SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Broken Hearts (vs 13-14)
(2). Blinkered Hearts (vs 15-26)
(3). Briefed Hearts (vs 27)
(4). Burning Hearts (vs 28-32)
(5). Boasting Hearts (vs 33-35)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• DVD Clip:
• Or Story: https://youtu.be/hnOPu0_YWhw
• On January 12, 2007 at 7:51am in the morning;
• An experiment began … sponsored by the Washington Post newspaper.
• A musician takes his position against a wall in the metro station;
• Of the Washington DC., subway.
• He is wearing jeans; a long-sleeved shirt, and a baseball cap.
• He opens his violin case … removes the instrument;
• Throws a few dollars into the case from his pocket as “seed money” … and begins playing.
• He plays for the next 43 minutes … and during that time
• He performs six classical pieces – flawlessly!
• During that 43 minutes;
• 1,097 people passed by, tossing in a total of $32.17 into his violin case.
• Of that 1,097 people;
• Only seven paused longer than sixty seconds to listen to this performance;
• Of those seven who lingered … only one recognized the violinist!
The name of the violinist was Joshua Bell:
• Three days prior – he had filled Boston’s Symphony Hall;
• Where just “adequate” tickets sold for $100 apiece.
• Joshua Bell’s talents & artistry commands an average of $1,000 per minute;
• Yet, when performing this day in the subway;
• He barely earned enough to pay for a pair of cheap shoes.
Now..
• You can’t fault the instrument;
• He was playing a Stradivarius worth 3.5 million dollars!
• You can’t fault the performance …
• He flawlessly played some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s best work!
• Yet … scarcely anyone noticed the presence of such artistry in this context:
• Flanked by a kiosk on one side and a shoe-shine stand on the other
• Most of those passer-by’s cynically wrote off this entertainer;
• Little did they know that among them was a genius;
• And if they gave him some time he would greatly enrich their lives!
• TRANSITION: Joshua Bell is not the only one to go unrecognized;
• 2,000 years ago on that first Easter Sunday Jesus too went unrecognized.
• We are going to look at two people walking along the road to Emmaus;
• And like the busy commuters on the Washington DC., subway.
• These two people had no idea of the identity of the one they would soon encounter!
(1). Broken Hearts (vs 13-14):
“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.”
• Some of the saddest words in our language begin with the letter D?
• For example:
• Disappointment, doubt, disillusionment, defeat, discouragement,
• Despondency, depression, despair and death.
• Disappointment, doubt, disillusionment, defeat, discouragement, despair and death;
• Are all words that sum up how Cleopas and his companion were feeling;
• As they trudged up the road toward a village called Emmaus.
Notice: How this section begins: “Now that same day”:
• The day Luke is referring to is mentioned in verse 1.
• The first day of the week was Sunday.
• This was the very first day that we now call ‘Easter Sunday.’
Luke tells us that these events happened:
• On the same day Jesus rose from the dead.
• But these two people were unaware of the good news of the resurrection;
• Because they had left the other disciples and were walking to a village called Emmaus.
• As they travelled together, they were sad and disillusioned.
• Emmaus was about 7 miles away from Jerusalem.
• And it would take them about 2-3 hours to walk there
Pause and ask the Question: Who is the other person with Cleopas?
Answer: Verse 9 gives us a clue.
• We are told that the women reported the news of the resurrection;
• “To the Eleven and all the others.”
• The news of Jesus being risen from the dead was not only to the Eleven disciples;
• (Judas was absent because we are told that he had left them and committed suicide),
• But we know from his verse and elsewhere;
• That Jesus had many more disciples than just the Twelve.
• Luke records, at the beginning of the book of Acts,
• That there were about 120 followers of Jesus.
The two walking on the road to Emmaus were two of that 120:
• One of these disciples is identified in verse 18.
• His name was...Cleopas.
• We are not told the identity of the other person.
• It may well have been the wife of Cleopas, or even a brother, or relative.
• Both were returning home.
• The comment in verse 29 suggests that:
• “Stay with US”, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.”
• The invitation to stay in the home of Cleopas;
• Suggests this may be Cleopas’ wife or brother, or relative.
• But any guess is speculation;
• Because we are not actually told the identity of the other person.
• What we do know is that disappointment, doubt, despair and death;
• Are words that were written over the hearts of these two disciples.
Ill:
• We don’t look alike, we don’t act alike.
• We don’t dress alike.
• We have different tastes in the food we eat.
• The books we read, the films we watch, the cars we drive and the music we enjoy.
• We support different football teams or have different leisure interests;
• We ascribe to different philosophies and differ over politics.
• Our weights vary, our heights vary,
• So does the colour of our hair and skin.
• But we all have one thing in common;
• We all know what it means to hurt!”
• Suffering is a universal language.
• We all know what it means to hurt.
• TRANSITION: These two disciples were hurting;
• Their Lord & Master;
• The one they had loved and followed had been horribly put to death.
