Eager to Rise and Report

On the Sunday morning Jesus rose from the dead, Luke 24 introduces us to two disciples who trudged along the road to the village of Emmaus, some 7 miles (11 kms) northwest from Jerusalem.  Cleopas and his companion were sad as they walked along the road when they were met by the risen LORD Jesus Christ Himself.  Jesus asked what sort of conversation they were having with one another, and Cleopas was incredulous this stranger would be ignorant of the recent developments in Jerusalem that dashed their expectations of redemption.

Cleopas explained their conversation concerned Jesus Christ who was a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people.  The Jewish rulers had condemned Jesus to death, and this resulted in His execution by crucifixion.  Cleopas and other disciples of Jesus believed He would redeem Israel, and with Jesus dead it seemed their faith had been misplaced.  They were also confused and astonished by reports of women (who also followed Jesus) that His body was not in the tomb, had seen a vision of angels and Jesus appeared to them in person!  These travelling disciples didn't know what to think or believe.  They knew Jesus had died (which was unthinkable), and the reports of the tomb being empty were very concerning.  Who would or could have taken the body of Jesus, and why?

Luke 24:25-27 reads, "Then He 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 Himself."  After gently rebuking His disciples for their unbelief, Jesus launched into an expositional discourse throughout the Scripture concerning Himself.  He explained how the Law of Moses and all the Prophets were fulfilled by the Christ suffering before entering His glory.  When they finally arrived in Emmaus, they implored Jesus to stay with them--still ignorant of His true identity.  Their eyes were opened to recognise Him when Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke and gave it to them as He had done many times.  Jesus then vanished from their sight.

We see the response of the two disciples in Luke 24:32-35:  "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 saying, "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."  Cleopas and his companion were so excited about what Jesus explained to them from the Scriptures they returned that very hour to Jerusalem to affirm Jesus was alive.  I am confident their attitudes and outlook were very different as they returned to Jerusalem compared to when they departed for Emmaus!  It struck me today, as we walk with Jesus daily and He speaks to us through His word, we too should respond with gladness and joy to share with others wonderous truth He reveals to us in the Scripture.  Instead of settling down for the night and resting weary legs, these men rushed to encourage fellow disciples with all Jesus said and how He revealed Himself to them.

As partakers of the Living Bread Jesus Christ by faith, let us rejoice He is risen and has spoken with us today through His word and brings encouragement through fellow Christians as we meet in His name.  When we are sad and disappointed, let us look to our risen LORD with eyes of faith and open the Bible so we might feed on His good word and be spiritually nourished.  God will be faithful to instruct, guide, rebuke and remind us how glorious He truly is.  May we be those who are eager to rise this hour share His word with others.