4/12/26 “Walk of Life”
“Walk of Life”
Luke 24:13-35
As many of you know, Lisa & I became grandparents again this past week....for the 2nd time....little Cooper is doing great...and so is his Mom...and Dad.
....Lisa had the opportunity to spend a few days this past week with the little fella over there in Milwaukee....and she came back on Thursday with this radiant glow
....Remember how Moses was literally glowing after experiencing the presence of God high upon Mt Sinai?
....That was Lisa this past week.....
...For awhile, I thought I might have to put a lampshade over her head just to soften the radiation glow....
Spending time with our grandchildren takes me back to when our kids were growing up...
Every year brought new adventures....new challenges...new opportunities...
But – looking back – the times when I feel we grew the most as a family...
...were - believe it or not - those times when we were out on the road.
....Maybe we were driving to one of their sporting events....or to grandma & grandpa’s house....or to school...
....sometimes, we would gas up the Durango and take road trips to places around the Midwest...or even - on a couple occasions – drive across the country
We didn’t have one of those fancy vehicles with a built-in movie player....
....No smartphones....no digital distractions of any kind....
So....to keep from falling into a boredom-coma...we would do the unthinkable....as a family....we would.....Talk to Each Other.
I know...crazy, right?
But it would be during these precious moments on the road....
...where conversations would drift into vital areas of faith, morality, and school-related issues that would help to establish our daughter’s identity....
....and strengthen our family’s cohesiveness.
....these highway interactions would prove to pay dividends “down the road” for years to come.
Well....our passage of scripture for today from the gospel of Luke also deals with a conversation that takes place on the road...
It involves two companions of Jesus....they weren’t members of the 12 apostles....
....but - like many other people – they followed Jesus from town to town....witnessing His miracles....absorbing His teaching....
...Our story picks up on the Sunday after Passover....The same day that Jesus rose from the grave...
These two men are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus...
...Emmaus was located about 7 miles North of Jerusalem.
No Dodge Durango’s in the 1st century....so they’re traveling by foot.
For most people, It takes about 2.5 hours to walk 7 miles....
...enough time to engage in some relatively deep conversations...
...and that is exactly what we see happening with these two individuals.
Look with me at verse 14 (Luke 24:14)...it reads “They were talking with each other about everything that had happened”
Just like modern Football fans today get together on Monday to discuss the memorable plays and stats from college & NFL games that took place over the weekend...
....These two fellas were discussing the shocking events involving Jesus of Nazareth at the annual Passover festival...
It was a week that will never be forgotten....
....From their perspective, It was the most shocking, demoralizing “upset” in history....
The person who they had placed their trust in...the man who healed the sick – and even raised the dead – somehow, could not save himself.
The person who had triumphantly entered Jerusalem exactly one week earlier to shouts of ‘Hosanna’.....(which means ‘Save us”...or ”deliver us”)
Jesus of Nazareth was supposed to be the long-awaited Messiah....
He was supposed to be the chosen one....the one who would liberate the nation of Israel from the heavy-handed Roman Government....or so they thought.
The one who would finally set the Israelites free from bondage!
Well...Jesus did bring freedom....but it was a different sort of freedom than what people expected...or wanted.
People didn’t want freedom from the bondage of sin....they wanted freedom from the bondage of political oppression.
That’s why the crowds of adoration ..... quickly turned into crowds of condemnation...
Crowds now calling for the death of Jesus...all because he wasn’t giving them what they wanted...
Isn’t that an accurate picture on humanity in general?
Back in 1986, there was a song by Janet Jackson called “What Have You Done For Me Lately”?....what a perfect way to summarize the culture in which we live!
We’ve all seen famous coaches in the NBA, NFL, or MLB take a team all the way to the championship...only to be fired a few years later because the fanbase was getting restless for another championship.
What have you done for me lately?
You know – If we’re honest - Aren’t we like that with God sometimes too?
God, I know you’ve been faithful to me – and you’ve blessed my life in so many ways – but couldn’t you move a little faster in this one area of my life?
....God, you know I’ve been wanting that promotion at work, but it isn’t happening...and I’m getting a little frustrated with you....come, let’s go!
...Or, God, you blessed me with a wonderful spouse who loves me....but I don’t see you convicting them of sin every time they leave the toilet seat in the wrong position....I mean, come on, God....let’s see some thunder-bowl transformation in their life!
So easily we become ungrateful and impatient with God...and with each other.
Brothers and sisters....be on guard against those two deplorable characteristics of humanity....ungratefulness & impatience...
Satan uses them to his advantage all the time...even in the hearts of believers.
