Most of the Jews in Jesus’ time had an opinion of what the Messiah was going to come and do. The Old Testament scripture had, in their mind, spoken of a savior coming in glory to free them and rule them. They pictured a conquering kind, and not a suffering servant.

Isaiah 53 says

1Who has believed what we have heard?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2He grew up before him like a young plant

and like a root out of dry ground.

He didn’t have an impressive form

or majesty that we should look at him,

no appearance that we should desire him.

3He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.

He was like someone people turned away from;

he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

4Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,

and he carried our pains;

but we in turn regarded him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

5But he was pierced because of our rebellion,

crushed because of our iniquities;

punishment for our peace was on him,

and we are healed by his wounds.

6We all went astray like sheep;

we all have turned to our own way;

and the Lord has punished him

for the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth.

Like a lamb led to the slaughter

and like a sheep silent before her shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

8He was taken away because of oppression and judgment,

and who considered his fate?

For he was cut off from the land of the living;

he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.

9He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

but he was with a rich man at his death,

because he had done no violence

and had not spoken deceitfully.

10Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely.

When you make him a guilt offering,

he will see his seed, he will prolong his days,

and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.

11After his anguish,

he will see light and be satisfied.

By his knowledge,

my righteous servant will justify many,

and he will carry their iniquities.

12Therefore I will give him the many as a portion,

and he will receive the mighty as spoil,

because he willingly submitted to death,

and was counted among the rebels;

yet he bore the sin of many

and interceded for the rebels.

Today we will see Jesus reveal himself to two discouraged disciples after His crucifixion.

Questions

Luke 24:18-24

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?”

19 “What things?” he asked them.

So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, 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.”

These two disciples had had expectations of what Jesus was going to do. They felt discouraged by His apparent defeat. They expected Jesus to come and redeem Israel, but didn’t understand that that was exactly what he’d done. They must have felt disappointment, thinking Jesus must not have been the Messiah.

They had lost faith in Jesus. They must have known He had predicted His resurrection, as evidenced by the usage of the statement, “Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened.”

Their impatience led them to leave Jerusalem and head home to Emmaus. They had heard what the women had reported about the tomb being empty, but still didn’t believe.

It is in this state, that Jesus approaches them on the road to Emmaus. However, He prevented them from recognizing Him.

What misconceptions do people have about Jesus today, that prevent them from truly recognizing Him?

These men wanted undeniable proof of Jesus’ resurrection. They heard the women’s story. They had even heard that Peter and John went to the tomb and confirmed it. However, the fact that nobody had seen Jesus led them to still disbelieve.

How ironic that they were actually talking to Jesus as they said this.

Answers

Luke 24:25-27

25He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.

This is what I would call willful ignorance. The truth was literally right in front of them, yet they chose not to see it.

Jesus does something here that I believe sets a good example for us. He doesn’t remind them of His own words, though that would have been completely appropriate. Instead, He points them to the truth of scripture.

Have you ever heard the term Sola Scriptura?

Sola Scriptura is the belief that the Bible is the sole authoritative source of Christian faith and practice.

Jesus opened their eyes to the scriptures of the Old Testament. Growing up, I often disregarded the Old Testament. It felt like somehting that didn’t really apply to me. After all, I have the New Testament to guide me now.

But as we see here, the Old Testament was always pointing to Jesus. In verse 27 Jesus says “he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.”

Why should we simply rely on the Bible when sharing about Jesus?

Recognized

Luke 24:28-31

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.

It was near dark when they arrived at their destination. The men asked Jesus to stay with them. This was customary hospitality, but it was also more. They were urging Him to stay. He had made an impression on them while traveling. Something was stirring in them, and they wanted to know more.

Almost symbolically, Jesus breaks the bread, and then the men’s eyes are opened. Then He just disappears.

This reveals a truth for our lives. You have to spend time with God, to truly be able to see who He is.

What are some of the ways you use to regularly spend time in God’s presence?