Fir Lane Emmaus

1 Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine: O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God; born of his Spirit, washed in his blood: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture burst on my sight; angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love:

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Saviour am happy and blest — watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love:

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.

A GATHERING PRAYER

We gather together today, Lord, the events of Easter still fresh in our minds. We still have our questions. We wonder how we can join the dots, learn the best way to live the life we are called to. Open our eyes, Lord, so that we might see the stranger in our midst. Give us openness to listen to their stories. Remind us that we just never know when we might come across Jesus, our friend, our Lord and master. Open our eyes and our hearts, Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER OF ADORATION

They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us?’ Lord Jesus, you met with people in so many ways. Ordinary ways – walking, talking, eating with them. But also extraordinary – because you were there. You are an extraordinary God; we worship and adore you. Amen.

A PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, for the times we hear the Scriptures and our hearts don’t burn within us: be with us, stay with us, forgive us. When we don’t recognise Jesus in our midst because we’re just not looking: be with us, stay with us, forgive us. When we are too blind to see you in the simple things: be with us, stay with us, forgive us. When we are too wrapped up in ourselves to break bread together: be with us, stay with us, forgive us. When we don’t treat strangers with the respect they are due, or look the other way: be with us, stay with us, forgive us, Lord. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Jesus was with the two on the road to Emmaus; working in their lives, even though they didn’t know it. Jesus is with us on our road; working in our lives, even when we don’t feel it. Lord Jesus, you spoke on that road through the simple action of breaking the bread. Speak to us now through your divine forgiveness. Keep a moment of silence. We hear you, Lord. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

(StF 443) Come Let us sing of a wonderful Love.

1 Come, let us sing of a wonderful love, tender and true; out of the heart of the Father above, streaming to me and to you: wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above.

2 Jesus, the Saviour, this gospel to tell, joyfully came; came with the helpless and hopeless to dwell, sharing their sorrow and shame; seeking the lost, saving, redeeming at measureless cost.

3 Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet; why do they roam? Love only waits to forgive and forget; home, weary wanderer, home! Wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above.

4 Come to my heart, O thou wonderful love, come and abide, lifting my life, till it rises above envy and falsehood and pride; seeking to be lowly and humble, a learner of thee.

READING

Acts 2: 14a, 36-41

(StF 594) Lord you have come to us.

1 Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us, you are one with us, Mary's Son; cleansing our souls from all their sin, pouring your love and goodness in; Jesus, our love for you we sing, living Lord.

2 Lord Jesus Christ, now and every day, teach us how to pray, Son of God. You have commanded us to do this, in remembrance, Lord, of you; into our lives your power breaks through, living Lord.

3 Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us, born as one of us, Mary's Son; led out to die on Calvary, risen from death to set us free; living Lord Jesus, help us see you are Lord.

4 Lord Jesus Christ, we would come to you, live our lives for you, Son of God. All your commands we know are true; your many gifts will make us new; into our lives your power breaks through, living Lord.

Luke 24: 13-35

(StF 30) Jesus Stand among Us.

1 Jesus, stand among us at the meeting of our lives, be our sweet agreement at the meeting of our eyes. O Jesus, we love you, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

2 So to you we're gathering out of each and ev’ry land, Christ the love between us at the joining of our hands. O Jesus, we love you, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

3 Jesus, stand among us at the breaking of the bread; join us as one body as we worship you, our Head. O Jesus, we love you, so we gather here, join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

SERMON

Today as we look at a story about two disciples who are coming to terms with the risen Christ.

I want to show you a picture you may well have seen this before it’s an oil painting by Warner Sallman its one of the most famous depictions of Jesus, this is the most mass-produced picture in history there have been over 500 million prints of this painting.

Or maybe you think of Robert Powel with his stunning blue eyes, but when you look at this image what do you see?

Well, he looks like a white European. And it will depend on the culture you grew up in, the thing is this type of image is more deeply ingrained in us more than you may imagine or want to admit to.

But a group of scholars and forensic scientist got together to create an image that would represent more realistically what Jesus may have looked like.

To create this forensic expert took skulls from around Jerusalem and the area and took 3D images of their findings.

