By Iam Kerr Published April 20, 2025
“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
— Luke 24:32
Two grieving disciples.
A seven-mile walk.
A stranger who knew too much.
And hearts that burned with awakened hope.
On the road to Emmaus, the risen Jesus gave a Bible study like no other. Luke tells us that “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” But what exactly did He say?
Below is a reimagined dialogue of that sacred encounter, drawing directly from Genesis through Malachi. Every prophecy, every shadow, every whisper of the Messiah’s suffering and resurrection is brought to light—just as Jesus may have revealed it on that walk.
A Dialogue on the Road to Emmaus
Jesus:
What are these words you’re exchanging as you walk?
Cleopas:
Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know what’s happened in these days?
Jesus:
What things?
Cleopas:
Concerning Jesus of Nazareth… a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. We had hoped He was the one to redeem Israel. But they crucified Him. And now it’s the third day since these things occurred. Some women of our group amazed us—said they saw angels who told them He is alive…
Jesus:
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?
Disciple 2:
Necessary? But how?
Jesus:
From the very beginning, the Scriptures testified to this.
In Genesis, God promised that the Seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head, even though the serpent would bruise His heel. That bruising? His suffering. That crushing? His victory—through the cross.
Remember Abraham, taking Isaac up the mountain in obedience, prepared to offer his beloved son? But the LORD provided a ram caught in the thicket—a substitute. That was Me, foreshadowed.
In Joseph, betrayed by his brothers, sold for silver, condemned though innocent, and raised to power to save many lives—you’ve seen My story again.
Then the Passover lamb—slain so that death would pass over Israel. Its blood saved them. Do you not see? I am the true Lamb, without blemish, whose blood covers from wrath.
Disciple 2:
Yes… and in the wilderness, Moses lifted up the bronze serpent.
Jesus:
Just as that serpent was lifted up, so must the Son of Man be lifted up—so that all who look to Him in faith may live.
The Day of Atonement—two goats: one sacrificed, the other bearing sins away. I am both: the one who died and the one who bore your sins far.
Cleopas:
But the prophets—how could they have spoken of this?
Jesus:
Oh, they did—clearly.
In Psalm 22, David wrote:
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?… They pierced My hands and feet… they cast lots for My clothing.”
Yet the psalm ends in triumph: “He has done it!”
And in Psalm 16:
“You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let Your Holy One see corruption.”
David wasn’t speaking of himself. He foresaw My resurrection.
Disciple 2:
And Isaiah…?
Jesus:
Yes—Isaiah 53:
“He was pierced for our transgressions… led like a lamb to the slaughter… yet it was the will of the LORD to crush Him… He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days.”
That is My suffering. That is My resurrection.
Cleopas:
But what of the Law—the covenant, the sacrifices?
Jesus:
All of them pointed to Me. I am the true Temple, the once-for-all sacrifice, the final High Priest.
The rock in the wilderness was struck—and living water flowed. That Rock was Me.
Disciple 2:
We had hoped He would redeem Israel…
Jesus:
And I have—though not as you expected.
Through My death, I have redeemed you from slavery to sin.
Through My resurrection, I have brought you into new life.
In Hosea, it was written:
“After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up.”
That third day has come.
In Jonah, the prophet was three days in the belly of the fish—so must the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth.
And Zechariah wrote:
“They will look on Me, the one they have pierced.”
Again he said:
“Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”
That too, has been fulfilled.
Even Malachi promised:
“The Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings.”
The dawn has broken, my friends. Death is defeated.
He Chose to Show Himself by the Word
What is most astonishing is not merely what Jesus said—but how He chose to say it.
He could have simply stopped them on the road, said, “It’s Me,” and shown His scarred hands and side.
But He didn’t.
Instead, He opened the Scriptures and proved everything about Himself—through the Word of God.
The Word made flesh chose to reveal Himself through the written Word.
This was no accident. It was a pattern for all who would believe after the resurrection—not by sight, but by faith in what the Scriptures proclaim. As He later told Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Hearts That Burn
The risen Christ did not merely show Himself. He showed the Scriptures—that every promise, every shadow, every thread pointed to Him. The cross was not a tragedy, but the triumph of God’s plan foretold from the beginning.
When He broke the bread with them in Emmaus, their eyes were opened—and they knew Him.
May ours be opened too.
Published April 20, 2025
Written by Iam Kerr, with assistance from ChatGPT.
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