From Despair to Understanding - Luke 24:13-35 - Third Week of Easter

 

Luke 24:13-35 NIV

³ 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. 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 morning ²³ 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.”

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.

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 it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 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?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

From Despair to Understanding

Once you overcome your doubt in the facts and evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, repent, turn to God and come together. Jesus really meant it when He forgave people from that cross. So, let that doubt drop. Let that doubt go, because God has a New Life in store for you beyond anything you could ever comprehend or believe on your own. God WANTS you to be His, now and forever.

Save me, Lord Jesus! I need you to walk with me each and every day of my life. Save me!

Jesus, chosen before the beginning of the world, has come. Jesus has come to us and saved us. Jesus came physically and saved spiritually. Live life in this glory knowing that all has already been completed. You are forgiven; the work of God gives you new life to live with Him forever. Now, believe and be obedient to God’s will and God’s way in your life as you live it out in this physical realm, ready to join Him in the eternal realm spiritually and eventually physically once again. All in what God has done, not by any of your works at all.

On Easter Sunday, a couple of Jesus’ disciples, outside of the 12 Disciples, were on the road to Emmaus. The exact location of this town is a little up in the air, but it was probably northwest of Jerusalem about seven miles away.

In some ways, this walk is not about physical distance or direction. This walk turns into a gift of faith to some disciples, sort of like you and me, in our walks of life. Once again, as they walk, and as we walk in our own lives; Jesus comes to us, sometimes it seems, out of nowhere.

We stumble through life confused and without much direction. We stumble in fear and anguish about the happenings of the day. We stumble through life, yet, Jesus comes to us in our doubts, our confusion, and our fear.

Jesus recognizes our state of fear and confusion and He understands. How? He knows first hand what it’s like to be human. So, Jesus comes to us to lead us from all of this to faith in Him, and the forgiveness He freely gives, so that, we may live with Him in His Kingdom forever, as we come to believe in all that He has done.

When I walk with someone, we talk to each other. We walk and talk about life. So, these disciples were walking and talking as well. They were talking about current events. They were talking about the very, current events of that day. They were talking about what had happened to Jesus just the past few days, and they were talking about witness accounts of other disciples on that Sunday.

It’s important, as disciples, that we talk to one another. It’s important, as disciples, that we come together and discuss the events of the day, and the events of our faith. That’s why going to church is so vital. It’s important to witness to one another in faith, and it’s important to come to church and witness God coming to you.

How’s that? We come together in union with God and one another, and God comes to us in Word and Sacrament. That’s a big deal! That’s a big reason to go to church. That’s a big reason, why we should gather physically in one place. The internet, YouTube and such things are one thing, but they DO NOT replace our gathering together, physically in one place. Don’t take that lightly! We walk with one another by faith in the Light of Jesus.

As we walk together, guess who shows up? Jesus! Jesus always comes to us. He came down from heaven to us, and He comes to us as we stumble along in our individual and corporate life paths. Jesus comes to us and gives us faith and proof that God wants us to be His own.

And you know what? Sometimes we just don’t see Him, we just don’t get Him, we just remain confused and dazed by what this world is doing to us and through us. Sometimes we’re just blind and deaf to Jesus.

And as Jesus comes to us, so come the questions that help us to open our eyes to His presence. Jesus is a wonderful teacher. He draws you in and makes His presence clear. But first, we have to think about it.

And Jesus cares about what is going on. He wants to join in on the conversation in a compassionate way. It’s funny though, I can understand Cleopas; how could Jesus not have heard what was going on today? But that’s not the point of Jesus’ question and His joining in on the conversation.

At first glance when I read the question of Jesus, “What things?”, it causes me to think, really? But Jesus has all along in His ministry of teaching brought people to deeper spiritual meanings through questions. It’s like God wants to hear from us, so that we will internalize the Gospel and bring Himself into our lives. So, I kind of love the question. I love how it makes you recite what has happened, and I love even more how Jesus teaches.

Now as these disciples verbally express what has happened these past few days, they are drawn in to see how God is active, even in and through the sinful action of men, to unfold His redemptive power beyond sin and death. When I see my sin, out in front of me, the stinking sin of my life, I come to realize that I need a Savior. And to think here, on this road, with these disciples, not only do they profess the sin of man during the crucifixion, they see Jesus and the Gospel before their eyes as well. But they don’t quite understand… not quite yet.

