Purpose: To show how Christ brought two wayward followers back into fellowship.
Aim: I want the listener to solve his discouragement by focusing on Christ with other believers.
INTRODUCTION: We have before us a story of two followers of Christ who had gotten very discouraged. They had surrendered their lives to follow Jesus Christ, but then all of their hopes were dashed when Jesus was arrested, tortured, humiliated, and put through a slow and painful execution.
The two disciples in our text, perhaps a husband and a wife, waited in Jerusalem with the other disciples for three days. They heard the reports from two women that Jesus was now alive, but evidently they couldn’t believe those testimonies so they decided to get out of Jerusalem. See verse 11.
We can all relate to their feelings, look at verse 17. Daily living can be hard enough, but living for Jesus in a world that hates Him can really be hard.
► I. What do we Know About These two Disciples?
► Vs.13 A. They were followers of Christ "two of them"
These two must have been with the rest of the disciples when they heard the report from the women who saw Christ raised from the dead. Look back at Luke 24:9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (NAU)
These two were probably very close to Jesus for a long time. It says in verse 16 that their eyes had to be, "prevented from recognizing Him." They had eaten with Christ, traveled with Christ, they had watched Christ perform many miracles (see verse 19).
► Vs.14 B. They were discouraged "talking...about all these things"
What "things" were they talking about? The crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
When we look at the whole story, there is no doubt that these two were real followers of Christ. They had just gotten discouraged and given up. Many times those who start out to follow Christ get sidetracked for one reason or another.
We see that they decided to run away from their circumstance even though they had just heard a report that Jesus was actually alive. They did not stick around to see if what the women had said was really true. If they had stayed with the other disciples they would have heard Peter and John’s reports that confirmed that Jesus was alive.
When a sheep gets sick, he will often separated himself from the flock and just lie down. This can be the worst possible thing for a sheep to do because wolves do not attack flocks of sheep.
They panicked. They probably feared for their lives. Instead of staying with the other believers in Jerusalem they slipped away by themselves. Isn’t it interesting that discouragement tends to drive Christians away from each other rather than closer to each other?
The other disciples were huddled behind locked doors in Jerusalem. But, these two disciples had decided to leave the small group of believers for a safer, quieter place. Emmaus was seven miles away, or a 2 to 3 hour trip. They didn’t feel like there was anything in Jerusalem worth staying for.
When following Christ gets hard there is the temptation to look for an easier place. It takes courage, on the other hand, to follow Christ.
► The highest degree of courage is seen in the person who is most fearful but refuses to capitulate to it.--J. Oswald Sanders [1]
A missionary society was deeply impressed by the courageous devotion of David Livingstone who worked single handedly for God in Africa. The society wrote to Livingstone: "Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to send other men to join you." Livingstone replied, "If you have men who will come only if there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." [2]
► Vs.17 C. They were drained "stood still, looking sad"
They were emotionally and probably physically worn out.
Vs.17 LOOKING SAD literally means, "gloomy eyed." They were worn out, weary, and distressed. They were like lost helpless sheep.
► II. What led to Their Discouragement?
Vs.18-20 A. They were focused on their circumstances "things which have happened here"
They were confused about the events. They felt like the chief priests and the rulers were in charge. They had no vision of a sovereign God who was in charge of all things.
If we are not careful, we can find ourselves just "going through the motions" of serving Christ. Doing the right things, but doing them with no joy or enthusiasm. For example, sometimes we find ourselves praying, but with no expectation that God is going to answer those prayers.
When our eyes are fixed on an all-powerful God, then we will never view hardship as final, but as a tool in God’s hand that will bring God glory and us closer to God.
► Vs.19-21 B. Their view of Christ was incomplete "we were hoping"
Vs.19 They were right that Jesus was from Nazareth and a mighty prophet, but He was much more than that. Jesus was also Immanuel, God in the flesh.
Vs.21a. "We were hoping" is in the past tense. Now they weren’t sure. Their expectations were not fulfilled. They had made up their minds what Jesus should do, and then were disappointed when He didn’t do it.
►"Every time we are disappointed, it’s because we didn’t get something we thought God owed us."
► Vs. 22-24 C. They only thought about the negative "Him they did not see"
The women had seen Jesus alive, Peter and John had gone to the tomb and it was just as the women said, but "Him they did not see."
They couldn’t bring themselves to believe that the Messiah would die. Jesus died so He, as they thought, could not be the Messiah.
In other words they believed in a Messiah who was great, but not in One who would die for their sins. Psalm 24:8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. (NAU)
Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (NAU)
Their eyes were on human comfort and victory, but not on self-sacrifice and hardship.
