Sermon Notes

GBC APRIL 12, 2026

TITLE: THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
INTRODUCTION: That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 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, 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, 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.” LUKE 24:15-24
TEXT: 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. LUKE 24: 25-35
I. CHRIST-THE MASTER INTERPETER
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures……VV44-45
1. A TOTAL LACK OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNEMENT
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. HEBREWS 5:12-14
2. UNBELIEF-Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. JOHN 3:18
3. BIBLICAL IGNORANCE– So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God. ROMANS 10:17
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. II PETER 3:15-16
The two men walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus were discouraged disciples who had no reason to be discouraged. They believed the promises about Messiah’s glory, but they could not accept the prophecies about His suffering
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 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?”
II. BURNING HEARTS
1. AN AWAKENED SPIRITUAL HUNGER FOR THE TRUTH
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. I PETER 2:2-3
2. SPIRITUAL URGENCY
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. ACTS 17:10-11
“ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. REVELATION 3:15-20
He would not force an entry. The two had opened to Him their home, and now He opens their eyes
3.THERE WERE BLESSING TO BE HAD IN DINING WITH THE SAVIOR
4. THERE WAS SPIRITUAL RECOGNITION
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. EPHESIANS 5:15-17
5. TRUE SPRITUAL FERVOR
33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 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. LUKE 24:33-35
III. CLEAR UNDERSTANDING
1. SPIRITUAL UGERENCY CREATED ACTION
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia….. ACTS 16:9-10
2. THERE WAS A MESSAGE TO DELIVER
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. ACTS 4:12
3. BLESSING TO RECOUNT
If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” ACTS 11:17-18
Belief in a literal, physical resurrection of Jesus is supported by three lines of evidence.

• There is the evidence of fulfilled prophecy.
• There is the evidence of eyewitness testimony.
• There is the evidence of millions of lives transformed by faith in Him over the span of some two millenia.’

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” JOHN 20:27-29