This is an exposition of Luke 24:13-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 25, 2018.
Intro:
Out of the darkness came the triumphant cry, “It is finished!” With that our Lord, from the cross, declared redemption complete. He then cried a second time, “Papa, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” With that, He breathed His last.
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Yet those gathered around the cross failed to understand that victory had been won. They could not see beyond His lifeless body. As He was removed and placed in that tomb the icy fingers of death tightened about their hearts in chilling, numbing grief. None of his followers had the slightest notion of resurrection. They walked away in despair. When the sun rose early Sunday morning some women found his tomb empty. They returned with tails of angels and the announcement that He was alive. It was thought an idle tale, the deranged babbling of some hysterical women. Peter ran to the tomb and finding it empty he went away wondering what happened. It was now late afternoon. Two of His followers, having heard bits and pieces of the story were on their way home to the tiny village of Emmaus. As they walked slowly along they were trying to make sense of all they had heard. They were reasoning together. They were discussing and evaluating all the news that was flying around. Then a stranger joined them on the road. Our text this morning is found in Luke chapter 24 beginning with verse 13.
Text: Luke 24:13-35
We are not given much detail about these two disciples. We know they lived in Emmaus, a village about 7 miles outside of Jerusalem (13). We know they were discouraged, disillusioned and confused. One of them was named Cleopas (18). Now, an interesting theory is that this is a variation of the name given in John 19:25 as Clopas. I don’t know, but it is interesting. Why? Because John 19 describes those near the cross as, “His mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” Kent Hughes takes the phrase, “his mother’s sister” as a descriptive of Mary the wife of Clopas. So, Hughes says, “Aunt Mary and uncle Cleopas were on their way home.” It’s an interesting idea but I’m not sure it is one that is well supported by the text! All we know is that they were followers of Jesus and they were heart-broken over the crucifixion and now the disappearance of His body.
Let’s look at the text…
This account is unique to Luke.
Mark makes reference to these two disciples but only that Jesus appeared to them (16:12-13).
When we dealt with Luke 24:1-12 I made a point of Jesus’ absence. I said, “I believe Luke was place an emphasis on the prophetic word.” That he wanted his reader to understand the importance of what Jesus said and the need to believe the word. Joining that with Peter’s comment in 2 Peter chapter 1 that we have a more certain word. Something more reliable than experience. I think that is why Luke includes this encounter of the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus.
As the story unfolds we discover that…
Thesis: The life-giving, energizing truth of the Risen Christ takes doubting, struggling and faltering followers and transformed them into gospel inflamed evangelists.
There are three things I want to call to your attention in this text.
- A gospel without the resurrection is not merely a defective gospel, it is no gospel at all! (24:13-24)
- The resurrection is not a New Testament doctrine, it is a biblical doctrine! (24:25-27)
- The whole gospel enlightens, inspires and transforms. (24:28-35)
Conclusion:
What a difference. They left the city heart-broken. They returned with triumphant joy!
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