Mark 16:12-13
Luke 24:13-34
If you were laid off from work today or your job was terminated, where would you go to get yourself together?
Jesus Appears to
Two Followers at Emmaus
Luke 24:13–32
13Now that same day two of them
were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from
Jerusalem. 14Together they were discussing everything that had taken
place. 15And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them†.
16But they were prevented from recognizing Him. 17Then He
asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are
walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.
18The one named Cleopas answered Him, “Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem who
doesn’t know† the things that happened there in these days?”
19a“What things?” He asked them.
19bSo they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who
was a Prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20and
how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and
they crucified Him. 21But we were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel†. Besides
all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 22Moreover,
some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23and
when they didn’t find His body, they came and reported that they had seen a
vision of angels who said He was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went
to the tomb† and found it just as the women had said, but they
didn’t see Him.”
25He said to them, “O how unwise
and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have
spoken! 26Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter
into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,
He interpreted for them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the
impression that He was going farther. 29But they urged Him: “Stay
with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He
went in to stay with them.
30It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him; but He disappeared from their sight. 32So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”[1]
[1]
Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp.
248–249). Holman Bible Publishers.
Simon Peter Sees
Jesus
Luke 24:33–35
33That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, 34who said, “The Lord has certainly been raised, and has appeared to Simon!†” 35Then they began to describe what had happened on the road, and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.[1]
[1]
Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (p. 249).
Holman Bible Publishers.
That same day, Sunday, two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles out of Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking of Jesus' death, when suddenly Jesus himself came along and joined them and began walking beside them. But they didn't recognize him, for God kept them from it.
"You seem to be in a deep discussion about something," he said. "What are you so concerned about?" They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. And one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about the terrible things that happened there last week."
"What things?" Jesus asked.
"The things that happened to Jesus, the Man from Nazareth," they said. "He was a Prophet who did incredible miracles and was a mighty Teacher, highly regarded by both God and man. But the chief priests and our religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to the Roman government to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had thought he was the glorious Messiah and that he had come to rescue Israel.
"And now, besides all this—which happened three days ago—some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning and came back with an amazing report that his body was missing, and that they had seen some angels there who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, Jesus' body was gone, just as the women had said."
Then Jesus said to them, "You are such foolish, foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures! Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory?"
Then Jesus quoted them passage after passage from the writings of the prophets, beginning with the book of Genesis and going right on through the Scriptures, explaining what the passages meant and what they said about himself.
By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus would have gone on, but they begged him to stay the night with them, as it was getting late. So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he asked God's blessing on the food and then took a small loaf of bread and broke it and was passing it over to them, when suddenly—it was as though their eyes were opened—they recognized him! And at that moment he disappeared!
They began telling each other how their hearts had felt strangely warm as he talked with them and explained the Scriptures during the walk down the road. Within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem, where the eleven disciples and the other followers of Jesus greeted them with these words, "The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter!"
Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- This story happened late in the day in which Jesus rose from the dead. What do you think caused these two disciples to leave town? * Fear, * Disillusionment, * Overload, * Loneliness, or * Despair.
- What are the two disciples talking about as they walk in Luke 24:19-24? What tones of voice do you hear? What hopes are dashed? What plans might they be making? Who do they react to the "stranger"?
- In what way can meeting Jesus change a person’s life?
- Why didn't they recognize Jesus when he joined them? What opened their eyes?
- Why does Jesus call his disciples “foolish” and “slow to believe” in Luke 24:25?
- From your knowledge of Old Testament prophecy, what passages might "the stranger" have discussed with them in Luke 24:25-27?
- In his rebuke Jesus identifies the cause of the disciples’ despair – reluctance to accept the meaning of Scriptures about the Messiah’s suffering (v. 25). Describe a time when you were challenged to change your view about a biblical event or teaching?
- Why did Jesus do a roundabout Bible study rather than just, reveal his identity immediately and directly?
- Why did Jesus act as if he was going further?
- What has happened to the other disciples that has caused them to change their minds from Luke 24:11? Why a special appearance to Peter?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- What prevents people from recognizing and accepting Jesus as Savior?
- What is the closest you have come to "throwing in the towel" spiritually?
- Where is your "Road to Emmaus" -- the place where Jesus surprised you recently? What helps you recognize Jesus alongside you when you are down?
- How well do you think you can explain the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the way a person can have a relationship with him? Try rehearsing or role playing this in your mind. Who could you communicate these truths with today?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Step of Faith
Why did Jesus call these disciples foolish? Even though they well knew the biblical prophecies, they failed to understand that Christ's suffering was his path to glory. They could not understand why God did not intervene to save Jesus from the cross. The world has not changed its values: A suffering servant is no more popular today than two thousand years ago. But we have not only the witness of the Old Testament prophets, but also the witness of the New Testament apostles and the history of the Christian church all pointing to Jesus' victory over death. Will we step outside the values of our culture and put our faith in Jesus? Or will we foolishly continue to be baffled by his Good News?
The disciples from Emmaus were counting on Jesus to redeem Israel—that is, to rescue the nation from its enemies. Most Jews believed that the Old Testament prophecies pointed to a military and political Messiah; they didn't realize that the Messiah had come to redeem people from slavery to sin. When Jesus died, therefore, they lost all hope. They didn't understand that Jesus' death offered the greatest hope possible.
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