Luke 25:13-45 The Road to Emmaus

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

18 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?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who 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 crucified Him. 21 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. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 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.”

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the 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.

The Disciples’ Eyes Opened

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 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 stay with them.

30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 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?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish [k]and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

The Scriptures Opened

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Jesus is there when we don’t know He’s there and when we don’t know it’s Jesus.

  • Jesus pointed out they were sad yet they said their hearts burned within them. So, they had both holy emotions and carnal emotions fighting each other at the same time. 

REBEKAH AND THE STRUGGLE WITHIN

Rebekah struggled with bareness for almost twenty years. This meant she was probably around forty years old when she became pregnant for the first and only time. She had a difficult pregnancy because we read in Genesis that:

  • Genesis 25:22 – “the children struggled together within her.”
    • INSIDE THIS WOMAN WAS BATTLE. THERE WAS A FIGHT GOING ON INSIDE HER BODY
  • In Genesis, it says she cried unto the Lord
    • Genesis 25:2 – “If it be so, why am I thus?”
  • Then we read she “went to enquire of the Lord.” It is a great testament to Rebekah’s faith that when she had a question about her pregnancy, she turned to the Lord for guidance instead of relying on advice from other women or accepting cultural explanations.
  • In reply to her prayer, the Lord gave her a direct and personal revelation. It is one of the few accounts in the Bible that we have of a woman speaking directly with God. He told her,
    • Genesis 25:23 (PTV) – THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT NATIONS INSIDE OF YOU AND THEY WILL ALWAYS FIGHT. That’s the Pastor Troy Version of that verse.

MY STRUGGLE AND YOURS:

  • IF I AM A MAN OF PEACE, WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH ANGER?
  • IF I AM A MAN OF CONFIDENCE, WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH ANXIETY?
  • IF I AM ANOINTED TO HAVE COURAGE, WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH FEAR? 
  • If I am a man of joy and celebration, why do I deal with so much depression?
  • God wants in on the battle within us.
    • God wants in on my thinking – “behold I stand at the door and I knock.” Jesus wants  in.
  • Your soul is made up of your mind, your will, and your emotions.

SOUL VS. SPIRIT

  • Pneuma: Spirit – “The Breath”
  • Psuché: Soul – the mind, will and emotions
  • The soul is your Esau and your Spirit is your Jacob.
  • Your soul, you mind, your will, and your emotions must submit to the Spirit.
  • Sometimes your body and your soul will team up.

Adoration: a disciplined emotional response to the love of God. Adoration involves joy, happiness and laughter. Intentional passion for Jesus.

  • Psalms 122:1 – I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR SOUL TO YOUR SPIRIT, IT DOESN’T DECLINE. IT ACTUALLY BECOMES ALIVE. IT PROSPERS AND BECOMES WHAT A SOUL IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

  • 3 John 1:2-4  – Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR YOUR PROSPERITY.

  • God’s way of prospering you is to make your soul prosper.
  • Verse 2 says your life prospers when your soul prospers. Verse 3 says your soul will prosper when you walk in truth. So, the way God set it up is like this:
    • As you progress in the mind and the Spirit of God.
    • As you let your mind get in agreement with what God almighty says, you prosper. You advance you go to the next level.
    • You are given more authority and more responsibility.   
    • There are ways Jesus is involved in your life and you don’t have a clue that He’s there at all. There are other places you are giving credit to something that is actually Jesus Himself.

You can talk to your soul from your Spirit:

  • Psalms 42:11 – Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

These ten basic declarations (confessions) are foundational to the building of my faith. They will increase your expectancy of God’s goodness; and, thus, will increase the manifestation of that goodness in your life.

Jesus said in Matthew 8:13 “According to your faith, so be it.” Say this every day for a month and see what happens to your life. It will be exciting!

1. My prayers are powerful and effective (2 Corinthians 5:21; James 5:16b).

2. God richly supplies all my financial needs (Philippians 4:19).

3. I am dead to sin and alive to obeying God (Romans 6:11).

4. I walk in ever-increasing health (Isaiah 53:3-5).

5. I live under a supernatural protection (Psalms 91).

6. I prosper in all my relationships (Luke 2:52).

7. I consistently bring God encounters to other people (Mark 16:17-18).

8. Through Jesus I am 100 percent loved and worthy to receive all of God’s blessings (Galatians 3:1-5).

9. Each of my family members is wonderfully blessed and called to radically love Jesus (Acts 16:30-31).

10. I laugh when I hear a lie from the devil (Psalms 2:2-4).