Sunday
04/26/20 - Sidney UMC
Sermon Title:
“The Walk to Emmaus”
Old Testament
Scripture: Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
New Testament
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17-23
Gospel Lesson:
Luke 24:13-35
He is Risen! He is
Risen, Indeed. Alleluia!
As we are still in the season of Easter, my friends, my
brothers and sisters, I greet you again with this great Easter Sunday greeting.
We will be in the season of Easter until Pentecost Sunday, which this year is
on May 31st.
Since we are continuing in this season of Easter, it is
very common to have gospel lessons that discuss the time from Easter Sunday to
that of Pentecost Sunday. On the day of Pentecost, which once again this year,
is on Sunday May 31st, the disciples were gathered in an Upper Room.
Suddenly, the Holy Spirit moved, they spoke in different languages, the Spirit
of God descended upon them like tongues of fire, and Peter preached a sermon
that brought 3,000 souls to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Pentecost is the
official birthday of the Christian Church, and the day that the disciples were
filled with the Holy Spirit of God. It is on Pentecost that Jesus’ disciples
finally go forward, boldly, bravely, and unapologetically living and preaching
the gospel of Jesus Christ. On Pentecost Sunday, the disciples and the other
earlier followers of Jesus are not locked behind closed doors, instead they are
out teaching, preaching, and loving like Jesus Christ. Church tradition tells
that all but the Apostle John will die brutal deaths for their faith in Christ.
Since Jesus conquers the grave, and rises from the dead, on
Easter Sunday, between Easter Sunday and Pentecost, Jesus decided to appear to
his disciples. They are scared, unsure, and lack the faith to boldly go forth
with the gospel.
During the 40-days before Pentecost, Jesus presents himself
physically to the disciples and others. I have read that as many as 400-500
people claim to have seen Jesus risen after his resurrection.
I also want to mention quickly, that this Sunday is one of
the six special United Methodist Church giving Sundays. This Sunday is “Native
American Awareness Sunday.” According to umcgiving.org, this special Sunday
offering exists because:
“When you support Native American
Ministries Sunday, you equip seminary students who will honor and celebrate
Native American culture in their ministries. And you empower congregations that
are finding fresh new ways to minister to their communities with the love of
Christ” (http://www.umcgiving.org/ministry-articles/native-american-ministries-sunday).
If you are interested in giving to “Native American
Awareness Sunday,” you can send funds to our church or to our Annual Conference
in Liverpool, NY, and just mark the funds “Native American Awareness Sunday.”
We will then make sure, if the funds are sent to the Sidney UMC, that they go
to the Annual Conference, and to those who will benefit from these funds.
Getting back to what I said a minute ago however, last
Sunday, Jesus appears to the remaining eleven original Apostles twice, once with
the Apostle Thomas present, and once without. Jesus physically presents himself
resurrected with the nail wounds in his hands, and the spear wound in his side
(Jn. 20:19-31, NRSV).
Jesus’
disciples were scared, and they lacked the faith to fully go forth and preach
the gospel. Due to this, Jesus decides, once again, to appear to them and
others during these 40-days leading up to Pentecost Sunday, so that they might
be encouraged, and so that their faith would be strengthened.
I
personally think that Jesus appeared physically during these 40-days, so that
people could one, see that he was truly physically resurrected and alive, and two,
so that he could strengthen the faith of his disciples and others. His
disciples are scared and hurting, so Jesus comes to them, fully resurrected,
fully alive, fully God, and fully human. Jesus shows them the mighty resurrection
power of God!
This morning we have another post-resurrection or
post-mortem appearance of Jesus Christ. This appearance comes to us once again
from the gospel of Luke 24:13-35, as this passage is commonly called “The Walk
to Emmaus.”
In
fact, the United Methodist Church sponsors a three-day spiritual retreat weekend
called, “The Walk to Emmaus.” I have attended one of these weekends as a
candidate and many weekends as a leader on the weekends. The purpose of these
weekends is to bring people closer Christ, raise them up for various areas of
church leadership, and to deepen their faith in God.
This spiritual retreat weekend in the United Methodist
Church called, “The Walk to Emmaus,” is named after our gospel of Luke lesson
for this morning. Of the four recognized or Canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John, only the gospel of Luke has the story of Jesus appearing on the
road to Emmaus.
Before I get into this gospel of Luke lesson, it is
important to remember what Peter says in 1 Peter for this morning. Once again,
Peter speaks of who Jesus is, as 1 Peter 1:18-21 it says:
“You know that you were ransomed
from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things
like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb
without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world,
but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have
come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that
your faith and hope are set on God” (1 Pet. 1:18-21, NRSV).
