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June 2017 Printable .pdf (172 KB

The May 2017 teaching continued our focus on God's Word as our refuge and strength. In looking at God's Word, we learned Christ Jesus is the mediator for the unsaved and intercessor for the born-again believer. We reviewed the two Post-Resurrection appearances of our Lord Jesus Christ in his resurrected body. Jesus Christ's first appearance was to the imprisoned spirits and the second was to Mary Magdalene. We understood that Christ Jesus is the mediator for the unsaved. He is the intercessor for the born-again saints.

This month's teaching will continue to focus on God's Word as our refuge and strength. God's Word documented so many wonderful things about the Resurrection appearances of our Lord Jesus Christ in his resurrected body.

I want to share with you the Post-Resurrection record in Luke 24. Jesus Christ in his resurrected body appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus. God had Jesus Christ in his resurrected body open His Word to these men. God did not have Jesus Christ appear to the chief priests or the rulers that delivered him to be crucified. Jesus Christ appeared to those who loved God and His son.

Now let us read this beautiful record, starting in Luke 24:13-16:

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

And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

Emmaus was a little village about seven miles from Jerusalem. These two men were headed to that destination. While they talked with one another, Jesus in his resurrected body joined them and walked with them. They did not recognize him. Let's continue in Luke 24: 17-18:

And he [Jesus] said unto them, what manner of communications [Greek word logos or words] are these that ye have one to another as ye walk, and are sad?

And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

Cleopas was astonished this man did not know what had happened in Jerusalem. He also did not know this man was Jesus Christ! They did not understand or believe the prophecy of his resurrection, which is one of the reasons they did not recognize him. Continuing in Luke 24:19-20:

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed [works] and word before God and all the people:

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

Who delivered Jesus to be condemned to death, and crucified? The chief priests (Judean) and their rulers. Luke 24:21-24 continues with:

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since [makes it the fourth day] these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

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

Cleopas and the other disciple knew the following: 1) It was the third day since these things were done, making it the fourth day; 2) Certain women also of their company were astonished who had early been at the sepulcher. They did not find Jesus's body so they told disciples they had seen a vision of angels, who said Jesus was alive; and 3) Some of the disciples went to the sepulcher and found it as the women had said. They did not see Jesus's body.

Cleopas and the other disciple had the witness of the women. The other disciples confirmed the sepulcher was empty and Jesus was not there. Look at all the witnesses, and yet they still didn't believe. Now they are walking and talking face-to-face with Jesus Christ in his resurrected body and they still do not recognize him. At this point, God's Word was not their refuge and strength. They did not believe that God had resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead. The record continues in Luke 24:25-27:

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

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory [this refers to John 20:17 - see the May teaching]?

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

Visualize Jesus Christ in his resurrected body expounding and explaining to two men the Biblical records beginning at Moses, all the prophets, and all the scriptures concerning himself. What a fellowship that must have been! Now Jesus Christ in his resurrected body interpreted fully and thoroughly explained all the scriptures concerning himself to just two men on the road to Emmaus. What I wouldn't give to have been one of those men! What I wouldn't give just to read what Jesus said. But it is not written down anywhere. It was the Word of God that was Jesus Christ's refuge and strength. And after all his sharing, they still did not recognize him. Let's continue in Luke 24: 28-29:

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 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.

What does the word "constrained" mean? It's an Orientalism or manner of culture from the Middle East or Asia. It's an Eastern request to invite a guest. You are expected to refuse the first two times before you accept the request. For example, if I invite you to dinner, you would give me two reasons why you could not come. On the third time, you would accept the request. In America, when we invite someone to dinner, they accept right away. It's like "Where is the food? Let's eat!" But not in the Eastern culture. These two men constrained Jesus Christ.

God's Word devotes more time on this resurrection appearance than on any other. Jesus Christ did not appear to men of great power, wealth, or status; he appeared to two disciples who were having a tough time understanding the events surrounding the death of the man whom they believed would redeem Israel and be their savior. Look at the love of God for two disciples that He sent His only begotten son in his resurrected body to open the scriptures to them concerning His son. This record continues in Luke 24:30-31:

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

As Jesus Christ sat at meat with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them. Then their eyes of understanding were opened, and they knew that he was Jesus Christ. Once they realized who this man was, he disappeared out of their eyesight. Let's continue in Luke 24:32:

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?

I don't know about you but my heart burns within me when the scriptures are opened to me. It's like fire all shut up in my bones! My heart just rejoices over and over again. You just can't get enough! Only more of the Word of God can satisfy that fire in you! Turn to Luke 24:33-34:

And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

When Cleopas and the other disciple returned to Jerusalem, they were all excited to share Jesus Christ's appearance to them on the road to Emmaus. They found the eleven disciples and others talking about Jesus's appearance to them. This was separate post-Resurrection appearance from the one Cleopas and the other disciple experienced. It was said during the meeting, "Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." The record continues in Luke 24:35-36:

And they [Cleopas and the other disciple] told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they [Cleopas and the other disciple] thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

With God in Christ in you, the hope of glory, there is peace. But you cannot have peace without God and His son the Lord Jesus Christ! Romans 5:1 says "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Let's continue in Luke 24: 44-45:

And he said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

Jesus Christ fully interpreted and thoroughly explained all the scriptures concerning himself to them (verse 33 above) about his suffering, his death, and his resurrection. Guess who was there again? Cleopas and the other disciple. They heard Jesus teaching twice. The whole purpose of teaching God's Word to people is to open their understanding of the scriptures. This is how God's Word can be our refuge and strength.

In summary, I shared with you the Post-Resurrection record in Luke 24, where Jesus Christ in his resurrected body appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus. These two men invited Jesus Christ to dinner. God's Word devotes more time on this Resurrection appearance than on any other. Jesus Christ did not appear to men of great power, wealth, or status. He appeared to two disciples who were having a difficult time understanding the events surrounding the death of the man whom they believed would redeem Israel and be their savior. Look at the love of God for two disciples. He sent His only begotten son in his resurrected body to open the scriptures to them concerning His son. Jesus Christ also appeared before the eleven disciples and others and opened the scriptures to them. In this way, God's Word was a refuge and strength to those disciples. God's Word is continually our refuge and strength as we read it each day and put it on in our hearts.

Father, I thank you for opening the understanding of each reader, that they might understand your Word, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Father, I thank you for opening my understanding concerning your son's suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. I thank you for your Word being my refuge and strength in this day and time. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
(I Thessalonians 2:13).

Next month's teaching will continue to look at the Word of God as our refuge and strength.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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