The Road to the Cross
Jamaal Williams
13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem.
14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place.
15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them.
16 But they[b] were prevented from recognizing him.
17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.
18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked them. So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people,
20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.
21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened.
22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb,
23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive.
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow[d] to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
28 They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther.
29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.
32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”
33 That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together,
34 who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!”
35 Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
–Luke 24:13-35
Main Idea: The risen Christ is closer than your disappointment can see.
Outline:
1. They Were Heartbroken
2. Jesus Was Closer Than They Knew
3. Jesus Made Them See Again