VerbuM Domini Manet in Aeternum! What Does This Mean?
Rev. Steven D. Spencer – Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church
Luke 24:13-36
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. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"
1 Peter 1:24-25:"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” The Word of the Lord endures forever, VerbuM Domini Manet in Aeternum! Those words were the theme or battle cry for the Reformation. Martin Luther with his supporters said the church must return to the Word of God for its direction, doctrine and practices. Return to the Word of God.
In our Gospel reading today we have the account of the two men on the road to Emmaus. The message of Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum, the Word of the Lord endures forever is really a message for them. But unlike Luther’s day of Reformation where the message was for the church to return to the Word of God, in this case the Word of God, that Word made flesh, returns. But make no mistake about it, these two travelers needed information and they needed reformation as well.
To properly understand our text we need to gain some sitz im lieben, which means “where it sits in life.” What I’m talking about is the historical, social even emotional context. But we don’t celebrate Passover. So how can we understand what the two on the road to Emmaus were experiencing? Let me help you out just a little bit. Happy 4th of July! Imagine the joy of having all your family together to celebrate Independence Day. What are some of the things that go with that celebration? Great food and beverage, friends and family members you haven’t seen in years, celebrating the freedom won with the blood of soldiers spilled in foreign lands, entertainment the list goes on and on! Now combine the 4th of July with Christmas and Easter.
You see, for a Jewish believer the Passover was their Independence Day. It was the celebration of God freeing them from Pharaoh’s control. Everything about the Passover is about freedom. Freedom from the bondage of foreign nations and freedom, that is forgiveness, from sin. It was a huge celebration where families would have reunions, markets would be filled with vendors and entertainment was readily available. This was the event, the greatest Holiday of the year for any Jewish person. The city of Jerusalem had about 80 to 100 thousand in permanent population. But during the Passover the population would jump to just over 3 Million. That’s how big of a deal it was.
For a moment let’s go back to our 4th of July party. What happens after you’ve had a great time with family or friends or while attending some wonderful event? When it’s time to leave isn’t there usually some type of let down? Maybe a little depression, but at the same time maybe a little joy that you’re returning home going back you’re normal routine.
Now you’re beginning to see what the 2 were experiencing. But there’s still more. There is about seven miles between Jerusalem and Emmaus about a 2 ½ or 3 hour walk. The Passover feast has drawn to a close. Their conversation is overlade with a heavy air of sadness. It's not just the Post-Passover blues; this has been a Passover unlike any other. Present in Jerusalem was one named Jesus of Nazareth, a Man in whom they had placed high hopes. He was a Prophet, mighty in word and deed, and many had speculated that He was in fact the promised Messiah. It seemed as if He was about to take His throne just a week ago, when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of "Hosanna!" from the crowd. But things quickly soured: The chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be crucified, and so He was put to death.
That was the end of their hopes, for He was taken down from the cross and placed into a grave. Of course, some women reported this morning that the grave was empty, that they saw an angel and heard him say that Jesus was alive-risen from the dead. But only the women saw Him, no one else. Can you really trust what they said? It's been three days now since His death, and everything's winding down in Jerusalem; and if it doesn't happen in Jerusalem, it's not going to happen. Their hope is pretty well gone: So, having apparently spent the morning in the city, the two men are now plodding home.
As they walk, they are joined by a third traveler going their way. There's not much between Emmaus and Jerusalem, so He must have started out there too. They don't recognize Him.
The Traveler asks a surprising question, "What is this conversation you are holding as you walk that saddens you so?" It might be a question that takes them aback; with all that has happened and dominated the Passover, how could this stranger not know? In any event, one of them, Cleopas, fills Him in. They'd thought this Jesus was the Messiah; but now He’s dead, so He can’t be the Messiah, can He?
It’s hard for us properly understand their heartbreak. The Jewish people of Jesus day were looking for a Messiah that would deliver them from the bondage of Rome. But even more, they believed that the Messiah that would put them in charge. Israel would be the world power. The land of milk and honey would be restored, peace would be renewed, and evil would be destroyed. But Jesus allowed himself to die. He ruined their plans. There goes the dream.
The Traveler's response may surprise them once again, especially for a guy who doesn't know much: "Oh foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things to enter into His glory?" And then, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, the Stranger shows them from the Scriptures that all has happened exactly as planned.
Jesus brought them the Word! Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus is the Word of the Lord that endures forever. He unfolds the Scriptures for them. But He still doesn’t let them know who he is. Eventually, they arrive at the village of Emmaus, and the Stranger appears to be going further. They say, "Stay with us," "for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent." The Stranger accepts their invitation to remain as their guest. He doesn't remain the Guest very long though. For quickly He becomes the Host! They recline at the table for the meal, but it is He who is the servant. He takes bread; He blesses it, and He gives it to them.
It is then that their eyes were opened: The Stranger is no stranger. He is Jesus. He is risen. He is alive. He's been walking with them, speaking to them the Word of God. He's blessed and broken bread.
And now He's vanished from their sight.
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?"
Forget about the day being far spent: These two hasten back to Jerusalem to tell the eleven, and hear that the Lord has also appeared to Simon. No doubt, they give their report, too: Jesus walked with them and spoke to them, teaching from the Scriptures. He went with them to Emmaus; and there-not in Jerusalem, but in little, Emmaus-He had a supper for them, in which He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them.
The morals of the story: If you want to know the Lord, pay attention to the Word of God. As long as they relied on their reason and feelings, the two from Emmaus believed Jesus was still in the tomb; it was only when He was present with His Word that they realized He had risen.
And, let’s not skip by the fact that this happened at Emmaus, not Jerusalem “The Holy City” but Emmaus. And if it could happen in Emmaus, it could happen anywhere.
The Lord is present here. He does not reserve His presence for one temple in one city; He is present wherever He gathers His people around His Word and Sacraments. This is why we worship the way we do: On the road to Emmaus, the Lord spoke to the two and then fed them as He hosted a supper. This was the pattern of the early Church; in fact, look at our first lesson from Acts 2: after the 3000 are baptized, they continue steadfast in the apostles' doctrine-they continue to hear the Word. They continue in fellowship, in the breaking of the bread-they gather to receive the Lord's Supper. Forgiven, they respond with prayer and giving. Upon examination of this text, you will find that in substance we worship here very, very much like the first Christians of the early Church. This morning, the Lord speaks to you by His Word, and then invites all who are prepared to His Supper. They gathered around those things where they knew the Savior was present: His means of grace. We do the same, and we respond with prayer, service and offerings.
And as He was present in Jerusalem and Emmaus, He is present for His people here. So, what do Jerusalem, Emmaus and Salem have in common? The Lord is present in those places for the good of His people. He is found there because He says He is there, and He says how He is there: In His precious means of grace. For evangelism, we look to Him in Word and Sacrament. For help in trouble, we look to Him in the same. For strengthening of our faith, the same again.
It is in these means, and because of these means, that we can truly say, "The Lord be with you." Truly, literally, the Lord is with you here; and if the Lord is with you here, then you can know beyond all doubt that all your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name and for Jesus sake, Amen!