Jesus says to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus:
‘Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’
They had been there with the others on the first Easter Sunday, but they had decided to call it a day. It was all too confusing and depressing.
They had thought that Jesus was the Messiah; that he would set Israel free from Roman occupation and bring in God’s reign of abundance and security and justice. They didn’t know how – perhaps he was going to provoke an uprising and raise an army. Or perhaps God would step in, as he had done in the past, and wipe out the Romans overnight. But they trusted this man, and they had put their hope in him.
But it had all gone so wrong. Jesus had been arrested and crucified. Even the crowd had chanted for his death.
And now, three days later, the women were saying that an angel had told them that Jesus was alive. Some of the disciples had been to the tomb and confirmed that it was empty. And it was doing their heads in.
But as they walk the 8 miles back to Emmaus the risen Jesus joins them.
St Albans Psalter (12th century). Notice the pilgrim's pole which becomes like a channel between the disciples and heaven. Jesus moves them from confusion to understanding
It is ironic. There they are, talking to the risen Jesus, about the women. They told Jesus, ‘but they did not see him’, when they do not see him.
And, by the way, just because we do not think that we see Jesus, it does not mean that he is not here.
And Jesus listens to them, and then answers them, ‘Oh how foolish you are. .. Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’
‘Was it not necessary?’
Was it not necessary that Jesus should be rejected, deserted by his followers, mocked and humiliated? Was it not necessary that he should be falsely accused? Was it not necessary that he should be crucified between two criminals? Was it not necessary that nails should be driven in to his hands and his feet? Was it not necessary that he should be hung naked on a piece of wood, and that his body be torn in pieces?
Yes. It was necessary.
It was necessary because the Messiah came to reveal the true nature of Glory.
God is absolute ultimate power, but he does not rule through raw power or domination.
Some of the Mongols apparently would build a banqueting floor which rested on the heads and bodies of their defeated enemies. And then they partied. And as they danced and feasted, their opponents were crushed to death.
That was not their glory. That was their shame.
True glory is not being up there in the lights with everyone adoring me, honouring me and serving my interests. It is, of course, very attractive. It is why the fantastical dream of celebrity is so powerful.
There are two ways to defeat an enemy.
The first is to crush them into non-existence.
That is the way of the world. It is the supreme temptation for those who are strong.
It is why Jesus, when he is tempted, is shown all the kingdoms of the world and told by Satan, ‘these can all be yours if you worship me’. In other words, claim the kingdoms my way.
And lest we think that this is only the temptation for Mongols, or tyrants, it is what we do every time we use our position or our wealth or our strength to get what we want. The violent or abusive partner, the resort to threats; or even in our powerlessness the wishing that the other person was dead.
The second way to defeat an enemy is not to crush them into non-existence but to win their hearts and minds so that the ones who were formerly our enemies become our friends.
That is the way of God
True glory is not about crushing your enemy but lifting them so that they become your friend. It is about seeking the absolute best for them - even if it means that in the process, they continue to choose the way of evil and reject you, even crucify you.
And if that happens – if the genuine good that you do for them is thrown back in your face – well, you have lived the way of glory and they have chosen the way of death.
This is what makes sense of that verse in Romans 12
‘Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Romans 12:19-21)
It is impossible to separate the glory of God from the love of God. True glory is about giving up everything here and now, even our life, so that others might come to discover God and find life.
The Messiah had to suffer because he shares the heart of his Father God and he lived the glory of God on earth.
And the Messiah had to suffer because true obedience in this fallen, at-war-with-God world, involves suffering.
It is only when the Kingdom of God comes in its fullness that there will be no more suffering or pain.
The person who really does live a God-centred life will suffer.
They will suffer because they love and long for the things that others reject.
Do we not wince when the name of Jesus is used as an expletive?
They will suffer because they will be persecuted. Jesus says, ‘They hated me, and if you follow me, they will hate you’.
Please do not get me wrong. We do not go out of our way to be persecuted. There are many Christians who say that we are being persecuted for our faith, when we are in fact we are criticised because we are being obnoxious and arrogant.
All I am saying is that if we get on with trusting God, living our lives by God’s standards – of worship and prayer, openness, rightness, transparency and honesty, refusing to justify ourselves but trusting God to do so, radical generousity, genuine hospitality, meekness, authentic witness – there will be times when we suffer.
And there is a secret here. In this at-war-with-God world the way to defeat suffering is through suffering. The way to defeat death is through death.
There is a great Orthodox Easter proclamation: ‘Christ is risen from the dead. Death has been defeated by death. And life has been given to those in the grave’.
That is why Jesus says the Messiah had to suffer before he would enter into his glory.
It was necessary that the Messiah had to suffer because he had come to give his life as a ransom for sin.
He had come to take onto himself the consequence of our sin, of our rejection of God.
Isaiah 53 states, ‘He was pierced for our transgression’.
We do not have the time to explore what was going on as Jesus dies.
People have written books about it, and there are deep truths to be mined, learned and received.
It is a mystery – not in the sense that we cannot think about it, but in the sense that it is much, much bigger than we can conceivably imagine.
The simple truth is that we are told that Jesus died for us. Without his death ‘for us’ we could not receive forgiveness, we would still be separated from God, and death and hell would be the final destination and full stop.
The Messiah had to suffer so that we could be saved. He came to give his life as a ransom for our sin.
So yes. It was necessary that the Messiah should suffer.
Maybe these two disciples got it there and then as Jesus spoke. They did say, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ (v33)
Or maybe they got it when Jesus picked up the bread and broke it.
And they suddenly saw it in picture language: his body broken – as it was broken on the cross – so that they could each receive a piece.
It was necessary for the Messiah to suffer, to be broken, so that they could live.
And as they get it, they see him – there in front of them, as real as I am in front of you. No, far more real than I am in front of you. I am the shadow, he is the reality.
Because Jesus says, ‘Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’
The suffering is not the final word.
The dying for your enemy is not the final word.
The cross is not the final word.
The final word is resurrection, life, and glory: the glory of a God who loves us so much that his only Son suffered and died for us.