The Road to Emmaus
Theme: Good News to Share
Theme Verse: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10b NIV
Readings: Luke 24:13-35; Mark 16:12-13
Memory Verse: "He said to them, '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.'" Luke 24:25-26
The time is afternoon of Easter Day. Two of Jesus' disciples, Cleopas and friend, not part of the eleven, are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, about 7 miles away (and probably a two hour walk with lots of time for talking.) They are talking about all the things that had happened in the last few days. Jesus caught up with them and joined them but" their eyes were kept from recognizing him." Word received: I have My timing and My way. My ways are higher than your ways; you may not understand all of My ways. I want you to trust Me.
Jesus asks them, "What word are these that you exchange …and are so downcast?" They are stopped in their tracks and are astonished that he could have been in Jerusalem and not have heard what had happened. They are broken hearted over the death of their rabbi and prophet and confused by the strange reports of the women disciples. PRAY that we can participate anew in Jesus' passion and resurrection. Lord, help me to understand the sorrow your disciples felt on losing you and not realizing what was going on. And give me the joy they knew when they recognized you and saw that you were (and are) alive. Please write this on my heart.
All their hopes "that he was the one to redeem Israel" were crushed. Their hopes and attention were so fixed on their own idea of what the Messiah would be that they had not really heard Jesus. They shared the confusing story about the women and Peter and John checking it out Then Jesus said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken" (vs25) Word received: Hear My admonitions to you as well. Ask for My Spirit to search your heart for those places where you are slow of believe what I have said. PRAYER: Dear Jesus, Help our unbelief. Increase our faith in you.
"'Was it not necessary that Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (vs.26-27) Prayer: Holy Spirit please write the Psalms and prophets on my heart so that I will know that Jesus had to suffer for me. Open your scriptures to me -- and to us. Word received: I want My people to know My words. Pray for hearts that hearken to what I say. Jesus lovingly rebuked them for not believing the prophets, and gave them a glorious Bible lesson about himself in the Hebrew scriptures!
Jesus appeared to be going further so they asked him to spend the night with them and he did. Do we keep inviting Jesus more and more into our lives and homes? In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me." Word received: Ask Me to abide with you.
When Jesus was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them." "And their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he vanished out of their sight." This has echoes of the last supper but also Jesus lived with his disciples as they traveled. Jesus must have done this familiar thing countless times -- and they recognized him! Imagine their overwhelming joy and excitement. Word received: Pray for yourself and those around you that your eyes will be opened and that you will know Me in the breaking of the bread. Just as Jesus identified himself with the Passover bread and the wine at the "Last Supper", so he is recognized and identified during this meal. Only the 12 were present at that meal in the upper room but now Jesus is breaking bread and recognized by other disciples. Just as Jesus gives himself by his own hand at that Passover meal so he desires to give himself to each of us as we "do this in remembrance of me.". Pray that we will recognize and come to know Jesus as the one who was the perfect sacrifice for us, as our Lord and King. Pray that we will listen carefully to him and really hear and respond to him. As he gave himself to us, let us give ourselves to him as he stands at the door and knocks.
Jesus is alive! And not only that but they had just seen and broken bread with him and heard him teach them! "Did not our hearts burn within us" as Jesus "opened to us the scriptures?" They were so joyful that they turned right around and went back the two hours to Jerusalem to the eleven disciples and those who were with them --- at night! (not the safest time.)
The disciples told the two that the Lord had "indeed risen and appeared to Peter, and Cleopas told them how Jesus had met them and how they knew Him. Word received: I want you to tell others how you have come to know Me. Then Jesus himself stood among them and they were frightened and thought in their hearts that he was a ghost. (Some of the other gospels tell us that Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe, Mark 16:4). Then Jesus shows them his hands and feet and told them to touch him so they would know he was real flesh and blood. They still didn't believe so he asked them for a piece of fish and ate it. Word received: I want you to believe Me. I want you to trust Me. Then Jesus reminded them of what he had told them about what would happen. Then he gave them all a wonderful Bible lesson about what Moses and the prophets had said about him and told them they were to be his witnesses when they had received God's power. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to understand the scriptures. Some who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit have also received a new ability to read and understand scripture, (Ask Hilda or Torre.)
Remember how Jesus said, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." (John 20:29) That means us!
We need to take the time to praise and thank God that we have the whole picture in perspective through the scriptures --- and the end of the story, the Resurrection, when we read the first part. We can understand Moses and the prophets because we know Jesus.
A word received about the resurrection: I AM. That is what it all comes down to: I AM alive.
A word received: I stand at the door and knock, I want to come in, fling wide the door of your heart.
Prayer: Jesus set our hearts on fire to love your word in the Bible.
Word we got as we prayed for teachers and lesson: I AM with you and that was true at Emmaus and that is true now.
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 28
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1.) Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive today.
2.) God wants to write that on our hearts, so that we will believe the truth.
3.) Pray that God will open your eyes and heart to see Him.
4.) Prayer: Jesus, please help me love what you say in the Bible.
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