• He had not peacefully passed away;
• But he had experienced a cruel and degrading death on a cross.
• Executed like a common criminal, his death was slow and painful!
• They placed the dead body of Jesus in a sealed tomb.
• Guarded by Roman solders.
• For these to followers, their hopes were dashed; and their dream was over!
(2). Blinkered Hearts (vs 15-26):
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 recognising 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?’
Ill:
• At a nursing home:
• A group of Senior Citizens were sitting around talking about their ailments:
• "My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee," said one.
• "Yes, I know. My cataracts are so bad I can't even see my coffee," replied another.
• "I can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck," said a third,
• To which several nodded weakly in agreement.
• "My blood pressure pills make me dizzy,".... another went on.
• "I guess that's the price we pay for getting old,"
• Winced an old man as he slowly shook his head.
• Then there was a short moment of silence..........
• 'Well, it's not that bad," said one woman cheerfully. "At least we can all still drive."
• TRANSITION: These two disciples blinkered vision was not down to old age;
• Or any deterioration of their eyesight.
• Verse 16 tells us clearly; “They were kept from seeing him”
Question: What does that mean?
Answer:
• Did Jesus look different after His resurrection?
• I don’t think so because;
• When he appeared to the other disciples they recognized him instantly.
• So obviously something supernatural is going on.
• Jesus has deliberately kept his identity hid;
• And the next part of the narrative explains why.
As the two men walked along, a stranger joined them:
• We know that the stranger was Jesus.
• At this point these two disciples did not.
• The stranger asked them what they were discussing.
• And so they poured out their story to someone who seemed willing to listen.
• They tell the stranger all about their hopes and their disappointments.
• They say (vs 21): "We had hoped … ",
• Feel the disillusionment in those few words;
• They were saying,
"We don’t expect it now, but once we did. We had high hopes for the future, but now those hopes are gone and all we have left is disappointment."
Application:
• I guess we can all identify with the feelings of these two disciples,
• Rare is the person who could claim that they were not affected by any of those D words;
• Disappointment, doubt, disillusionment, defeat, discouragement, depression,
• Despondency or despair.
I love the way Jesus acts with these two:
• He did not say to them: “Snap out of it" or "cheer up" or “get your act together”.
• He simply provides a listening ear.
ill:
• Story told of a little girl whose friend died,
• She told her family that she had gone to comfort the sorrowing mother:
• "What did you say to her?" asked her father.
• "Nothing" she replied; "I just climbed up on her lap and cried".
• TRANSITION: in our times of grief;
• Weed not need clever answers or peoples rebukes;
• We need a listening ear and the knowledge that someone cares!
As the three men talk of their misery and disappointment:
• The stranger walks with them and listens;
• And when the time is right, the stranger speaks.
• And if we are willing to hear his voice, in time he will reveal himself to us.
As Cleopas and his friend talked about their sorrow, their disappointment:
• Jesus reassured them and helped them.
• Notice how he does that, he patiently………..after listening to them first;
• He patiently reminded them what God says in the Bible.
• And the challenge is now; “Come on its time to believe what you believe!”
• Move from mere theory and let your knowledge work out in practice!
‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’
(3). Briefed Hearts (vs 27):
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
Jesus gave some information to Cleopas and his friend:
• The briefing he gave them was not irrelevant, insignificant or pointless ;
• But was truth, facts from the Word of God;
• Promises they should have held on to – anchors for the soul!
• I think that is why Jesus did not just say to these two:
• “Hello! It’s me! Jesus! I am risen from the dead!”?
• Had he done so, those two disciples would have been so excited,
• They wouldn’t have listened to another word that Jesus then said.
• By discovering Jesus in the scriptures;
• It meant that when he next left them (that would happen in verse 31).
• It meant that he had left them with promises they could hold on to;
• He left them with anchors for their souls!
I love verse 27 where Jesus must have given the best ever Old Testament Bible study;
• Where he reminded them;
• That everything that happened should not have taken them by surprise.
• It was all written down in the book.
Note: The words used in verse 27:
• Your English Bible and the Bible used by the Christian world;
• Is divided in to two parts. The Old and the New Testaments..
• The Old: Before Jesus came to planet earth.
• The New: After Jesus came to planet earth,
To Jesus and the disciples (as with most Jews today):
• They just use the Old Testament/ Old Covenant.
• For Jesus and the disciples of course the New Testament had not yet been written.
• But for Jews they just use the Old Testament/ Old Covenant.
• Which for them is divided into 3 parts:
• (1st Part). 'Torah.' (Hebrew) or the 'Pentateuch' (Greek)
• ('Penta' meaning 5 'Teuch' meaning book.)
• This is the most sacred, the most important part of scripture to the Jews.
• (2nd Part). 'Navine or Nabine.'