Well, here in 1 Peter, this is not the scared Peter hiding
in a locked house. This Peter is very clear and bold on who he says Jesus is. This
Peter isn’t unsure or lacking in faith. This Peter declares that Christ was and
is perfect, died for us, and that through his blood we can be forgiven, and
given new life. This Peter said that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were
destined before the world was created. This Peter said that Jesus brings us to
God, and that he rose from the dead. This Peter, however, is the Peter after
Pentecost Sunday. This is not the disciples today.
So, let’s look at this gospel of Luke reading for this
morning once again. Beginning in 21:13-14 it says:
“ Now on that same day
two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from
Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened”
(Lk.
24:13-14, NRSV).
So, we have two people walking to the
village of Emmaus, that is about 7-miles away from Jerusalem. Jerusalem is of
course where the Last Supper, the crucifixion of Jesus, and his burial and resurrection
occurred. So, Jerusalem is about 7-miles from the village of Emmaus. Also, we
are not told who these “two people walking” are, but as we read, we will get so
more information on their identities.
What we do know, is that this gospel
narrative takes place very shortly after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, as
these two are walking to the village of Emmaus and discussing Jesus. Jesus then
comes walking alongside the two of them and begins to walk and talk with them.
The gospel of Luke continues once again saying:
“While they were talking
and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were
kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with
each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad” (Lk. 24:15-17, NRSV).
These two mystery travelers, heading to
the village of Emmaus, are discussing Jesus. Right then, Jesus walks up next to
them and asks them what they are discussing as they walking? They don’t
recognize Jesus.
Why
don’t they recognize him? Well maybe Jesus wanted them to believe without
seeing who he really was, or maybe their hearts where so closed to who he
really was and is. Jesus of course already knows what they are talking about,
so he is asking as if he has no idea. The scripture says when he asks the two travels
this, that they stood there and looked sad. Yet, how could they be sad if Jesus
Christ has just risen from the dead, conquering sin, death, darkness, and evil?
Well maybe these two didn’t believe that Jesus did rise from the dead. Let’s
read on once again, as the gospel of Luke then says of the two travels:
“Then
one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger
in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these
days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about
Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all
the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be
condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to
redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these
things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at
the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they
came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said
that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it
just as the women had said; but they did not see him” (Lk. 24:18-24, NRSV).
So
clearly these two travels heading to the village of Emmaus know all about
Jesus. One of them, the scripture says, is named “Cleopas.” Clearly in this
scripture though, the two travels do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah,
the savior of the world. In fact, they are sad they say that Jesus wasn’t the
Messiah. They lament that he didn’t redeem Israel as they put it. They do in
fact believe that Jesus’ tomb is empty however, as this event seems to fall on
Easter Sunday or soon after when they are walking to the village of Emmaus. Clearly
though, “Cleopas” and this other travel don’t believe that Jesus rose from the
dead. Thus far, they just believe that Jesus’ body was gone from the tomb.
Maybe they believed that his body was taken or stolen, but we don’t hear anywhere
here that they believed that he was resurrected from the dead.
Upon
hearing all of this, Jesus fires back. Before going into this scripture further
though, we now know the name of one of these two travelers to Emmaus. The
gospel of Luke calls this person “Cleopas.” Well who is “Cleopas?” One source I
have read says:
“Cleopas (Greek Κλεόπας, Kleopas),
also spelled Cleophas, was a figure of early Christianity, one of the two
disciples who encountered Jesus during the Road to Emmaus appearance in Luke 24:13–32” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopas).
This
identified person of the two travels called “Cleopas,” or “Cleophas,” is a disciple
of Jesus Christ, but not one of the first twelve that Jesus chose. It is
possible that Jesus’ 12-disciples did spread the faith in secret before Pentecost,
or that these two people encountered Christ somewhere during his ministry and
became his followers. Some Christian traditions claim that “Cleophas” was the
brother of Jesus’ earthly father Joseph. This is just a theory, but if it’s
true then this person was Jesus’ uncle. Once again, we know that this person
was a disciple of Jesus.
With
this said, Jesus then responds to what these two said saying:
“Then he said to them,
“Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should
suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses
and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all
the scriptures” (Lk.
24:25-27, NRSV).
Jesus
tells them, have you forgotten everything that I said, did, and have taught you?
You know of the empty tomb, and still you don’t believe?
The
scripture then continues to say, once again, that they are beginning to near
the village of Emmaus. Remember this is a seven-mile walk. If they are almost
there, they must have been walking and talking for a while. How long does it take
you to walk a mile? Does it take 10-minutes? 20-minutes? Longer? Well they
walked about 7-miles together in total, and the scripture says that they
stopped and talked at least once.
The
gospel then continues once again saying:
“As they came near the
village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But
they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening
and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was
at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to
them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished
from their sight” (Lk.
24:28-31, NRSV).
