So Light 'Em Up
Pastor Tim Wolfe
Sunday, July 27, 2025
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 24:32
INTRO
This morning, I want to give us some reps—some encouragement—around one simple but life-changing habit—a discipline that has the power to transform everything: being with Jesus in His Word.
Romans 12:2 (NIV) reminds us: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Take the Long Way Home
Luke 24:13–19
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas,asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked.“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
15: “Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.” - But they don’t recognize Him. Why?
Verse 16 “They were kept from recognizing Him.”
The NASB puts it this way: “Their eyes were prevented.” This wasn’t a mistake. It was mercy. Recognition is a gift. Luke 10:22 reminds us—only the Son reveals the Father, and only to whom He chooses.
Even in their confusion, Jesus draws near. Even when they don’t see Him, He’s walking with them. And Cleopas—bless him—basically says, “Are you the only guy in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about Jesus?” That’s how famous Jesus was. First-century viral. Everyone was talking.
Disappointment and Misunderstanding
Luke 24:20–24
20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
Then comes the heartbreak: Vs. 21 “We had hoped He was the one to redeem Israel.” They admired Jesus.
Verse 19 says He was “a prophet, powerful in word and deed.”
But admiration isn’t the same as faith.
John MacArthur puts it like this: “The populace view of Jesus was admiration... but it was short of saving faith.”
David Gooding adds: “Death and resurrection formed no part of their concept of the Messiah.”
They were looking for a political liberator. But Jesus came as a suffering Savior. And because of that, they missed what He’d been saying all along.
Jesus Opens the Scriptures
Luke 24:25–27
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Jesus doesn’t coddle them. He corrects them—gently but firmly: “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe…”
Then He does something beautiful: He walks them through the Scriptures. From Moses to the Prophets, He shows them how it all points to Him.
Notice this: He doesn’t reveal Himself first. He reveals the Word.
Because He wants them to see Him there—in the Scriptures.
Eyes Opened at the Table
Luke 24:28–31
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke itand began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
They reach the village. Jesus acts like He’s going farther.
But they urge Him to stay.
And at the table—He takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it—
and suddenly, their eyes are opened.
It happens in fellowship. It happens in the breaking of bread.
It echoes the Last Supper. And then—He’s gone.
Because the point wasn’t His physical presence.
It was the revelation of Himself through the Word.
Hearts Aflame
Luke 24:32
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
In Greek: kardia hēmōn kaiomenē ēn — “Our heart was burning.”
This wasn’t just emotion. It was a rekindling—physically and spiritually. Their sadness was soothed. Their faith was reignited.
John Piper calls this the goal of preaching: “A heart burning with passion for Christ, His glory, His Word, His mission.”
This is what happens when we’re with Jesus in the Word.
He sets our hearts ablaze.
It reminds me of John Wesley. On May 24, 1738, he wrote:
“I felt my heart strangely warmed.” That moment sparked a movement. It was the Word of God, made alive by the Spirit of God, that lit the fire.
St. Augustine said it best:
“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
CONCLUSION
When we’re in the Scriptures with Jesus—He shows up.
He reveals Himself—not just in the text, but in the truth behind it.
When we’re discouraged, He doesn’t wait for us to get it together.
He meets us right there, on the road marked by discouragement.
When we slow down and walk with Him in His Word, He gently corrects what we’ve misunderstood.
He reminds us of who He is and what He’s done.
And when we sit with Him long enough— not rushing, not checking a box— He sets our hearts on fire.
So let’s be people who are with Jesus daily in His Word.
Let’s expect Him to speak. Let’s expect our hearts to burn— with renewed faith, fresh joy, and a deeper love for the One who walks with us on every road we travel.
Let’s pray.
EXTRA - LONG QUOTES AND NOTES:
This morning, I want to give us some reps—some encouragement—around one simple but life-changing habit—a discipline that has the power to transform everything: being with Jesus in His Word.
