He is Risen!

 “Redeemer”

(Luke 24:13-35, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, April 8, 2012)

[13] That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. [16] But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. [17] And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. [18] Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” [19] And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, [20] and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. [21] But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. [22] Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, [23] and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. [24] Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

Cleopas and his companion were understandably low as they walked to Emmaus. They were talking about all the things that had happened. While they were reviewing the events of the betrayal and arrest of Jesus, His condemnation by the Jewish religious court, and His torture and crucifixion, who joined them on their journey but Jesus! But they were not able to see Him.

He engaged them in conversation, uncovering their disappointment. At root, their hopes had been dashed. “We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. That word “redeem” can have at least two meanings. There is a general meaning, which is probably the one they had in mind, “to deliver from evils of every kind, internal and external.” They had an idea of what a redeemer would be, and had high hopes that Jesus, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, was their redeemer. He would fix everything. But that had not happened. Just the opposite had come to pass. It seemed like His enemies had utterly defeated Him. How could anything be worse than what happened to Jesus? A true redeemer, by this first definition, would have delivered them from every kind of evil, inside and out. But it appeared that the man that they had hoped was the Messiah was instead delivered over to His enemies. Corrupt and evil men had utterly destroyed their best hope. They were sad. What more can you say.

They were so sad, that they were not able to receive the news of the resurrection, news that they had already heard about from some of the women who had seen the empty tomb and angels claiming that Jesus was alive. They may have heard the words, but they could not allow their hearts to hope any more in Jesus.

[25] And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.This was a great moment. Jesus, the Resurrection Man, was right there with them. He spoke up, though they still did not know it was He; the Redeemer, not only of Israel, but of the new heavens and earth.

Jesus knew well that there was a more specific meaning of this word “redeem.” This meaning was all over the Bible. This second meaning of redeem was “to liberate by payment of ransom.” A price had to be paid for Isaac to live, when his father Abraham was ready to take his life. There had to be a sacrifice, a payment to the Lord of righteousness, a ransom. God provided a lamb, a ram in the thicket. That substitute died, and Isaac was spared. He was redeemed. He came down from the wood of the sacrifice. He was liberated by the payment of a ransom that God Himself had provided.

Of course, a ram in the thicket cannot really die for our sins. That was a picture. Cleopas and his friend needed to see the true Redeemer. According to the Scriptures, the Messiah had to suffer and die for us as a ransom before He entered into His glory as the Resurrection King. According to the Scriptures, the Lord would rise again, long before the final resurrection, that great day of the fullness of the glory of God that is ready today to come down from on high.

[28] So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, [29] but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. [31] And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. [32] They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

This was all very enlivening to the souls of these two men. When He seemed to be going farther than where they were lodging for the night, they urged Him strongly to stay with them. But when He broke bread with them, they saw Him, they knew Him, they recognized Him. This was no stranger. This was Jesus, their Redeemer and their Friend. Then He vanished from their sight, but they were not distressed anymore. Their hearts were filled with the truth of the Scriptures.

[33] And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [34] saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

But they could not stay put. They ran back immediately to Jerusalem. They had to say it. They knew it in their hearts now, and so did the other disciples. “The Lord has risen indeed!”

This is where living faith begins to move out in hope and love: Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, is risen from the dead! He had to die. A ransom far better than a ram had to be paid for your liberation. God would have to receive any ransom. He was the One we had sinned against every time. He was the only one who could say, “It is enough. An acceptable ransom has been paid.”

But not only did God have to be the One to receive the ransom. He alone could pay the ransom. No Isaac was worthy enough to pay the price for you and I. And Abraham had nothing more precious to give to God than Isaac, the one God calls Abraham's only son, even though both God and Abraham knew full well that Abraham already had another son named Ishmael.

But one day God the Father would give His only-begotten Son for you. There would be no ram in the thicket to save Jesus. Isaac lives. You live. I live. Abraham lives. Jesus died. But look now, Jesus is alive. The good news is this. This ransom was acceptable. “He is risen indeed!”

1. What was the thinking of the disciples as they met Jesus?

2. How did He address their concerns?

3. How did they receive His words?

4. What is the significance of the Old Testament Scriptures to our faith today?”

OT Passage: Genesis 22:1-14