The 3rd Sunday of Easter | 19-04-2026 | Luke 24:13-35 | Beth A. Schlegel |

Text: English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles (or other version)

^{13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and 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 and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.}

 

GOSPEL SPREAD

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

In this 50-day season of Easter, we hear how the news of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead spread and became what would later become known as the Christian faith.

Amazingly, there was no internet, no social media, no 24-hour TV news, not even cars with loudspeakers broadcasting the announcement.

As we hear today in the readings from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter’s letter, and the Gospel of Luke, there are 2 ways the news spread:

1. Jesus made pop-up appearances to people to reveal himself as the risen Messiah, which they told others about; and
2. The apostles preached and wrote letters.

When Jesus appeared to people after he rose from the dead, he was changed.

Sometimes, he looked the same – as when he appeared to the disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem – but other times, he was not physically recognizable, such as for Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, when she mistook him for a gardener, and for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

In his resurrection body, Jesus could pass through walls, like we might imagine a ghost, but he also ate and drank when he invited the fishermen for breakfast on the beach.

What all of the appearances have in common is continuity with God’s Word from the beginning and what Jesus said and did during his ministry on earth.

The wounds identified him to Thomas;

His calling out Mary’s name allowed her to hear his voice as her Lord’s.

His multiplying the fish for an extraordinary catch, much like he had multiplied the loaves and fishes for the crowd of thousands, led the apostles to recognize, “It’s the Lord!”

And his taking bread, giving thanks, breaking it and giving it to the disciples, just like he had done at the last supper on the night he was betrayed, opened those disciples’ eyes to recognize him.

Whenever the risen Lord appeared, it was not for physical recognition, but for recognition as the presence of the living God by word, deed, and character.

Everything Jesus does on earth – both before and after his resurrection – is the continuation and fulfilment of what God has said and done from the beginning of creation.

And while he came to save everyone, he has not yet appeared to everyone all at once, as he will one day.

He makes pop-up appearances to those whose hearts are open to God.

But not everyone is open.

The news of Jesus’ resurrection was welcomed by the women at the tomb, the 12 apostles, and the disciples on the road to Emmaus,

But the religious establishment in Jerusalem was happy that the blaspheming trouble-maker from Nazareth was dead.

Their hearts were not open. Yet, Jesus died for them, too. And his resurrection was intended to give them life, too.

But they had to hear the news in a different way than from an appearance by the risen Jesus.

Peter was sent to preach to them. Not a word of comfort – not at first – but a hard word:

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

³⁷ Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

⁴¹ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

These converts had to be hit with the Law first and brought to a point of crisis – then their hearts would be ready to receive the good news that their sin against God could be forgiven by the very Savior whose death they had relished.

…

The different ways people need to be addressed bring to mind an experience I had in grade school.

One of my classmates had spraypainted an inappropriate message on a school wall.

He had done it at night under cover of darkness, but by the next day, he was arrogantly bragging about it, delighted in getting away with the mischief.

But the bragging was his undoing, for word got back to the principal, and my classmate was suspended and made to clean the offending paint off the wall.

On another occasion, I accidentally broke a school window hitting tennis balls against the wall.

I was afraid of what the consequences for me might be but decided to follow my parents’ guidance that honesty is the best policy, and I went to the office right away to confess what had happened. The only staff there at the time was a janitor, and when I haltingly told him what had happened, he looked me square in the eye and said, “Thanks for telling me. Accidents happen. Don’t worry about that window – it can be replaced.”

…

The news of Jesus’ resurrection was delivered to some people as an urgent call to change direction and to others as an invitation to open their eyes and hearts to God’s presence in Jesus.

But in both cases, the outcome was the same: rescue from death for those who believed in Jesus of Nazareth as God’s Messiah risen from the dead.

…

So, what have we discovered as the impact of Jesus’ resurrection?

A 7-mile Bible Study and pop-up appearance of the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread

and a long, pointed sermon leading to confession and baptism.

Don’t be surprised that both ways of encountering the risen Lord Jesus still occur in our day.

Okay, so most Bible studies are not done while on a 7-mile walk, but people still gather for the preaching and teaching of the Holy Scriptures, during which the Holy Spirit breaks open God’s Word for us.

And Jesus makes resurrection appearances every Sunday and in some places every day, revealing himself in the breaking of the bread at the Holy Eucharist.

And Jesus even goes a step further – when we eat that bread, we share the Body of Christ; and when we drink that cup, we share the blood of Christ. So, we leave the Lord’s Table with the Lord in and among us!

And then we are sent out into the world – Jesus, risen and present in us!

Remember: Whenever the risen Lord appeared, it was not for physical recognition, but for recognition as the presence of the living God by word, deed, and character.

We don’t have to look like Jesus to be the presence of Jesus to our neighbors – we just need to love like him.

We are participants in the spread of the Christian faith in our time, as we look forward to the day when Christ comes again in glory and we experience our resurrection and are changed for eternity.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

---

©Beth A. Schlegel

pastorschlegel@live.com

St. Peter Lutheran Church, York PA, USA

Christ Lutheran Church, Manchester PA, USA