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A Recap from Sunday’s Sermon
Seeking the Word

Preaching Text: Luke 24:13-35

The account of Jesus walking with the two companions along the road to Emmaus is unique to Luke’s Gospel, but it is well known and even more well-loved. The event is masterfully told and makes us wonder if our own hearts are open to God. The eyes of the companions were kept from recognizing Jesus from verse 16 until verse 31. Jesus applied God’s Word to recent events and he applied the Sacrament to their hearts.

Hearts come alive through the Word and the Sacrament.

Cleopas lays out a very accurate description of the events of Jesus’ passion, but he still doesn’t “get it.” After a stern rebuke, Jesus goes on to explain how the Old Testament was anticipating the Messiah’s ministry and death. Over the two-hour journey, he must have pointed them to many of the messianic prophecies. Maybe he spoke of Psalm 22, which graphically describes crucifixion but was written eight hundred years before the Romans started using it as a means of execution. They would later describe the experience of his teaching with this statement. “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (verse 32). Their hearts were set on fire because of the Word of God.

Once inside their home and at the dinner table, Jesus took the role of host and did the same four things that we do in the Sacrament. He took, blessed, broke and gave. When he did so, their eyes were opened and “he was known to them in the breaking of the bread” (verse 35).

Taking It Home: To experience your heart warming to God, make it a priority to participate in Holy Communion weekly and learn more about him through his Word by joining a Bible study.