By now, most know and have a good idea of what Passion Week is all about. It's the week from Palm Sunday when Jesus triumphantly rode into Jerusalem on the recently tamed, donkey back, crowds cheering and welcoming with joy. This week went through until the time of Jesus' death, on Friday, and His resurrection on Sunday; the Sunday most now call Easter Sunday.
Look at the layout of the events and actions: the causes and the effects.
If one reads Luke 24:13-18, one will begin to see how the risen Savior began to reveal Himself. The two on the road to Emmaus got the reunion of a lifetime.
Jesus had risen from the day very early that resurrection Sunday. This we can ascertain because earlier we read that the women went early to the tomb with their spices and perfumes to anoint Jesus' body. By the time they had arrived at the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away and Jesus' body was gone, leaving only the grave clothes.
The Emmaus Two spoke together of all these past week events when, out of the blue, some Man appears and walks with them. They did not recognize the risen Savior, Jesus. They also did not understand why this Man seemed not to know about all "these things".
Reading further in Luke 24 and verses 19-24 (NIV), after Jesus had asked "what things" they meant regarding this Jesus of Nazareth, they explained but did not dare to call Jesus "Messiah" now. Their disappointment and confusion that Jesus, Whom they'd believed to be "Messiah" come to rescue them from Roman rule and set up His kingdom, did not transpire.
So was Jesus, the Messiah? The doubts conflicted and bewildered them. The sting of death, still clung and stung.
Instead the two referred to Jesus as "prophet". A prophet whom they believed was considered by God and all the people to be powerful in all He did and said. How could it have been as had happened to Him? Must the religious leaders have been correct after all?
To confuse matters more, and lend further confusion of mind, there had been a very strange report given to them that very day. It was the third day since Jesus had been in the tomb. Some of the women had been to the tomb that morning, very early, but they'd found the tomb empty and could not find Jesus' body.
Angels appeared, the two continued, and told them to remember what Jesus had told them. That is, Jesus would die, be buried but raised again on the third day. The angels told the women to report that Jesus was risen and alive; go and tell the apostles.
The apostles didn't believe it, they thought the women spoke nonsense. Peter (and John), however, did go and check it out. Yes, the tomb was empty except for Jesus' grave clothes. They could not find Jesus.
"How slow and foolish" they were, Jesus admonished, to believe all the prophets had said about the Messiah (Luke 24:25-27). They did not believe the women's messages nor what Jesus Himself had taught before His death.
The Messiah had to suffer, Jesus re-informed them, and then enter into glory. Jesus went on to explain all about Himself from the Scriptures, from Moses and the writings of the Old Testament prophets, as they scuffed along the Emmaus Road. Still, the message didn't seem to take root in their clouded, grieving and befuddled minds.
They were on the verge of understanding and insight, however. They'd arrived at Emmaus and Jesus had made to go on down the road, but they'd constrained Him to dine with them. He relented and joined them, partaking of their hospitality.
As they all sat down to table for refreshment after that lengthy walk from Jerusalem, Jesus took bread. He blessed it. He broke it and gave to them.
Ah-ha!
The Light dawns...
Their eyes were opened...at last, understanding and insight. They recognized that this Man, the One who had been despised and rejected, the Man of Sorrows Who'd carried all our griefs and sorrows, Who'd given His back to the smiters, was Jesus, right there with them.
Jesus disappeared.
The Emmaus Two, looked at each other, and excitedly tell each other that now they understood that while Jesus had been explaining the Scriptures to them, why their hearts burned within them. They knew something was up, but were not sure what until the "revealing" moment.
What a paradox! While the Emmaus Two had their eyes "closed", they could see this Man, Jesus. However, when their eyes were "opened" -- Jesus disappeared and they could no longer see Him (v. 31).
FAITH is believing even when one cannot see with physical eyes. We'll see more about this another time.
These two then had understanding and insight. Did they have proper response?
If you scan your eyes along Luke 24:33-35, you'll discover, they did. Look what they did.
"They got up at once..." (v. 33).
FAITH, takes action.
Here's the equation:
Understanding & Insight + Proper Response (faith) = Message to Tell
So up they got and went back to Jerusalem.
They found the eleven apostles and shared their message. They reported, the Lord had risen and indeed appeared to them. They explained what had happened to them along the road to Emmaus and how they eventually recognized the Lord when He broke bread during their meal together.
Have you noticed the switch to calling Jesus, "Lord"?
Remember the difference between saying "Savior" and "Lord"? Our Savior Jesus brought us salvation when we accepted God's gift. When we then submit our will to this King of Glory and obey His Word, Jesus is then our Lord and Master; our LORD Jesus.
Hallelujah, the Lord our God omnipotent reigns forever and ever.
Imagine yourself among that assemblage of apostles and disciples. How baffling these events have been! A regular seesaw of hopes in sight and then seemingly dashed; what a rollercoaster ride of emotions flailed about. Notwithstanding, the extra-ordinary and supernatural occurrences were not yet exhausted.
Pause and consider how you would have felt.
Could anything more inexplicable have occurred on this Resurrection Sunday? Would there be excitement? Disbelief? Hope? Proper response?
That Sunday of astounding, unraveling developments; that day of wonder and resurrection, had not yet finished.
What would happen next?
~ERC November 2020~
Based on: Luke 24:13-35 (NIV)
Based on: SPM Luke Study Guide
Handel's Messiah Hallelujah Chorus Royal Choral Society
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