Back to our boys on the road to Emmaus.
Verse 15 (Luke 24:15) says “As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them”
Now...the question sometimes comes up....Why did Jesus visit these specific men.... in this specific manner...on this specific day?
I mean, this was kind of a big day for Jesus.
Just A few hours earlier, He walked out of His own tomb....thereby defeating the power of death, sin, and Satan the moment life returned to His body....
Going incognito on a road in the middle of the country was not exactly the victory tour one would expect....
So, why does Jesus take time strike up a conversation with these guys?
Well, we may never know the ‘why’....but - through this encounter – we all have gained a better understanding of the ‘what’
...This recorded encounter has allowed centuries of Christians – including us today – to understand the importance of connecting the Old Testament scriptures to Jesus...the Messiah
...AND, we get a glimpse of how people are drawn to the savior....and how it feels.
Verse 16 (Luke 24:16) is an interesting verse.
While Jesus is walking and talking with the men, verse 16 says that “They were kept from recognizing him”
This was a trend we see in other encounters with the risen Christ...It seems as though Jesus’ appearance may have been altered to a certain degree – either by the crucifixion itself....or simply because of His resurrected status....
...whatever the reason, we notice that it took people a moment or two to fully recognize him.
For instance, when in the cemetery, Mary mistakes Jesus for the gardener...
....On another occasion, the disciples are fishing & they don’t immediately recognize Jesus standing by the shore....
In our passage for today, the two men – who wholeheartedly believe that Jesus is dead – don't recognize him for who he really is...
In verse 17 (Luke 24:17) Jesus asks them what they’re talking about as they make their way down the road...
This scene reminds me of that TV show called “Undercover Boss”...where CEO’s of companies will slightly alter their appearance and ‘show up for work’ at one of the company locations....
....This would allow the CEO to get a better feel for how their company functioned at the entry level....and what his employees truly thought of the company...
....to some degree, this might be happening in a similar context here in our passage...
Jesus is getting the honest thoughts of these two men...
Cleopas...one of the two men....seems surprised that Jesus would even ask a question having to do with the events from the last few days....
Apparently, everyone was talking about the same thing....the death of Jesus, and the amazing supernatural events that transpired on Friday afternoon while He was on the cross.
In verse 19 (Luke 24:19) the men – ironically - “fill Jesus in” on what took place over the weekend...
Telling how they had placed so much faith in the mighty prophet from Nazareth – and how they thought for sure that he was the promised Messiah.
They told Jesus about the strange circumstances surrounding the women’s story from earlier that day about the tomb of Jesus being opened....
....and angels appearing....and saying he was actually alive.
At this point, Jesus – who was probably rolling his eyes at what he was hearing - begins to give the men a masterclass tutorial in Old Testament Messianic prophecy...
In verse 25 (Luke 24:25) He says, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
Verse 26 (Luke 24:26) continues, “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
Undoubtedly, Jesus would have reminded them of Genesis 3:15....the first mention of a savior who will bring spiritual victory....but who will also suffer pain in the process...
He probably spoke of Abraham taking his son Isaac up the hill to be sacrificed...only to have God stop him at the last minute...
This story was a foreshadowing of how God would ordain for His only son to willingly ascend the same hill....and be sacrificed for the sin of mankind.
Jesus probably also brought up Exodus chapter 12.... how the blood covered the households of the Jewish people in Egypt....
....how the blood of lambs was symbolic of the blood of the messiah covering the sins of all who genuinely believe in him....
Perhaps he would have mentioned the bronze serpent in Numbers chapter 21...and how we ought to look to the Messiah for deliverance....
Or the strong Messianic prophecies in Psalm chapter 22....some of which we looked at last week.
And – of course – Jesus would have brought up the many prophecies concerning the suffering Messiah from the book of Isaiah....
Especially Isaiah chapter 53.
One cannot read this well-known chapter of Isaiah and not understand the severity to which the Messiah must suffer, in order to bring spiritual deliverance to – ultimately - people of all nations...
All of this would have taken awhile....
Before they know it, they’ve reached Emmaus...the town where these two men are apparently from.
Verse 28 (Luke 24:28) tells us that “...Jesus acted as if he were going farther.”
I think this is one of those verses that actually contains a deep spiritual truth....a truth that can be easily overlooked, if we’re not careful.
On the surface, it just seems as though Jesus is simply pretending to go further down the road...until he’s out of sight – and then would miraculously transport himself to another location....
...but look at what’s happening here.
These two men were just given all the information they needed in order to make a decision to believe what the prophets were proclaiming regarding the Messiah...
