A Walk to Emmaus
1. Story (based on Luke 24:13-35)
- Last week, we heard of how Mary and Peter and John went to Jesus’ tomb and saw that it was empty!
- That same day, two other disciples — Cleopas and his friend — were walking to a village called Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem.
- How do you think they were feeling? Yes, they were feeling sad! They were feeling dejected. Disappointed. Defeated.
- Their friend Jesus had died. Their hopes and dreams for a superhero savior had been dashed. And now, they have heard that Jesus’ tomb was empty!
- As they walked and talked to each other, suddenly Jesus came by and walked together with them. But somehow, they were not able to recognize him.
- Jesus asked them, “What are you talking about?”
- Cleopas was surprised. “Are you new to Jerusalem? Don’t you know what’s been happening here the past few days?”
- They went on to explain. “We were talking about Jesus. He was a powerful prophet. We had hoped he would deliver Israel from the Romans. But the chief priest and rulers handed him over to be crucified.
- “Then today, some of our women told us that they went to the tomb early this morning and they couldn’t find his body! They saw angels instead, who told them that Jesus was alive. Then some of our friends went to the tomb and find it empty, but they did not see Jesus.”
- Then Jesus told them, “Don’t you know what all the prophets have said? Don’t you know that the Messiah has to suffer all these things before being glorified?
- Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to the two disciples what all the Scriptures said about Himself.
- As they reached the village, Jesus pretended to walk on. But they urged him, “Stay with us. It’s almost evening.”
- So Jesus stayed with them. He had supper with them. He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread and gave it to them.
- Who knows when Jesus did this before? Yes, at the Passover dinner — His last supper with his disciples. (The Covenant Meal/Holy Communion/Lord’s Supper)
- When Jesus broke the bread, suddenly the disciples remembered too! Their eyes were opened, and they could recognize Jesus!
- Then Jesus disappeared from their sight.
- Cleopas and his friend said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts feel warm when He was talking to us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
- Then they got up and returned immediately to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven disciples and others who had gathered with them. “It is true!” The other disciples said. “The Lord appeared to Peter!”
- And Cleopas and his friend also told them how Jesus met them on the road to Emmaus, and how they recognized Him when He broke bread.
- Jesus walks with us
- When we are feeling down and discouraged, when we are sad or mad, sometimes God seems very far away.
- But the truth is that Jesus never leaves our side. We may not recognize Him always, but He’s always there with us. He’s walking with us all the way.
- After an encounter with Jesus, instead of being sad and discouraged, their hearts were warmed and they could tell the good news excitedly to everyone else!
- The Bible is about Jesus!
- The whole Bible is a love story written by God to man.
- It tells how God loved the world so much and planned to send a Saviour to save the world from sin.
- Every story in the Bible, every prophecy, shows us more about Jesus and what He has done on the cross for us.
- That’s why in tNCC, we always look at Jesus and His finished work on the cross!
- So when we read the Bible, we can ask ourselves, “How does this story show me Jesus and His finished work?”
- And you’ll be amazed at how beautiful a story it is of God’s love for you and me!
- Memory Verse: Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them in all the Scriptures what was said about Himself.
- (Younger class) Luke 24:27 The Bible tells us about Jesus.
