Luke 24:13-27 (ESV)

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 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. 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?” 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, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 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. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 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. 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.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Notice all the things Cleopas and his friend get wrong. First off, they call Jesus a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God. He’s a lot more than that. They really don’t know who He is.

And they don’t believe what the women said either. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 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. The angels are just a vision and the resurrection is reported as hearsay. The angels said that he was alive or, worse still, the vision of angels said that he was alive. If they actually believed, they would have just said, “He is alive!”

But this doesn’t mean that they’re stupid or obdurate. They don’t get it because it’s all just too incredible. We aren’t confused by this because we grew up hearing about Christmas and Easter. These things don’t shock us.

But to the first century mind, the concepts of incarnation and resurrection are radical.

The concepts of incarnation and resurrection are still plenty radical. It’s just that people raised in Christian homes are used to them.

Increasingly, we meet people who aren’t raised Christian. This presents extra challenges when sharing the gospel. It’s hard to figure out what people do and don’t know. Not everyone even knows the vocabulary of the gospel.

Sometimes you just have to go slow. It’s essential that you share the gospel in their language. That means more than just using English with English speaking people. It also means speaking in terms they understand. You have to ask them what they believe and understand their perspective. Use their words.

There’s no point in rushing. You’re not on a clock.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies