Let us turn in God's holy word to Luke chapter 24. Luke chapter 24, and we'll begin reading at verse 13. You can find that on page 1633 in your pew Bible. The gospel according to Luke chapter 24, verse 13. Let us hear God's holy word. Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day, the day of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus himself drew near and went with them. but their eyes were restrained so that they did not know him. And he said to them, what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad? 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? said to them, What things? And so they said to him, The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty indeed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him. 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. Yes, and certain women of our company who arrived at the tomb early astonished us when they did not find his body. They came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 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. Then he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken, ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and he indicated that he would have gone farther. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to stay with them. Now came to pass, as he sat at the table with them, that he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew him and he vanished from their sight. 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? So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the 11 and those who were with them gathered together saying, the Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon. and they told about the things that had happened on the road and how he was known to them in the breaking of bread. Amen. May God bless the reading of his precious and infallible word. Dear congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, I'd like to take you to another gospel picture this afternoon. And it is a gospel picture of these perplexed travelers to Emmaus. Because so often we find ourselves in the same picture in our lives. Perplexed and overwhelmed, doubting, wondering what the Lord has in store for us and what's all transpiring in our own lives and how it's being reflected out. Sometimes we have questions and perplexities about the word of God and the gospel and how it even could be for such a sinner like me that Christ would have died and rose again to give life to dead sinners. So let's find these perplexed travelers in this picture we find for us in Luke 24. And let's travel with them to hear, first of all, gospel instruction, and secondly, gospel comfort. It's interesting to see, as these disciples, followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, or traveling. They had witnessed what had all transpired in Jerusalem. They had heard of the accounts of these women who had come from this empty, open tomb that we heard about this morning, and heard about the angel and what the angel had revealed unto them. And they're portraying this as some kind of vision that has happened, and they're perplexed, totally confused. Their realities weren't matching what they were hearing. and they're perplexed as to why these things have happened. And Jesus comes and meets them exactly where they are. He comes and he joins himself as they're walking together to Emmaus. Emmaus was approximately seven miles or so from Jerusalem, maybe a good two-hour walk, maybe a little better. And as they're traveling to this village called Emmaus, They're talking, discussing what has all happened and transpired here in Jerusalem, all these things that had happened. And suddenly, this stranger joins them in their walk and in their talk, in their conversation. And this stranger's none other than the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who drew near and went with them. And yet, they didn't recognize him. We find in Mark that possibly they didn't recognize him because he came in another form, or their eyes, as Luke said, were held so that they couldn't recognize him. One way or the other, they didn't recognize him, and it was intended by God that they wouldn't recognize him. It's interesting that when he meets with Mary, she hears his voice when he says, Mary, and she recognizes him. And it leaves us with this struggle as to why these travelers did not recognize him. Maybe they're just overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, and maybe the unbelief had blinded their eyes, and the sorrow just wouldn't let them recognize the Lord Jesus. Nonetheless, the Lord was in control, and he didn't want them to recognize him at this point. And so Jesus joins them in their conversation in this travel to Emmaus. And he comes as this wonderful teacher and counselor, as he comes alongside these travelers. And he just simply observes them. That's what a good teacher does. He observes what his students know, and what they understand, and their whole demeanor. And he recognizes that they're in deep conversation. And they are very sad. Because we read in verse 17, what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and you are sad? He's an observant teacher. He knows his students. And he observes them and he begins to ask them probing questions based on his observations. And he questions them. Why? Are you talking this way? And why are you so sad? He's probing them to get them to pour out their heart unto him. And then, as they do, he's a great listener. Teachers are also great listeners to their pupils. And he comes and he listens to them. as the one named Cleopas answers and says to him, are you the only stranger in Jerusalem? You don't know what has happened in these days. How can't you know what has happened? Have you not witnessed the earthquakes? Have you not heard about the graves being opened? Have you not heard how the Lord Jesus was crucified? Haven't you heard about the throngs crying, crucify him, crucify him? Haven't you witnessed what has happened in these last days? And he says to them, what things? Another probing question. What does he hear? He says, as Cleopas says, they said to him, the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth. The