Romans 12:2 (NIV) reminds us: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Take the Long Way Home
Luke 24:13–19
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas,asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked.“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
15: “Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them.” - But they don’t recognize Him. Why?
Verse 16 “They were kept from recognizing Him.”
The NASB puts it this way: “Their eyes were prevented.” This wasn’t a mistake. It was mercy. Recognition is a gift. Luke 10:22 reminds us—only the Son reveals the Father, and only to whom He chooses.
Even in their confusion, Jesus draws near. Even when they don’t see Him, He’s walking with them. And Cleopas—bless him—basically says, “Are you the only guy in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about Jesus?” That’s how famous Jesus was. First-century viral. Everyone was talking.
Disappointment and Misunderstanding
Luke 24:20–24
20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
Then comes the heartbreak: Vs. 21 “We had hoped He was the one to redeem Israel.” They admired Jesus.
Verse 19 says He was “a prophet, powerful in word and deed.”
But admiration isn’t the same as faith.
John MacArthur puts it like this: “The populace view of Jesus was admiration... but it was short of saving faith.”
David Gooding adds: “Death and resurrection formed no part of their concept of the Messiah.”
They were looking for a political liberator. But Jesus came as a suffering Savior. And because of that, they missed what He’d been saying all along.
Jesus Opens the Scriptures
Luke 24:25–27
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Jesus doesn’t coddle them. He corrects them—gently but firmly: “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe…”
Then He does something beautiful: He walks them through the Scriptures. From Moses to the Prophets, He shows them how it all points to Him.
Notice this: He doesn’t reveal Himself first. He reveals the Word.
Because He wants them to see Him there—in the Scriptures.
Eyes Opened at the Table
Luke 24:28–31
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke itand began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
They reach the village. Jesus acts like He’s going farther.
But they urge Him to stay.
And at the table—He takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it—
and suddenly, their eyes are opened.
It happens in fellowship. It happens in the breaking of bread.
It echoes the Last Supper. And then—He’s gone.
Because the point wasn’t His physical presence.
It was the revelation of Himself through the Word.
Hearts Aflame
Luke 24:32
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
In Greek: kardia hēmōn kaiomenē ēn — “Our heart was burning.”
This wasn’t just emotion. It was a rekindling—physically and spiritually. Their sadness was soothed. Their faith was reignited.
John Piper calls this the goal of preaching: “A heart burning with passion for Christ, His glory, His Word, His mission.”
This is what happens when we’re with Jesus in the Word.
He sets our hearts ablaze.
It reminds me of John Wesley. On May 24, 1738, he wrote:
“I felt my heart strangely warmed.” That moment sparked a movement. It was the Word of God, made alive by the Spirit of God, that lit the fire.
St. Augustine said it best:
“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
CONCLUSION
When we’re in the Scriptures with Jesus—He shows up.
He reveals Himself—not just in the text, but in the truth behind it.
When we’re discouraged, He doesn’t wait for us to get it together.
He meets us right there, on the road marked by discouragement.
When we slow down and walk with Him in His Word, He gently corrects what we’ve misunderstood.
He reminds us of who He is and what He’s done.
And when we sit with Him long enough— not rushing, not checking a box— He sets our hearts on fire.
So let’s be people who are with Jesus daily in His Word.
Let’s expect Him to speak. Let’s expect our hearts to burn— with renewed faith, fresh joy, and a deeper love for the One who walks with us on every road we travel.
Let’s pray.
