Series: Roads
Message: The Road to Emmaus
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Daily Walk: Japhet De Oliveira
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 83:9-13.
Read: Luke 24:13-35 (NIV). As you read the New International Version, note 1-3 insights.
Reflect: If you were a character in this story, what would you have said or asked? Knowing that it was not the middle of the night when this journey took place, but under the bright midday sun, why do you think Jesus keep His identity hidden? And how?
The English translation of this story does not do justice to the setting, because verse 15 seems to imply the three were chatting while walking. The Greek for the word "discussing" suggests much more than a simple discussion, but implies the presence of passion in this conversation. Ellen White, in "The Walk to Emmaus" in The Desire of Ages, writes that they must have been weeping through this conversation. Confused, upset, broken, they are walking away from Jerusalem to a place not far from the city. Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, in their book Jesus Speaks, add that the doubt has broken all their hope.
Doubt shatters dreams and blocks our hearing. It may be the most laming illness of the soul. Doubt cannot hear hope or see life. Doubt blocks everything but doubt. Doubt surely can’t hear or see the living Jesus beside you. For Cleopas and Mary, doubt and despair had seized their hearts so much that they had decided to return home. They weren’t going to remain in Jerusalem with the rest of Jesus’ disciples. They had given up. Their hopes were dashed, and, sad and dejected, they despaired of the future (p. 15).
Luke, under the inspiration of the Spirit, is the only one to record this post-resurrection story. Not just to prove that Jesus was alive, but to show us today, in our time and space, that even with our eyes shut we too can discover the voice of God. First and always we need the Bible. It may not always make sense. Its meaning might not always fall together. It might sometimes seem like a collection of disconnected stories. But when you know them, memorize them, internalize them, the Holy Spirit will open your eyes as to their meaning. The voice will become clear.
Remember, it was only after Jesus had brought all the Scripture back into their minds that they started to piece it together.
Recalibrate:
Respond: Pray for sight to recognize Jesus in your life.
Research: Why is Luke 24:26 so important? How did it shift their idea of who the Messiah could be?