Luke 24:13-24 And, behold, two of them went that same day (Easter Sunday) to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass therein these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
When my 39 year old son suddenly passed away, my wife and I were devastated. Yes, he was saved, but the loss was so deep and so real! I cried out to the Lord for comfort, and he laid this passage of Scripture on my heart. I have since shared this message with hundreds of people going through difficulties and the Lord has used it to encourage them as well. Perhaps it will help you too. That is my prayer.
It was Easter Sunday evening! Christ had risen from the dead, as He said. Not all the disciples of the Savior were aware of His resurrection. Two of them, Cleopas and possibly his wife (?) were heading toward a little town called Emmaus. They were discouraged because their Messianic hopes had been dashed with Christ’s crucifixion. All hope seemed gone for deliverance from the Roman yoke of bondage and from the bondage of sin. They had believed the O.T. prophecies concerning His Kingship and Kingdom, but now their King was gone – sealed in a rich man’s tomb. Or was He?!
Just as they were contemplating their dismal future and complaining about their loss to each other (misery loves company!), they were joined by a Stranger as they walked. They didn’t recognize Him (v.16). But He soon entered into their conversation. They were down, but He was up! (That’s the way it is in our lives too. When we get down, we need to realize that He is by our side and is concerned about our discouragement. He will come alongside and enter into our discouragement and doubt and minister to us through His presence and His word.)
I. THEY WERE “DOWN!”
Because of Disappointment: v. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
They had allowed circumstances to control them. They had allowed doubt concerning God’s promises and His Word to creep into their hearts. All doubt and discouragement comes because of unbelief and a failure to claim His promises. Every circumstance in the believers life is a part of God’s overall plan, we just need to trust Him. And when we trust Him, that pleases Him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1. Because of Crushed Expectation: v.20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. They were focused on Calvary instead of His promises. They were focused on His death instead of His prophesied resurrection. John 20:9 “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”
🖤Death brings disappointment; disappointment brings death! Dead churches drive people to the contemporary or the mortuary! We are to preach a message of life. Our music and every aspect of our services must be alive. People come to church with burdens, problems, disappointments and crushed expectation. They need a service to boost them, not to help them drown in their sorrows and be buried in their discouragement. They need to leave church with a song in their hearts, a bounce in their steps and hope in their heart. Hope needs to flow from the pulpit to the pew. Spurgeon said “If you preach to the people’s needs, you will not lack for an audience.” Not just frivolous, frothy sermons, but meaty, hearty meals from the Scriptures.
🖤They were focused on His crown of thorns instead of His crown of glory. They were focused on the cross instead of the empty tomb. They were focused on the nails in His pierced body instead of His resurrected body – all that would change very soon!
2. Because of Disbelief & Disillusionment:
24:22-24 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
> They had heard the good news, but preferred to dwell on the bad news.
> They accepted the “seeing is believing” concept, instead of the faith and trust concept.
> They had made a choice: unbelief instead of faith.
> They had had a conversation: v.17a “And he said unto them, What manner of communication are these that ye have one to another?
> They had allowed their choice and conversation to affect their countenance. V.17b “…and are sad.”
> They were down because they didn’t know He was up!
Watch out for the naysayers, the grouches, the complainers, the negative people in the church. There are some people who have the “gift” of doubt, instead of the gift of belief. The doubters never do anything, they just find fault with those who are doing something.
Doubt is infectious. Put two people in a room; one healthy, the other sick. The sick person won’t catch the healthy person’s good health, but it is likely that the healthy person may become sick. The best immunity is to stay away from the sick people.
In Bible times the lepers had to cry “unclean, unclean!” to warn people of their infectious disease. The merchants in the market place kept a 10 ft. pole to use when dealing with the sick. They wouldn’t allow the sick person any closer that 10 feet away from them. Thus came the saying “I wouldn’t touch that with a ten foot pole! Maybe we ought to get a ten foot pole to carry around with us!
