New Testament Studies

What a day!  On the Road to Emmaus

By Robert C. Crowder

As the Songwriter says, "Have a little Talk with Jesus makes it right."

One of my favorite passages in the New Testament continues to amaze me.  Often after reading the passage, I am so excited that I can't stop  thanking God for putting this short passage in the Bible just for me.

Luke 24:13-35 - 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:  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.  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.  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? 33 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.

I can't even begin to talk about this passage without getting filled with the Spirit of the Living God and getting all excited.

Let me tell you why I get so happy.

Notice that these two were sad, walking and talking with their heads down.  Along comes Jesus and he walks with them for a while communing with them.  He asks them a couple of questions they respond and then he talks about Christ.

Now hold on here we go.  This is going to get you.  Jesus teaches them from the beginning starting with Moses.  He taught them what the scriptures said about the Christ.  He included the prophets and the scriptures how that they foretold Christ.  They had themselves a marvelous bible study on the road to Emmaus.  They arrive at their town and Jesus lingered just enough for them to ask him to stay.  They ask, he accepts and then Jesus lowers the boom.  My favorite passage is the following few verses.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.  32 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?

Notice that they sat down to eat and Jesus breaks the bread and hands it to them.  It is then that they are consumed with the knowledge that the one who they had been talking too, learning how Christ figured into the scriptures was this very same Jesus.

Why then?  I will tell you the answer.  THIS IS IT!  If you were wearing a robe the sleeves of the robe would cover most of the hands during the walk, but when Jesus hands them the bread, the sleeves pull back and right there in front of their eyes they see the nail prints. 

YAHOO!  What a Saviour!  Doesn't that just get your juices flowing?  Don't you want to jump up and down, stomp around the house just a little?  Doesn't that make you want to SHOUT?

It certainly affected these two.  Look at what they said to each other, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the scriptures?

When was the last time that you're heart burned within you as you studied the scriptures?  When was the last time that you yearned to study to show yourselves approved?

Two for the Price!

A week earlier, there is a passage not found in the synoptic gospels, but rather is found in the book of John chapter 20.  It is resurrection day and already events have unfolded that has the whole area buzzing with excitement on different levels.  The Chief Priest, Priests, Sadducees, Pharisees and Roman government had had their way with Jesus earlier in the week

Now it was time for a good old shouting time for Jesus followers.

The early morning finds the stone rolled back, and angel had spoken to the visitors, Jesus had visited the tomb and spoke with Mary Magdalene, saying to her "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. John 20:11-18[2][2]

In Mary's grief, she did not even recognize Jesus, but she wasn't the only one.  The story picks up that evening with the eleven in a room together when the doors were shut, Jesus appears and says simply, Peace be unto you.  Then shows them his hands and his side, which were pierced.

This is an important concept that must be realized and then just plain savored.  Notice that:

1.                  Jesus had a real body that the disciples looked at; they saw the damage done to his hands and his side.  They saw the lacerations, the damage done when the nails were driven through his flesh and bone, tearing the skin, arteries and veins and muscle.  They saw where the spear was driven into his side to aid in hurrying the death along.  He showed them his visible body he was not a spirit.   

Can you say Halleluiah!!  Say it again Halleluiah, Praise God for sending mankind his most precious gift.  His only begotten Son, Jesus!

2.                  His Body had been resurrected.  It was Jesus body.  It had skin and bone.  He had a head, two arms, two legs and a trunk.  He had eyes to see, ears to hear and a mouth to speak.  His body was the same as when he had died, except he now was resurrected.  Mankind down through the ages has been trying to cheat death, figure ways of making it past the light and live forever without dying.  Jesus had done just that.  His body was ready to be in Heaven with his father.

3.                  Notice that in every occasion, Jesus would show his nail prints and Jesus was immediately recognized.

ã 2002 bobsbiblestudies