Walking with the Living Christ

MEMORY VERSE: “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.” —I John 1:7

LUKE 24:13-16, 27-35

JESUS’ disciples were much confused and filled with sorrow when, unexpectedly, he was taken from them and crucified. As the lesson states, they expected that he was the One who should redeem, or deliver Israel from the Roman yoke of bondage. To them it was unthinkable that a dead Messiah could accomplish such a far-reaching work of deliverance.

There seemed a tendency for the disciples to scatter. After all, what could be done, now that their Leader was dead? The lesson states that “two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs”—about eight miles. “And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” It is evident from this that Jesus here appeared in a body quite unlike the one to which the disciples were accustomed.

Verse 27 reads that “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” What important point of truth did Jesus explain to these two disciples? Obviously it was what they needed most to know in view of their sorrow and confusion over his death. Verses 25 and 26—omitted from the lesson assignment read, “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?”

The disciples rejoiced in the many wonderful messianic promises of the Old Testament which outlined the glory of the coming kingdom and the blessings it would dispense to the world, but they had failed to note those prophecies which foretold the death of Jesus—that he was to die in order to redeem the world from death. Had they had these prophecies in mind they would not have been so confused when Jesus was taken from them and crucified.

It was a long walk that Jesus and these two disciples had that day. They must have been on the road for more than two hours, and in that time Jesus could refer to many of the prophecies which pertained to his suffering and death. He began with Moses, probably reminding them of certain sacrificial services of the tabernacle which pointed forward to his death. He may have quoted Psalm 22:1, as he had done on the cross: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

And then there is Isaiah 53:12, which foretold that Jesus would pour out his soul “unto death,” and that he would be numbered with the transgressors. The disciples knew that Jesus was not a transgressor, and it was difficult for them to understand why he would need to suffer and die as would a criminal.

But evidently they began to understand the reason for this as Jesus discoursed to them, for afterward they said, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” Jesus continued to walk with the two disciples until they reached Emmaus, and then he indicated that he would continue on alone. But they constrained him to remain with them, saying, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.”

When they sat down together to partake of their meal Jesus acted as host. “He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.” It was his special way of performing this service that opened their eyes to Jesus’ identity. Later when they met with the other disciples they told them “how he was known of them in breaking of bread.” Having disclosed his identity Jesus vanished from their sight.

Now they were convinced that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead. Armed with this knowledge they returned immediately to Jerusalem, where they announced the good news to the eleven gathered there.

QUESTIONS

What basic point of truth did Jesus reveal to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?

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