1. Wow & Win Back the Wanderer after your own “Walk to Emmaus” (Luke 24)

[W:] Part 1 of 3 on your “Walk thru the Bible” to find the “Wow” that Woos Wanderers! Luke 24 cit. B15]

[Warren:] Picture on YouTube the Christ spark that wowed & wooed back weary wanderers & what it can do to YOU!
If you’re looking these days for screen-time that is uplifting, you’re likely to enjoy visualizing the wow that sparked the start of Christianity and caused it to spread (from Luke 24:13+, citation B15 this week). It will be far more meaningful to you if you first read Cobbey Crisler’s insights below (parts 1, 2 & 3 on the background and meaning of what Jesus shared with two discouraged disciples that caused them to hurry after dinner the 7 miles back to Jerusalem. (Another YouTube video link is near the end of this GEM with Cobbey’s description of this first church meeting which Jesus made sure was attended by the two Emmaus runaways that night along with the 120 more followers in the Upper Room. This happens right after the part of this story in citation B15 in this week’s Bible Lesson.)

You will then understand more as you see a YouTube video re-visualizing and reenacting this Bible event on the “Walk to Emmaus” made by The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. It is freely shared by them at https://youtu.be/8YlzWPPiH4A .

After seeing it, and maybe sharing it with your Sunday School class on Zoom as I intend to this Sunday with a 7th grade class, ask yourself and anyone who sees it with you, what does it means to me? How can I apply this to help me bring about “a new heaven and a new earth” occupied by beings whose hearts are hungering for righteousness and burning with love for God and their fellow men? Mary Baker Eddy invite us all to join the Revelator: “Have you ever pictured this heaven and earth, inhabited by beings under the control of supreme wisdom?” [Science and Health p. 91:1 (a better way to remember 911, yes?)]

[Cobbey:] “Starting in Luke, Chapter 24, verse 13, the narrative begins. Now, if we can do this tonight, all together go back these many centuries and begin to think like first century Jews. In other words, let’s get back to those times and see if we can actually feel the tenseness, the excitement, the adventure, the expectations, of that particular period. That may seem hard to do, but the Bible provides much to the environment, if we dig enough, to find it.

“Where does this occur? It starts from what city? Jerusalem. What has occurred there, just this week-end? … The crucifixion – of whom? Jesus. And who is he? Now, all of you say he’s the Christ, but being first-century Jews, would all of you agree?

“Do you think that the city of Jerusalem was well aware of this event, maybe even turned on its ear? … There is an indication from the text that everyone should know about it. Because, remember, the two disciples even turned and rebuked Jesus, who they don’t know is Jesus. And said, “What are you, a stranger?”

Luke 24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

“So, the news is out. Now, what are these two disciples doing? They are leaving Jerusalem. Where’s the action as we know it? In Jerusalem … They’re heading in the opposite direction… Might be safer.

“… do you think those two disciples, if they had been fully aware that Jesus had been raised from the dead and was in Jerusalem, that they would be heading in the opposite direction? It doesn’t seem to make sense, does it?

“… Who are these disciples, anyway? …The text, if we’re going to stick to it, only gives one: Cleopas. And we note one thing: they are obscure disciples.

“Now, that is a point to consider. Because, if we were Jesus, would we waste our time with obscure disciples heading in the opposite direction?
What does one of Jesus’s parables recommend to his followers? “Go after the (Yes!) the one that was wandering and bring it back.” (See Luke 15:4 parable)

“That shepherd motive behind what Jesus did is basic, perhaps, to our understanding of this story. And it also shows something about his character… But, there’s a divine purpose behind all of this, or Jesus would not have done it. He certainly told us he was dedicated to doing what was God’s will and not his own. So, God’s will is obviously being fulfilled in this event.

“Now, these two disciples are so engrossed … talking about what had just happened … and getting into the cool of the countryside, away from the white-hot heat of it …
“And really, what do you think their mood must have been like? It says, “Sad” in Luke 15, verse 17, the last word in it…But, it’s more than sad; it’s more serious than that. What do you think they were…from what standpoint do you think they were discussing all of this? From Jesus’s standpoint? …Probably, their own.

“And, when you’re wrapped up in self like that, it’s very difficult to notice what’s going on around you. And guess who joins them? Jesus— and, they don’t recognize him. Now, don’t you think that’s a little odd? Three years with their Master, or at least a portion of it, and they don’t recognize him.”

