In Luke 24:13-35, we have two disciples of Jesus who are discouraged because they saw Jesus crucified. It is Sunday morning, and Jesus had been crucified on Friday afternoon. They left Jerusalem, headed toward a village called Emmaus, which was about 7 miles west of Jerusalem. To put this in our local distances to help us understand, this is about the distance from the top of Connors Road along H-58 out to the Bear Trap at the top of 15. A decent pace might make this walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus a solid three to four hours.
On this trip, the two were discussing all the events, wonders and tragedies in Jerusalem in the last week or so. These two have left Jerusalem and the company of the other followers of Jesus — in a time where we see Jesus’followers all huddling up together for safety and comfort — to try and find their own way. They were disappointed in the one they had thought was the Savior of Israel.
During the conversation of the two disciples that we do not have recorded, another traveler joins them on the road. They did not recognize this traveler, even though it was Jesus. These two had likely spent a great deal of time listening to and traveling with Jesus as he taught his 12 disciples and the greater group of followers. Jesus joins them in their conversation on the road, asking what they had been talking about. They respond with shock, that he would not know of all of the recent excitement in Jerusalem.
The two respond to Jesus by telling him all about the events that had happened in Jerusalem that week. They sadly tell of the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, who they believed to be a powerful prophet and possible Savior of Israel. They had hoped he was the Redeemer of Israel, but now they don’t believe it because they saw him crucified. They should have remembered Jesus’ teachings about his death, burial and resurrection. Instead, they are discouraged and headed out of town, even though they know several people had evidence that Jesus had risen from the dead that morning.
Because of this, Jesus called them foolish and slow of heart to believe everything the prophets had spoken. Remember, these two travelers did not recognize Jesus as they were travelling with him. In Luke 24, Jesus helps his followers move out of foolishness and into wisdom. What is the solution for foolishness? It is belief in the Scriptures.
Jesus explained to them how both the direct prophecies about the Messiah and the historical patterns of God’s activity throughout the Old Testament looked forward to Jesus himself. The entire Old Testament had shown how God brought his chosen leaders first through suffering and then to glory.
Therefore, the Messiah himself, in fulfillment of this extensive pattern and in fulfillment of many prophecies, would also first suffer before entering “into his glory.” Meaning, Jesus showed these disciples from the Old Testament how it was predicted that he would die and be buried, be raised and ascend to heaven on high. Jesus showed these disciples everything from Scripture about himself throughout the remainder of this trip to Emmaus, but they do not yet fully understand as their 7-mile walk comes to an end.
Sometimes things happen in our lives that we do not understand, but Jesus already knows about these events and has planned the outcome for the benefit of God’s glory and the good of those who trust in him.
Part 2 of this series will be published in the June 6 issue of The Beacon.
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Jesus explained to them how both the direct prophecies about the Messiah and the historical patterns of God’s activity throughout the Old Testament looked forward to Jesus himself.
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