11 April 2021
Series: THE CROSS

THE CROSS: HOPE RESTORED (6)

Speaker: Fred Sigle

SUNDAY LESSON, 4/11/21
 
THE CROSS: HOPE RESTORED (6)
Luke 24:13-35
After the resurrection that Sunday morning, there was a lot of confusion among Christ’s disciples.  Rumors were swirling throughout Jerusalem as to whether Jesus actually arose from the dead or if someone took His body away.
The women who had gone to the tomb that morning to put spices on the body of Jesus, were told by angels that “He has risen” (Luke 24:6).   The Apostles didn’t believe the women when the ran to tell them what they had seen and heard; they thought it was “nonsense” (Luke 24:11).
And the next thing we know, Jesus is walking with two disciples, whom Luke had introduced to us for the first time, as they travel 7-miles northwest of Jerusalem to a small village named Emmaus.    It’s during this 7-mile journey that we learn much about the confusion and hopelessness of the disciples.  What began as hope and then despair for these two disciples, ended with their hope restored after spending the day with the Risen Christ.
LUKE 24:13-35

On the Road to Emmaus

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] 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.

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 the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

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 they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah 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.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on 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.

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?”

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.