“… So, …he joins them, and he asks what they’re talking about. Do you think he knew? So, why is he asking? Is he playing a game? No. How long a time does he have with his disciples, by the way, between the resurrection and the ascension? 40 days. That isn’t very long. Where did all his disciples kind of go, after three years of a pretty heavy ministry with Jesus, day after day?

“He was crucified and then what happened? They went fishing. They scattered. Where did Jesus find most of them? Fishing. Christianity was about to end where it began, in a fishing boat. But, here we all are… so it did not end there. But that’s what was happening, despite the three years of active ministry with the disciples, which leads one to surmise that something radical must have occurred in the forty days’ period and was of extreme, vital, importance to Jesus and to his church. That occurred, and if so, we should be able to find where it is because the text should tell us.

“Now, I think Cleopas’s remark here is somewhat amusing in Luke 24, verse 18, tragically so. Because he turns to Jesus…can you imagine, after they find out it is Jesus? How they must have bit their tongue over several of the things that were said here?

“Are you just a stranger here in Jerusalem; haven’t you been watching Eye Witness news, we’d say in the 20th century?” “Don’t you know what’s going on? Everybody knows what’s going on.” (See Luke 24:18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?)

“But, Jesus persists in inquiring: “What things?” Again, is it a game? What does he need to know? What is he after? … What impressed them the most? Where were they mentally about it? Because Jesus apparently had to build there. … if we really want an insight into where they were mentally, Luke 24, verse 21, in all its unvarnished glory…up to the colon: “But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel:….”

“What kind of attitude is that? Disappointment, disillusionment. It’s even stronger than that … (from audience… “Hopelessness, discouragement… condemnation). Condemnation? Condemnation of whom? Now, remember who they are talking to. And let the possible indication of where they are here, mentally, seep in. They say “we trusted.” (See above) Already, the implication is what? We were let down. “We trusted that it had been….” All hope is gone, right? “It had been.” Closed, past. “It had been he which should have redeemed Israel.”
“That is a pretty hopeless thing. And it looks like it may be blaming Jesus directly. “We trusted, but we were let down; we’re betrayed” maybe. (See below, Luke 24:21 again.)

Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done.

All right. We’re at that point. Now, let’s get back to our assuming the role of the first century Jew. And, exactly, what are we expecting? As first century Jews, what are we expecting as far a Messiah is concerned? What are you and I looking forward to? What have we been taught in Sabbath school all our lives?

What are we looking forward to? (Answers follow each question) Messiah. A Messiah…who will be a king. What do you mean by a king? A ruler, a warrior, a political leader, to free them from the yoke of any oppressor; and primarily, since the currently one was Rome, Romans, that was to relieve them from that.

Was that the disciple’s view of the Messiah? It’s very important. Do you think that either disciple or average first-century Jew embraced within their expectation of the Messiah the fact that the Messiah would suffer and would end on a criminal’s cross? …Now, did he tell the disciples that? And yet, you are saying the disciples didn’t know it. They didn’t believe it; or they didn’t know it? … “They heard what they wanted to.”)

Okay, they heard what they wanted to hear. Of course, that never happens in the 20th century, does it? Isn’t that terrible of those disciples? We listen to everything that anyone tells us. And everybody listens to us, right?

Well, we’re going to prove this, step by step, as we go along, to see if Jesus told the disciples and also to see if the disciples had any idea that the Messiah would suffer – any expectation of that. Does it sound like they did, if the two disciples were so enwrapped in the tragedy of the event that they were heading in another direction? Does that sound like they comprehended their master was to go through some of this and emerge victorious? It doesn’t look like the comprehension was there, whatever Jesus had said to them earlier…

In Verse 25, Jesus abruptly ends this and starts a whole new line of attack, he says, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” … Now, you’ve got to decide who’s more “way out” because the disciples have just been talking about current events, and Jesus is saying…he said that “they were slow because they didn’t believe the prophets.” Now, the prophets wrote hundreds of years before. Who goes back that far for an explanation of current events? The human mind doesn’t just quite buy that.

Even in the 20th Century, we don’t even believe our weather man. And that’s only 24 hours.

In fact, the human mind is simply not constituted to comprehend prophesy. And the more I thought of that, the more I found two major themes in the Bible that the human mind simply doesn’t comprehend. One is prophesy and the other is healing.

