The Road to Emmaus: Burning Hearts and Open Word

Luke 24:13-35

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three score furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were held that they should not know him.

17 And he said to them, What manner of communications are these that you have one to another, as you walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said to him, Are you only a stranger in Jerusalem, and have not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said to them, What things? And they said to him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yes, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew near to the village, where they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and broke, and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

The account of the walk to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 is a profound narrative of transition from deep sorrow and unbelief to a joyous, burning realization of the risen Savior through the opening of the Scriptures Luke 24:13-35RH October 9, 1888, par. 11.

The Meaning of Luke 24:13-35

This passage describes two followers of Jesus traveling seven and a half miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection Luke 24:13PTJW March 1850, page 58.3+1. Their hearts were heavy with disappointment because they had trusted that Jesus was the one who would redeem Israel, but His crucifixion appeared to be the end of those hopes Luke 24:21BEcho October 22, 1894, par. 2. Jesus joined them on the road but was not recognized because their eyes were blinded by unbelief Luke 24:16BEcho October 22, 1894, par. 2. He gently reproved them for being "slow of heart" and then conducted a comprehensive Bible study, beginning at Moses and all the prophets to show that every specification of prophecy concerning His suffering and glory had been fulfilled Luke 24:25-271888 1243.2+1.

The climax occurs when they reached the village and constrained Him to stay for the evening meal because the day was far spent Luke 24:29PTJW March 1850, page 58.3. As He broke bread, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him just before He vanished Luke 24:30-31DA 801.1. Overwhelmed with joy, they realized their hearts had "burned" within them as He opened the Scriptures, and they immediately returned to Jerusalem to testify to the other disciples that the Lord was risen indeed Luke 24:32-351888 1243.2+1.

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Sermon: The Burning Heart and the Open Word 🕯️

Introduction

Friends, we often find ourselves walking our own "Emmaus road"—a path of sadness, perplexed by trials that seem to contradict our faithST December 3, 1894, par. 6+1. On that first resurrection Sunday, two disciples walked in the shadow of the cross, their faith dying with their Master because they did not understand the divine necessity of His suffering Luke 24:17-20BEcho October 22, 1894, par. 2.

I. The Stranger on the Road

Jesus does not always reveal Himself abruptly; He often walks beside us as a fellow traveler in our sorrow Luke 24:15BEcho October 22, 1894, par. 2. These disciples were talking of their disappointed hopes, yet the very Subject of their conversation was standing right next to them Luke 24:14-15BEcho October 22, 1894, par. 2. How often do we miss the presence of the Lord because we are focused on our "pitiful story" rather than His promisesST December 3, 1894, par. 6+1? Our individual safety and comfort are found in recognizing that He is our constant associate on the life-journey1888 1243.2+1.

II. The Solid Rock of Scripture

To cure their unbelief, Jesus did not first show them His wounds; He showed them the Word1888 1243.2+1. He expounded "in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" Luke 24:27ST December 3, 1894, par. 6. This reminds us that the Word of God is a solid rock upon which we must plant our feet1888 1243.2. To truly know Christ is to see Him through the "living oracles," from the law of Moses to the testimony of the prophets Luke 24:441888 1243.2+1. When Christ opens the mind to comprehend the sacred word, the Holy Spirit conveys its true significance to the soulST December 3, 1894, par. 6+1.

III. Known in the Breaking of Bread

The disciples’ transformation was completed in an act of hospitalityARSH August 26, 1862, page 97.20. As they sat at meat, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and was known to them in the "breaking of bread"RH October 9, 1888, par. 11+1. This was not the formal Lord’s Supper, but an ordinary meal where the guest became the HostARSH July 4, 1865, page 36.1+1. Today, the Savior still knocks at the door of our hearts, promising that if we open to Him, He will come in and "sup" with us Revelation 3:201MR 300.4+1. When we allow Him entrance, our eyes are opened to see His divine character and workRH October 9, 1888, par. 11+1.

IV. The Mission of Joy

The disciples could not keep this news to themselvesRH October 9, 1888, par. 11. Despite the late hour and the rugged terrain, they hurried back to Jerusalem to share the glad tidings Luke 24:33RH October 9, 1888, par. 11+1. They found the eleven and declared, "The Lord is risen indeed" Luke 24:34PTJW March 1850, page 58.3. This is the fruit of a personal encounter with the risen Christ: a testimony of power, a heart set on fire, and a life dedicated to proclaiming the truth in love1888 1243.2+2.

Conclusion

May our prayer today be like that of David: "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" Psalms 119:18PTUK February 9, 1893, page 35.6. When we walk with Him and let Him open the Scriptures to us, our disappointment is turned into a scene of rejoicing, and our hearts will surely burn within us1888 1243.2+1.

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Key Points of the Account 📌

• The Problem of Unbelief: The disciples were sad because they were "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" regarding the Messiah's suffering Luke 24:25BEcho October 22, 1894, par. 2.

• The Centrality of Prophecy: Jesus used the Old Testament (Moses and the prophets) as the primary evidence for His identity and mission Luke 24:271888 1243.2+1.

• Divine Instruction: Christ is the one who opens the understanding so that the Scriptures can be truly appreciated and seen in their true significance Luke 24:45ST December 3, 1894, par. 6+1.

• The "Burning Heart": An internal spiritual warmth and conviction accompanies the true interpretation of the Word of God through the Spirit Luke 24:321888 1243.2+1.

• The Recognition: Jesus was fully recognized during a shared meal, emphasizing that social communion with the Savior leads to deeper revelation Luke 24:30-31RH October 9, 1888, par. 11+1.

• Immediate Testimony: Finding the risen Savior compels the believer to share the knowledge with others immediately, regardless of the difficulty of the journey Luke 24:33-35RH October 9, 1888, par. 11.