Jesus’ Last Words 2 – What Are You Discussing? Grace Lutheran Bible Study 1. Jesus, as God, is able to overhear your conversations. How does that make you feel? What percentage of your spoken words would you prefer God ignore?
2. Jesus overheard and entered into an Easter day conversation with 2 followers. We’ll see how their discussion changed, and how ours can too.
Luke 24:13-17 Now, on that same day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about all of these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing this, Jesus himself approached and began to walk along with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” Saddened, they stopped. 3. Sometimes sad news needs to be talked about. What’s the usefulness of discussing tragic and sad things? When do we need to be interrupted in those kinds of discussions?
Luke 24:18-24 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked them.
They replied, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be condemned to death. And they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel. Not only that, but besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Also some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning. 23 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. They found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 4. Evaluate these men’s summary of Jesus: Jesus is a man who: - was mighty in deed and word; - was killed; - is rumored to be alive. (Compare that to descriptions of Jesus you’ll find today.) 5. “Some women said this; but we went; and did not see him.” It seems a question is burning in their minds; if he’s really alive, why would those women see him, but not us? What’s your answer?
Luke 24:25-27 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 6. “How foolish and slow of heart...” One of the difficulties of written narratives – the tone gets lost. How would you describe the way in which Jesus said these things? (condescending, friendly, solemn…)
7. So, why were they so foolish and slow of heart? When are you and I also foolish and slow of heart?
8. What do you think are some parts of the Old Testament that Jesus might have used in his explanation of himself to these 2 men?
9. Why did the Christ have to suffer such horrible things before entering his glory?
Luke 24:28-32 28 As they approached the village where they were going, he acted as if he were going to travel farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, since it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and began giving it to them. 31 Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Then he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us along the road and while he was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 10. Jesus was clearly visible and physically real; yet he is able to vanish into thin air. How could that be?
11. What caused their hearts to burn within them? When has God been able to cause your heart to burn within you in a similar way?
Luke 24:33-35 33 They got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those who were with them assembled together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord really has been raised! He has appeared to Simon.� 35 They themselves described what had happened along the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread. 12. These 2 followers changed travel plans and doubled headed so they could discuss what had happened. When is a message so worth discussing that everything else can wait or be altered?
13. Discussion changed from Easter morning to Easter evening; both in tone and in content. Because of the message of Easter, our discussions can be affected in similar ways. Can you think of examples when the tone or content of a discussion is changed because Jesus is alive? Consider the following examples: -
A discussion about a loved one who died.
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A discussion about the possibility of dying.
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A discussion about self-worth in which a person is filled with doubt.
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A discussion about self-worth in which a person is filled with pride.
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A discussion about who Jesus is.