There is lot to unpack here. First,
they were clearly walking, talking, and walking and talking long enough that it
was almost nighttime. Cleopas invites Jesus to stay with them. Where are they
staying, and why do they invite Jesus to stay with them? They invited Jesus to stay with them, as this
was the common cultural practice of hospitality for a friend or a visitor. My
guess is that they were staying in their own house.
If this might be true, then who was
the other person with Cleopas? Some scholars think that this other person is
Cleopas’ wife, as they live together. We don’t know this for sure, but it makes
sense. A husband and a wife are walking home from Jerusalem after the crucifixion,
death, and empty tomb of Jesus. The scripture says that Jesus only died three
days before this “Walk to Emmaus,” so it must be Easter Sunday or soon after.
Jesus of course, goes to stay with Cleopas
and the other person, who is perhaps Cleopas’ wife. They have dinner together, as
offering a visitor food and drink was their custom of hospitality. We also
often offer these things for friends and visitors in our own homes.
Most people that lived in and around
Jerusalem at this time ate bread as a main staple food. They ate other things
to of course, but the bread was the main staple. It is no wonder that at many restaurants
we are offered bread even before the meal that we ordered comes out. Bread was the
main staple.
With this bread, at the table with Cleopas
and the other person. Jesus then takes some of this bread. Just like the Last
Supper, Jesus blesses this bread, breaks this bread, and gives it to Cleopas
and the other person. This is how we do Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. We
bless the bread and break it, and we then share of this broken bread symbolizing
Christ’s body broken for us.
The gospel then says, that in this
moment of Holy Communion, in this moment of lifting the bread, blessing it, and
breaking it, that Cleopas and the other person finally recognized that this
person was the risen Lord, Jesus Christ!
Was Jesus on the journey to Emmaus and
at the dinner table of Cleopas and the other person, in his physically and
bodily resurrected form? I will tell you this, it’s kind of hard to lift a loaf
of bread, bless it, break it, and hand it to the two people, with out a body. I
don’t know about you, but it’s hard to lift and eat bread without hands, or arms,
or a body. So yes, Jesus was physically with Cleopas and the other person.
Once Cleopas and the other person
recognize that this is indeed Jesus, then Jesus immediately vanishes. Why would
Jesus do this though, and why didn’t he finish his dinner?
Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances
were not about just side conversation, or filling up time until he ascended
into heaven, or a desire to just chat. All the recorded post-resurrection or
post-mortem appearances of Jesus Christ happened directly so that those that he
appeared to would have faith in him. He didn’t appear just to chat, instead he
came so that they may have life, and have it abundantly, as Jesus says in John
10:10 (Jn. 10:10, NRSV).
So, why did Jesus disappear once
Cleopas and the other person finally recognized him at dinner? Jesus left
because they believed in him. Why did Jesus leave last Sunday shortly after
appearing to Thomas, who some call “Doubting Thomas?” Jesus left, because
Thomas and the others believed. Jesus appears to the Apostles and others periodically
for 40-days so that they might believe and have faith and trust in him.
Well, did Cleopas and the other person
on the road to Emmaus have faith after this encounter with the risen Christ?
Let’s read the last bit of this gospel of Luke reading. Once again, this gospel
of Luke reading ends saying:
“They said to each
other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking
to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour
they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their
companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and
he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and
how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (Lk. 24:32-35, NRSV).
Some scholars connect Cleopas with Simon
as one in the same, but what is evident is that by the end of the road to
Emmaus, these two disciples believed in Jesus. This is no doubt why the United
Methodist Church has our three-day spiritual retreat weekend called “The Walk
to Emmaus.” On this three-day retreat weekend our journey, we are walking with
Christ and growing closer to him.
During these 40-days from Jesus’s
resurrection on Easter Sunday to Pentecost, the faith of the original eleven
Apostles and many disciples of Christ is strengthened. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit
will move, and the church will be born. This gospel, this faith, and this belief
that Jesus imbued into his first believers, is the same faith that we have
passed down from generation to generation for the last two-thousand years.
Why do we as Christians believe that
Jesus physically rose from the dead? His tomb was empty, and hundreds of eyewitnesses
saw him physically and bodily alive after his resurrection. Either this is just
all metaphor and symbolism, or the first Apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ
saw him alive after he was resurrected.
So convinced were eleven of the remaining
twelve of Jesus’s first Apostles, and many of the disciples, that after the day
of Pentecost they will risk and sacrifice their lives so that all may know the
saving power of Jesus Christ. Countless Christians would and still do suffer
and die, so that people would know the resurrection power of Christ, and have
eternal salvation found only in the life-giving blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus
appears for 40-days so his first Apostles and first disciples might have life,
and have it abundantly (Jn. 10:10, NRSV). Amen.
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