Luke 24- Road To Emmaus Part 2

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. 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. Luke 24:25-29

As we continue to look at Jesus and his two disciples on the road to Emmaus. At this point , the disciples still had no idea it was Christ. However now Jesus was going to show them in the scriptures, how He fulfilled all the prophecies. The knowledge of the scriptures were there all this time, for hundreds of years, however nobody in Israel could properly interpret them. Jesus told them how all the prophets and Moses were fortelling about Him!

When they drew closer to the village, they asked Jesus to stay with them and discuss more about these prophetic scriptures. How many today are still blinded of the prophecies? How can anyone today read Isaiah 53 and still reject Jesus? Or read Psalm 22? Or read Zechariah 9? Jesus fulfilled over 300 Messianic Prophecies in the Old Testament, which is mathematically almost impossible, but It was Finished!

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. 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? 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 24:30-35

Notice how they recognized it was finally Jesus, by when they were having Communion together. As Jesus said “Do This In Remembrance of Me” (Luke 22) It’s important to have Communion because it’s a remembrance of everything The Lord has done for us, and the promise of His return

Also how did they know it was Jesus “Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked” When you read the Red letters of Jesus Christ in the Bible, doesn’t your heart burn with passion and desire to get to know The Lord more? We should be on fire for The Lord, doing His will, sharing the good news, serving the community. Just as his disciples did when they realized Christ Is Risen, they went back to Jerusalem to tell everyone!

Even though the men didn’t realize it, Jesus was walking with them the whole time! The same Jesus is walking with you right now, leading and guiding you by the Holy Spirit, let your heart be on fire for The Lord! He is Risen! Amen!

Luke 24- Road To Emmaus

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. 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. 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? 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: Luke 24:13-19

The aftermath of the death and resurrection of Christ will have an impacting effect on the world forever. At this point, Jesus is Risen, however most of Israel doesn’t even know this yet , only the disciples of Christ. Remember Jesus was crucified during the Passover feast, so there were many Jews and others from around the world in Jerusalem during this time. So while everyone started to leave Jerusalem and talk about all the events that happened this Holy Weekend.

One of the men identified was Cleopas, now obviously he wasn’t one of the twelve Apostles , however he was a disciple of Christ and some believe he was part of the original seventy that we sent out to preach by Jesus (Luke 10) Jesus began walking along with Cleopas and another man, but kept his identity hidden from then, to see what the men thought about all the events that just took place.

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 24:20-24

It’s interesting that the disciples said they heard about Jesus being alive by the other disciples, however they didn’t seem to be able to put 2 and 2 together. We notice that Cleopas admits they were disappointed in the Messiah because they thought he would redeem Israel from the oppression of Rome. This was a common misconception of the Christ, Israel was looking for a great military warrior to save Israel, but Jesus came to save the world from its sin

They confirmed that Jesus was crucified and the tomb was empty on the 3rd day. However these men didn’t know the prophecies well enough to tie it all together. As we continue examining this reading, Jesus will open their eyes to understand the scriptures, but notice Jesus was walking with them all the time! Amen!

Luke 24- Christ Is Risen

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Luke 24:1-6

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, the greatest day in the history of the world. The day when God defeated sin and death forever and reconciled us back to the Father. This was all accomplished in a way that was beyond our human comprehension. Nobody ever expected God to become a man, in Jesus Christ, and die for the penalty of our sins. Then be risen on the 3rd day abolishing sin and death forever. The mystery of the gospel was fulfilled on this blessed Sunday morning!

As we see the woman came to the tomb on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. This is why the Church traditionally worshiped and gathered on Sunday morning, it had nothing to do with paganism or greek mythology, this was all about the event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The entire Christian faith is based on this event, as Paul said “If Christ is not risen, then we are faith is useless” ( 1 Corinthians 15:14) Without the resurrection of Christ , there is no Christianity, there is no deliverance from your sin, there is no reconciliation back to our Heavenly Father. 

He is not here, He is Risen, this is what the angels declared at the tomb. Remember how he spoke to you when he was at Galilee?  Jesus foretold of this moment , however the disciples didn’t understand until the tomb was empty!

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Luke 24:7-12

It says “They remembered His words” When the disciples saw the empty tomb, a lightbulb went off in their heads, The Lord prophesied about this moment and now it has been fulfilled. Now when the woman disciples originally ran back to the male disciples, they didn’t believe them. So Peter ran to the tomb to check for himself, it was just as the woman said, the tomb was empty! The Lord has Risen!

The stone has been rolled away, no longer is their a veil, a barrier between us and God. We have now been reconciled back to God, sin and death are defeated because Christ The Lord has Risen today! Hallelujah! 

Luke 23- Burial of Christ

And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counseller; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. Luke 23:50-54

 Often we talk about the crucifixion of Christ and the Resurrection, but we don’t really reflect upon the burial. The dark hours before Christ rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. First lets look at the fulfillment of prophecy from( Isaiah 53:9 )“He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death” Its amazing the accuracy of the prophecies foretold by Isaiah hundreds of years before Christ was born.. Jesus was crucified with the wicked, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13) 

The rich man of the prophecy was fulfilled by Joseph of Arimathea, he was a rich Sanhedrin, a religious leader who actually became a follower of Christ. Not all the religious leaders rejected Jesus, and he gave up his grave for Christ. Imagine the risk Joseph faced going to Pilate and asking for Jesus body, however by faith he did this and he helped fulfill another Messianic prophecy

Many argue about the day when Jesus died, its clear Christ died on Friday (Preparation Day) This was called this because everyone prepared for the Sabbath (Saturday) the day before. This is why Church tradition of Good Friday is accurate in alignment with scripture

And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. Luke 23:55-56

As we know the woman disciples of Christ were the first eyewitnesses of his resurrection. As noted before, all the male disciples except John, had went into hiding in fear of their lives. The woman all remained faithful at the cross to the empty tomb. Again we see confirmation, Jesus was buried on Friday (Preparation Day) as the women rested on the Sabbath Day (Saturday) 

On Sunday morning, the world will change forever! Jesus will claim victory over sin and death! Satan is absolutely defeated, and the clock begins to tick for Christ second coming and Satans destruction in the Lake of Fire, Amen!