Enough Day 9 Perfect Prophet: Digging Deeper
Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
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The Questions
1) What had happened that led to the discussion taking place in verse 14?
2) Given how they explained the events that had occurred, what do we learn in verses 19-21 about these two men walking along the road?
3) Who was the stranger, and what did His response in verses 25-26 reveal about Himself?
Luke 24:13-26
13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they were prevented from recognizing him. 17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. 18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked them. So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 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.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
Original Intent
1) What had happened that led to the discussion taking place in verse 14?
The passage of Scripture we are digging deeper into begins with the word “now” in the CSB (Christian Standard Bible). The original Greek words καί (kai) and ἰδού (idou) translate into “and behold.” The translators chose “now” to indicate the transition to a new scene, but also had a desire to keep the urgency of the moment. (netbible.org) We know from the verse that “now” is the “same day” in which the tomb of Jesus had been found to be vacated. (Luke 24:1-3) These disciples of Jesus, not part of “the Twelve,” had heard about the empty tomb. Although the CSB uses the word “arguing”, the term indicates only that this was an emotional dialogue between the two. Whether the men were actually debating we don’t know, but it was most certainly an intense conversation about the events of the past few days. (verse 15) And why wouldn’t it be?! The events described in Luke 23 are dramatic and difficult to understand. These disciples were attempting to process together as they walked along. I imagine a present-day scene in which two eyewitnesses are walking away from a horrific car accident, in which they overhear there were no major injuries or fatalities. They begin to talk with each other about what they saw and heard. Each one gets more and more animated as they process their reactions out loud. This was the scene on the road to Emmaus that day.
2) Given how they explained the events that had occurred, what do we learn in verses 19-21 about these two men walking along the road?
We are told only one of the names of the men walking along. We know that neither were one of Jesus’ original disciples because we read in verse 33 how they joined the “eleven” later. After Jesus joins them, He opens by asking them a question that references their conversation. Based on His words, we can discern that Jesus had walked silently with them for a while, simply listening while they walked along. It was evident they were saddened by what had happened. (verse 17) Shocked that the stranger did not seem to know what was going on, they began to explain the current events. Their explanation to Jesus demonstrated some important things these men had come to believe about Jesus. They knew His name and where He was from. They said He was a prophet who was mighty in how He acted and spoke. They shared with the stranger that Jesus had been crucified by the religious leaders. They remembered He had promised to redeem Israel and they had hoped it was true. Now, because it was the third day, they were uncertain and confused. Possibly they had heard the prophet say something significant would happen by the third day. It is unclear whether these men were fully convinced about the Christ of whom they were speaking. What is clear is Luke’s priority by including this scene in his Gospel narrative. “The importance of the affirmation of the two disciples here in Luke 24:19 must not in any way be underestimated. It is integral to Luke’s theology and purpose.” (Walter Liefeld, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary on Luke)
3) Who was the stranger, and what did His response in verses 25-26 reveal about Himself?
What a shocking response! The men walking along thought they had been approached by a clueless visitor. (verse 18) How could anyone be so uninformed as it appeared this man seemed? Then He begins rebuking them! (verse 25) The Bible tells us these men were unable to recognize Jesus. (verse 16) Somehow, Jesus’ appearance was altered. It is difficult to know what this means, although there is no indication He was frightening or odd to them. All we are able to discern is that they did not immediately recognize who He was at this point. Still, Jesus’ response and demeanor apparently drew them to Him instead of becoming frustrated at Him. He spoke as one who knew them and knew more of the story. They did not shrink back from His critique. Instead they listened intently to His lengthy message and explanation. Later in verses 31-32 it is revealed that their hearts were stirred as “He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” (verse 27)
Everyday Application
1) What had happened that led to the discussion taking place in verse 14?
What a nightmare the previous days had been. These had been agonizing moments for everyone who followed closely to Jesus. Luke 22-23 provides many details. What eyewitnesses saw and heard was incomprehensible. Even though Jesus had previously spoken of the events as prophetic descriptions, it is obvious His hearers just did not get it. His closest friends even missed it. Before we are too hard on them, I must confess my own tendency to be confused when things do not seem to line up. Instead of trusting what I know to be true about God, I often doubt. Instead of rehearsing God’s promises, I often linger far too long in my own thinking. I look around and cannot see how it is possible for God to work things out for my good. There are times when nothing points to victory. It is easy to let the bad things we experience become our sole point of focus. How foolish of us! Instead, the psalmist reminds us to pause and preach the goodness of God to our souls. (Psalm 103)
2) Given how they explained the events that had occurred, what do we learn in verses 19-21 about these two men walking along the road?
I love the fact that these two men were not famous people. The disciples walking along the road that day following Passover were ordinary followers of Jesus who seem to be unlikely candidates for His after-resurrection appearance. Yet, there they were, talking to the Messiah Himself. They had no idea it was Him, yet they spoke with courage and confidence about what they had seen. They even boldly confessed that the religious leaders were the ones who had crucified Jesus. Can you imagine the scene, friend? They sincerely wanted to believe the best. They said as much, “But we were hoping that He was the one who was about to redeem Israel.” (verse 21) When we face disappointment, it is easy to be discouraged and lose hope, but our Lord invites us to pray and trust. Commentator David Guzik says, “Jesus wanted to know from them what He wants to know from us today.” He then asks the reader, “can we believe without seeing with our own eyes?”(Guzik, Enduring Word) Sometimes we fall at the feet of Jesus like the father mentioned in Mark 9:23-24 and must confess, “we believe, Lord. Help our unbelief!”
Sister, He is here. He is present. Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
3) Who was the stranger, and what did His response in verses 25-26 reveal about Himself?
As he does so often, gospel-writer Luke painted the scene in such dramatic fashion I feel like I am right there with them! Two men were walking along discussing Jesus’ death as well as the confusing message they had heard of His resurrection. Without realizing it, there was Jesus! Some Bible teachers have offered this scene as a parallel to Jesus’ presence with His often-non-perceptive disciples in our modern age. Luke’s implication was that they were ‘being prevented’ from recognizing Jesus. Apparently, Jesus appeared like the real man He was, but they could not identify Him. The key to us recognizing Jesus as exactly Who He claims, is to keep digging into the Scriptures that teach us what He looks like in real life scenes. Perhaps you’re familiar with the letters WWJD, prompting believers to ask, “What Would Jesus Do?” However, the better question to ask ourselves as we seek Jesus in the Scripture would be, “Is this who the real Jesus is?” If the answer is clarified in our souls through the Spirit, we can proceed in faith and confidence. We can know that The Christ is among us, teaching us, leading us, inspiring us, saving us! Who He reveals Himself to be in His Word will never contradict other Scriptures about Himself. He encourages us to keep seeking that we find Him! (Matthew 7:7) “Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now I wait for Thee. Ready, my God, Thy will to see. Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine! (Open my Eyes by Clara Scott)
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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