Hearts Burning

Luke 24:13-53

This week we come to the end of our series on Luke, begun back in January. It has been quite a journey for me personally, and I hope it has been a good journey for you. Last week we read how, on the third day after Jesus’ shocking and unimaginably terrible death, some of the women disciples went to the site of the tomb and found, wonder of wonders, the large stone rolled away and the body of Jesus missing. Then two shining angels, after no doubt frightening them half to death, asked them “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” The women went back and told this to the disciples, who did not believe it. Luke tells us that Peter went back to the tomb to look for himself; indeed, the stone was rolled away, and the body was gone, but there was no sign of the angels. Peter left, wondering what had happened.

We now come to one of my very favorite passages in the entire Bible.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him. – Luke 24:13-16


Now this is great! This is one of the funniest scenes in all of Scripture. Jesus Himself! Risen from the dead! And Jesus chooses to keep His identity hidden. You see this, don’t you? They were kept from recognizing Him.

Why would He do this? The passage doesn’t say, but I have a few ideas. First of all, it is fun! It is tremendously enjoyable to surprise people with good news. This is universally a part of human nature. We are made in the image of God, and apparently, we get this from Him! Think about all the ways guys like to try to surprise women with marriage proposals. Think about all the elaborate things people will do to try to pull off a surprise party. Jesus is doing something similar here!

Another reason I can think that perhaps motivated Jesus to do this is that it allows Him to study the disciples’ faith for a bit and then build it further in the best possible way. When I was in graduate school, shortly before I myself became saved, one of the pastors of the church I began to attend after I was saved (a “sister” Great Commission church) did something that reminds me of this passage of Scripture.

Now you need to understand that there were two homes rented by students in the church: one that just had guys, and another that just had girls. So what did this pastor do? He dressed up as a homeless person, fully disguised, including his voice, as much as he was able, and he came to their houses, rang their doorbells, and asked for food. Why did he do this? Well, he simply wanted to see how they would respond. My memory is somewhat fuzzy about how people responded, but both houses passed the test – they showed compassion. In one case I believe they let him in and shared a meal – but again my memory is fuzzy. I believe one of the houses did figure out who it was at some point.

Now, I believe Jesus is doing something a lot like this. He wants to see how they will respond. So how do they do? Let’s read on.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" He asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see." – Luke 24:17-24

So how did they do? Well, let’s see… they described Jesus as a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. This is actually very high praise, based on the Greek – they are basically putting Jesus on a level comparable to the Old Testament prophets. But they haven’t gone further, even though Jesus has clearly taught them that He was more than a prophet.

I’m not entirely sure what they meant by bringing out that it was the third day since all this took place. Based on the other things they said, I don’t think they meant it as meaning that they had hoped something was going to happen. Perhaps they meant it as to mean that it was all so fresh, and they still had not come to terms with any of it. It is also possible that they had a little hope buried down deep that maybe, possibly, something they had heard might happen.

I am bothered by the way they describe what the women saw. They say they had seen a vision of angels. This is quite a bit different from what happened – the women didn’t see visions of angels; they saw angels. It did say earlier in the chapter that they didn’t believe the women – this still seems to be the case. But they don’t totally disbelieve it – why else would they bring it up?

The bottom line for me is that they are looking at things completely rationally, completely reasonably, but unfortunately, almost completely without faith. I feel like I am somewhat of an expert in this area – seeing things with a lack of faith, that is – and so I think I completely understand what they are feeling. It is exactly how I felt my third or fourth year here, about 13 years ago, as an untenured professor still without funding, knowing that I had no hope of tenure without it, and believing, without faith, that there was no chance I would ever make it. It is how I have felt again and again over the years when circumstances, whatever they were, looked bleak.

It is possible to believe in Jesus theoretically but still live your life in the natural world as if God never intervenes, never answers prayer, never cares. Living by faith is an incredibly important thing to God! Throughout the Old Testament, God orchestrated events again and again primarily to test, to refine, and to grow people’s faith. Read Hebrews 11 to get just a glimpse of this. Jesus doesn’t just want us to believe in Him, as incredibly important as that is – He wants us to live by faith!

Now back to our disciples. Note that Jesus told them what He would do. Jesus told them exactly what would happen! He told them this multiple times.

And He said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." – Luke 9:22

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him, insult Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him. On the third day He will rise again." – Luke 18:31-33

'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" – Luke 24:7

This last message was just given by the angels earlier that day to the women! Although the disciples weren’t there to hear it from the angels, I would strongly suspect that the women told them, since there wasn’t much else to tell.
How did Jesus reply?

He said to them, "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

What would it be like to hear this explanation?! Too bad they didn’t have tape recorders back then! As a practical matter, however, I think we do have many portions of this explanation in Scripture – they are scattered throughout the gospels and the letters of the New Testament. The people who wrote these books of the Bible were inspired by the same God who gave the explanation here. But there are countless other passages in the Old Testament that are specific prophecies about Christ, whether it is details of His life on earth, His mission, His genealogy, His divine nature, and many other topics.

