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WE HAD HOPED Luke 24:21
In recent days people power has manifested itself in the Middle East. The people are desperate.. wanting freedom!
It was something like that when Jesus lived in that region. Israel was ruled by Rome and many were crying out for freedom.
There were attempts at revolution. We read about two attempts in Acts 5:36,37..
About four hundred men rallied to Theudus.. but he was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
Judas the Galilean led a band of people in revolt but he also was killed, and all his followers scattered.
Many had hoped that they would succeed.. and were disappointed.
In a similar way people hoped that Jesus would lead a revolt and set them free. They also were disappointed.
Cleopas and his friend were two of them.
A stranger joined them and walked with them on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.
They spoke to him about Jesus.. They said..
Luke 24:19-21.. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
We had hoped.
They had hoped Jesus would lead a revolt and free Israel from Roman rule.. but their hope had been dashed to the ground!
They continued to walk and talk with the stranger.. and invited him into their own home in Emmaus.. Over a meal.. they suddenly realized that the stranger was none other than Jesus Himself! He had risen from the dead! While He was walking with them,Jesus had opened their eyes to what the Scriptures, the Hebrew Bible, our Old Testament, said about Him..
Luke 24:27.. Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
I wish I had been there.. but I wasn’t.. and the best I can do is to work out what He told them from what the disciples later taught..Let’s do that today.. Let’s imagine we are interviewing Cleopas about thirty years after that day.. at a time when Peter and Paul had written their letters..
Cleopas, what did Jesus tell you that day?
He would answer something like this..
HE TOLD US THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH.
This is what He said to us.. Luke 24:25,26.. How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? The Christ.. the Messiah.. had to suffer these things.. The Jesus you have been speaking about is the Messiah!
Seven weeks later Peter spoke to a crowd in Jerusalem.We read what he said in Acts 2:24..God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Then.. in Acts 2:27.. he quoted what King David wrote in Psalm 16.. You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
And went on to say in Acts 2:29-31.. Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ [the Messiah], that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.
The people had expected the Messiah to come and to lead a revolt, to overthrow the enemy and rule their nation. He came.. but He came to suffer.. to die a shameful death on a cross.. And then to rise from the dead! That raises another question.. Cleopas, but why did He have to suffer?Cleopas would answer something like this..
HE TOLD US HE SUFFERED TO PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR SIN. Do you remember the time when Philip met a man from Ethiopia? This man had been reading from Isaiah 53..Luke tells us what he was reading in Acts 8:32,33..He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.The man asked Philip who the prophet was speaking about.. and what did Philip do? He told him about Jesus!Take a closer look at Isaiah 53.. and we learn why Jesus died..
In Isaiah 53:5,6 we read.. He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The punishment that brought us peace was upon him!
That is why He had to suffer! Now let’s ask Cleopas another question.. Where is Jesus now?Cleopas would answer something like this..
HE EXPLAINED HE WOULD ASCEND TO HEAVEN. AND HE DID!
Just 10 days after He rose from the dead.. the Apostles saw Him taken up into heaven..
Luke tells us what happened in Luke 24:50.51.. When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
Six weeks later, Peter spoke about this to a crowd in Jerusalem.. We read what he said in Acts 2:33-35..Referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, he said,Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Again he referred to King David.. this time to Psalm 110.For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
These words are about Jesus. Jesus is now exalted at the right hand of God in heaven.
Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.
The Apostle Paul puts it like this.. Ephesians 1:19-22.. He [God] raised him [Jesus] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Today.. Jesus rules the Universe!
Earth-shaking things may be happening here on earth.. and we do not know what is next.. but we do know Who is in control. Jesus!
And that is not all. He is our Friend in heaven.
The Apostle Paul writes.. Romans 8:34.. Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Yes.. we have a great Friend in heaven.. One who sticks up for us!
And on top of that.. He is with us here on earth.
When He ascended to heaven.. He sent the Holy Spirit.. as Peter said.. he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear..
The Holy Spirit.. the Spirit of Jesus.. now lives in each of us and among us. He has not left us alone. He is with us.. and will be with us until the end of time!
Now let’s ask another question. What about all the promises of God you were hoping to see fulfilled?
Cleopas would answer something like this..
HE TOLD US THEY WOULD ALL BE FULFILLED WHEN HE RETURNS!
When Jesus was taken to heaven.. two messengers appeared and gave the Apostles a message.
We read about it in Acts 1:11.. This is what they said This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
And not long after this.. perhaps 3 months later.. Peter spoke to another crowd in Jerusalem.. to people who had rejected Jesus and seen Him crucified..
We read what he said in Acts 3:17-21.. Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
Yes.. in God’s time.. He will return.. and then all God’s promises will be fulfilled.
This is how Peter put it many years later.. 2 Peter 3:10,12,13.. The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Now let’s ask a couple of personal questions..
Cleopas, what will that day mean for you?
Cleopas would answer something like this..
He will give me a glorious resurrection body like His own..
Remember what the Apostle Paul wrote in..
Philippians 3:20,21.. Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. But, Cleopas, what if you die before He returns?
Cleopas would answer something like this..
When I die.. my spirit will go to be with Jesus..
When Stephen was about to die.. he prayed
Acts 7:59.. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit..
And Paul told the Philippians..
Philippians 1:23.. I desire to depart and be with Christ!
Yes.. when I die my spirit will go to be with Jesus..
And then when Jesus returns.. I will be given my resurrection body.. and be with Him for ever!
And then I believe Cleopas would sum it all up like this:
We had hoped for freedom from the Romans.. to enjoy the good life in our own land..
but Jesus has given us so much more!
He suffered to pay the price for our sin.
He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven.
Today He rules the universe..
Today He is our Friend in heaven..
He has sent His Spirit to be with us..
And in God’s time He will return and fulfil all God’s promises.
He has given us a life brim full of hope!
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