Walk to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35; 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Why this text on Easter? Even if we had known Jesus in the flesh— we would have to come to know Him the way we do now— by spiritual revelation and spiritual discernment. I'm not sure we ever understand this lesson!]

The loss of a loved one is never easy. Getting used to a world that will never quite be the same ever again is a bitter reality that breaks in with pangs of pain over and over. The disciples were GETTING USED TO THE IDEA OF A WORLD WITHOUT JESUS. Something wants to deny the reality of pain and suffering. But these people had seen Jesus die. They knew that THINGS WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME, EVER AGAIN.

I. THE DISCIPLES WERE:

  1. SAD (17) Life without Jesus is hard for Christians to imagine. What would this world be without Him?
  2. DISCOURAGED (21) "We trusted!" Their faith was in the past only.

    Of course faith is ALWAYS rooted in what has happened— in the integrity of what we think we can trust. This loss of faith is always serious; when it happens in a divorce; it is tragic— when it happens between parents and children/children parents— it is tragic. But now their faith has let them down. JESUS has let them down! (They think!) We "trusted" ... but we don't trust any more!

  3. UNBELIEVING! - SINFUL (25) Forgetting is no excuse, really! Jesus had told them! And they were not only NON-believing— they were UN-believing! THEIR SINFUL NATURE COULD NOT GRASP SPIRITUAL TRUTH UNAIDED! And Jesus preached from their Bible:

II. THE SAVIOR WAS:

  1. A COMPANION IN THEIR DARKNESS (15) (even before they knew it. v 15) [[Did you ever have Jesus 'slip up beside you' when you were not really expecting Him, but when you needed Him very much? Is it possible that Jesus is near at hand and ready to break into our consciousness more often than we realize?!?
  2. REVEALED IN, A REVEALER OF THE SCRIPTURES (27) Jesus always brings us knowledge of Himself and of salvation along the avenue of the Scriptures.
    1. Not until the Bible is opened do we see our sin and unbelief as the root of the problem of isolation and loneliness and separation and sin.
    2. Not until we see the truth from Him do we see that the ultimate sin is just that— unbelief.
    3. Jesus revealed Himself, finally, as a friend! The dominant thing, and the thing that had continuity with the Jesus they remembered was love. (And what pastor would not give all the books in his library to have heard that exposition from Moses and all the prophets that day, as Jesus taught the things concerning himself!)

But something took place immediately as they recognized their risen Lord:

III. THEIR EXPERIENCE BROUGHT:

  1. A GENUINE FAITH (31) "And they knew him." They saw that this world's seeming defeats are not final, not real— that Jesus can be depended upon.
  2. REAL HOPE AND JOY (32) "Did not our hearts burn within us?" They saw that they had a share in Christ's triumph. They could not then know all the implications— but it began to dawn then of the great scope of Jesus' victory over death!
  3. A DESIRE TO SHARE (33) "They rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem." Seven miles on foot after dark— they just couldn't wait until morning!

Conclusion: Jesus breaks the power of bereavement with the promise: life never will be the same, ever again! But it will be all right! "I will never die again! And neither will you!"

The joy of Christ's victory becomes contagious! It cannot be contained! Suffering is redeemed! Faith takes on new meaning.

(It doesn't mean that NOW we start to live by sight— not yet— and faith will always be stretched to the next level of obedience.) But the Word of our Lord is to be trusted! What He says, He does!

Have YOU ever been like those two disciples on the Emmaus Road— sad, discouraaged— even perhaps without faith and hope? It could be that someone has a faith that is in the past tense. "I trusted, but my heart has been broken; I have been failed!"

Where, do you suppose, is Jesus right now? He is nearer than you think! And in just the same way that He revealed Himself to Mary, and to the Eleven, and to these two on the way— He will reveal Himself to you.

Will you respond to the thing that you know in your heart that He would have you to do?

#459 Just When I Need Him Most

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN WHERE THESE MEN WERE?