What I am about to share is no exaggeration. On my last night as an unbeliever, God did something similar to me. No, He didn’t show up in person, and no, there was no audible voice, but I had the most amazing and unsettling quiet time in the Bible that I have ever had in my life. Most of you know that I was born and raised Jewish, and so becoming a Christian was difficult because I had been taught that to do so was about the most serious thing I could possibly do in terms of rejecting my heritage; I truly believed that being an atheist was far better than becoming a Christian. At the same time, part of me was becoming more and more convinced that the Bible – all of it – was true. I had spent several miserable weeks wrestling back and forth with these thoughts. On this memorable night, thinking about these things, I opened my Bible to a truly random page in the Old Testament, picked a spot, and started to read. It was so clearly a prophecy about Jesus! Now I knew there were some prophecies in the Old Testament that seemed to point to Christ, but the odds of just flipping to one of them seemed impossibly small. I did it again; again I flipped to a random page in the Old Testament, and again my eyes were drawn to another prophecy about Christ. This happened again and again – I don’t recall how many times – and some of these were passages I had never before seen mentioned as referring to Christ, and yet, there was no other possible explanation. I cannot describe to you the emotions I felt, except to say that they are perfectly described later in today’s passage.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So He went in to stay with them. – Luke 24:28-29

Oh, this is just so funny! This stranger (really Jesus) decides to pretend that He needs to keep going, and makes them beg Him to stay with them. What were they thinking? No doubt they felt much like I felt my last night as an unbeliever. Here is this total stranger who understands Scripture better than anyone they have ever heard (except for Jesus). And He has faith! He explained that Jesus’ death was no accident, but part of God’s divine purpose. It seemed like Jesus Himself said something similar, but they never understood it before now; indeed, they had mostly forgotten. And this stranger had explained that the next step was for Jesus to enter His glory – to be resurrected and be glorified, now that He had died for the sins of man, now that He had served as the one final sacrifice, now that He had redeemed them, now that He had bought them with His own blood.

And this stranger wants to leave? No – don’t let Him do it! Please stay! Please!
Actually this whole scene reminds me of another scene, one at the very beginning, when Jesus was first calling His disciples. In John 1:

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard Him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" "Come," He replied, "and you will see." – Luke 1:35-39

The Greek for “followed” implies that they actually followed Jesus for some time before Jesus turned around. Now, I don’t know for sure what this was like, but I am sure that Jesus allowed them to follow Him, that Jesus knew they were doing this. This seems like another wonderful opportunity for fun – did Jesus make it difficult for them to not lose Him? It wouldn’t surprise me at all. I can picture the disciples stumbling over pots and other obstacles trying to keep up with Jesus. One thing is certain: this was no chance encounter!

Back to our passage:

When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" – Luke 24:30-32

Just a few days earlier, Jesus had broken the Passover bread (it was still the Passover) and said this is My body – do this in remembrance of Me. And while doing this very thing, it says the disciples’ eyes were opened – God removed the veil darkening their understanding and they realized that they were breaking bread with Jesus Himself! What a revelation! How I would love to have seen their reaction! And then suddenly, poof! He vanishes!

How did Jesus disappear like that? Some commentators have suggested that when we have our new resurrection bodies, we will be able to do this as well. I have my doubts. Actually, I believe Jesus could have done this even before rising from the dead, but He chose not to do so because He only did everything exactly as specified by God the Father’s will. And although God allowed Jesus to perform many signs and miracles to help people believe, there were countless other things Jesus was not permitted to do. The one thing Jesus greatly wanted to do – avoid the cross – God did not allow. But now, God allowed Jesus to appear and disappear and travel seemingly without walking.

But a larger question is why did Jesus disappear so quickly? We may just have to wait to ask Him. But in one sense, He had accomplished what needed to be done. They had seen the risen Lord! Praise God! He lives! The disciples were once again filled with hope and faith in Jesus.

I used the phrase “Hearts Burning” as the title for this message. Those two words perfectly describe how I felt that night that God supernaturally turned the pages of the Bible and guided my eyes for me. For the record, I tried it later, as a believer, and it didn’t work anymore.  I doubt anyone else here has had an experience exactly like mine, but I also hope that there has been at least one situation or circumstance in your life where the reality of God and Jesus was so strong that your heart burned within you. If you have never experienced this, if you feel like your faith is running dry, I do not think it wrong to pray for this. I do not think it is really any different than praying that you would be filled by the Holy Spirit.

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 and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread. – Luke 24:33-35

How much faster do you think they went from Emmaus to Jerusalem than they did from Jerusalem to Emmaus? This reunion of disciples, according to John, takes place on Sunday evening. It has been an eventful day, to say the least. The disciples are still afraid of the Jews responsible for killing Jesus, and John says they locked the door for this reason.