What they created was based on their findings. They created this picture of the appearance of a typical man of the time.

If you had the choice which one, would you choose? Be honest with yourself.

Now this raises a very interesting point as European people, we are more attracted to a European Jesus. If you were in Africa or China, your ideal Jesus would look more like your cultural background.

I do like the picture that the Methodist prayer book produced, it shows four different versions of Jesus.

This raises the old truth, that how we perceive people, that the way we perceive people drives the way we make assumptions about them.

But why did I show these pictures, not only to show how we perceive things. But to look at something deeper.

Do you know the way to Emmaus? It should be easy to find shouldn’t it because the text tells us the town is "seven miles from Jerusalem." But no one has ever been able to identify an "Emmaus" seven miles from Jerusalem. Perhaps the reason is because there are two different numbers appear in ancient manuscripts at the point at which Luke gives us the location. Some texts say, "60 stadia," and others say "160," which works out roughly to be either 7 miles or 18 miles. Although there are lots of references to Emmaus in ancient sources, none of them give us any specific directions or location.

Ironically, the mystery regarding the actual location of Emmaus fits in nicely with the deeper meaning of the reading. Do you know the way to Emmaus? Emmaus may be here, or there, or anywhere. The site of the original place is irrelevant. Christ will travel wherever his followers are going. Christ will appear wherever they break bread together. Even here. Even now.

What do we know about the two followers of Jesus for one thing they are not key figures, not members of the inner circle, we are only given the name of one of them they are just followers, but now they are about to given up, they are heading away from Jerusalem, they may have followed Jesus for 2 years or so giving up everything they had for this Messiah, but now he’s gone after all the excitement of the entry into Jerusalem. When it came to the crunch, they felt Jesus had failed.

The joy they felt had turned to despair, he was gone he was crucified. And they were lost perhaps thinking it was great when he was here but was it all just a waste of time.

We need to look at their mind set:

Firstly, Jesus came at the time of Passover, so, their first thoughts probably go back to the first Passover and how God through Moses saved the people leading them from the rule of Egypt. And now the people are under the rule of Rome and have no doubt been calling out to God to save them. So surely this would be the time, the time when the Messiah would come a release the people from the iron fist of roman rule?

Why else would Jesus come to Jerusalem at that time, if it wasn’t too free them, surely that is what the prophets had promised?

Have you ever experienced anything like this in your own life? Have there been sometimes when you have felt you have lost your way? Lost sight of what’s in front, Has your life been filled with nothing but sunsets when all you ever wanted was a little bit of sunrise? I wonder if someone today who is travelling a long and lonely road? If so, then let Easter speaks to you.

It happened that on that first Easter day, these two loyal followers of Jesus were walking down the road to Emmaus, a little village outside of Jerusalem. They were going home in defeat, shame, and disappointment. It was late in the evening and the sinking sun reminded them of the sinking feeling they had on the inside. But as they walked along, a stranger joined them. He asked what they had been talking about. They stopped dead in their tracks, looked at each other and then asked him if he was the only person who did not know what had been going on for the last few days. He asked them what things they were talking about. They replied that they were talking about Jesus of Nazareth, a mighty prophet and how he had been put to death. Then they said, "But we had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel."

"... we had hoped ..." What a note of tragedy in those words.

Those two followers went on to relate how they had heard some of the women had found an empty tomb, and others had gone to the tomb, but did not see him. And then the stranger says, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"

This is the glory of Easter, the glory of the New Testament, the glory of our Christian faith, the glory of the Christian church. This is why we have gathered here on this Sunday to celebrate the good news of the resurrection.

So, as we think of this today about the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, would you allow your heart and mind to be filled with these things?

The resurrection is a transformation which takes place in our lives. The resurrection changes everything. That stranger walked with them all the way home. He told them so much they wanted to hear more. They invited him to come and stay with them. They sat down at the table for a meal together. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to them. There was something strangely familiar in all of that. And then Luke writes, "Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him." Suddenly everything was different. The entire situation was transformed. Nothing would ever be the same again.

The resurrection has changed everything. Nothing is the same.

