"Walk to Emmaus" - May 8, 2011 Sermon

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Scripture: Luke 24: 13-35

The Sermon:
Most of us are familiar with the Emmaus Road story in Luke. Two disciples of Jesus are walking the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, talking about all the things that happened over the last few days. That is something we do, isn’t it? When something really shocking happens, we want to talk with someone about it… we try to process all the "who-what-where-why and how" questions that arise in our minds. If I were not a preacher, I would bet that everyone in this sanctuary who was at least 16yrs old in November of 1963 (Nov. 22nd to be exact) knows where they were and what they were doing on that day.

Cleopas and another unnamed disciple were doing just that… talking about all the shocking things that took place that week. I’m sure it was a heart-breaking experience for them…The Master they had revered, loved and followed suffered a cruel death by crucifixion … their hopes were dashed, their dream was over. Even the reports that Jesus’ tomb was empty did not make them feel any better, it only confused them. Their entire world had come a part. Their thoughts and feelings were summed up in vs.21, "…but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel." By using the past tense…"we HAD hoped…", they were saying that ,"We don’t expect it now, but once we did. We had this thing called hope, but now it’s gone."

Have you ever lost "HOPE"? Once hope is lost, it is very difficult to recover. Some people don’t even want to hope for fear of being let down again. (Personal story by Pastor Jack about his dad and the promise of a new bike)

As they made their way along the road, a stranger began to walk beside them. Now we know that this is going to be the greatest walk they have ever been on, but they were …"kept from recognizing Him." What was Jesus’ purpose in not letting them see who He was? Perhaps it was so that they would be in the same position as we are today…2 thousand years later.

Visual appearances of Jesus ceased at His Ascension. And, like the two on the Road, we have to make do with other people’s testimony that Jesus has indeed risen from the grave. Just like those disciples, we don’t know quite what to make of it. Did it really happen? How did it happen? Somewhere on our "Emmaus" journey, we have to make up our minds as to what we believe!

When Jesus asks them what they are discussing, they begin to pour out their sad story. Jesus, being a loving and compassionate Lord, did not embarrass them by reminding them of what he had already told them about …"unless a seed dies, it abides alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit." Jesus knew the frailty of strained nerves and confused minds and so he did not suddenly reveal himself and overwhelm them. He slowly and gently revealed himself through Scripture.

The way He dealt with the situation is a good lesson for all of us who are in a position to help those who have lost hope. The 1st thing they need is companionship. Just being present. They need a good listening ear not a stream of advice ! The last thing they need is a "pep" talk and being told to "snap out of it." Remember, they have just gone through a heart-breaking experience.

I am sure we have all heard exciting testimonies of what Jesus has done in the past, but what about the present? The past is history. Here is my question: Is Jesus a present reality in your life? Do we always recognize Jesus when he is beside us? There are a lot of distractions in our lives: work, routine, being tired, ill health, family, etc. These things can grind us down so that we begin to do things mechanically, without real feeling or desire or joy. The world seems hazy from the dust of the earthly road we travel. We lose sight of the glory and strength of His presence with us. However, He is still there! The "unseen" stranger walking with us, listening to us and, if we listen carefully, revealing himself to us just as he did those two disciples. He began with Moses and the prophets he explained what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

That must have been the greatest Old Testament class lesson, ever ! The problem, however, for the disciples was how to make sense of the Cross. Jesus helped them by showing them that the Cross was a creative act of God…using it to reconcile the world to Himself. Turning the Cross of shame and suffering into the Cross of Redemption for all who would repent and have Faith.

When Jesus intrudes into our lives it is for the purpose of blessing us. The problem we have is our response, because sometimes the things he reveals in us are uncomfortable, especially when He invades the private areas of our lives and encroaches in our conscience!

That 2 hour journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus must have seemed like five minutes. They were so wrapped up in the conversation with Jesus, even though they still did not recognize him. As they approached the village, Jesus acted as if he were going to continue on further, but they urged him to stay with them…they wanted to hear more. Jesus is like that…he did not try to force them to let him stay, he waited for an invitation to come in. He is still that way with us… he wants to be invited to be in your life.

You know, God gave to all the world the greatest and yet most perilous gift in the world…that is, the gift of free will. We can use it to invite Christ into our hearts or to let him keep on going. Remember in Revelation 3:19-20 Jesus says, "Here I am, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

In the Emmaus story, we are told that Jesus acted as if he was going on farther. It was a test to see if the disciples had more appetite for the things of God. They did! They urged Jesus strongly to stay with us. That is precisely the sort of invitation Jess cannot resist. He went in to stay with them and in the breaking of the bread, "Their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Immediately they went to tell the others what had happened… it is true, He is risen indeed.

AMEN