EXTRA - LONG QUOTES AND NOTES:
- Quote: “That last little phrase “and all the people” there in verse 19, lets us know that the populace view of Jesus was they admired Him. They saw Him as a good man. They saw Him as a great man. They saw Him as a prophet. They saw Him as powerful. They saw Him as powerful in what He said and what He did; there was no other way to see Him. That’s the populace view of Jesus. All the people clearly saw that. His power was displayed; His teaching displayed across the land of Israel for three years. The accumulative effect caused the people to believe in Him as a prophet. In fact, after He gave sight to the blind man at Jericho, in Luke 18:43, it says, “All the people saw it, and gave praise to God,” which means they knew that His power came from God. That was the populist view. That’s what makes verse 20 so shocking. In contrast He was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people. But on the other hand, the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death and crucified Him. faith. And they could be manipulated; and they were. “It was the chief priests and our rulers who delivered Him to the sentence of death and crucified Him.” That’s exactly what Peter says in preaching in Acts 5, verse 30: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you had put to death by hanging Him on aAnd it needs to be said, that you’ll look at that verse and you do not see the word “Romans.” “Our chief priests, our rulers delivered,” – that’s the technical word for “arrest” – “delivered Him up to the sentence.” That’s the word krima in Greek meaning judgment, a legal term. They sentenced Him to the judgment of death by the means of crucifixion, contrary to the popular view. You say, “But wait a minute. Didn’t the massive crowds on Friday scream, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him, crucify Him’?” Yes, manipulated and orchestrated by the chief priests and the Sanhedrin. Was their populace view of Jesus a true faith? No. They admired Him as a prophet. They admired Him as a good and righteous man. They admired Him as the greatest teacher, the greatest miracle worker. But it was short of a saving cross.” And he indicts the leaders of Israel again. These two don’t blame the Romans, the Romans were just the executioners.” (Quoted from Dr. John MacArthur - from his sermon on this text)
- David Gooding sums it up with these words: “Death and resurrection form no part of their concept of Messiah’s office and program, which is why they had not really taken in what Jesus had said about His coming death. They were hoping for a Messiah who would break the imperialist’s domination of the Romans by force of arms, a Messiah who managed to allow Himself to be caught by Jewish authorities, handed over to the Romans, and crucified before He had even begun to organize any guerilla operations, popular uprisings, or open warfare. What use was He? If the Old Testament prophesied a liberator who should not die but be triumphant, Jesus was already disqualified because He had died. After that, it was almost irrelevant to talk about resurrection.” End quote. (Quoted from Dr. John MacArthur’s Sermon on Luke 24:13-32
- Here's a breakdown of the Greek in Vs. 32 the Internet:
- καρδία (kardia): This is the Greek word for "heart" and refers to the center of one's being, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will.
- ἡμῶν (hēmōn): This is the Greek word for "our".
- καιομένη (kaiomenē): This is the Greek word for "burning" or "ablaze" and is in the feminine, singular, present active participle form, agreeing with "kardia".
- ἦν (ēn): This is the Greek word for "was", the imperfect form of the verb "to be".
So, the full phrase "καρδία ἡμῶν καιομένη ἦν" literally means "our heart was burning". This translates to: "And they said to one another, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?'" - καὶ (kai): And
- εἶπαν (eipan): they said
- πρὸς ἀλλήλους (pros allēlous): to one another
- οὐχὶ (ouchi): not, isn't it? (introduces a rhetorical question expecting a positive answer)
- ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν (hē kardia hēmōn): our heart
- καιομένη (kaiomenē): burning
- ἦν (ēn): was
- ἐν ἡμῖν (en hēmin): within us
- ὡς (hōs): as, while
- ἐλάλει (elalei): he was speaking
- ἡμῖν (hēmin): to us
- ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ (en tē hodō): on the road
- ὡς (hōs): as, while
- διήνοιγεν (diēnoigen): he was opening
- ἡμῖν (hēmin): to us
- τὰς γραφάς (tas graphas): the scriptures
- John Wesley, “famously described an experience where he felt his "heart strangely warmed" during a religious meeting in Aldersgate Street, London. This event, which occurred on May 24, 1738, is considered a pivotal moment in his life and the beginning of Methodism. He felt a profound assurance that his sins were forgiven and that he trusted in Christ alone for salvation.”
**