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The week before last – Mary, Peter, and John visit the tomb
Last week – Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and the Disciples
This week-
The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned with each other. Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained from know who Jesus was, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Him.
The Disciples’ Eyes Opened
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they restricted Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting late, and the day is almost over.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him, and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together 34, and they said: “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Explain to your class the meaning of encouragement and how we can find encouragement in the promises of God’s word.
Ask what would be something encouraging to say to someone?
LESSON TIME!
All of us can relate to the two individuals in our lesson today, because, at some point in our life, we have all experienced some time of discouragement. The Lord knows we need encouragement. In our lesson today, we will see Jesus giving encouragement to two of His disciples through the promises of God's word.
(Q) What is a promise?
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned with each other. Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained from know who Jesus was so that they did not know Him.
This was Resurrection Day, the day we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead to give us a future of hope and life for eternity. Because of the resurrection, we know that death has been conquered and we can have eternal life to live forever with Christ. The resurrection was the greatest event in the history of mankind.
(Q) What day do we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus?
Though this day should have been a day of celebration, the two men walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus were discouraged, disciples.
They had no reason to be discouraged. They had heard of the women’s reports that the tomb of Jesus was empty and that He was alive, but they would not believe them.
Disappointment filled their hearts with grief since they had thought Jesus would redeem Israel.
(Remember) The Jews thought Jesus was going to over through the Roman Empire?
They saw the glory of God and perhaps some of the miracles, but they failed to understand the suffering that Jesus had to go through.
These men didn't understand what God said in His word about His plan and His promises. Their world had crumbled around them and they needed encouragement.
17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”
What a beautiful picture of how Jesus comforts us in our time of distress.
These two disciples had all the evidence they needed to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, but they walked in unbelief.
Their real problem was not in their heads but in their hearts. They needed understanding of the word of God, and Jesus gave that understanding to them.
We can put our confidence and hope in the promises of God's word because God will complete it.
“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him, it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him, the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. — 2 Corinthians 1:19-20
The disciples from Emmaus were counting on Jesus to rescue Israel
Most Jews believed that the Old Testament prophecies pointed to a military and political Messiah.
They believed that the Messiah would come to rule and reign at that time.
They didn't realize that the Messiah had come to rescue people's souls. When Jesus died, they lost hope.
They didn't understand that Jesus' death offered the greatest hope available. Eternal Life!
25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Him.
(Q) Why did Jesus call these men foolish?
Cleopas and his companion failed to believe and understand all that the prophets had written about the Messiah's suffering. That was the problem with most of the Jews of that day.
They saw Messiah as a conquering Redeemer, but they didn't see Him as a suffering servant.
God promised us salvation through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
God's offer of salvation will never disappoint us. Jesus will never let us down. Because He now lives, we may be encouraged, never disappointed, to know that everyone who believes in Him will be saved
Romans 10:9-11.
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
After the two disciples expressed their discouragement in what had happened, Jesus lovingly answered them by going to the scripture and applying it to His ministry.
(Q) What is the letter of BIBLE stand for?
They needed the encouragement of God's word. When we are discouraged or puzzled by questions or problems, we can find encouragement in the promises of God’s word.
Romans 15:4 tells us, "For whatever was written in earlier times were written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
LUKE 24:28-31
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they restricted Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting late, and the day is almost over.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him, and He vanished from their sight
As Jesus began to walk away, the disciples asked Him to come home with them. They had been encouraged by the word of God and desired for the blessing to last.
Sometimes it is like going to church and you see friends who you don’t see often and you just love being with them
We all have Jesus in common.
The more we receive the word of God, the more we want the fellowship of the word of God.
Jesus opened the Scriptures to them and then He opened their eyes so that they recognized Him. Now they knew for themselves that He was alive.
(Q) Remember last week what Thomas did and what Jesus said to him…
¶Jesus said to him, “Thomas,[fn] because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
So Jesus came to give us life everlasting.
(Q) How do you get everlasting life?
(Q) If we don’t ask Jesus into our hearts what happens?
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together 34, and they said: “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
God's word can warm our hearts with the peace of His promises. It both instructs and comforts us, giving us a holy desire and devotion within our hearts to worship Him.
The disciples were so excited and overwhelmed with joy that they made their way back to Jerusalem that very hour. They had seen Jesus, and God's promises were true. There was no time to waste; they couldn't wait to tell their friends what had happened.
These two men were changed and they wanted others to experience the same hope and joy which is found through Jesus and His word. Many people around us live a life without hope, filled with discouragement. Jesus can make a life-changing difference, but we need to tell them. Jesus is alive.
PRAYER
MEMORY VERSE LUKE 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself
The Promises of God
2 Peter 1:4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:37-39 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Proverbs 1:33 But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”
John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. The promises of God are powerful and awesome to grasp. I pray that these scriptures about God’s promises were helpful to you today.
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