They ignored Scriptures like: Psalm 22:14-18 14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; 18 They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots. (NAU)
Isaiah 53:5,10 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 10 But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. (NAU)
One of the greatest servants of Christ was a man by the name of Dr. Temple who lived in England. Dr. Temple sent a young man to pastor in a very difficult area. This young pastor turned to him and said, "Dr. Temple, why do you send me there? Don’t you know how difficult it is? It’ll kill me if I go there." You know what Dr. Temple’s reply was? "Well, you and I do not mind a little thing like that, do we? If what God has set for us to accomplish will require our lives, we should be willing to give our lives." [3]
As Paul said in Philippians 1:20--21: according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (NAU)
► III. How Were they Encouraged?
► Vs.15 A. Christ found them "Jesus Himself approached"
They were not looking for Christ. They were focused on their circumstances. Maybe the Lord is using some hard things in your life as a way to show you that you are not focusing on Him.
Isn’t it good to know that Jesus, like a good shepherd, goes after His sheep that wander? Matthew 18:12--13 "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. (NAU)
It had only been three days since they had fellowship with Christ. It doesn’t take long to lose a sense of God’s presence. We need daily exposure to the presence of Christ.
When Job was discouraged he knew that the presence of God was the solution. Job 23:3 "Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! (NAU)
David had that same kind of longing: Psalm 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? (NAU)
John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace also wrote this song:
How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see;
Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flowers,
Have all lost their sweetness to me;
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay.
But when I am happy in Him,
December’s as pleasant as May.
His Name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music His voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice.
I should, were He always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear;
No mortal as happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.
► Vs.25-27,32 B. They listened to God’s Word "He explained...the Scriptures"
Vs.28 Jesus was not pretending to leave them. He was testing them to see if they wanted to learn more. He would have left them alone if they had not responded to what He was teaching.
John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (NAU)
John 17:7--8 "Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. (NAU)
Vs.32 Like a cool drink of water on a hot day is time spent in God’s Word to a discouraged heart.
First, they were talking with each other . . . (Luke 24:14 NAU). Then they began talking with Jesus in verse 18. Then they got quiet and listened as Jesus, beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:27NAU)
►Don’t ever be so busy talking that you can’t hear God shouting the comfort He has for you.
► Vs.30-31,35 C. They focused on Christ’s sacrifice "He took bread"
Guests never serve in Eastern cultures. I believe that this is a direct reference to what Jesus did at the last supper. Luke 22:19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (NAU)
Vs.35 Not only were their eyes opened when Jesus was breaking bread, but they made a point of referring to it when they reported back to the other disciples.
Jesus was showing them that He was the focal point of all Scriptures. Wouldn’t you love to have been there and listened to Jesus explain the Bible? We will never know all of what Jesus taught that day, but it was only a few months later that Jesus appeared to Paul and taught him the Scriptures. Paul in turn wrote much of the New Testament which shows that Christ is the focal point of all Scripture.
As we learn who Jesus is, and what He has done for us our hearts will rejoice.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (NAU)
Philippians 2:6-8 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (NAU)
► IV. How did They Respond to Christ’s Encouragement?
How can we know if our hearts are really on fire for God? We will want to share what we have learned about Christ to others.
► Vs.33 A. They couldn’t wait to be with Christ’s followers "got up that very hour and returned"
It was late in the day, but they could not wait to share what they experienced with Christ. How often do you learn something about Christ that is so wonderful that you can’t wait to get to church so you can share it with other Christians?
Jude 20--21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (NAU)
► Vs.34-35 B. They encouraged Christ’s followers "They began to relate their experience"
Hebrews 10:24-25 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (NAU)
Just think of what they would have missed if they hadn’t come back to Jerusalem. They would have missed the other appearances of Jesus Christ, His ascension into heaven and they would not have seen thousands of Jews coming to Christ after Peter’s sermon on Pentecost.
These two discouraged believers had walked away from a room full of other discouraged believers. It is easy to fall into the trap of just thinking about our own struggles while we forget that there are others who are struggling too.
Hebrews 3:12-13 12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: The next time you sense a coldness in your heart toward Christ, determine to long for Christ, listen to Christ, learn about Christ, and look for other believers who may need encouragement.
►As our joy in Christ increases, the more we will want to find someone to encourage.
[1]J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership (Chicago: Moody Press, 1967), 55.Robert J. Morgan, Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, electronic ed., 151 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000).
[2]From Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
[3]From Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
