Pastor Jason gave a great sermon this past Sunday about The Road to Emmaus in Luke 24.13-25.  Why was the small (less than 100) group of Jesus’s disciples transformed from a discouraged, disappointed, and depressed band of nobodies to a world-changing body of believers?  Because Jesus opened their eyes in three different ways..

 

“He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (verse 27). All through the Old Testament, men were given numerous opportunities to earn their redemption, through re-dos; great ideals of unity in Babel; a great nation; a great system of laws; their own land; great leaders – judges; priests; kings; and prophets, but it is never enough.  Nothing except God could be their redeemer; no one is good but God alone.  The Messiah was much bigger and glorious than they could imagine.

 

He opened their eyes to the necessity that “the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory” (verse 26).  The clear testimony in scripture about a crucifixion is that it is scandalous and only for criminals (Deuteronomy 21.22-23).  But the opened eyes of the disciples could see that THIS crucifixion had been part of God’s plan from the beginning, even announced back in Genesis 3.15! The suffering servant had to die as a sacrifice. Suddenly the degrading spectacle of a cross became a glorious symbol of salvation, redemption, and life.

 

He opened their eyes to the resurrection.  They recognized Him (verse 31) as their leader who had died but was now alive. They knew that everything the scriptures promised and declared was fulfilled by the Messiah, Jesus. And they knew that Jesus IS God, their Lord.

 

The rag-tag, shepherd-less disciples could not stop telling what they knew. They suffered persecution and martyrdom, often gladly, because their eyes were opened to the ongoing redemption plan of the One True God of the universe.