And in this they acknowledge the hope they have in what God has done, as they tell of what the women had testified to about an empty tomb, on the third day. I wonder if Jesus was thinking, sure, go on… go on… tell the story! Witness to all the world what God has done through Me!

And then, Jesus teaches and challenges. Do you believe? Do you dare to believe? See here what has been told all along, from the beginning, through the prophets in your Bible, to this very day. Take a look. Look and see here!

Jesus had to suffer to fulfill the prophecy of ages past. And yet after this suffering, he rose again, to ascend back into heaven, having completed the salvation for all believers, who are forgiven through and by His actions of love and compassion, all thought out before creation. That’s a tough thing to grasp. Ponder that with a thankful heart.

And yet, believers too, will share in this suffering of Jesus. We will not only share in the suffering; we will also share in the resurrection. That there IS great HOPE!

And then Jesus teaches. Oh, how I wish I could have been there. Jesus teaches everything about Himself throughout all Scripture. But, yet again, I am also there as well. All of Scripture, God’s Word has been left for believers, even this day to see, to read, to ponder, to feed from.

Listen! Open your Bibles folks! Read! You will meet God. Go to church! Listen to the spoken Word from the Pastor or Priest. Sit in Sunday School! Talk about this Word of God, with and to and through fellow believers. Share your testimonies with one another about how God comes to you, saves you, forgives you, calls you, and the actions that God has developed in you to praise and honor Him in your daily living. Be obedient to God and give Him all thanks and praise.

Yes, even today, Jesus is explaining to you, all that the Scriptures say about Himself.

As we follow Jesus, pointing to Him all of our lives; we see how He is going further down the road, and yet, He is willing to pause with us to be with us, to love us and teach us, and to forgive our sinfulness, so that He IS WITH us, always.

And when we beg Him to stay? He comes with us. That’s so comforting!

Jesus pauses to break bread with us, and to show Himself to us, both in person, one-on-one, and in the fellowship of all believers. Jesus takes time out. Wow! The Savior from before the world began, pauses to be with us individually and together. How can that be?

Like the Artemis astronaut looking back on earth, we must pause and give thanks to a God that would come to us, a tiny dot in space, to a small group of disciples, to a unique person created by God, to spend time with us in food and conversation together. Amazing! 

And as soon as we recognize Jesus among us… He’s gone! Going ahead of us to prepare something even more amazing. What love is this? As soon as this physical Jesus helps us to realize our own unique spiritual awakening, He goes. Yes, He goes ahead in full knowledge that there will be more. That the Holy Spirit will come to lead and guide us in this earthly, physical realm to, see Jesus again.

If that doesn’t dig into your heart, nothing else will. Talking about hearts burning within believers. This resurrection was real and is NOW.

So, GO! Go and tell your fellow disciples how Jesus comes to you. Go and listen to your fellow disciples tell how they have met Jesus! Talk it over. Amaze over Jesus coming to you, right now. Don’t wait for Sunday… do this every day of the week.

And don’t stop there. Be bold to confess your belief in Jesus, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. Spread the Gospel of God’s love for all of His people. For sure, tell your family and friends, but go on a step further when you have a chance to tell people outside of your daily circle. Speak, write, pray, and show your love and compassion for all those around you in need of any kind. This is Jesus actions. God calls you to bear fruit. You may not know what fruit you are called to bear, that doesn’t matter, the fruit will grow because of God’s action, not yours anyway. And when you bear fruit, it may just be, like an olive; for that fruit to be of use, you may be crushed and ground and milled so fine that rich olive oil will be used to the glory of God. Like a grape, God may have you tread upon and squeezed in such a way that wine is produced. All of this, you can expect. But guess what? In all of that, you will be obedient to the call of God to go forth and spread the Gospel far and wide for all people to hear. And that’s just fine, with me.

When you open the Word, pay attention. When you hear the Word spoken from the priest or pastor, pay attention. When Jesus breaks bread with you, pay attention. When Jesus comes to you, pay attention, open your eyes and hear how God came to save the world through His very own Son, in a plan that existed even before creation. God knows you and me, intimately and loves us still.

Thanks be to God, that He comes to us, walks with us, dines with us, and draws us from despair to understanding… today… tomorrow… and forever.

I invite you to enjoy this YouTube Music Video that spoke to my this past week…

“Jesus Walked With Me”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj9TAG7b2wg&list=RDGj9TAG7b2wg&start_radio=1