April 13, 2020
Remember Monday? Before the pandemic, a lot of people felt
the drain of having to go back to work after a brief couple of days rest.
Let me back up and cover one event that
happened on the day Jesus was resurrected (Sunday).
Two men are walking to a small town near Jerusalem called
Emmaus, it’s about seven miles. We find the account in Luke 24:13 – 34. The
stage is set with these words, “They were talking to each other about
everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus
himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from
recognizing him.” [Luke 24:14 – 15 CEB]
The idea of being “prevented” comes from the Greek word that
is a “passive imperfect.” The “passive” shows us that they were acted upon,
they did not act. The “imperfect” gives us a clue this was continuing something
already happening.
What prevented them from recognizing Jesus? I am so glad you
asked!!! (Hint: The clues are in the text.)
There are a series of not understanding or believing. After
Jesus asks them a second time what they were discussion we watch them explain three reasons why people are blinded.
- They did not understand Jesus. “…They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet.” [Luke 24:19 CEB] These two were willing to understand Jesus as a prophet, but not as God.
- They did not understand the nature of death. “But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.” [Luke 24:20 CEB] They thought death is the end.
- They made it political. “We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago.” [Luke 24:21 CEB] The idea of a redeemer or deliverer (the Messiah/Christ) was based on politics.
- They did not believe the eye witnesses. “But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.” [Luke 24 22 – 24 CEB]
Jesus’ rebuke strikes like a hammer on an anvil because
Jesus intends to reshape our thinking. “Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish
people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked
about.” [Luke 24:25 CEB] The “dull minds” comes from the Greek idiom “slow in
heart.” Literally Jesus says, they lack
sense (foolish), and are stupid (slow to comprehend and act). Jesus could have
left them blinded by their flawed thought process and hard hearts, but that is not His
intentions for anyone.
With the care and accuracy necessary for the blacksmith to
shape the metal to his will; Jesus proceeds to give them THE Bible lesson, “Then
he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures,
starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.” [Luke 24:27 CEB]
Later their eyes were opened. They recognized Jesus. They recognized
there were signs before, “They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire
when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for
us?” [Luke 24:32 CEB]
Their errors: they reduced Jesus to a “just” a prophet (or a
good teacher), they thought death was the end, they made it political, and they didn’t believe the
witness given to them. (Did they just explain one or more reasons you do not
believe in Jesus?)
If Jesus is the living God who has conquered death, there is
everything to gain and nothing to lose by following Him. If Jesus is NOT the
living God who conquered death, there is nothing to gain and everything to lose
by rejecting Him.
