The Third Day

The Third Day

 “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?”   Luke 24:32 (NKJV)

I used to be a walker; I walked two to three miles a day.  I was in my 60’s at that time.  Then came a hip replacement; back surgery and knee replacement and a broken shoulder and the walking fell by the wayside.  It was more fun to walk when someone walked with me, because we could talk about families and current events and time would pass quickly.  I can picture these two friends walking along the road to Emmaus and talking about what happened to Jesus.

The Bible tells us that it was the third day and the same day that the women went to the tomb earlier the same morning.  Jesus drew near to them, but they did not recognize him.  This may seem questionable, but in Hebrews 13:2, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”  What this is saying is that angels can appear any time and you don’t know they are angels because they have taken on another appearance.  So it was with Jesus; they didn’t recognize him as Jesus, because he didn’t want them to know him.

The men were so sad and the stranger that joined them asked what it was all about. Jesus talked to the men further and shared scriptures with them from Moses and the prophets of old and how these things referred to him. The men urged Jesus to stay with them because it was getting late.  So when they sat down to eat, Jesus took the bread and blessed it and gave them each a piece.  It was then they recognized it was Jesus with them and at that very minute he disappeared.

Then they said, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us when he was sharing the scriptures with us?”  At that time they turned around and went back to Jerusalem.  Perhaps they were so excited, they didn’t stop to think about how dangerous the roads were at night.  There were many thieves and robbers waiting to catch those who were traveling in the dark.  When they made it back to Jerusalem (7 miles) they found Peter and the others together and in great excitement talking that Jesus was risen.  So the men from Emmaus told the disciples how Jesus had joined them and they didn’t know who he was.

Suddenly Jesus appeared in the midst of them and said, “Peace be with you.”  Some screamed and others trembled and tried to hide themselves because they thought he was a ghost. “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”  (Luke 24:39 NLT)) They still seemed to doubt, but then he asked them for something to eat, and someone gave him some fish.  They watched him eat the fish and realized ghosts didn’t eat.

Then he began to share the scriptures with them.  “Listen,” he said, “I have already told you that from Moses on, the scriptures tell what was going to happen to me and you didn’t get it.  The thing that you must share is that if they repent, all of their sins are forgiven.”  The prophets told that the Messiah would suffer and die and one the third day would rise again.

The disciples stood there in shock with their mouths hanging open as Jesus opened their minds to understanding, they realized it was really Jesus!  Instead of doubt, they all were filled with wonder and with joy!  Then Jesus said something to them that they didn’t really understand, “Now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”   Luke 24:49 (NLT)   Then Jesus led them all to Bethany.

Next week: The Rapture