Easter 2025

Easter 2025

I. Introduction

A. Luke 24:13-16 (NLT) ¹³That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. ¹⁵As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. ¹⁶But God kept them from recognizing him.

B. Luke 24:17 (NLT) “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

C. Luke 24:18 (NLT) “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” 

D. Luke 24:19-21 (NLT) ¹⁹“What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. ²⁰But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. ²¹We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.”

E. Luke 24:22-24 (NLT) ²²“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. ²³They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! ²⁴Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

F. Luke 24:25a (NLT) “You foolish people!”

1. The life we lead flows out of the we believe we’re living.

G. Luke 24:25-27 (NLT) ²⁵“You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. ²⁶Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” ²⁷Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

1. The Bible says that at the very center of the world going wrong is a problem called .

2. “Shalom” was the way the world is to be, if sin doesn’t have its way.

3. “What if My crucifixion is not Rome’s defeat of Me—but it’s actually defeat of Rome—and of evil—and sin—and guilt—and death?”

H. Luke 24:26 (NLT) “Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”

I. Luke 24:28-32 (NLT) ²⁸By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, ²⁹but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. ³⁰As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. ³¹Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! ³²They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 

1. It’s not just that in Jesus, God . It’s also that in Jesus, God !

J. Luke 24:33a (NLT) And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem.

1. And the amazing thing is that Jesus takes the unlikeliest little stories—like yours—and weaves them into !

2. You to !

3. We can’t it ourselves!

II. Conclusion