Home -- English -- Luke -- 138 (The Disciples Going to Emmaus)
Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 6 - THE REPORT OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION (Luke 22 - 24)
14. The Disciples Going to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
LUKE 24:32-35
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 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.
The disciples at Emmaus were not confused when Jesus vanished from their sight, for it was not necessary to see him, since they had known and experienced that he was living. He was not in the tomb, and his body was not stolen. His life did not come to nothing by crucifixion, but God was with and in him. He was the present living true Christ.
The light of the joy of Passover filled their hearts. This joy began in their hearts when Christ spoke to them on the road. His rebuke did not annoy them, but prepared them for the shining gospel. They became converted, and understood God’s will and act of salvation in his Son. Their thirsty hearts burned within them out of the joy of knowledge and acceptance of the truth. They knew they were not running after an image, but had recognized Christ himself, known him, seen him, heard him, and believed in him. His word renewed their belief, for the second birth cannot be realized without being filled with the word of the gospel. The word of the Lord is the sun and the power in the new life. Do you feel glad when you read the Holy Bible and do you rejoice in the power of God who speaks? Ask your Lord to address you directly, for man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. You are in dire need of the word of your Lord. Your soul is starving and craving to read the Holy Bible constantly. And your spirit will be refreshed if you listen diligently and patiently to what the Spirit says to the church.
Those who witnessed him who was raised from the dead could not stay alone because of their excessive joy and the rich revelation granted to them. The knowledge of God prompts us to communicate the good news with a divine power. Your tongue cannot keep silent when Jesus fills your heart, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So what do you speak about all day long? Is the joy of the Lord your power?
The two men did not fear the long walk back to the disturbed disciples in Jerusalem, for Christ’s revelation had strengthened their tired bones. So they walked quickly until they arrived late at night in the sleeping capital. When they knocked at the door of the house where the disciples and faithful followers met, the light was still on. So they came in, and immediately sensed an atmosphere of joy, and saw cheerful faces, contrary to the gloomy atmosphere that pervaded when they left them in the afternoon, for Peter had gone to the tomb and found it empty. The body of Christ had gone, exactly as the women had said. Peter did not see his Lord there, and now he was transported with joy, together with all the other disciples. When he had inspected the tomb Peter, disturbed and convicted by his conscience for denying his Lord thrice, wandered about the city, with his head and heart confused as a stirred up hornets’ nest. His Lord chose rather to reveal himself to the women who had continued faithful and stayed with him at the cross. Yet, Peter saw himself rejected, yet marveling to himself at what had happened.
Then Jesus had mercy on his praying servant, and walked beside him. We do not know when and where Jesus appeared to Peter, but both Luke and Paul testified this truth clearly (1 Corinthians 15:4-5). Hence we realize that the love of Jesus Christ saved the broken Peter completely, and did not reject him. Peter having lost confidence in himself, and conscious of his failure, saw himself as deserving death and hell. Yet now his Lord appeared and presented freely to him his presence by grace. Then Peter realized, as thereafter Paul did, that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Thus the Lord forgave his servant his sins, and Peter entered into the fullness of the joy of Passover.
The disciples believed the words of the apostle Peter, for his countenance was changed completely and he rested in hope, because his Lord was living. All the community became filled with the joy of resurrection. Yet when the two disciples of Emmaus came in to give their testimony, the flowing stream of joy covered them, and their faith was strengthened when they heard that the Lord had appeared to Peter. As the community strengthened their faith with this good news, so they strengthened the community’s faith, and told how they saw Jesus and how he had supper with them. Do you tell your friends what Christ has done for you? Speak, and do not be silent, that he who was raised from the dead may be glorified. Enlighten others that he may also enlighten you with his knowledge.
PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, You are full of grace. You saved Peter from his despair. We worship you, and praise your love, power, glory and presence with us day and night. We are not forsaken. You are with us. Your resurrection is the proof that you have forgiven us our sins. This is why we rejoice with all the Christians on the joyful feast day.
QUESTION 146: How does the exchanged testimony strengthen the believers’ faith altogether?