. The Writings or Psalms, which included Psalms (the first book), but also the other books not in the Law or Prophets

So what did Jesus speak about?

There are probably three things that Jesus expounded: and again we turn to Luke to find these –

1. In verse 26 Luke records that he speaks about the need for Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory" 
2. In verse 44 Luke records that Jesus spoke about all things must had to be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms." Thus he probably spoke about specific prophecies that had to be fulfilled – he mentions all three divisions of the Jewish Old Testament.
3. And he spoke about the need to preach in His name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem, repentance and remission of sins in verse 47.

Overall, the entire OT speaks of Christ: of the prophet greater than Moses that would come; who would be greater than the law and the angels, and his death and resurrection I found in every sacrifice of the Old Testament and in all the seven feasts that Jews attended every year.

Jesus would come as a man born of a woman to suffer (Genesis 3:15)

Starting at the beginning: the Birth of Jesus, or the fact that the Messiah would come from the Seed of a Woman is prophesied by God in Genesis 3:15 and in this all creation looked for. Adam had sinned as had Eve, and thus all decedents from these two would be corrupt.

The fact that a woman would be the mother of the coming Saviour was not lost on Mary. She realise the enormity of the privilege of being chosen by God to carry the Messiah child-God.

In the Genesis verse we see God speaking directly to Satan who has just deceived Eve.

And [God said] I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."  (Gen 3:15)

• We see from the Genesis verse there was going to be enmity or hostility or hatred between Satan who deceived Eve and Eve and all her decedents – a constant war is being raged, even unto today.
• The carrying of the God-child was looked forward to by woman from that day – including Eve herself,
• But we see God getting more specific in the second clause – between “your seed and her Seed” with the second seed often capitalized.

There would come a descendent – or seed – that would lead to Satan’s downfall, but not before Satan has attacked the seed. This seed was Messiah; prophesied by David, the one who would sit on his throne, and in Isaiah 7 – the one born to a virgin, and again in Jeremiah 31:22.

We see two facts:

1. Satan is said to bruise the heel of this person – the Messiah; Satan wounds the heel that crushes him, meaning Satan would be allowed to afflict Christ, and bring suffering and persecution on His people. And this we see occurred in the Gospels. And this is what happened
2. God would bruise Satan’s head: such an injury is fatal – Christ defeats Satan at the cross by rising again on the third day – Christ defeats death, the final enemy.

Mary’s response at being chosen by God

We see the birth of Jesus recorded in the Gospels, with the most detail about Mary’s response in the Gospel of Luke:  We read the angel blesses Mary on announcing she would be the woman spoken of in Genesis 3:15.

And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (Luke 1:28)

And

And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.  (Luke 1:46-50)

The Birth of Jesus

The manner of the birth of Jesus is important and specific;

Isa 7:14 ‒ To be born of a virgin ‒ Luke 1:35

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isa 7:14)

Mic 5:2a ‒ Born in Bethlehem ‒ Matt 2:1-6

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

The Death of Jesus

The purpose of the death of Christ

Redemption became necessary when sin entered the world; Genesis record this, which highlights the importance of this much malign book. Adam and Eve sinned and sin entered the world (Romans 5:12, 20).

The Genesis prophecy of a redeemer is provided by God as I mentioned above.

• Sin separated humans from God: the only means to bridge to this gap was by blood. Thus the redemptive element becomes a theme of both the Old and New testaments.
• In Genesis 3:21 we see blood shed to cloth Adam and Eve.
• In chapter 4 we see the offering of Abel being more acceptable to God because it was a blood sacrifice; that of Cain was unacceptable being vegetables.

The blood is required for atonement is found in Leviticus 17:11

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.'  (Lev 17:11)

The blood sacrifice became a life-cycle ritual for the Jews – in all seven feasts that were held from the first Passover (with the exodus of the Jews from Egypt) and the first of the yearly feasts, followed by Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Feast of Tabernacles involved blood sacrifices. Indeed Pentecost, which occurs 50 days after Passover required seven lambs to be offered – looking forward to the perfection (seven is a perfect number in Scripture) of the death of Messiah.

• Jesus could have used each of the seven feasts to demonstrate that the Son of God had to die, shed blood, to atone for their sin, and return them to a right relationship with God.
• He would have shown, like the author of the Book of Hebrews that although the Jews performed these sacrifices, they only covered the sin; their sacrifices never took them the sin away, and never removed the guilt of the sin – only by the shedding of the precious blood of Jesus is the sin taken away and the guilt removed (Hebrews 9:14; 10:22).

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  (Heb 9:14)

• It is in Isaiah 53:10-11 we see that servant – Jesus Christ- had to suffer (not just shed blood) and to die to once for all deal with the curse of sin – that is death. (Romans)

When You make His soul an offering for sin, (Isaiah 53:10b)

• We are told the shedding of righteous blood of Jesus would justify many – all who believed.

By His knowledge my righteous Servant shall justify many (Isaiah 53:11b)

• The OT tells us that Jesus became flesh and blood in order to die, that through death he might being to nought him that had the power of death, that is the Devil (Hebrews 2:14).

Much more could be said here if we had time – it’s another sermon.

Actions taken leading to Christ’s death in the OT

• He would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, and a potter’s field would be bought with the money (Zechariah 11:12–13; Luke 22:47–48; Matthew 27:9–10).
• He would be silent when accused (Isaiah 53:7; Mark 15:4–5).
• He would be killed with criminals (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38).
• He would be a sacrifice for sin (Isaiah 53, Romans 5:6–8).
• He would not die by stoning: the method the Jews used, but rather crucifixion, the method the Romans used.

They pierced My hands and My feet; (Psa 22:16)

Stoning would not pierce the hands of the accused.

