Trying to imagine what it may have been like walking the 7 miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus...
Luke 24:26-27
"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.
This could have been part of what Jesus shared:
Genesis 3:15 points to Jesus as the seed of the woman, coming to destroy the work of the devil but to suffer as he conquers him.
Genesis 22 points to Jesus in the life of Abraham, as the ram who would be our substitute, offering himself up in death to God.
Exodus 33 Moses points to Jesus as he intercedes for God’s people, offering to sacrifice himself if God won’t forgive them.
Leviticus as a whole points to Jesus as our high priest and our sacrifice, making us acceptable to God and mediating with God on our behalf.
In Numbers, we recognize that Jesus suffered so that God’s people could enter the ultimate, heavenly promised land. He is also the bronze serpent, raised up in death, to which if anyone looks, he or she is healed of their sins.
In Deuteronomy, we recognize that Jesus’ takes on the punishment we deserved and his life grants us the blessings of God.
Joshua pictures Jesus, who leads us in the discipling of not just one nation, but all the nations of the world.
In Judges, we recognize that Jesus redeems us through his death and resurrection when we are being oppressed by our sins and enemies.
In Ruth, Jesus is pictured as our kinsman redeemer, giving us an inheritance through his death and resurrection when we have lost ours.
In 1-2 Samuel, David points to Jesus as the king after God’s own heart, whose faith leads him in triumph and who leads us to be faithful.
In 1-2 Kings, Jesus brings unity, not division through his blood, making one united family out of all the nations of the earth (Eph 2:11-22).
In 1-2Chronicles, we see that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God’s love continues even after we’ve experienced his discipline and correction.
Ezra pictures Jesus whose death and resurrection makes his people holy and extends the holiness of God into all the nations of the earth.
In Nehemiah, we see that Jesus through his death and resurrection is rebuilding the people of God to serve and worship him and bless the nations.
Esther points to Jesus as the one who received the death penalty for pleading for the life of his people.
Job points to Jesus who was the ultimate undeserving sufferer, yet trusted God in his suffering and blessed his friends.
In the Psalms, we see the prayer life of Jesus, and we see him taking the punishment due to the wicked so that the blessings of the righteous might be given to sinners like us.
Proverbs shows us Jesus, the embodiment of wisdom, taking the punishment of the fools so that they might become wise and receive the blessings that accompany wisdom.
In Ecclesiastes, we see Jesus as the one who worships God and keeps his commandments, which gives us meaning and purpose in a life that often seems meaningless. His life shows there is meaning, his death and resurrection show that God will restore and redeem life under the sun.
In the Song of Solomon we see that marriage, love and sex honor God, and this points to the greater love that Jesus showed us by dying for us on the cross to make us his beloved.
Isaiah shows us Jesus as God with us, who comes to rescue his people by suffering for their sins.
Jeremiah shows us that Jesus keeps the New Covenant for us, guaranteeing blessings to us by removing our sins and restoring us to fellowship with God.
Lamentations shows us the heart of Jesus, who weeps over our brokenness and whose death and resurrection replaces our mourning with joyful song.
Ezekiel shows us that Jesus offers himself in death so God could bring us back to life and strengthen us by his Spirit to be his people filling the world.
Daniel shows Jesus as the king who suffers and is vindicated by God to reign over a kingdom that ends up filing the whole earth.
Hosea shows that Jesus’ death and resurrection redeems us from spiritual slavery and prostitution.
Joel shows that Jesus’ death and resurrection brings the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to strengthen the church.
Amos shows Jesus confronts hypocrites and dies to forgive all who return to God.
Obadiah shows that God will love his people and free them from oppression through Jesus death and resurrection.
Jonah shows that Jesus has to pass through death and resurrection to save us from our self-righteousness, so we can bless the nations around us.
Micah points to Jesus as the descendant of king David, who would come forth from Bethlehem and through his death and resurrection would re-establish the kingdom of God to bless the nations.
Nahum points to Jesus as the coming judge of all the earth, whose death and resurrection seals the judgment against all of his enemies.
Habakkuk shows us Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantees God’s blessings no matter what life’s circumstances.
Zephaniah pictures Jesus as the coming Lord who, in the midst of judging the nations and the hypocrites of Israel, will undergo death and resurrection to restore his people to blessing.
Haggai pictures Jesus as the head of the church who calls and empowers his people to build up the church, so that the blessing of God’s presence might be seen and experienced by all.
Zechariah shows Jesus, our high priest, was pierced for our sake, taking our filthy stained garments of sin and giving us a spotless robes of righteousness.
Malachi shows us that Jesus is coming, and in his death and resurrection he opens heaven to let the blessings flow.
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