The Third Sunday of Easter, April 6, 2008
Luke 24:13-35

1

Jesus had many more followers than just the 12 Disciples. Two of these other followers were walking to Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. It was the afternoon of the first Easter. They were very sad. They were very sad because they were disappointed. They had hoped that Jesus would be the Messiah sent from God to save the nation of Israel. They were thinking in political terms. They hoped that Jesus would get rid of the Romans who were controlling their country. But instead, Jesus was condemned to death and crucified. Disappointed, disillusioned, depressed, they left Jerusalem and headed to Emmaus. Jerusalem is the City of God. Jerusalem is the city from which God would save his people. So when they left Jerusalem, it is a symbol that they had lost hope.

It is a symbol of people today who lose hope in God. People have tried the church or heard a bit about Jesus, but have gone away from the city of God. The Emmaus they are heading toward might have other names. There are names like addictions, hedonism, materialism, depression. But they all lead away from God.

2

When Jesus met the two disciples on the road, they did not recognize him. They were "kept from recognizing him" (24:16) by God. Jesus did not want them to know that it was him yet. But the deeper problem was that they did not recognize who Jesus really was. They did not understand the real truth about Jesus. And that is why Jesus calls them "foolish" and "slow of heart." Then Jesus explained to them from the Old Testament Scriptures everything about the Messiah. Yes, they already knew the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, but Jesus had to explain to them what they had missed. He told them that it was NECESSARY that the Messiah would suffer, that Christ HAD TO "suffer these things and then enter his glory" (26).

Modern day travelers on the road away from Jerusalem have the same problem. Our hearts can be blinded so that we do not see Jesus. We want a savior who will take away our suffering. But we do not realize that what is NECESSARY is a Messiah that would suffer. In our suffering, we NEED a Christ who will suffer with us and for us. And if we don�t recognize that Jesus is that sort of savior, then we are walking away from Jerusalem. We are walking away from the city of our salvation. Any road that leads away from the city of salvation is a dead end. Jesus and the resurrection to life are back in Jerusalem

3

Jesus did not give up on the two disciples. Instead, "Jesus himself came up and walked along with them" (15). Patiently, "he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself" (27). He explained WHY the Messiah had to suffer and die. The two disciples began to recognize the truth.

Jesus comes to us when we are going in the wrong direction. We are patiently told the Good News about God�s love and WHY he had to suffer and die for us. He is the one to "redeem Israel." He is the one to "free the nation." He is the one to "save the world." This freedom is not in a political sense, since his kingdom is not of this world, as Jesus told Pilate (John 18:36). His Kingdom is the whole world. His death and resurrection redeems us from Satan and sin.

4

Finally the two disciples recognize the truth. And so the recognized Jesus in the breaking and blessing of the bread. In their tremendous joy, they forget their Emmaus business and rush back to Jerusalem. They recognized Jesus because of faith.

Because we have faith, we too recognize who Jesus is.

5

They returned to the city of God. They returned to the place of the crucifixion and resurrection. Then Jesus gave them the Great Commission to go out and proclaim the Gospel to the world. As missionaries and apostles, they meet people on "the road to nowhere" and lead them to the city of God.

This is where we are today. We recognize Jesus in the breaking and blessing of the bread in the Holy Supper. Then we go out and spread the Gospel of Salvation. We join other people who might be walking away from God and lead them to the city of God. We tell that it is NECESSARY that Christ die and rise again. We tell WHY Jesus died and rose. It is because he loves us and because we NEED a suffering savior who will forgive our sin. This gives hope. And in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we recognize our Savior.

Amen.

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