• Is the prophets except Daniel and it also includes Judges and 1 & 2 Kings.
• (3). 'cHetovine.'
• Historical books and includes Daniel.
• The Jewish or the Hebrew Old Testament;
• Has the same books as in our Old Testament;
• They are just divided up in a different order.
Notice that it is these 3 sections Jesus refers to in Luke chapter 24 verse 44:
• Law of Moses (Torah).
• Prophets (Navine).
• Psalms (cHetovine).
Challenge:
• Can you prove to someone just using your Old Testament;
• What the Messiah would be like?
• Why and how he would die?
• Why we believe he rose again from the dead?
• Well if you join with us tonight for of Communion service;
• We will be looking at just that.
(4). Burning Hearts (vs 28-32):
“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going further. 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 recognised 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?’
Ill:
• Albert Einstein used to explain the theory of relativity with this illustration:
• Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour.
• Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute.
• THAT'S relativity.
• TRANSITION: We are not told how long Jesus talked to Cleopas and his friend;
• But I bet to them it seemed like five minutes!
Cleopas and his friend reach their village:
• And they do what all eastern people do, they offer hospitality.
• When we last in Israel a couple of years ago,
• We met folks and their invitation to their homes is a kind of polite insistence.
• Well the stranger (who know was Jesus) took up the invitation;
• And shared a meal with them.
As Jesus broke the bread (vs 30-31), they recognized Him!
• We don’t know if it was the way that Jesus broke the bread?
• Or the words that he spoke;
• Or did they see the nail prints in His hands?
• Or was it now God’s appointed time for the veil to be lifted?
• We’re not sure. But this much is certain.
• When Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them,
• It was then recognized Him!
• And in the commonness of a meal and a prayer time;
• Something else supernatural happened.
• Jesus disappeared from their sight.
Application:
• We believe as an elders/leaders of this Church;
• That there is something very special in the ‘breaking of the bread’ service.
• It is of course along with baptism (by immersion);
• One of the two ordinances left by Jesus for his Church to practice.
• We believe as an eldership/leaders;
• That you would encounter Jesus in a deeper, in a more regular way;
• If you actually came along and shared in the ‘breaking of the bread’ service!
• Breaking of the bread or communion is not an optional extra;
• It is something Jesus asked us to do.
• And something the early Churched practiced each week.
• Quote: Acts chapter 20 verse 7:
• “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread”
Cleopas and his friend:
• Would soon see Jesus again in the upper room;
• After they had hurried all the way back the 7-8 miles to Jerusalem,
• That means they walked the combined distance of almost two thirds of a marathon.
• But they did not care;
• They were excited! Their hearts were ‘burning’ within them.
• Verse 35 that when they found where the eleven that were gathered together;
• Then two told them what had happened on the way,
• “And how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”
Application:
• It is a joyful experience when a person recognizes Jesus for who He really is!
• Not just a figure from history.
• Not just a prophet, powerful in word and deed,
• But as Messiah, Saviour and Lord!
(5). Boasting Hearts (vs 33-35):
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 recognised by them when he broke the bread.”
• Easter is a time when every Christian should be boasting!
• Boasting in the fact Jesus Christ is alive!
Note:
• All but four of the major world religions;
• Are based on mere philosophical propositions:
• Of the four that are based on personalities rather than philosophies,
• Only Christianity claims an empty tomb for its founder.
• In 1900 B.C. Judaism’s Father Abraham died.
• In 483 B.C. Buddhist writings say Buddha died
• “with that utter passing away in which nothing whatever remains behind.”
• June 6, 632 A.D. Mohammed died.
• Muhammad is buried in the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi ("Mosque of the Prophet");
• In the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia.
• In 33 A.D. Jesus died but came back to life!
• Not just an empty tomb – impressive as that is;
• (Read ‘Who moved the Stone’ by Frank Morrison)
• We have recorded in the New Testament 17 resurrection appearances!
• People who encountered the risen Lord!
In Conclusion:
• The road to Emmaus is a symbol of the Christian life.
• This story is about ordinary despair, and ordinary, Monday-morning drudgery.
• It is a story about meeting a stranger, hearing his words of comfort,
• Sitting down at table and sharing a meal.
• This is story about the meaning of Easter for us.
• It enables us to see that the risen Lord gives hope and joy,
• When all we see is disappointment, discouragement and despair.
• It enables us to see the world, not as a place of death, decay, and defeat,
• But as a place waiting, groaning toward God's final victory.
• The change that took place has been described like this:
• Quote: author unknown.
"Their lives prior to this moment were like a smouldering fire that gives no light, just smoke to cloud things up. But once they came into the presence of the Risen Lord their hearts were ablaze! A burning fire gives light for all to see, and they saw, understood and believed! All because of the Risen Lord! Jesus’ victory became their restoring hope. It became the anchor of their lives"
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=cUi8516OLZDNjckIeB2rRGgwaxbWli32
