4_16_2023 - The Road

(Opening Prayer)

(Sermon Introduction)

Today we conclude our three-week series entitled “The Cross, The Tomb, and the Road,” focusing on the story of crucifixion and resurrection as seen through the eyes of the Emmaus Road Disciples in Luke 23-24 and their response to Jesus.

Luke 24:13–27 (ESV)

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,

14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.

18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,

23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

(Emmaus Context)

We must remember that these accounts were written through eastern eyes, not western eyes.

It is important that we study to know what is meant by what is written.

Otherwise we can find ourselves in a place of great misunderstanding.

As we have studied over the last couple of weeks, we have discovered that the Scriptures are filled with pictures, types, shadows, and prophecies of the Messiah — Jesus the Christ.

Jesus shares with Cleopas and his friend what the Scriptures say about Him.

Watch what happens as Jesus teaches them:

Luke 24:28–32 (ESV)

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,

29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

[Text]

1. Walk With the Teacher

Teacher/Master: G4461: ῥαββί/rhabbi/ (Resh-Bet/rav in Hebrew) /Rabbi

My master, i.e Rabbi, as an official title of honor:— Master, Rabbi.

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

Instructor: H3925: לָמַד / lâmad

a prim. root; prop. to goad, i.e. (by impl.) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive):— [un-] accustomed, × diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach (-er, ing).

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

We recognize that Jesus is so much more than “Rabbi” or “Teacher.”

He is our Lord and Saviour.

Truly He is our Master-Teacher in every way.

But we would be rejecting a huge part of our discipleship call if we rejected Jesus as our Teacher.

We must recognize that it has always been understood that the God of the Universe would instruct us.

Part of the saving work of Christ in us is this great truth that we would reject the “teacher/instructor” of the world and take hold of “The Teacher/Instructor” of our souls!

In fact, part of understanding Jesus as Savior, is understanding that He is the One Who instructs us in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 25:11–13 (ESV)

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12 Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.

Psalm 32:8 (ESV)

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Isaiah 28:26 (ESV)

26 For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him.

John 14:26 (ESV)

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Luke 6:40 (ESV)

40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

John 13:13 (ESV)

13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.

2. Walk In His Teaching

Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

YOKE: G2218 / ζυγός / zygos

A tool that is put on cattle for working the land.

Metaphor used to describe burden or bondage.

Commands to be carried out.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=yoke%2A+H5923&t=KJV#s=s_lexiconc

YOKE: H5923 / עֹל / ōl

A curved piece of wood fastened to the pole or beam, laid upon the neck of beasts for plowing.

Mostly used in Jewish thought to describe servitude and teaching of a teacher.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=yoke%2A+H5923&t=KJV#s=s_lexiconc

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)

16 Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

There are people who want the Teacher but not His teachings.

There are others who want His teachings void of the Teacher.

We are invited to receive the Teacher and His teachings.

But few do so...

But to those who do...

Psalm 119:1–3 (ESV)

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law (instruction) of the Lord!

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

The life we are meant to live out begins on the other side of trusting and obeying The Teacher, The Master, and The Savior of our Souls!

Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV)

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Psalm 86:11 (ESV)

11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

You could argue that we have been enrolled into the school of God by which we spend the rest of our time on earth learning about how God has saved us and called us to live here on earth and in the place we are going.

3. Walk Out His Teaching

Hear/Obey: H8085 / שָׁמַע / Shema

To hear intelligently (often with impl. of attention, obedience, etc.; caus. to tell, etc.):— × attentively, call (gather) together, × carefully, × certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, × diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear (-ken, tell), × indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim (-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, × surely, tell, understand, whosoever [heareth], witness.

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

James 1:22 (ESV)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Ephesians 5:15–16 (ESV)

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

The Emmaus Disciples understood this, they responded with “Shema.”

Luke records what happened next:

Luke 24:33–48 (ESV)

33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

What happened as they began to share all that Jesus taught them on the road?

Jesus showed up in their midst!

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

43 and he took it and ate before them.

What did Jesus do after supper?

He began to teach them!

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things.

Jesus taught them, gave them His teaching, and sent them out to live it!

Jesus is Teacher, He is Life.

He has given us His teachings, they bring life.

We need the One who has taught and what has been taught.

Jesus is our Saviour, Redeemer, and Master.

If we choose Jesus, we choose His ways.

We cannot reject one for the other.

If we choose one we must choose the other.

The cross and the tomb lead us to the road where decisions are made.

The Emmaus Disciples made a choice to “repent” and go back the way they came.

Truly they chose to go “all in” on Jesus

(Response)

(Invite the Worship Team and the Prayer Team)

(Sermon Recap)

The Road:

Walk With the Teacher

Walk In His Teaching

Walk Out His Teaching

(Closing Challenge)

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 (ESV)

19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

(Response Card)

1. What did you hear? (Blank Lines)

2. How will you live it out? (Blank Lines)

3. Who will you share it with? (Blank Lines)

4. Who are you discipling? (Blank Lines)

5. What are you praying for? (Blank Lines)

6. How has God answers your prayers? (Blank Lines)

(Closing Blessing)

Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)

24 The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.