Emmaus
Background from the NT: Luke 24:13-35
Background from the OT: various
prophets…Gen 3:15, Gen 49:10, Psa 22, Is 7:14, Is 9:6-7,
et.al.
The Third Day
Two disciples, Cleopas and
one unnamed, leave Jerusalem for Emmaus
They've witnessed
events
They're hurt,
dejected, defeated
Emmaus is about 7
miles w/sw of Jerusalem, approx 21/2 hours walking time
Jesus joins them, asks what
they're talking about
they don't
recognize him -- "eyes constrained"
they explain the
recent events -- Jesus gently rebukes their lack of
understanding and unbelief
Jesus explains
the meaning of it through "the prophets, beginning
with Moses"
When they reach their
destination, Jesus joins them for supper
When Jesus broke
bread (just like the upper room) they finally recognize
him -- their eyes were opened (wouldn't you liked to have
seen the expressions on their faces?)
He disappears
from their sight
They went right
back to Jerusalem and told the others -- the remaining 11
Disciples -- what they had seen
The Prophets, beginning with
Moses
Jesus delivered a two-hour,
one-on-one, personalized Bible study
It validated the
scriptures
It validated His
existence
Why to just those
two?
Hearing/understanding the
Word of God "made their hearts burn within them".
The experience was so overwhelming, they turned around,
walked another 2-3 hours uphill, in the dark, late at night,
to tell the others the good news
What they knew
was too important to wait
They were
compelled to act
Exegesis
What did it mean then?
In the context of
the two disciples' worlds, what was the meaning of the
experience?
What does it mean today?
How can that
experience hold relevance in today's world?
What does it mean to us
personally?
Are we alert to
God's Spirit in our daily walk?
Are we blind to
the relevance of the Gospel?
Would Jesus
rebuke our unbelief?
Copyright 2002 Leon V. Smith. All rights
reserved.
