Easter Evening Service
Psalm 105. Exodus 37: 1-14. Luke 24: 13 – 25
Someone said to Joseph of Arimathea, “That was such a beautiful, costly hand-hewn tomb, Why did you give it to someone else to be interred in? ‘Oh’ said Joseph, “He only needed it for the weekend.
That weekend must have seemed a lot longer to those disciples gathered at the house in Jerusalem.
Cleopas in conversation with the stranger recounted what the women had reported that when they reached the tomb, they found that the stone had been rolled away and there they had seen a vision of angels telling them that Jesus was alive.
Here the disciples were slow of heart, they did not see the truth revealed straight away. It took several minutes for their message to sink in, then Peter and John ran to the tomb to investigate.
Cleopas said to the stranger on the road to Emmaus, was present at the house that Peter and John returned and reported what they had seen the empty tomb, but they had not seen Jesus, after hearing this Cleopas and the other disciple left the house for Emmaus.
From the recorded conversation with the stranger their faith in Jesus was devastated and this maybe had caused them to leave the house and their fellow disciples.
Their faith was hanging by a thread, even though for three years Jesus had prepared them through his teaching to have faith in his words, John 14: 18 “I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also.”
Jesus the stranger journeyed with them, as they talked along the way, in response to their conversation Jesus said that they were ‘Slow of heart’
The prophesies in the scriptures he used pointed to their fulfilment in his suffering, death and resurrection, the New Covenant which he established at the Passover Meal.
The Lord revealed to me yesterday, they must have been at the Passover Meal, because they recognised him when he broke the bread. Their eyes were opened at the breaking of the bread and they entered into the New Covenant.
I realise that the gospel writers are specific when they wrote that the 12 disciples are present at the Passover meal, but the other followers are rarely mentioned but were often there with him. When Jesus was arrested and the disciples were scattered. “A young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him, but he left his linen cloth and ran away naked.” Mark 14: 51, 52.
It would seem likely that they were present at the Passover Meal as they were there when the women came and told the disciples that Jesus was risen. “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb.” Luke 24: 24.
In the upper room Cleopas and the other disciple maybe sat listening to Jesus and watched him, “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, ”Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took the bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after supper saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22: 17 – 20.
Jesus’ blood in the New Covenant shed on the cross to redeem the sins of the world, the Passover Lamb’s blood brushed on the door posts and lintels of Cleopas and the other disciple’s hearts, and all those who believe and follow him.
The unleavened bread, bread made without yeast, (the yeast representing sin,) this bread, the body and blood of Jesus pure and sinless. ‘Eat and drink in remembrance’ until he returns.
Jesus fulfilled those words found in the Jeremiah covenant, “They shall know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest and I shall not remember their sin anymore.” Jeremiah 31: 34. Hebrews 8: 11
Their eyes were opened at the breaking of the bread they had entered into the New Covenant.
John 14: 20 – 22 Before they left the upper room Jesus spoke to them interpreting the prophecy of the covenant given to Jeremiah. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
The commandment he gave was to love one another, love and forgiveness in the same breath, the father had forgiven the prodigal son before he saw him, he was waiting for his son to turn and love him. The sacrifice has been made, a person has only to turn to Jesus to receive the forgiveness of their sin, as greater love has laid down his life for all humanity.
That day Cleopas and the other disciple entered into the new covenant to know the actual presence of God not in place in the temple, not meeting God between the Cherubim on the ark of the covenant, but meeting together with the Father and His Son Jesus within their being.
Cleopas may have been the husband to Mary’s sister who supported Mary the mother of Jesus at the cross. Although the spelling is slightly different. John 19: 25.
They may have been the least well known among his followers, the second disciples name not even recorded by Luke, but they were prepared to follow him, even though they knew that he was unpopular with the Jewish council.
Millions of Christians like myself can identify with the unnamed disciple, but we know that Jesus has found us and made himself known to us and we have entered into the New Covenant.
Why didn’t they go to investigate the reports from the women?
Maybe it was because they felt the least among the followers that they didn’t go to the tomb, but their love and faith in Jesus was all they needed to enter into the new covenant promise.
As we gathered this Easter morning to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, the act of receiving the bread and the wine was very special, It was a moment I shall always cherish. Thank you Jesus.