THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #216 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #197
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3902
THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #216
THE LIFE OF MOSES #197
MOSES AT MT.SINAI#96
THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 55)
THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD IN THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES #9
THE BREAKING OF BREAD AT EMMAUS
The events on the road to Emmaus are discussed in Luke 24.
In this final chapter of Luke’s Gospel, we read of two disciples (Cleopas and one unnamed) of Jesus who were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day that Jesus rose from the dead.
As they traveled, a man joined them—the resurrected Jesus, although they did not recognize Him. The man asked, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” (Luke 24:17).
The two disciples were surprised that the man had not heard of the recent events that had Jerusalem in turmoil. They proceeded to tell the stranger of Jesus’ crucifixion and the report of His empty tomb. Jesus responded, “‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:25-27).
So, as they walked, Jesus taught what the Old Testament had predicted about Himself.
When they arrived in Emmaus that evening, the two disciples stopped to eat, and they asked Jesus to join them. He did, and as He broke the bread and blessed the meal, “their eyes were opened” (verse 31), and they recognized Him. Jesus then vanished.
Their response? Luke reports, “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen’” (verses 33-34).
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus gave a lesson on the prophecies of the Old Testament which were fulfilled in His death and resurrection. What a lesson that would have been! The Author of the Book explains His work, making connections from Scripture to the events they had recently experienced.
The disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ lesson was one of deep conviction of the truth of what He was teaching. “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked?” they ask each other (verse 32). Their physical eyes were blinded to the identity of Jesus, but their eyes of faith were being opened as Jesus opened the Scriptures to them.
Following this account, Jesus appears to His other disciples, removing all doubt that He was alive. Jesus had promised that He would show Himself to those who love Him (John 14:21), and this is exactly what He does on the road to Emmaus.
The story of the disciples on the Emmaus Road is important for many reasons.
1. It provides an emphasis on the Old Testament prophecies related to Jesus, evidence
regarding an additional appearance of Jesus, and a connection regarding the many eyewitnessesof the resurrected Jesus.
2. Luke 24 is often seen as a model of the journey that Jesus makes with many of us today, as He opens our eyes, points us to the Word, and reveals Himself along life’s walk as the resurrected Saviour and Lord.
3. The climax was the Breaking of Bread by Jesus whereby the two disciples recognized their master. They would have seen His nail-scarred hands and finally understood who He was.
Prior to this, they saw Him as their master who was crucified, dead and buried. They did not know He would be raised from the dead.
Then they admired His teaching as He walked and talked with them - as a stranger in their midst.
It was only when He shared a fellowship meal with them did they realised He was their Risen Lord and Saviour. Indeed the miracle of salvation works in mysterious ways!
Only when He disappeared from their company were they galvanised to share the good news of their Risen Saviour with the other disciples.
For us the words of Jesus as our Bread of Life are particularly poignant and real.
Thus Paul wrote in
I Cor. 11:24
"and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is (represents) My body, which is [offered as a sacrifice] for you. Do this in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” ( Amplified Bible )
And in John 6:51 His words are thus recorded:
"I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).” ( Amplified Bible )
