Jesus Went Further

Easter

Luke 24:13-28

Two disciples are walking on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, about a 2 hour walk. Jesus joins them ( they do not recognize Him ), & begins to expound to them the prophecies concerning the Messiah.

Notice: After two hours of explaining the road the Messiah had to journey, “He made as though he would have gone further.”

This is no coincidence! If it was necessary , Jesus would have done more than he did to purchase our salvation! If necessary , Jesus would have gone further!

But Calvary was sufficient! Jesus paid our debt in full!

In Colossians chapter one, Paul said we are to give thanks to the Father “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

What happened at Calvary is the most tremendous story the world has ever known!    What a love story!

This beautiful story, of how the Creator came to His creation, is sadly overflowing with irony.

From the creature came:                                  From the Creator came:

– undeserved humiliation.                                 – immeasurable love.

– unbearable mockery.                                      – ultimate unselfishness.

– inhumane suffering.                                        – indisputable grace.

– unthinkable torture.                                        – incomprehensible mercy.

– indescribable pain.                                           – supreme sacrifice.

While we can never forget what happened at Calvary, the story doesn’t end at Calvary. Many people have a mental picture of Jesus on the cross (crucifix ), but Jesus is not on the cross! He’s not in the tomb!

Jesus is alive!

The story doesn’t end at Calvary, rather it’s just getting started. That’s why Jesus, when he finished teaching those two disciples about the prophecies concerning the Messiah, made as though he would have gone further.

He had some unfinished business to take care of!

There was still one thing the Messiah needed to do!

Jesus did not come to this earth just to die on the cross. That was just part of his mission.

Q: What was his mission?   Read Luke 12:49, 50

Jesus said “I am come to send fire on the earth.”

In Mat. 3:11, John the Baptist said “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.”

“And what will I if it be already kindled?”

Amplified Bible – “and how I wish that it were already kindled!”

It’s plain to see that Jesus was very anxious to pour out the Holy Ghost & fire on his disciples!

But first, he had a baptism to be baptized with ( the suffering of the cross ).

Jesus told his disciples in John 16:7, “it is expedient for you ( to your advantage ) that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.”

In John 7:38, 39 Jesus cried out, “he that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water ( but this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive, for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified ).”

Remember what Jesus told His disciples on the road to Emmaus?

“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” Don’t you understand that it was necessary for Christ to suffer these things before He could be glorified?

Why were things necessary?  That was the only way to the mercy seat!

Remember, they were still under the Old Testament Law. The OT plan of redemption { the tabernacle } was a shadow of the New Testament plan of salvation that was to come.

What was required in the OT?

The altar of sacrifice, the sacrificial lamb, the brazen laver of water, the priest had to be clean before he could enter into the Holy of Holies, all these things were the baptism that Jesus had to be baptized with, for He was the High Priest and the Lamb of God!     Read Heb. 9:11, 12

So here’s Jesus walking with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He has shed his blood on Calvary. He has entered in once to the Holy Place & sprinkled his own blood on the mercy seat. The veil in the temple has been ripped in two, & he’s purchased eternal redemption for us, but His mission is still not complete!

Read John 20:1-7

While Jesus is walking on the road to Emmaus, Peter & John are running to an empty tomb, & when they get there, they see the linen clothes lying there, & v. 7 says they saw ‘the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.”

In biblical days, when you were finished eating, you would throw your napkin in the middle of your plate to let the servers know you were finished with your meal. If you were interrupted during your meal & had to leave, you would fold your napkin & neatly place it beside your plate, in a place by itself. This let the servers know that were coming back to finish your meal.

Peter & John understood what the napkin folded up by itself meant!

Jesus was saying “I’m not finished here yet! I will be back & finish what I started!” read ( quote ) Acts 2:1-4

Jesus poured out sweat, as great drops of blood, in intercessory prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, He poured out his soul unto death on Calvary, just so He could pour out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost!

It wasn’t enough for Him to die on the cross.

It wasn’t enough for Him to be buried in a tomb.

He was satisfied only when He was resurrected & entered into His glory, so that He could share that glory with you & I!

It’s not enough to repent!

It’s not enough to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ!

We must be baptized with the Holy Ghost & fire!

That’s why Jesus came, to pour out His Spirit on all flesh!

If you have not finished the journey of the New Birth according to John 3:5, you need to go further today and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, for the promise is unto you!