The Testimony of Cleopas from Emmaus: A Basic Study of Scripture Concerning Jesus

By Curtis D. Klinger

The Testimony of Cleopas from Emmausdiscipleship course the author has presented. In 1998, Curtis drafted the first manuscript from years of notes. Eight years later he revisited the manuscript and presented it as a 13-week Sunday School class a real sleeper. Four more years of reading, editing, adding, deleting and revising, and Curtis is ready to offer it to you as his testimony through the character of Cleopas from Emmaus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463402471

Curtis D. Klinger

Meaningless! Meaningless! All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. Ecclesiastes 1:2, 8-10 And so I begin as well. The Testimony of Cleopas from Emmaus, isn't a new story, or a new revelation, it is simply a basic study of the Bible, concerning Jesus. You will catch-up with the character, Cleopas from the Gospel of Luke, journey through the Scriptures and hear the story of Jesus in a new voice . . . mine. Too often Scripture is looked at from the perspective of a scribe; are the t's crossed and the i's dotted? There is nothing wrong with taking a verse from scripture and unpacking its meaning. The danger is when we create a theology for our life from only one or a few select verses of scripture. As a storyteller, I view and teach the Bible as an unfolding story. Approaching the Bible, as a grand story told by the greatest storyteller, the Lord Jesus, brings many "aha" moments. I hope as you read this book, you will receive an "aha" moment and maybe even experience a spring in your step as you journey on the road to Emmaus. The Testimony of Cleopas from Emmaus, is based on an adult discipleship course I teach. In 1998 I drafted my first manuscript from years of notes. Eight years later I revisited the manuscript and presented it as a 13-week Sunday school class – a real sleeper. Four more years of reading, editing, adding, deleting and revising, and I am ready to offer it to you as my testimony hidden in the character of Cleopas from Emmaus. I pastor a church in the South Sulphur Springs Valley of Southeast Arizona. My wife and I enjoy walking on summer evenings when the air is warm and clear. I have exited the stage to write and use the gift of my voice in the voice-over industry. The Testimony of Cleopas from Emmaus, is my second book, my first being a novel titled, Dean Ransom, Restored.

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© 2011 Curtis D. Klinger. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 6/20/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0247-1 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0249-5 (dj)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-0248-8 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011908236

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

All scripture references, unless otherwise noted, are from:

The Holy Bible, New International Version

Original work copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

NASB - New American Standard Bible

Original work copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by

The Lockman Foundation.

NKJV - The Holy Bible, New King James Version

Original work copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Graphics:

Bible Images - from Gustave Doré (1832 - 1883)

www.creationism.org/images/DoreBibleIllus/

Chapter 1 - Detail from:

Jesus and the Disciples Going to Emmaus

Chapter 2 - Detail from:

The Creation of Light

Chapter 3 - Detail from:

Adam and Eve Driven Out of Eden

Chapter 4 - Detail from:

The World Destroyed By Water

Chapter 5 - Detail from:

The Firstborn Slain

Chapter 6 - Detail from:

The Brazen Serpent

Chapter 7 - Detail from:

Baruch Writing Jeremiah’s Prophecies

Chapter 8 - Detail from:

The Wise Men Guided by the Star

Chapter 9 - Detail from:

The Last Supper

Chapter 10 - Detail from:

The Ascension

Cover - Original artwork by Curtis Klinger - ©2011

For Debbie.

Thank you for journeying with me.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Forward

He Joined Us

In the Beginning God

Man and Woman

Noah to Abraham

Moses - Act One

Moses - Act Two

Judges - Kings - Prophets

The Seed of the Woman

Seventy-Two Hours That Changed History

Running Back to Jerusalem and Beyond

Acknowledgments

My Thanks to all the folks, in the Adult Discipleship class at, Faith Community Church in Littleton, Colorado. We have journeyed together. We didn’t get gravel in our sandals, but we did transform a meandering manuscript into this finished work.

To my friend and brother in the Lord, Paul Abramson; you started me walking on this journey.

To my friend and brother in the Lord, Rick Moyer; you keep me inspired with music on this journey.

To my parents; you trained me up in the way I should go.

Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for revealing your story and letting me be a part of it.

Forward

Each day he took his place and listened to the wise and learned men, each declaring their revelation to be a great new truth. He glanced at the sun and determined it to be noon. It was an early Spring day, a time when kings begin to council for war.

Suddenly he stood. The gathered crowd fell silent. Taking a deep breath he raised his hands and spoke; his voice rang like a Smith’s hammer on a forge.