II. HE WAS “UP!”
When you are down, He is up! In their darkest hour, the “Son of righteousness” arose with “healing in His wings.” Mal. 4:2
1. He Came Close to Them: v.15 “Jesus Himself drew near…”
💗If you look close enough, you will find Him somewhere in your storm. Sometimes it is difficult to see Him through your tears, trials and turmoil, but He is there.
💗When my son died, all I could do initially was weep. I could not hold back the tears. Then I realized that I needed to look for the Lord in my storm. I did, and there he was! He didn’t bring my son back to me, but He assured me that I would one day soon go to be with him. “Jesus Himself drew near…” It doesn’t mean that I no longer miss my son, but He brings comfort and understanding through His Word and by sending His disciples (our friends) to help us.
2. He Companied with Them: v.15 His resurrection life is transferable and transforming. His company would transform their grief into joy. Although at this point they did not recognize Him, they would soon be rejoicing. His presence and resurrection life would be transferred to them, as it will to all who walk with Him.
3. He Came to Converse with Them: vv. 17-19 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass therein these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people
🧡He entered into their discouragement to let them know of His concern for them. He wanted to know how they perceived the circumstances that had them discouraged.
🧡If you study the post resurrection appearances of the Savior, you will find that each time His disciples were discouraged, He would call to them or come to them. When Peter got discouraged and led the other disciples (including John – the most spiritual and the closest to Jesus) away from the ministry and back to fishing, Jesus appeared and called to them. He said “Children, have ye any meat?” They answered Him, “No.” Peter immediately was encouraged when He recognized the Lord’s voice and, typically, jumped overboard and swam to Jesus, on shore.
🧡Jesus promised that His sheep would hear and recognize His voice. But it pays to stay close to Him so you can hear Him when He speaks to you.
4. He Came to Correct Them: vv. 25-27 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
➕When we fail to trust Him we need to be corrected. His rebuke is always for our benefit. His correction is for our profit. His chastisement is to get us back on track. He uses His Word (O.T.) to correct them.
➕This is literally the first Sunday School class, with Jesus as the Teacher and only 2 students. It must have been the class of all classes! He revealed Himself to them using the entire O.T. as His text!! Imagine how long this “class” must have lasted. Jesus goes through the entire Jewish Old Testament and expounds to them the types, symbols, prophesies and promises concerning Himself.
v. 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
vv. 24:44-45 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
5. He Came to Commune with Them: vv. 28-31 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
>First he “pretended” that He had to leave them. v.28 “He made as though…” What a sweet passage! Here is Jesus in His glorified state, still revealing His accommodation to our humanity, by showing His humanity! How many times have you visited with someone about to sit down for dinner and when invited to eat, you “pretend” that you have to go. Secretly you are wanting to stay and enjoy the fellowship and the food. >Finally you say “O.K.” That is what we have here. Fortunately, for them, “they constrained Him…” and he accepted the invitation.
Luke 24:32-33 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them
Apparently when He broke bread with them and blessed it, they saw the nail prints in His hands and their eyes were opened. But it was also the Scriptures that revealed Him to them!
6. He Came to Convince Them: v. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? ✝His Word was what burned in their hearts. Our problem when we are down is that is usually the time when we fail to read His Word. It is ✝His Word that will get us up when we are down. “the Scriptures…”
When I was “down” in the ICU after my second open heart surgery, and the doctors had given up on me and I didn’t even recognize my wife and children, it was the Scriptures that flooded my soul; verses came to mind that I didn’t even know that I had memorized came to me and gave me comfort and got me “UP!” (Spiritually and, I believe, physically) When my son went to heaven, once again the Scriptures gave me comfort.
CONCL.: “WHEN WE ARE DOWN, HE IS UP!” We, like these two disciples need to believe and not doubt! We need to trust and not allow discouragement to defeat us. Remember, when you are down, He is always UP!
Of course if you do not know Him as your Savior, you cannot have His comfort. Why not receive Him today?
Dr. Paul C. Fedena
31 Stream Lane
Levittown, PA 19055
[email protected]
215-547-6262
267-230-1149
www.pastorfedena.com
31 Stream Lane
Levittown, PA 19055
[email protected]
215-547-6262
267-230-1149
www.pastorfedena.com