When Eyes are Opened

Introduction

Today we close out our ‘missions focus’ month. This was the first time that we’ve had our missions focus in this manner - where we considered missions through the month instead of a concentrated focus for a week. And before we begin the message for today, I want to take a quick look back at how the month has progressed.

In addition to our Galatians study, the first Sunday Evening Service of the month, I preached a message titled: ‘Missions 101’

In that message we examined what’s known as the ‘Great Commission’

The Mission Given

Understanding the Mission

Implementing the Mission

This message was focused on the ‘Why and How’ of missions.

Today we’re going to examine what’s truly at the heart of missions. You see, the ‘How & Why’ will take care of itself when this part takes effect in the life of the Christian - and I’m talking about ‘When Eyes are Opened’.

We see an interesting contrast in a few verses:

Luke 24:15–16 “And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.”

That word ‘holden’ (def) to use strength; seize or retain.

In other words, something was ‘holding’ their eyes in some fashion to prevent them from knowing this was Jesus.

Luke 24:30–31 “And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.”

Many think that Jesus supernaturally held their eyes & then supernaturally opened them afterwards… Let me just say, I don’t believe this to be the case. Notice closely that it doesn’t say ‘He held their eyes’ nor does it say ‘He opened their eyes’. It simply says ‘Their eyes were holden’, and their ‘eyes were open’.

So if Christ wasn’t holding nor opening their eyes in Supernatural fashion, what was?

We’ll get to that answer in just a moment, but let me say, it’s the key that unlocks the door to fulfilling the mission of Christ!

But first in examining these men and their interaction with Christ, we first must make note that they were Told of Jesus

I. They were Told of Jesus

In other words, they were not ignorant about this man Jesus.

Prior to the verses we’re going to examine, they were having a great discussion about what had happened and why. Now remember, Jesus at this point had been dead for 3 days already and they are still tore up about it.

So what do we know?

They had Confidence in Christ (v21a)

These men were disciples of Christ. They had followed Him. They had trusted in Him.

These were ‘saved’ people in the sense that they were followers of Christ - so that’s how we need to look at these people. We equate them to the sincere followers of Christ.

In other words, these are representative of the average church goers of today. They’re not the preachers & pastors - but they are most certainly part of the assembly.

We see they had Confidence in Christ, but they were Confused of Purpose

They were Confused of Purpose (v21b)

I chose this term on purpose. They were Confused OF Purpose.

They were confused about the purpose of Christ, the purpose of the Crucifixion, and even their purpose. THEY. DIDN’T. GET IT.

Now church don’t misunderstand: I think today that the average church goer isn’t confused about WHY Jesus came & bled & died. They aren’t confused about WHY Jesus was Crucified - but they are confused of purpose just the same: Just in a different way.

So many Christians are confused: They think that their purpose is to:

Make money; live comfortably

Eat, drink & be merry

Have fun; enjoy life

But church, know this: None of that is the purpose of the Christian. (Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy much of those things - but they are the effects of the Christian life, not the purpose of it.) The purpose of the life of all man is the KNOW GOD AND MAKE HIM KNOWN.

For the Christian, they Know God - that’s a good thing. But they’re only fulfilling half their purpose!

They were Confused of Purpose

Their Faith was Crumbling (v22-24)

Here’s where we start getting some answers.

You see, in these verses we find out that they were told of the Resurrection of Christ! They were told from first-hand accounts the story of the women, which not only consisted of not finding the body of Christ, but of their encounter with the angels there at the tomb!

Let’s go back up and read of this: (Read Luk. 24:1-9)

So three days after the Crucifixion, they are told of the Resurrection - but they believed them not. They lacked faith.

Their Faith was Crumbling

They were Told of Jesus - they were followers of Christ. Next, they were Taught by Jesus

II. They were Taught by Jesus

They were followers of Christ, but they still had room to grow.

This is a powerful lesson church. Many Christians think that once they got saved, they pretty much have all they need. They become complacent.

These men however, continued their education. They were still growing in knowledge of the LORD.

What’s the first thing that Jesus taught them? He pointed out the Source of their Problem

Of the Source of their Problem (v25)

What is it that Jesus says is their problem? LACK OF FAITH!

Church, I feel strongly that every issue that a Christian has - when you peel back all the layers, and dig down to the root of the matter, they ALL STEM FROM A LACK OF FAITH!

Whether it’s Christians succumbing to sin, failure to obey, lack of service - there is an element of faith, or lack thereof at the root.

Just look at some of our examples:

When they were in the storm (troubled): Matthew 8:26 “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

When they lacked bread (in need): Matthew 16:8 “Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?”

