04 April 2010

"But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel"

He is Risen! The Tomb is empty!

If it were not so, you wouldn't even know his name.
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some 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.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24.13–26)

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed (Luke 24.30–34)
The Son of Man must... be raised (Luke 9:22).

Our world would have no joyful humility, no enduring hope and no sense of the true glory of God. The Son of Man must... be raised, and indeed he has. Now everything is different (Luke 22:66-71, Romans 4:25, Romans 5:10, Romans 8:32, 1 Cor. 15:25-26, Hebrews 2:14-15 and 1 Peter 1:3-5).

Additional Resources
The Son Of Man Must...Be Raised - 2010 Easter Message at Summitview (Discussion Questions)
Our Joy Is Rooted In Real History
7 Miles - a sermon jam of Matt Chandler preaching from this Emmaus Road incident
What happened on Sunday (a collection of Gospel passages walking through the events of Sunday from Justin Taylor who, incidentally, did a nice job of compiling this info for each day of Holy Week)

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