one who is a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all of his people. The one who we had so many expectations of. And the one who now the chief priests and the rulers delivered to him to be condemned to death and they crucified him. He, our Lord, this mighty prophet is now dead. We were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel. We had hoped he was going to set up his earthly kingdom here, in other words, and he was going to deliver us from the Roman Empire and to establish his throne here in Jerusalem. Indeed, besides all of this, he had promised that he would, on the third day, be raised, and now it's the third day since these things happened. And these women, they come and they arrived at the tomb and they didn't find his body. And they tell us of this message of the angels. It says he's still alive, but we haven't seen him. And there's mixed reports going on all around us. All of these reports that maybe somebody stole his body and took him somewhere else. Now we don't even know where he is. And others went back to the tomb and they found it just as the women said, but Jesus, they didn't see him. Mixed reports. Perplexed travelers. That's us too sometimes. Tossed to and fro by different challenges, different opinion, different providences in our lives, filled with perplexion, confusion. Sometimes it leads to even a heart of doubting and unbelief. But Jesus confronts them as this instructor of the gospel. He confronts them directly and he says, oh foolish ones. This is the gospel instruction he wants to share with them. You who are slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into its glory? You foolish ones. You need to know yourself. You need to know that heart of unbelief that continues to well up within you. Why are you not following the testimony that I myself have given you? Even though he didn't say I myself. Why are you not following and why are you not understanding the testimony even of the Old Testament? and to see how these things are being fulfilled right before your eyes. Oh, my dear disciples, you're so slow of heart to believe. You didn't understand. You didn't believe the whole counsel of God. You don't understand how your sadness is going to be returned to joy. And so he takes them patiently. As this gospel teacher, even though he confronts their unbelief, he patiently takes them back to the scriptures. Isn't that what he does when we're confronted with the challenges and questions in our mind and doubts? Takes us back to the scriptures. Doesn't point at our providences and all the challenges in our life, but takes us back to the scriptures. And he says to them, ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory. And he takes them, beginning at Moses, the first book that Moses wrote in Genesis, and he takes them all the way through the prophets, through Malachi, and he expounded to them the scriptures that are pertaining to himself. Never a better exegete of the scriptures. Never a better exegete of the Old Testament than the Lord Jesus Christ. Never so dynamic and clear and gripping. He is that perfect teacher who would have the ears of the doctors and the theologians of his day. And now also his disciples who are perplexed and confused as they travel to Emmaus. He takes these scriptures Beginning in Genesis, speaking maybe of that first sacrifice in Genesis 3, and how it testified that blood needed to be shed, and how this seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. Maybe he took him to Abraham and the promises made to Abraham that he would have a seed and a nation and all the nations through him would be blessed. Maybe he took them to the exodus and how they were brought out of Egypt and how they celebrated the Passover and the angel of death passed over and talked to them about how he is that ultimate Passover. and how he leads them through the wilderness unto the promised land and is faithful to his word and his promises. Maybe he takes them to David and talks to them about how David is going to have a son who would sit on his throne forever and ever. Maybe he spoke to them as he opened this book of Psalms and he spoke to them about the excellency of the name of the Lord and how he's mindful of us. and how he is the one who is ultimately the creator, but also the provider and the redeemer of his people. Maybe he took them to Psalm 22 and illustrated to them so beautifully from Psalm 22 how he had to cry, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Maybe he took them to Psalm 22 and showed them, didn't you see Christ there thirsting on the cross? Didn't you see his tongue cleaving to the top of his mouth? Didn't you hear him cry, it is finished? Maybe he takes them to Proverbs to explain to them wisdom and how this Christ was full of wisdom. And to the Song of Solomon, and to Isaiah, the suffering servant. And to teach them how this servant was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. And he had to come to die a substitutionary death for sinners such as us to make atonement for our sins because on him was laid the sins of us all. but that it pleased the Lord to bruise him, to make his soul an offering for sin, so that he might see his seed and prolong his days and have joy in his resurrection and in his people. You know, I take him to all of these gospel pictures of the sacrifice, the day of atonement. serpent lifted up in the wilderness. I don't know how much he could have told them in the two hours or less that he had with them before they reached the village of Emmaus, but he opened the scriptures. That is where you find Jesus. And they did not yet know him. They did not know that it was Jesus. And as Jesus and these travelers come to Emmaus, he wants to test them, to see what they would do with the word that he brought them. And he acted as if he was going to continue going, going farther on the road. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it's toward evening, and the day is far spent. The class was short, but the spiritual communion, as he opened his word unto them, was such a blessing that they desired that he would abide with them for the evening. Jesus didn't invite himself to come in, but he's testing them, that they want and desire more fellowship. He didn't want to impose himself on them, but tested them to seek to draw their hearts out. Isn't that what he does each time when he comes and brings us his scriptures? Do we, like these travelers to Emmaus, do we pass the test? Seeking to constrain Jesus. Saying, Lord, do not let me go. And I will not let you go except you bless me. Constraining him. You know, these travelers kind of had every reason not to. This arrogant traveler that joined with us called us a fool. And then he acted as if he knew way more than what we did. Maybe that would have been your response. But after hearing his teaching, Their desire was that he would abide with them. Jesus loves to be constrained. He loves to hear his people cry, abide with me. He loves it when a Ruth, a Ruth says to Naomi, Your people are my people. I need to be with you and your people. Or as she says to Boaz, let me find favor in your sight, my Lord, for you have comforted me and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I'm not like one of your maidservants. Who we follow. the Lord Jesus hear his gospel instruction and desire more of it, searching the scriptures, saying, oh Lord, abide with me. Seeking, knocking. As it were, seeking to take the kingdom of heaven by force. Singing with the hymnists, abide with me, fast falls the eventide. The darkness deepens, Lord, abide with me. Oh, when all other helpers fail and comforts flee, whole help of the helpless, Lord, abide with me. That's where the gospel instruction ought to bring us. That's the picture you receive here of these travelers. something that provided them with immense comfort and hope. It started to all make sense as they understood more clearly the Old Testament and the events that happened in these days in Jerusalem and that that jigsaw puzzle piece of the gospel and of a risen Christ fit and it shaped begin to shape their worldview and they couldn't Just let this stranger go. They needed to hear more, to have more fellowship. That's where the gospel brings us. And Jesus answers with gospel comfort. He abides with them. We read in verse 29, he went in to stay with them. He went in to stay with these fools, these, These travelers who are slow of heart to believe. He comes in, what a wonder of His grace as He comes in and He abides with them. Isn't it a wonder of His grace that He comes and abides with us by His Spirit? And that's really the desire of the bride in the Song of Solomon. As we read in Song of Solomon 3 verse 2, I will rise now, I said, and go about the city in the streets and in the squares. I will seek the one I love. I sought him, but I did not find him. But seeking she goes. And the watchmen who go around the city found me. And I said, have you seen the one I love? And she says, scarcely have I passed by them. When I found the one I love, I held him and would not let him go. until I had brought him to the house of my mother and into the chamber of her who conceived me. This is really the seeking, the driving heart of these travelers who want this stranger to abide with them, even though they didn't know yet who he was. They knew he had something. They had the word. He had the word, and there was something special about his presence, something special about his communion. And so Jesus abides with them and communes with them. In verse 30 we read, it came to pass as he sat at the table with them that he took bread and he blessed it and broke it and gave it to them. He takes lead in the breaking of bread. Even though they had invited him in, You can now see the lights are beginning to come on in these travelers' minds. As their eyes are opened, we read, and they knew him. They knew him. And as quickly as they knew him, he vanished from their sight. What caused their eyes to be open? It's ultimately God opening their eyes. he opened their eyes. And he used the very means of Jesus himself, breaking the bread. What was it his hands that they saw the piercings of the nails? I don't know. Was it the blessing he asked for as he lifted them up in prayer to his father in heaven before the meal? I don't know. Was it the way he broke the bread that they're reminded? Maybe it's a combination of all of them. Maybe it's a combination of the word that was taught and now the visual breaking of that bread and all of their communication coming together and their eyes are open. That's how God works. His, their eyes were opened and they knew him. They knew Him as a risen Savior. That's exactly how God reveals Himself to us, through His Word, through the sacraments, through prayer, through singing, through His providences in our lives. And as we can reflect on our Father's faithfulness and reflect on our Savior's redeeming work. And as the Holy Spirit brings that to bear upon us, then we know Him in whom there is life eternal. And it doesn't mean that He's with us physically. Immediately, for these travelers, He's gone, because they need to learn to walk by faith in a risen Jesus. Their blindness brought them into bondage. but their sight sets them free, and they learn to search the Scriptures and to know them, and to then see this risen Savior. Indeed, their sorrow is turned to joy. They didn't return to sorrow because Jesus left, but they returned, they were turned to joy. He said this, did not our heart burn within us when he talked with us on the road, when he opened the scriptures to us? Even though he called us fools and slowed to believe, as he opened the scriptures, our hearts were like clay in his hands, being molded. and being set on fire by his love and his instruction. And they were burning within us. Did we not sense his pastoral tenderness? Did we not sense his wisdom of the scriptures? Did He not bring us true comfort and inflame our hearts with love and faith and hope and joy? Isn't that why we constrained Him, saying, abide with us? Oh, how we were digesting what had all happened and how we had answered all of our questions. Oh, we needed to just hear more. But then we saw Him. And it all fits together. That word that was preached. found entrance into their hearts and made them alive. There's a word that's preached to us