Road to Emmaus

RoadtoEmmaus by lcl

There is only one mention of Emmaus in scripture. It was a destination only a short distance from Calvary and an empty tomb. It became important because two men found God on their journey to it. The city was not important but rather the trip and the questions and resultant answers that came from inquiring minds seeking God and his truths. All believers must take a similar walk to seek and find God in their own personal spiritual journey. It is then that the same Christ will meet and walk with them while leading them through the HolySpirit.

Luk 24:13 And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, it being about sixty stadia from Jerusalem. (From the base of G2476 (as fixed); a stadeor certain measure of distance; by implication a stadiumor racecourse:– furlong, race.)( 71/2miles)(to stand(transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively): – G2476 to abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Emmaus is thought to be Northwest of Jerusalem in Palestine. It is interesting that the distance measured in “Stadia” refers to race courses. Paul, in Heb.12:21 referred to each person having to run with patience the race set before us. It is as if Jesus, by appearing in this way, is telling us that we have only a short span of life in the world to inquire and strive to know God before our race of trials is ended. Later in the story, we see that He is with us all the time, but we cannot “see” Him fully until the journey is over.

Luk 24:14 And they talked to each other of all these things which had happened. Luk 24:15 And while they talked and reasoned, it happened that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. These men sought to know the truth and were open to God. It was then that God revealed himself to them. They sought and they found answers and a savior. God always reveals himself to us when we earnestly seek Him. He does not compete with the world, but desires our full attention. In a similar manner, he speaks in a still (calm) small voice. 1 Kings 19:12 He speaks in a small calm voice so as not to frighten, but give assured true guidance leading to peace.

Luk 24:16 But their eyes were held so that they could not know Him.

Note that they could not see God because their eyes were captured or held. God was there all the time, but they were unable to truly see Christ until they rested with him, in verse 30, and God in a moment of holiness, opened their eyes. In like manner, we must enter into God’s presence, seeking to really know him and imploring him to remain with us, before he reveals himself to us.

Luk 24:17 And He said to them, What words are these that you have with one another as you walk, and are so sad?

Luk 24:18 And one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered and said to Him, Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem and have not known the things which have occurred there in these days?

Luk 24:19 And He said to them, What things? And they said to Him, The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a man, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

Luk 24:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the judgment of death, and have crucified Him.

Luk 24:21 But we had trusted that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel. And besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done.

Jesus did redeem Israel and all who trust in him. Each person must come to a state of trust (or faith) before they “know” they are saved.

Luk 24:22 Yes, and also some of our women astounded us, having been early at the tomb;

Luk 24:23 and when they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive.

Luk 24:24 And some of those with us went to the tomb and found it even as the women had said. But they did not see Him.

These were earnestly seeking to know the truth. They had evidently walked the distance to see for themselves if Christ was indeed alive showing that he was who he said he was. They were searching for God.

Luk 24:25 And He said to them, O fools and slow of heart to believe all things that the prophets spoke!

Luk 24:26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?

Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Christ makes a good point, that often we do not believe scripture history.

Many do not believe the bible today as being literal truth. Today visual tricks make it impossible to believe what we see. However, God’s word is truth and can be believed. It is our real hope for a future.

Luk 24:28 And they drew near the village where they were going. And He appeared to be going further.

Indeed, Jesus continues on today. He has more to accomplish: teaching, healing, creating and interceeding for us. He continues in the will of His Father God.

Luk 24:29 But they constrained Him, saying, Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. And He went in to stay with them.

Luk 24:30 And it happened as He reclined with them, taking the loaf, He blessed it, and breaking it, He gave to them.

Luk 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him. And He became invisible to them.

When we are willing to take the time to know God and seek him, He opens our eyes and reveals himself to us. Only then, can we really know him.

Luk 24:32 And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way and while He opened the Scriptures to us?

When God is with us he does inspire a passion of love to be closer and know him more. Being filled with awe and wonder for Him is normal. We are humbled knowing His great love for us and desire to return His love with our own.

Luk 24:33 And they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem and found assembled the Eleven and those with them.

Imagine the excitement as the deciples began to hear hundreds of like stories from people that the risen Jesus had revealed himself to. Faith was soaring as their numbers grew. This was no imagination, but a real experience. They had walked and fellowshipped with God’s son who had now risen from death.

Luk 24:34 And they said, the Lord has indeed risen, and has appeared to Simon. Luk 24:35 And in the way they related the things happening, and how He had been known by them in breaking of the loaf.

“Way” refers to a road for progress in an on-going journey. Knowing God is something that we must continue in. He is so much and so great that we cannot comprehend Him at once, but gradually over time come to know His depth and greatness in parts. He, like Heaven, is more than we can ever imagine. We will only know him fully when we have the “mind of Christ” when we begin to live for eternity with Him.