Key Verse: Luke 24:27 “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

The crucifixion was a real blow to Jesus’ disciples. Not just the inner group of twelve, but all of Jesus’ followers were devastated by the news of His death. It was a grim moment.

On Resurrection Day, two of Jesus’ followers left Jerusalem to walk to Emmaus. They had heard the rumours of the empty tomb but were confused, rather than convinced. Depressed and disappointed, they were glumly walking along, discussing the events of the previous few days, when they were joined by a third man. He asked what they had been talking about. One of them, named Cleopas, responded rather curtly, “Are you the only one living in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Jesus feigned ignorance, “What things?”, He asked. They went on to tell Him what He so intimately knew. After they had finished, He went on to explain that the Christ (“Messiah”) had to undergo all these things in order to fulfil the writings of Moses and the Prophets, then He acted as if He was going farther than Emmaus. The disciples implored Him to stay the night. Over dinner it suddenly became clear. As He broke the bread and gave it to them, “their eyes were opened”. But even as they gasped a greeting, He disappeared from their sight.

What a surprise! Especially to these thoroughly disappointed disciples. They had “hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (NIV), and He had died, just like any other zealot. Three year of hope and self-sacrifice had been dashed, and then this! An empty tomb, a flesh-and-blood appearance and disappearance! What was going on?

Here’s what. Jesus was going to redeem Israel, not merely from Roman oppression, but from Satanic oppression. He was going to save His people from their sins. The eternal kingdom was at the door!