And now they present their wonderful news, and learn that Jesus has also appeared to Simon. It had to be an extremely joyful time.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." – Luke 24:36-39

What an entrance! Sudden, through locked doors – reading this it is tempting to think Jesus has a ring of invisibility, or something, like Frodo, you know, but this is silly thinking. Another response to this is perhaps to think, “so how long has Jesus been in here, listening?” This is silly thinking as well, but for an opposite reason: God, whether the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit (it makes no difference) is always listening. He is listening even when we don’t open our mouths! There is no “privacy” from the One who made you. I think it very telling that the first time you see people trying to get privacy from God is when? It is Adam and Eve, right after they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden.

The disciples at least partly are really starting to believe that Jesus is risen, but seeing Him in person makes them realize that they don’t know what He is. Given the Greek culture around them, the thought that Jesus was a ghost makes sense, especially when He pops through locked doors. But Jesus felt it important for them to understand that He is no ghost. He is flesh and blood, fully alive, risen from the dead. Indeed, these details are important also in that one of the first heresies, or fundamental deviations from the truth of Scripture, centered around what Jesus really was in terms of substance.

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." – Luke 24:40-44

There is a fascinating phrase here: they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement. There are many people who believe that faith is simply emotion – but they are wrong. Here we see good emotions, joy and amazement, getting in the way of faith! How can this be? It is because the disciples are overwhelmed – they are worked up, even somewhat hysterical. Although I know some others believe otherwise, I do not think these are the emotions normally associated with faith. In my opinion, faith is usually calm, not hyper. Hebrews calls faith “assurance” – assurance implies a rock solid, unwavering quality about it – not something produced in the heat of hysterical emotion.

And so we come to another funny scene. I can just picture the disciples forgetting all about rudeness and just staring at Jesus as He eats the fish. Perhaps they think the fish will just fall out of Him, like the cursed pirates who try to drink wine in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. But no, he chews, and – amazingly – swallows, and … that’s all!

And again He begins to explain the Old Testament scriptures to them. I have told you of my night where God opened those scriptures to me. I know some people say that such an approach to sharing the gospel – focusing heavily on the fulfilled prophecy of Christ – is inappropriate for most people today, but I would beg to differ. Fulfilled prophecy is powerful – and it is a miracle that anyone can experience for themselves at any time. Even the strongest disbelievers in Christ acknowledge that the Old Testament was written before the time of Christ, and so the fulfillment of these prophecies in Christ demand explanation. I believe that even in today’s culture, with proper explanation, these prophecies can be a powerful tool in evangelism.

Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." – Luke 24:45-49

When we do share the gospel with people, we need to pray that their minds be opened to understanding the spiritual things of God. The good news is that God delights to answer this prayer – He desires that none would perish.

In this passage parallel to the “Great Commission” passage in Matthew, we see Jesus explain their life mission – to share the good news as witnesses to what has happened. In the same way, we are to live as missionaries sharing the good news – this is true regardless of where we live and what we do – we are all witnesses, and we are all missionaries. In this passage we also see Jesus promise the Holy Spirit – I love how the Holy Spirit is described as clothing with power from on high. We are not only to be “filled” with the Holy Spirit, but we are to be “clothed” with Him as well. And with the Holy Spirit comes power – power to live a life devoted to Christ, power to overcome sin, power to witness.

When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. – Luke 24:50-53

We cannot really explain Jesus’ ascension any more than we can explain how He disappeared or entered past locked doors. John explains that Jesus had to leave Earth so that we could have something even better: the Holy Spirit. My understanding for this is that The Holy Spirit can simultaneously be in countless places, and the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, not outside. The Holy Spirit is what enables us to live a victorious Christian life.

Notice that the book of Luke ends with the believers filled with great joy. We too should be filled with this joy. This is not to say that we need to be happy all the time – joy is much deeper than happiness. Even when we mourn, we can have joy underneath. We have a Savior! He was born to die. And now He lives! And we will be with Him forever!

And so we come to the end of Luke! Do you remember, a year ago, how Luke began?

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. – Luke 1:1-4

… so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. The early disciples were eyewitnesses to these things. They were so certain of these things that they died horrible deaths rather than recant their beliefs. These things are certain!

In two ways we have come full circle. A year ago we looked at the Christmas story – how the Son of God became the literal Son of Man, entering into this world as a human baby in order to save those who would call on Him. And now, He is leaving this world so as to allow the Holy Spirit to be of even more good to us. This is one of the ways we have come full circle.

The other way we have come full circle actually goes back to two years ago, when we embarked on a study of the Book of Acts. With Jesus’ ascension we have completed the cycle, and are left at the point pretty much where Acts begins. I would suggest you might want to reread Acts at this time on your own to get the picture of how the two books fit together to tell the most important piece of history that has ever happened.

In the coming few weeks we will focus on Christmas, and in the coming year we will move on to other books of the Bible and other topics, but really, in a sense there is no other topic. The entire Bible ultimately points to the person of Christ, like Luke, and how to live for Him, like Acts. Really, the only other topic is His future return. We live in a special time – the so-called church age, the time in which followers of Christ are literally His body on earth, the time between Jesus’ first coming and His second. More and more it seems possible that this age may be soon be coming to an end. Whether this is true or not, the Bible instructs us to live as if it is true. Let us make the most of the time we have, seeking to love and serve the Lord and reach the lost with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.