Nothing has ever been the same. From that moment on, all who follow Jesus live in the power of his resurrection.

We are no longer living under the power of sin and death and darkness. We live now in the light of God's love, in the dawn of a new day. Because of that the meaning of our lives has been changed, has been transformed.

Then something else.

After the risen Christ had revealed himself to those two followers he vanished from their sight. And they said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us when he talked with us on the road, when he opened to us the Scriptures?" They knew they had been in his presence. Their thinking was gripped by that conviction.

That is what we need today - some great convictions to live by. we don’t need any more people who merely have opinions. What is needed today are people who have convictions.

Once during a time when Martin Luther was greatly troubled, some of his friends saw him writing with his finger in the dust on a table, "He lives. He lives."

When our thinking has been gripped by that conviction, then we can face anything that comes along. When our hearts burn within us with that conviction then we know we can handle all of life.

But then something more.

III

The resurrection is a witness which calls us to share. It is more than a change in us, more than just a conviction. It is something we also live. Luke tells us that same hour those two followers left Emmaus and went back to Jerusalem. They went to the upper room and found the disciples. They shared what they had experienced that day. It was something they could not contain within themselves.

The early church was the result of the resurrection. Those disciples were not looking for some new organization to join - some club to which they could belong. The church we have today was the result of their witness.

As we meet here this is also a witness to the power of the resurrection. We are called to be a living witness to the power of the resurrection. We are called to give our lives to Christ.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ has made Christians out of us, and our lives are a witness to the power of it. And this power continues to sustain our living. It gives us hope for today and tomorrow.

Jesus promised us, "I am with you always."

He stands among us even now and promises to meet us on the roads we travel when the sun is shining brightly - when the skies are cloudy - in our sorrows and in our joys, he promises - "I'll see you in the morning."

That is the glory of our faith.

OFFERING DURING HYMN

(StF 238) Lead us heavenly Father lead us.

1 Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us o'er the world's tempestuous sea; guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, for we have no help but thee, yet possessing every blessing if our God our Father be.

2 Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us; all our weakness thou dost know, thou didst tread this earth before us, thou didst feel its keenest woe; tempted, taunted, yet undaunted, through the desert thou didst go.

3 Spirit of our God, descending, fill our hearts with heavenly joy, love with every passion blending, pleasure that can never cloy; thus provided, pardoned, guided, nothing can our peace destroy.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

Lord, as we go out into this new week, may we recognise Jesus in everyone we meet. May our whole lives be a beacon of praise and thanksgiving, pointing to the one we love. May we take every chance we get, to talk about what you mean to us and show our love. As we share with each other we get to know each other better, and we grow stronger, and you, O God, are revealed in a multitude of ways. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Living Lord, we bring to you the needs of the world.

We pray for those who consider themselves to be strangers and outcasts. Help us always to welcome the stranger, whatever the cost, not sitting comfortably and ignoring people we think don’t fit in, not taking the easy way. May our homes and churches be places of welcome, hospitality and love, that all may have the chance to recognise and see you in the warmth of those around them.

We pray for countries where food is in short supply. May we farm sustainably and eat sensibly, so there is enough to feed the whole planet. May we not look only after ourselves but seek to offer the same opportunities to all. Help us not to be selfish, but always to consider others. Lord, we long for the day when all in society will be equal. May we be a part of making that happen.

We pray for those who are lonely and have no one to eat with them. May we open our doors to our neighbours, so that love and friendship can flourish, and all can enjoy the feast. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

(StF 545) Be Though My Vision

1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, be all else but naught to me, save that thou art; be thou my best thought in the day and the night, both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

2 Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word, be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord; be thou my great Father, thy child let me be; be thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.

3 Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight; be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might; be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower: O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

4 Riches I heed not, nor earth's empty praise: be thou mine inheritance now and always; be thou and thou only the first in my heart: O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

5 High King of heaven, thou heaven's bright Sun, O grant me its joys after victory is won; Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

BLESSING

Lord, as we go from here, walk with us. Inspire us to join the dots of our faith to see more clearly the wonder of the Easter story. Motivate us to share that story with others, and encourage us to live and work with you and in you. Amen.

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