Scripture is Our Authority Part I
Family Church Mission Statement– Our mission is to love our neighbors and welcome them into God’s forever family.
Luke 24:13-34
13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him.21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on,29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”
From Jesus’ conversation on the Road to Emmaus we learn:
1) It’s possible to know parts of the Bible and miss the point.
Verse 21- “We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.”
2) The Bible to Jesus.
Verse 25-27 25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Prophecy about Jesus’ coming
Deuteronomy 18:15– “15 Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”
Isaiah 35:5-6a– “And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
and unplug the ears of the deaf.
6 The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Prophecy about Jesus’ crucifixion
Genesis 3:15– “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
Numbers 21:8-9 – “8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!”
Psalm 22:16– “My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.”
Isaiah 53:5-6– “But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
Zechariah 12:10– “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.”
Prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection
Isaiah 53:10-11– “But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.
Psalm 16:10– “For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.”
3) Jesus, revealing Himself in the Bible, sets hearts on .
32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”
A quick reflection for you as you continue on your walk:
- How would you evaluate your time in the Bible? Do you have a reading/Bible study plan? If not, what is stopping you from starting one today?
- Is there someone in your life that is helping you grow in your spiritual walk? I’m not talking about someone on some social media platform. Is there someone in your regular walk that you can talk to and help you grow in your faith?
- Does God’s Word burn in your heart? It should. Take that burning in your heart and share it with someone.
Bible Reading Plans
The M’Cheyne One Year Bible Reading Calendar– Old Testament once, New Testament and Psalms twice- https://enjoyingthejourney.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Journey-Through-Scripture-Plan-1.pdf
One Year Chronological Bible Reading Plan– https://static.esvmedia.org/assets/pdfs/rp.chronological.pdf
One Year Navigators Bible Reading Plan– https://www.navigators.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/navigators-book-at-a-time-bible-reading-plan.pdf
Two Year Bible Reading Plan– https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/static-blogs/tgc/files/2010/12/TwoYearBibleReadingPlan.pdf
Create your own Bible Reading Plan– https://biblereadingplangenerator.com/?start=2026-09-01&total=365&format=calendar&order=traditional&daysofweek=1,2,3,4,5,6,7&books=OT,NT&lang=en&logic=words&checkbox=1&colors=0&dailypsalm=0&dailyproverb=0&otntoverlap=0&reverse=0&stats=0&dailystats=0&nodates=0&includeurls=0&urlsite=biblegateway&urlversion=NIV