Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20100922.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Luke: Jesus, The Son Of Man For All Mankind
Part LXXXVIII: Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In His Resurrection
D. Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In The Power Of His Bible Exposition
(Luke 24:13-35)
  1. Introduction
    1. Since Scripture teaches Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father to rule there until we meet Him in the rapture (Acts 1:9-11; Eph. 1:20-23; 1 Thess. 4:13-18), we believers who are not eyewitnesses of Christ's resurrection have no material evidence as proof that He arose from the dead.
    2. Yet, this lack of material evidence does not mean there is no real evidence for us , for Luke, himself not an eyewitness (Lk. 1:1-4), told his readers of such evidence Jesus Himself gave after He arose as follows:
  2. Christ's Identity As God's Savior Seen In The Power Of His Bible Exposition, Luke 24:13-35.
    1. Following the initial events of Christ's resurrection from the grave and its effects on those who first visited His tomb that morning, two disciples who had only heard of these events were walking along the road from Jerusalem to Emma eus, Luke 24:13.
    2. As they walked, they talked about all the events concerning Jesus' death, and of the reports of the empty tomb and the claims of the women that angels told them He had risen, Luke 24:14 with 24:20-24.
    3. Jesus drew near and joined them, but kept the two men from recognizing Him with the clear intent of addressing their troubled minds with His words over revealing His physical identity, Luke 24:15-16.
    4. Christ became involved in their conversation, asking them what made them so sad, and one of them, Cleopas, expressed surprise that He did not know about things that had recently happened, Lk. 24:17-18.
    5. Jesus asked, "What things?" as if He were a stranger, so the two explained the details of the events, revealing where they were in their outlook about Jesus and claims of His resurrection, Luke 24:19-24:
      1. First, they told of Jesus of Nazareth as a prophet of God, mighty in word and in deed before God and all the people, Luke 24:19. This reveals they believed Jesus was from God, but that His death had left them thinking He was just a prophet, not the Messiah.
      2. Second, they revealed how the rulers of Israel had delivered Jesus to be condemned to die, that He had died by crucifixion in contrast to their hope that He as Messiah would deliver Israel, Luke 24:20-21a.
      3. Then, to complicate things, they explained certain women of their company who had followed Jesus had gone to His tomb earlier that day, the third day after Jesus' death, to report they had seen a "vision" of angels that He was alive, Luke 24:21b-23. This claim of a "vision" of angels telling of Christ's resurrection reveals these two men did not actually believe Jesus had risen. (cf. Luke 24:11)
      4. The men on the road explained that other men of Jesus' disciples had gone to the tomb and found Jesus' body was gone as the women had said, but that they had not seen Jesus, Luke 24:24.
    6. At this point, Jesus rebuked the two disciples for their unbelief in Jesus' resurrection, explaining Messiah was to suffer the things Jesus had, and then to have entered into His heavenly glory, Luke 24:25-26.
    7. To explain this rebuke, Jesus then expounded unto the two men from the whole Old Testament beginning with Moses' writings the prophecies concerning His death, resurrection and glorification, Luke 24:27.
    8. Drawing near to Emmaeus, Jesus kept walking as though He intended to keep going along the road, so the two disciples hospitably urged Him to stay with them as the day was drawing to a close, Lk. 24:28-29.
    9. Jesus joined them, but when He acted as their host in breaking the bread to ask the blessing, causing them to recognize Him, He instantly vanished, Luke 24:30-31. (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Luke 24:30) Jesus was again intent on emphasizing His words over His physical appearance to the men!
    10. The two testified how Jesus' Bible exposition had warmed their hearts as in His past earthly ministry, evidence He had been with them, so they rushed back to tell the disciples He had risen, Luke 24:32-35.
Lesson: Jesus so focused the men on the road to Emmaeus on the effect of His Bible exposition over even His physical body that we non-eyewitness believers know He arose, for He gives evidence of that same burn in the heart each time Scripture is expounded by His messengers! (John 16:13-15)

Application: (1) May we trust that Jesus is Messiah and God. (2) When our hearts burn in us at the exposition of Scripture by His messengers, may we rejoice that our risen Lord is ministering unto us!