• In a future date Israel will look upon the Messiah

look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zec 12:10)

• He would hang on a tree—a cross made of wood. The Bible doesn’t say, “Cursed is everyone who is stoned.” It says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” (Deut 21:23 – Gal 3:13); Christ was cursed for our sake

The Resurrection

There are four main Old Testament passages:

Psalm 16:9-10

• Twice in the Old Testament the prophecy of this Psalm is declared as being fulfilled by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:24, 13:32)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (Psa 16:9-10)

Psalm 22:22-31

• This Psalm concerns the death of Jesus, but verse 22-31 the Messiah who dies in verses 1 – 21 is very much alive, alluding to the fact the Messiah must rise from the dear

Psalm 118:22

• The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 
• Used by Peter in Acts 4:10-11 as a prophecy of the resurrection – the stone (Jesus was rejected – killed), but now occupies the place of chief cornerstone, inferring he must be alive.

Isaiah 53:10-12

• Again, this prophecy concerns the death of Jesus Christ – the Servant (Is 52:13) is seen alive in verses 10-12; because we see his seed and his days are prolonged.
• Thus it is clear the Old Testament showed that the Messiah would be raised from the dead

The Ascension of Jesus Christ

• Messiah would ascend to heaven. Psalm 24:7-10; Psalm 68:18 Proverbs 30:4 - Mark 16:19 Luke 24:51
• Messiah would be seated at God's right hand. Psalm 80:17; Psalm 110:1 - Mark 16:19 Matthew 22:44
• It is the Son of Man who ascended and descended.

Conclusion

Evidence of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Messiah – Jesus Christ comes from two sources:

1. The prophecies of the Old Testament

There are vast records including those that controlled the daily lives of the Jews that pointed to the coming Servant, Jesus Christ, who would die and rise again. That there was a need for this was clearly evident in the life and actions of the Jews, who were incapable of making themselves right before God.

1. The eye witness accounts of his death, burial and resurrection.

We also cannot make ourselves right before God; it is only by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross; his shedding of blood that does away with our sin, and by that action we can enter into His eternal rest. All else leads to death and hell.

Benediction

Hymn

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Robert Lowry (1874)

Annex: prophecies of the Old Testament of Jesus Christ

There are some 500 prophecies and allusions to Messiah in the Old Testament, his work and accomplishments. Here are a few pertaining to his incarnation, death and resurrection. [6]

Purpose

Gen 3:15 ‒ He will bruise Satan's head ‒ Heb 2:14; 1 John 3:8

Lineage

Gen 12:3 ‒ Seed of Abraham will bless all nations ‒ Gal 3:8; Acts 3:25-26

2 Sam 7:12 ‒ David's Seed ‒ Matt 1:1

2 Sam 7:16 ‒ David's house established forever ‒ Luke 3:31; Rev 22:16

1 Chr 17:12-13 ‒ To reign on David's throne forever ‒ Luke 1:32-33

Psa 110:1 ‒ David's son called Lord ‒ Matt 22:44-45

Character

Ex 12:5 ‒ A Lamb without blemish ‒ Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 1:19

Birth

Isa 7:14 ‒ To be born of a virgin ‒ Luke 1:35

Mic 5:2a ‒ Born in Bethlehem ‒ Matt 2:1-6

Manner of Jesus Death

Num 21:9 ‒ The serpent on a pole-Christ lifted up ‒ John 3:14-18; 12:32

Lev 16:27 ‒ Suffering outside the Camp ‒ Matt 27:33; Heb. 13:11-12

Deut 21:23 ‒ Cursed is he that hangs on a tree ‒ Gal 3:10-13

Psa 22:1 ‒ Forsaken because of sins of others ‒ 2 Cor 5:21

Psa 22:14 ‒ His blood poured out when they pierced His side ‒ John 19:34

Psa 31:11 ‒ His acquaintances fled from Him ‒ Mark 14:50

Psa 34:20 ‒ Not a bone of Him broken ‒ John 19:31-36

Psa 38:12-13 ‒ Silent before His accusers ‒ Matt 27:12-14

Psa 41:9 ‒ Betrayed by a familiar friend ‒ John 13:18

Psa 69:21 ‒ Given vinegar in thirst ‒ Matt 27:34

Burial

Isa 53:9a ‒ Buried in a rich man's grave ‒ Matt 27:57

Resurrection

Psa 16:10 ‒ Was not to see corruption ‒ Acts 2:31; 13:35

Work

Mal 3:1a ‒ Messenger to prepare the way for Messiah ‒ Mark 1:1-8

Psa 78:1-2 ‒ He would teach in parables ‒ Matt 13:34-35

Isa 35:5-6 ‒ To have a ministry of miracles ‒ Matt 11:2-6

Isa 53:5c ‒ His sacrifice would heal man of sin ‒ 1 Pet 2:24

Isa 11:10 ‒ The Gentiles seek Him ‒ John 12:18-21

Isa 9:1-2 ‒ His ministry to begin in Galilee ‒ Matt 4:12-17

Return to Jerusalem and Betrayal

Zech 9:9f ‒ Hailed as king on entry to Jerusalem riding on a donkey ‒ Matt 21:6-9

Zech 11:12-13a ‒ Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver ‒ Matt 26:14-15

Accomplishment

Isa 11:1 ‒ A rod out of Jesse-Son of Jesse ‒ Luke 3:23-32

Zech 6  :12-13 ‒ Priest and King ‒ Heb 8:1

Isa 53:5b ‒ His sacrifice provides peace between man and God ‒ Col 1:20

Rejection of the truth of the event

Psa 118:22-23 ‒ The rejected stone is Head of the corner ‒ Matt 21:42-43