Audio Sermons

The Road to Emmaus

Life B-P Church Easter Sunday Service, 31^st March 2024

Text: Luke 24:13-35

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ:

• It is the central truth of Christianity. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:17,18)
• Jesus made at least 10 appearances during the 40 days before His ascension up to heaven.
• His third appearance took place on the Road to Emmaus, which is about 11 km from Jerusalem. (v.13)
• His glorious new body needs no medicine, rest, food or water. (cf. John 4:6)
• It can also vanish and appear again at His own will. (vv.31,36)
• We will one day have a body like that. (Philippians 3:21) 

Who were these disciples?

• Only one of them is named – Cleopas. (v.18)
• They were not of the 12 disciples, but of a larger group. (cf. Luke 19:37)
• They were returning home to their village of Emmaus.

1. The Despondent Disciples’ Perplexities (vv.13-24)

• They did not know that Jesus is alive.
• Their hearts were filled with perplexing questions and mysteries.

2. The Resurrected Christ’s Teaching (vv.25-31)

The experience of the two disciples had two stages: 

a. Burning Hearts (v.32)

• They now understood why Christ had to die and why the tomb was empty. 

• They may have been told about:

1. The Passover Lamb as a forepicture of the Messiah (Exodus 12:21)
2. The Messiah’s Death in Isaiah 53:5
3. The Messiah’s Resurrection in Psalm 16:10

• They must have realised how superficial and shallow their knowledge of Scripture had been.

b. Opened Eyes (v.31)

• Why were they not able to recognise the Lord Jesus Christ?
  Possible reasons:

⃝ They were not expecting Christ to be alive. (cf. Mary Magdalene, John 20:14-16)

⃝ Jesus appeared in a different form, or God caused the disciples to see a different form. (cf. Mark 16:12; Luke 24:16, 31)

• Why would God deliberately keep them from recognising Jesus? (cf. vv.9-11; Mark 16:13,14)

⃝ Verse 25 – “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.”

⃝ It was probably due to their lack of faith. (cf. Matthew 13:13,14)

• Their eyes were opened when Jesus took bread, blessed it, break it and gave to them. 

He had done this before in:

1. Multiplying the five loaves and two fishes (Luke 9:16)
2. Instituting the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19)

The lesson: The importance of faith

3. The Delighted Disciples’ Testimony (vv.32-35) 

• They could not wait until the next day to relate everything to the rest of the disciples!
• We should be just as excited about sharing the Gospel with others,
  as these two disciples were.

Application:

Dedicate yourself anew to the Risen Saviour: To serve Him, to tell others about Him, to study His Word diligently, and to live by faith in Him!