And the more I worked on that, the more it became clear that that’s quite obvious why the human mind doesn’t comprehend either prophesy or healing because the human mind cannot do either one. And what the human mind cannot do, it generally dismisses as incomprehensible, and therefore, maybe even impossible. And yet here we find the entire book known as the Bible, composed of so many other individual books, based squarely on prophesy and healing.

And here, Jesus goes back in an apparent explanation of current events, things that happened just this week-end, he is going back to document already hundreds of years old. Now, what is he assuming are in these documents that’s so important? Luke 24, Verse 26, he tells us some of it. Notice that point. He says what? Why is it the first point that “the Christ should suffer.” He’s apparently finding this where? He says “it’s in the prophets.”

Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

He’s apparently finding this where? He says “it’s in the prophets.” (See below)

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Well, isn’t that generally known? Why is it so novel? That we have to examine. Is it generally known? Remember, up there, we said the two disciples “trusted it should have been he that redeemed Israel”? (See Luke 24:21) That view is the general view we’ve already seen that the First Century Jew had: political leader, king.

Now, Jesus is saying that “they were slow not to have seen the prophets that the Christ was to suffer and enter into his Glory.” (See below, Luke 24:26 Repeated)

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

The problem and the solution – the Cross and the Crown – in prophesy.

Now, if the disciples have only seen the crown, then they needed a Bible lesson, apparently.

And look in Luke 24, Verse 27, what Jesus does. He starts where? At Moses. And goes how far? “All the prophets….” And then what did he do? Give them a Bible lesson that “it had all started in seven days” and then “the water just poured in, and Noah built an ark that landed on Mount Ararat”?

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

What kind of a Bible lesson was he giving them? Very specific, isn’t it? Concerning himself.

Now, remember, forty days he has with his disciples. His disciples had missed something essential, or they would not have scattered.

Is Jesus concentrating on what had been missed in a period, so that he could leave and Christianity was in good hands, prepared thought?

Well, it’s pretty clear what, according to Luke’s account, Jesus did. He went through the Scriptures on this walk to Emmaus.

Did the two that were walking with him know it was Jesus while they were getting this Bible lesson? They did not…

… Now, there’s a high regard for prophesy for three rather important individuals in history, who were able to things with their lives that the average human being, even in the 20th Century, hasn’t been able to do – and maybe it’s the result of their outlook. Maybe it’s some understanding of what prophesy is all about, that may have permitted these things to occur.

II Peter, Chapter 1, Verse 20 – another view of prophesy. “The prophecy of the scripture is…” not what? …”of any private interpretation.” (See below, Paraphrased)

Isn’t that a relief? Isn’t that a great relief? No matter my opinion about the Scriptures, it doesn’t matter, or yours, because it’s not opinion, and it’s not private.

II Pet 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

II Peter, Chapter 1, Verse 21 tells us what it is. Now, you see, we have to understand that here is prophecy being defined by the Bible itself. So, if we go into the Bible to criticize prophesy, we have to at least take it on its own terms. And both Amos and Peter are saying “that prophecy did not come by the will of man,” did it? (See below, Paraphrased)

II Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

It wasn’t man’s idea. That’s how Amos said it; he didn’t get into business because it was his idea. He was picking fruit, and “wham.”

It didn’t come “by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (See above)

Now, the word “ghost” is “pneuma” in Greek, and it means “spirit,” “air,” “wind,” “ghost” – all of those things. Pneumatic tire, you know? That’s where it comes from. And apparently air and wind imply what? There’s action. There’s where the action is. It’s movement.

And it says right here “that holy men of God spake as they were moved….” (See above, Partial) The initiative came from man. That’s why we don’t understand. It couldn’t be good if it didn’t come from man.

That movement by the holy pneuma is what begins the Bible, because, if you remember in Genesis One, “The spirit or pneuma of God…” what? “moved.” And look at the action in Genesis One! (See below, Paraphrased)

Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Now, if that’s the kind of movement we want to be part of, apparently we can’t be unless we’re in touch with what’s motivating prophesy. because the “holy men of God spake as they were moved.” (See below, Partial, Repeated)

II Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

So, if we get involved with prophesy, then we’re going to be moved. Moved to do what? Who knows? But it’s God’s will being done according to the context of the Scripture.

Now, with that in mind, let’s go back to Luke 24 because we have kind of set our description and our definitions here. And we find that they stop to eat because they see a neon sign flashing that the Emmaus Hilton has a vacancy.