Meaningless! Meaningless! All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, Look! This is something new? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 8-10

And so I begin as well. The Testimony of Cleopas from Emmaus, isn’t a new story, or a new revelation, it is simply a basic study of the Bible, concerning Jesus. You will catch-up with the character, Cleopas from the Gospel of Luke, journey through the Scriptures and hear the story of Jesus in a new voice… mine.

Too often Scripture is looked at from the perspective of a scribe; are the t’s crossed and the i’s dotted? There is nothing wrong with taking a verse from scripture and unpacking its meaning. The danger is when we create a theology for our life from only one or a few select verses of scripture.

As a storyteller, I view and teach the Bible as an unfolding story. Approaching the Bible, as a grand story told by the greatest storyteller, the Lord Jesus, brings many aha moments. I hope as you read this book, you will receive an aha moment and maybe even experience a spring in your step as you journey on the road to Emmaus.

The Testimony of Cleopas from Emmaus, is based on an adult discipleship course I teach. In 1998 I drafted my first manuscript from years of notes. Eight years later I revisited the manuscript and presented it as a 13-week Sunday School class – a real sleeper. Four more years of reading, editing, adding, deleting and revising and I am ready to offer it to you as my testimony through the character of Cleopas from Emmaus.

A final note: As the narrator of the story, I will on occasion interrupt with an (Authors note: ) I do this simply to add what I believe is a bit of clarity or insight to the narrative.

CHAPTER 1

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He Joined Us

Cleopas, Rabbi of the school in Emmaus. I do put forth this letter to encourage all who choose to follow the risen Lord Jesus. I begin with the words recorded by the Apostle Luke, as he tells my experience on the day of our Lord’s resurrection.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, What are you discussing together as you walk along?

They stood still, their faces downcast.

Luke 24:13-17

We were not part of the inner circle of disciples, but we too, were followers of Jesus.

One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?

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. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem [or set free] Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.

Luke 24:18-24

We gave a brief synopsis of the day. Of course, all of this was not news to Jesus, but he quietly waited for us to finish. He had news for us too.

He said to them, How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:25-27

Jesus told us that THE MESSIAH had to suffer, die and then come back to life. He said it was necessary. You can be sure this raised my eyebrows. But Jesus didn’t stop there. He went back into the Jewish Scriptures and taught us about himself, starting at the very beginning. He then progressed step by step, story by story, through the entire Bible. It was quite a lesson!

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 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.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 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?

Luke 24:28-32

God himself had lit a fire of understanding in our minds. We were excited!

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.

Luke 24:33

You can imagine the trip back to the city as we discussed what we would say to the eleven disciples. The journey was all uphill, and it was almost evening but we pushed ourselves. We had good news!

There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon. Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you.

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, Do you have anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.

Luke 24:33-44

Just as he had done earlier with us on the road to Emmaus, Jesus used the Scriptures to explain all the events surrounding his death, burial and resurrection.

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

Luke 24:45-48

Jesus said his death, burial and resurrection, must happen to fulfill Scripture. He went on to say this was such good news that it would be told everywhere, beginning at Jerusalem.

This may well be the greatest sermon Jesus ever delivered, and it was just for us. This is more proof that God cares for us, individually; He will go to great lengths to express His love for you.

Before I go on with the story I want to stop and go back to the beginning, just as Jesus did with us. I want to review what Jesus said about himself in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms.

Exactly why did Jesus come to the earth, and why did he have to suffer and die, when all along he planned to come back to life?

Why didn’t he simply tell people to believe in him and skip the entire crucifixion?

What were these events all about – his death, burial and resurrection?

When you understand this, you will have the whole picture.

CHAPTER 2

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In the Beginning God

Jesus began in the first book of Moses, in the Scriptures, called Genesis. Genesis means beginnings.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And there was evening and there was morning – the first day.

Genesis 1:1-5

There are no opening arguments for the existence of God – it is assumed he exists. God is just there. God has been there all along. God existed before plants, animals and people, before the earth and the universe. He had no beginning and he will have no end. God has always been and will always be. The Bible says that God has existed from everlasting past to everlasting future. God is eternal.

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth… from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 90:2

The concept of an eternal God is difficult for us to grasp. It’s so troublesome to our intellect that often we file it under the label: impossible.

Yes, the thought of an eternal God is difficult to grasp, but so is the vastness of our universe. Both are mind-boggling; both are real. The Scriptures speak emphatically on this point. God’s eternal existence is such an inherent part of his nature that the Scriptures refer to it as his name…

… the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.

Genesis 21:33

God has many names or titles, each