Walking with Jesus

April 29, 2020


Luke 24:13-35

LK 24:13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

LK 24:17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

LK 24:19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

LK 24:25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

LK 24:28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

LK 24:30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

LK 24:33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

They were slowly walking home to Emmaus from Jerusalem. The two disciples were sad, confused, disillusioned, disappointed, and despondent. As the one disciple said, “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” But their savior had been killed on the cross. There were stories that he had arisen from the dead, but they could not believe it. And then Jesus said, “Did not the Christ HAVE TO suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And then Jesus explained from the Old Testament all the prophecies about himself. Afterwards they would say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” In other words, when they heard the Gospel, they were filled with joy and wanted to hear more and more.

We too have walked like they did: sad, confused, disillusioned, disappointed, and despondent. We know the Easter story; we know he rose from the dead. We know he is coming again. We know he is with us right now. And yet, there are times when we have problems or do not see an answer to our prayers. We have hopes in Jesus. The Emmaus disciples hoped that Jesus would save Israel from the Roman enemies and make everything wonderful for them. We too have our enemies and problems. We hope that Jesus will be our redeemer and helper and bring health and wealth and happiness.

When we have problem, how do we comfort people? We say simple things like, “God loves you.” “God is with you.” “Do not worry.” “It will all work out to the good.” That is all true, but what Jesus said to them, “Did not the Christ HAVE TO suffer these things and then enter his glory?” Jesus made them think about what will really bring deliverance. He spoke the Gospel. He told them that Christ HAD TO suffer and die. That was the way to bring true freedom and life. It is because his suffering was like our suffering. His wounds were our wounds. He took upon himself our sins as his own. And so there is forgiveness of sin. There is peace with God.

When the two disciples heard this, they realized that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for them. It made their hearts burn with joy and hope and relief. That is the same message that Jesus has for us today. That is the Gospel that Jesus shares with us. Faith is not what we must do, but what Christ has done already for us. It is the story of what Christ has done and is still doing for us. And that is why we Christians get excited when we hear Bible stories.

At first the two men did not know that it was Jesus who was walking and talking with them. But they recognized him at dinner when Jesus took the bread in his hands and blessed it and broke it. I think what opened their eyes was when Jesus took the bread in his hands and then they saw the nail prints in his hands, then they knew that it was Jesus. Likewise, we can hear the message about Jesus, but it is when we see the nail prints in his hands, and when we know that he died on the cross for us, for you and for me. And that is when our walk in life with Jesus really begins.

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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マイケル・ニアフッド、牧師
沖縄ルーテル教会


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