… And as they are eating, Jesus breaks break. And, of course, that’s an immediate identity reminder, because they were so used to that.

It says “their eyes were opened; they knew him.” And that means a lot, “and he vanished out of their sight.” (See below)

Luke 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Isn’t that peculiar? Once they know him, he vanishes. Do they need him physically anymore? Look at how that mood has been changed.

“They compare notes about what they were feeling when Jesus was talking. And both of them say “that their hearts were burning within them.” (See below.) And that’s not the heartburn you hear on a television commercial.

Luke 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

This is the kind of thing, right there, that I believe is the beginning of the Christian church – a burning heart.

Who needs to sell anybody else if you are sold? What happens when everyone else finds that you are sold? They come and want to know why? And what spark in one heart catches in another. And look what happened. And we’ll see that.

Their hearts were burning. And very frankly, Ladies and Gentlemen, if in going through our “Walk to Emmaus,” our hearts don’t burn within us, we haven’t been on the walk. We’ll have to go on that eventually. Try hard today, so you don’t have to have it as a later effect, because we’re going to do the very same thing Jesus did with his disciples. Isn’t it marvelous we don’t have to look for Jesus in the earth any more than his disciples?

Isn’t it almost…it’s totally humanly unique, because time is telescoped. The disciples have no advantage over you or I (me). We both have the same scripture and agelessly we can find Jesus where?

That what he said. And that’s where he’s pointing his disciples to. Do you think he undertook that even his 20th Century followers could be as close to him as his immediate disciples? In that respect there’s virtually no materiality or earth depression left in the view of the followers towards the founder.

Now, it says that he opened the Scriptures. You know they weren’t tired anymore; they headed right back where they started, to Jerusalem. And maybe that’s what Jesus had wanted, because, back in Jerusalem the eleven disciples were quivering behind closed doors. And who were with them? Does it say?

Luke 24, verse 33, “it says “them that were with them.” (See below.)

Luke 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Who were “they”? Well, Luke if Volume 1 of a two-volume work. The 2nd volume being the Book of Acts. And, in that opening chapter of Acts, Luke tells of the very next meeting that is similar, and he not only names the disciples, he says “the women are there.” He says, “Mary is there, the mother of Jesus.” And he adds them all up and says, “120 were there.”

Now, if it’s possible that there were that many there in that one room, what did it constitute? What was all there? The whole Christian church. It was the first church meeting. The first Christian church meeting, and it was being addressed by its founder shortly, but they didn’t know it.

Here’s a YouTube reenactment of the 1st Christian church meeting that JESUS wowed the wanderers to. Click on or paste in this address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP3753Pc8-w

And Jesus went out to get those two so they could be part of it; and, in fact, they got there just ahead of him. He even enabled them to make the announcement – what they’d seen on that road. But, it was not their privilege to tell them what Jesus was going to tell them.

And after he goes through a lot of exercising in showing them that he’s really Jesus – for instance, the hands and feet, they were all down with microscopes and everything else, to make sure that this could have been a man that went through crucifixion, and it was Jesus himself.

And still they didn’t get it. And, we really shouldn’t blame them, because I’m not so sure how we would have responded.

And finally, he asks if they have any meat, and he proceeds to eat a meal in front of them, “just to show that everything was working just fine, thank you,” (Laughter) — just to get their fur up, focused on what he was really there for.

… Now, but he isn’t there to eat. In Luke 24, verse 44, in the same night, Jesus is doing something in verse 44 that should sound very familiar. Twice in the same night, he doing the identical thing, and you know he would not be going through this if it were not absolutely essential for his church to know. And he’s talking to his whole church at the moment. And what is it?

He goes back what’s different this time though? He goes “in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms.” (See below.)

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

“The Walk to Emmaus,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**

[W:] THE “WOWS” CONTINUED BELOW with LINKS to partial PARTS 2 and 3

[W: Click 2 of 3 on how Jesus fit the prophesy of being like Moses Deut. 18:15.]

And/OR

[W: Click 3 of 3 for the WOW of Jesus cross-referencing on the cross Psalm 22, 30, 69.]

And/OR

[W: Contact Cobbey’s widow, Janet Crisler, at janetcrisler7@gmail.com for how to get your own editions of Cobbey’s talks & transcript-books, including a full “The Walk to Emmaus.”]