In Luke 24: 13-32, we find a fascinating account of the resurrected Jesus walking down a dirt road with two of His disciples. What makes this event even more interesting is that not only is this the same Jesus who just arose form the dead hours earlier that day, but that the disciples didn’t recognize Him. Jesus is walking with two of His disciples and yet Jesus did not reveal His identity to them while they traveled side by side.
Why? I believe a quick study of the passage will identify at least 4 very good reasons.
I. Jesus was teaching that He is Present with us, even when we can’t see Him. Read verses 13-24
Here are two disciples walking a lonely, discouraged path. Everything they had believed in and held on too was gone. They are confused. Trying to put together all the teachings Jesus gave them with all the events that had happened over the last few days. Have you ever been like these disciples? Confused, troubled, burdened, and wondering where God is in all the pain?
Look again at the verse 15, "So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them." Jesus was there walking with them, they just didn't recognize it. The same is true for us as His followers. We sometimes have to walk lonely, discourged, burdonsome roads, but Jesus is there with us all the way!
And second,
II. Jesus wants us to see Him through His Word. Now read verses 25-29
Imagine the scene. The two disciples of the Lord are brokenhearted. They are burdened and mourning. How does Jesus encourage them? Through quoting the Old Testament and how they prophesied of Him. Imagine that two hour Bible Conference where our Lord showed every Old Testament prophecy concerning Himself and how He fulfilled it. Wow! What a great stroll down the road that must have been!
But, why the Word? Because God wants us to live by faith!
Rev. Shawn Sales said, “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing.”
Hebrews 11:6, >“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” NKJV
Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." NKJV
Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” NKJV
Dr. Rogers once said, “The key to understanding the Bible is to look for Jesus in the Bible. Jesus is the hero of the Bible. If you read the Bible and you don’t find Jesus, re-read it! The Bible has one Hero, His name is Jesus; one villain, that is Satan; one problem, that is sin; one solution, that is Salvation. That is what the Bible is all about.”
One preacher said, “There is a scarlet thread running from the book of Genesis to Malachi telling of a coming Saviour who would deliver His people from their sins. His name is Jesus Christ. From the time of his birth to His ascension into heaven (as recorded in the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), we see the fulfillment of these Old Testament prophecies. From the book of Acts to Revelation, we continue to see the name of Jesus with all of His glorious attributes beautifully interwoven into the passages of Scripture.”
From all 66 books of the Bible (39 from the Old Testament and 27 from the New Testament), we can clearly see what the apostle John recorded in Revelation 4:8: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty which was, and is, and is to come"
III. The Word of God Gives Life to our Soul Read verses 30-32The Word of God comes alive in us when it is mixed with faith! Did you notice what the men said, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
Jesus is the Bread of Heaven and Living Water…
a) When you need Guidance
Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” NKJV
b) When you need Hope
Hebrews 13:5-6, “For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." 6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" NKJV
c) When you’re in Tough Times
John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. “ NKJV
d) When you need Victory over Sins
Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” NKJV
e) The Word of God is like a Surgeon
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. “ NKJV
IV. Satan Cannot Conquer the Word of God!
Ephesians 6:17, “And take… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” NKJV
Remember Jesus in the wilderness being tempted of the Devil. How did Jesus defend Himself? He said, “It is Written…”
“A physician went to hear D.L. Moody. Although he had not thought of such a result, he was converted. When asked the reason for his change of heart he said, “I went to hear Mr. Moody with no other idea than to have something to laugh at. I knew he was no scholar, and I felt sure I could find many flaws in his argument. But I found I could not get at the man. He stood there hiding behind the Bible and just fired one Bible text after another at me till they went home to my heart straight as bullets from a rifle. I tell you, Moody’s power is in the way he has his Bible at the tip of his tongue.”
