May 8 2011    Reading:  Luke 24.13-35

Theme: The risen Jesus, the good shepherd.....on the road to Emmaus

The town known in the gospel of Luke as Emmaus, was on the main road from Jerusalem 30 kilometres away, to the low lying valley of Ayalon. Known in Arabic as Amwas, it is now just a collection of ruins. Today, the main highway from Jerusalem runs along the hillside beneath these ruins, though if you want to, you can turn off on to the slip road that takes you up to where the town once was.

In Luke’s gospel, chapter 24, we read of two disciples trudging dejectedly the long miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus as evening falls, on this same road. Only a few days ago they had joined the crowds of pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for the festival. Cleopas and his friend, we can guess, had been so eager then, happy and excited. For might not this turn out to be the greatest festival of all? Jesus was to be there. Many thought that beginning on that day, Jesus would liberate Israel from the Romans. It was to be a great day for Israel!

That was then, this is now. Since then the two disciples had seen the crowds, the trial, Jesus carrying the Cross out towards Calvary, they had heard the jeers, the insults of the crowd........

they had seen the poor broken body of the Lord, taken down from the Cross

to be placed in the tomb...........

The road they were on was in darkness, so, it seems, was the kingdom of the living God, and the life of Jesus............

“We thought He was the one who would have redeemed Israel.” they said to each other.......

what deep poignant sorrow there is in those words...............

But suddenly, they are not alone upon that road. Suddenly the two travellers are joined by a stranger. This third traveller notices that something is wrong. So He asks them “Why are you so sad?’

At this point, they stop walking, and gaze at Him, in astonishment. “Haven’t you heard?” they ask. “You must have heard of Jesus, the prophet, the Man who was to liberate our nation. Has nobody told you what happened in Jerusalem two days ago ? Did nobody tell you about the Cross ? “Their eyes,” writes Luke, “were closed so they didn’t recognise Him.”

but there was Jesus........... beside them !

They didn’t recognise Him.

But over the space of those forty days before He returned to His Father, the gospels tell us, Jesus came to meet His disciples, and there is a tender purpose and a loving pattern to all that the risen Lord Jesus does......... What is that purpose ? It is this - The risen Lord continues His work.......as the Good Shepherd........

This is exactly what Ezekiel the prophet had declared long ages before. The day is coming, says the Lord when: “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. I will rescue them from all the places they were scattered. I will ........ search for the lost and bring back the strays, bind up the injured, strengthen the weak.” This is what the risen Lord Jesus does ! He searches for the disciples and cares for them….. rescues them from all the places they were scattered, searches for the lost, brings back the strays, binds up the injured, strengthens the weak.

Once again, just look how, in grace and mercy and love, the risen Lord Jesus, comes, meets, walks, talks with these two forlorn men, on that journey to Emmaus.

He, the risen Lord Jesus meets with them. In John’s gospel we are told that Jesus had come, met with Thomas, spoken to him. Thomas with all his doubts, and hesitations, and confusion........

Luke’s gospel tells us now, Jesus meets with these two men....... whose hopes are shattered, who are fearful for the future..........

and what the Gospel is teaching us here is this..........

that in those times of doubt or hesitation, or confusion, or when our hopes are shattered and we become fearful, the Lord Jesus will come to meet us, He will not fail us. His promise is:

“I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. I will rescue them from all the places they are scattered.”

......... He comes looking for the lost, He binds up the injured, He strengthens the weak

as Hebrews says: He is able to save to the utmost ...... those who put their trust in Him.

So - there is the situation, Jesus meets with the disciples

walking on in the darkness on that road

Jesus meets with the disciples

walking on in the darkness on that road

The apostle Paul was once imprisoned in the great fortress at Caesarea - held there under the orders of the Roman Governor. A Royal Visit to Caesarea had been organised, the city was to be visited by King Agrippa and Queen Bernice, as the Governor’s guests. The book of Acts tells us that during the royal visit Paul was brought up from the cells to entertain the king and queen one afternoon. And King Agrippa said to him, tell us your story……… Paul told the king, that, one day, with the authority of the High Priests in Jerusalem, he was on a journey to track down and imprison followers of Jesus. He, Paul, was nearing Damascus, it was towards noon. Let’s take it up in Paul’s own words…. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me Saul, Saul why do you persecute me ?.... Then I asked, Who are you Lord ? I am Jesus……… there in the Palace, as Agrippa and Bernice listened,

Paul, spoke about the risen Lord Jesus meeting him on that journey at noon in the brightness of day.......

Now, see, in Luke’s gospel, chapter 24, what do we read ? We read of the disciples walking towards the village of Emmaus in the gathering darkness. On that journey, Jesus meets with them.......... ..... in the darkness,

the risen Jesus met Paul at noon. in the brightness of day.......

the risen Jesus met the two disciples in the darkness

the risen Jesus met Paul in the brightness of day.......at noon.

the risen Jesus met the two disciples as evening fell, in the darkness

What we learn from the gospels is this that the risen Jesus meets us, walks with us, both at noon in the brightness of day.......as Paul met Him, and in the twilight, the dark hours of life, as the two disciples met Him..........

and the risen Jesus, the Good Shepherd, meets us, walks beside us, on life’s journey,

through the bright noonday of life, and in the twilight hours, in the gathering darkness of life.

He is there.......... Lo, He says, I am with you always, to the very end of the world.....

Jesus meets with the disciples

walking on in the darkness on that road

but as they walked, Jesus, began to speak of the Scriptures

Isn’t this striking ? when Jesus appeared to the disciples on their way to Emmaus, He could have immediately taken away all their doubts, and sorrows, by simply saying: “It’s me !” that would have instantly transformed them, filled them with life and peace and joy and hope. Instead of this, we are told.......... as Jesus walks, talks with these two forlorn men, whose hopes are shattered, who are fearful for the future..........

He says: How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets said ! and, starting with Moses, He went through the Scriptures, and unfolded to these two men, everything there....... concerning Himself. He unfolded the living Word about the sufferings of the Lord’s Servant, and the glory that would follow. As they walked He began to build their faith, drawing on the living Word of God in the Scriptures........

Though it was dark, the Lord Jesus was bringing light to their minds, opening their eyes to understand—what? Some new teaching ? Some secret truth ?

no ! simply this

What the Scriptures teach......... that the Bible on every other page speaks of Jesus Himself. The Scriptures full of Jesus Christ and His glory.

Later they said to each other......... “Did not our hearts burn within us,” they said afterwards, “as Jesus talked with us on the way?”

Did not our hearts burn within us ?

There is a great old Scottish Paraphrase which says, sings, prays this:

That heavenly Teacher, sent from God,

Shall your soul inspire;

Your minds He’ll fill with sacred truth,

Your hearts with sacred fire.

Here, from the gospel we learn from the disciples that when the Lord Jesus opened the Scriptures to them, it was like burning fire within them.......

when the Lord Jesus opened the Scriptures to them, it was like burning fire within them.......

Whatever else people think or say about Christian life and faith, is that not what is at its very centre ? As the Lord Jesus opens the Scriptures to us, may it be for us, as of old,

like burning fire within us.......

a burning fire within us, a heart of flame. AMEN.