It was now up to them as to what they would do with that information.
Would they believe it?....or would they dismiss it and move on to the next spiritual idea or philosophy?
Or...to put it another way....would they believe that the Messianic prophecies pointed to Jesus....or to someone else?
Each of them had a decision to make right then and there...
Would they want to hear more about the scriptural Messianic link to Jesus from this man who’s true identity was still hidden from them....
...or would they say goodbye and let him move on down the road?
You, see there’s something more happening here than just a potential parting of ways....there’s a decision needing to be made....
And Jesus doesn’t force their hand either way.
Folks....God works the same way today.
He uses theologians....Pastors...Bible teachers....Lay leaders....people who are gifted in the conveyance of God’s word....
....He uses them to explain what the scriptures say about Jesus....
Paul talks about this in the book of Romans.
He says, “How, then, can they call upon the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?....” (Romans 10:14-15)
God sends HIs message out to the ears of people everywhere....Then...it’s up to them as to what they will do with that knowledge.
Will they dismiss it...and allow the information to move on down the road?
Will they wonder about it...ponder its merits for the rest their life...but never act upon it?
....Or - like these fellas – will they NEED to know more about how the scriptures reveal the true Messiah, Jesus Christ?
Verse 29 (Luke 24:29) describes their response, “But they urged Him strongly. ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So He went in to stay with them.”
What a beautiful picture of what happens when someone latches on to the truth of scripture!
We need to hear more...we don’t WANT to....we NEED to!
The passage states that they ‘urged him strongly’ to stay with them.
The King James says that they “Constrained Him”
In the New Living Translation, it says they “Begged Him” to stay and continue to teach them.
These guys would not let Jesus go....
Brothers and Sisters in Christ....Is that also a reality in your life?
Not just when you originally gave your life to Jesus...but how about today?
Do you NEED Jesus to the point where you cling to Him every minute of the day?
Do you NEED His Word to the point that you simply cannot go a day without being in it?
It’s this kind of dependance – this level of Need – that He wants to continue to develop in the hearts of His followers....
....We see this in these two gentlemen after latching onto the scriptural truths that were taught them...
Jesus agrees to stay with them.....they break bread together....
In fact, it is during this breaking of the bread that the two men recognize Jesus for who he truly was....
Verse 31 (Luke 24:31) says, “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight.”
The question often arises....what was it about the breaking of bread that caused the two men to have their eyes opened to Jesus’ identity....?
Perhaps it was the familiar way in which Jesus administered the breaking of bread....along with His familiar way of praying....that maybe brought a sense of recognition...
Or....maybe they were able to now see true physical reality....because they were now understanding spiritual reality....
Whatever the reason, scripture says that their ‘eyes were opened’
If you recall, the apostle Paul’s eyes were opened physically – and spiritually – after Jesus met him in a powerful way on a different road.... the road to Damascus....
This is such a beautiful aspect of gaining spiritual vision....after receiving Jesus into one’s life – a person sees the world from a different angle...
....From the angle of God’s truth....,from the vantage point of His will....from the lofty lookout of reality – situated high above the dark clouds of culture far below...
In Hawaii – on the island of Maui – there’s a mountain called Haleakala....
If you drive up to the summit to catch the sunrise....it’s one of the most breathtaking views one could ever experience....
One thing that makes it so memorable is from the 10,000’ summit, you have the opportunity to look down upon the morning clouds that form below it....
...You are blessed with a vantage point that people below – in the cloouds - cannot see.
This is similar to the experience of having one’s eyes opened to spiritual truth...
A believer in Jesus is now able to view things from God’s perspective....
....allowing them to see clearly the foggy deceptions of the evil one - and His empire of demonic storm clouds that envelope much of our culture today.
Lastly, in verse 32 (Luke 24:32) the two men realize that while Jesus was with them on the road...they both had the same feeling of being pulled toward the truth of scripture....and the truth of who He was....
This is how the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives as He draws us unto himself...
When we not only hear words of truth...but we also have a physical reaction to those words of truth....
....that’s when we know that we are being impacted on a deep, visceral level.
How many of you have experienced a physical reaction to reading God’s Word?
Yeah....it happens to many of us on a regular basis....we cry....we laugh....
...like these men, our heart aches....it burns within us....
We NEED more and more of it....
That experience is one indication that you regard this book (The Bible) to be the full truth of God
....inerrant....infallible....unchanging over time....life transforming ....supernaturally-changing....and eternal destiny securing....
On the road of life....this is your map....this is your GPS....this is your walk of life.
Let’s Pray.