today reflecting on the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's that word that we hear in our devotions day by day. It's that word that we hear in Bible studies. Does it confront all of the perplexities and the confusions in our own lives? As we witness the sacraments displayed for us in our worship services, does it not remind us of a faithful Savior? As we reflect on the goodness of God and the mercy of God, and the providence of God in so many ways in our own lives. Do our hearts not burn within us, love and desire for such a Savior? Do we not leave this place and the instruction of God's Word with our hearts on fire for Him, rejoicing because of what He has done? Isn't that what these travelers did? I don't even know if they were able to eat their bread. It doesn't say they ate it, but very likely they did. But what does it say? Verse 33, so they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. It just walks seven miles to Emmaus. But now they want to take this comfort that they received, they want to take this revelation that they've received, and they want to go and share it back with the disciples. And they rose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. Remember, it's fast-falling eventide. It's growing dark. But the seven miles that might have taken them a couple hours for sure on the way to Emmaus certainly didn't take them that long as they ran back to Jerusalem with joy in their hearts, with a spring in their step. They returned to Jerusalem and found the 11 and those who were gathered with them. And as they burst into the door, they're ready to share what they have witnessed, share what they have heard. But they couldn't even get a word out of their mouth before all of the disciples are sharing what they had heard and what they had witnessed. Do you not know, you travelers to Emmaus, that Jesus has risen indeed and He's appeared even to Simon? Simon, the one, oh, do you remember Simon? The one who denied the Lord Jesus. Don't you remember what he had done? And Jesus come and he appeared to Simon. And finally, finally, these travelers to Emmaus can share their joy. They finally get a word in. And they tell him, we have seen him. And he was made known to us in the breaking of bread. What encouragement this gives the disciples. A picture of gospel comfort. Encouragement that comes through a risen Savior. This is our hope. This is what gives us perseverance in our daily life as we lay all of our perplexities, all of our confusion, all of our problems before the Lord, saying, we know He has risen indeed. As we heard this morning, he's given all power and authority both in heaven and upon earth. Oh, Lord Jesus, arisen Savior, strengthen me. Strengthen me for my daily work. Strengthen me in my daily battles. Strengthen me in my spiritual battles. Help me to live out of my identity that is in Jesus Christ, arisen Savior. Help me. to fight against sin, against temptations, and overcome addictions and whatever it would be. Oh Lord, abide with me. Even as you have promised, as you ascended into heaven, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. We're all on the road of life, dear friends. We're all much like these travelers to Emmaus. so often blinded by our challenges, our afflictions, our uncertainty, and our unbelief. I ask you, do you desire closer communion and fellowship with Jesus? Because if you do, he will bless it with his presence as a risen Savior. But if you desire closer communion and fellowship with the world, then that's what you'll get. More bondage. More pain. More suffering. More confusion. The gospel comes with its instruction. To know and live out of Christ, our risen Lord. And this picture teaches us just as it did this morning, which we didn't touch on. Which we somewhat touched on. But these travelers, they wanted to share this message with everyone around them. They share it among themselves as they encourage each other. As they're preaching to each other all the way back to Jerusalem. And then they share it with the disciples and the disciples are sharing the encouragements of God's word with each other. And these same disciples share this gospel with the whole world, following the Great Commission, go into all the world, preaching this gospel to every creature. Is that what we are doing with this good news? You see, when Jesus abides with us and in us by His Spirit, how can't we share this joyous news with others around us? When others around us see us so confused ourselves and so sad and downtrodden and downcast, because all that happens around us, What does that speak about our risen Lord, who's seated in power and authority, in glory? Jesus could rightfully ask us, do you not see me in the scriptures? Why are you so slow of heart and slow to believe? Do you not taste of my goodness and my mercy? Doesn't my abiding love and presence with you cause a heartburn of love and comfort that you can't find anywhere else? Ought it not to lead you to go and celebrate the love of a risen Savior, testifying of His grace? And yet he's such a patient instructor to discouraged travelers. So maybe you need to just start with saying, Lord, give me that heartburn. Come and walk with me and talk with me. Instruct me by your word and by your spirit so that I might be like these travelers, like those disciples who are eager to share this good news. What a picture of travelers whose sorrow was turned to joy. And it's available to you and to me. Through Jesus Christ, arisen Savior, amen. Let's pray. Lord, we give you thanks for the testimony of your word From Genesis to Revelation, what a testimony it is of your gospel. Instruct us by your gospel, comfort us through your gospel, and abide with us. Live in us, transforming us and conforming us to the image of your beloved Son. One who is risen indeed, and who has appeared to Peter's deniers, who has appeared to Mary Magdalene's, who has appeared to doubting, slow of heart, and to believe travelers to Emmaus, who has appeared to doubting Thomas's. Lord, abide with us. and give us a living faith full of joy and hope and a risen Savior. And may we testify of your glory today and forever. For we pray this in Jesus' name, amen.