On the day of the resurrection, two of Jesus’ disciples were walking the 8-mile road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were discouraged and distraught. Their teacher, friend and leader, Jesus, had been crucified just a few days before. His death had caused his disciples to become confused and afraid.
To add to their confusion, on this day some other followers of Jesus had made an amazing discovery. When they went to visit Jesus’ tomb, his body was not there. When these two disciples who were now walking to Emmaus heard that news, they didn’t know what to think. On the road to Emmaus, they were having a spirited discussion with each other about what all these things meant.
Suddenly, as they were walking down the road, another man joined them. It was Jesus himself, the Resurrected One. But for the time being, they were not able to recognize him. They were walking beside their risen Savior and they didn’t even know it.
He engaged them in conversation and asked them what they were discussing. They asked him if he was the only one who didn’t know about the recent events in Jerusalem: how Jesus had been arrested, tried, beaten and crucified. They told him how they had hoped Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. They told how it was the third day since the resurrection, and the report of the women and men who had gone to the tomb.
Then Jesus spoke up.
Luke 24:25-27
25 He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Jesus told them an amazing story on that day. Perhaps it was the greatest story Jesus ever told. Jesus walked through the Old Testament* with his friends, explaining to them all the references, prophecies, and foreshadowing of his coming throughout the Bible. It must have been an amazing story.
Later that evening, Jesus sat down for a meal with them. As he broke the bread and said a blessing over it, their eyes were opened to realize who was in their midst — Jesus, their risen Savior!
So, over the next series of posts, I want us to walk together through the Bible. We will cover passages in the Old Testament and the New Testament. We will see Jesus in every story. Let’s explore the greatest story that Jesus ever told.
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* The phrase “Moses and the Prophets” (v27) is a reference to the entire Old Testament, referencing the ways that the Old Testament scrolls were organized. The first five books were called the Torah, the five books written by Moses. They were rolled together in a set of scrolls. The other books were called the Nevi’im and the Kethuvim, referring to the Prophets and the Psalms/Writings. They were rolled together in a set of scrolls. Therefore, when the New Testament uses the phrase “Moses and the Prophets” or “Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets,” it is a reference to the Hebrew Bible, which Christians call the Old Testament.
Looking forward to this exploration!