When they doubt God’s Providence (in doubt): Luke 12:28 “If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

When they were unable to perform the Work of God: Matthew 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

Do you know why some fail to give to missions? Unbelief. They don’t believe that the money they send is worth it. How else do you account for it? Greed? Sure, that’s part of it - but then it’s a matter of a lack of faith in the horrors of Hell vs. the comfort a few dollars provide.

(Ill.) Think about it: Let’s do something: Let’s imagine that if you knew for sure that if you committed $50 a month to missions - but you were assured that for every $50 you sent, a soul escapes Hell, would you send it? Some might say “Preacher, I don’t have $50 to spare” - you mean to tell me that you wouldn’t altar your lifestyle the cost of $50 in order to save a soul from Hell? What kind of Christian are you?

But you see, we don’t think in those terms. We don’t KNOW, therefore we give BY FAITH. And some don’t give because of a lack of faith.

CHURCH, THIS IS WHY THEIR EYES WERE HOLDEN! IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH A SUPERNATURAL DOING OF CHRIST, BUT A LACK OF FAITH ON THEIR PART!

He taught on the Source of their Problem

Of His Sufferings (v26)

The main problem with the Jews of that day (and today even) is they see the royal crown, and not the Crown of Thorns. They see the Scepter and missed the Sufferings of Christ!

They missed Psalm 22:13–18 “They gaped upon me with their mouths, As a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: They look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, And cast lots upon my vesture.”

They missed Psalm 69:20–21 “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

They missed Isaiah 53:3–5 “He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.”

He taught them of their Sufferings

By the Scriptures (v27)

Church, you don’t have to focus on the NT in order to see Jesus - you see Jesus all throughout this Holy Book!

The Bible says He began at Moses:

Maybe He spoke of the Brazen Serpent lifted upon the wilderness - ‘LOOK AND LIVE’ is what He said!

Surely He spoke of the 10th plague over Egypt, and how the Lamb had to be sacrificed and the blood applied to stay the Judgment upon the house

I’m sure that He spoke of the Sin Offering, Meat Offering, Burnt Offerings and how they all pointed to Him

Church, the Scriptures all speak of Jesus - notice how He says there: Luke 24:27 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

He taught them by the Scriptures

They were Told of Jesus, they were Taught by Jesus

III. They were Touched by Jesus

After they were Taught, they were Touched. Something registered with them.

(Ill.) I have a unique perspective up here. I have the privilege of looking out at you as you’re looking here at me. Sometimes, I wish you could see what I see. Sometimes, I see people interested in what is coming forth from the pulpit. Other times, I see the tops of heads, or eyes shut… All too often, I see eyes glazed over - as though NOTHING IS MAKING A DENT.

You see church, I can TEACH you, but only the Holy Ghost can TOUCH you.

By His Passion (v32)

The Spirit made alive the Words that Christ spoke!

Church, understand true religion is not based on feelings, but true religion feels none-the-less!

The Bible is just words on a page, lest the Holy Ghost makes them alive!

The preaching of the Word is just noise without the unction of the Holy Ghost!

They were Touched by His Passion

By His Presence (v29)

Jesus - God - was there with them - and the sad thing was, they didn’t even realize it!

Church, do you realize that as a Christian, God is with you right now? He’s not just WITH you, but He’s IN you!

Boy, if you ever get ahold of that fact, it’ll make a difference in your life! Talk about touching you!

They were Touched by His Presence

By His Providence (v30)

As Jesus took the bread, brake it & blessed it - and then gave it, that’s when it hit them! That act of Providence drove home the truth that Jesus was alive, and He cared for them.

As I contemplated this meaning, I immediately thought of another instance - one in which Jesus broke bread, blessed it and gave it - when He instituted the Lord’s Supper 3 days earlier in the upper room.

Church, Jesus was broken and offered up for you and I - Jesus provided the Sacrifice a sweet smelling savor unto God to atone for our sins! Jesus provided Salvation for you and I!

May I ask, does that not touch you?

I thought of another time - when Jesus took a little boys lunch blessed it, brake it & gave it - and provided food for a multitude!

Church, let me ask you this: Has not Jesus provided your every need? Has Jesus not been good to you?

May I ask, does this not touch you?

They were Touched by Jesus

They were Told of Jesus, they were Taught by Jesus, they were Touched by Jesus

IV. They Testified About Jesus

Once their Faith was Strengthened. Once they believed, what did they do? They testified of Jesus! They began telling others about the Risen LORD!

So how did they do it?

Immediately (v33a)

Notice that they said just a moment ago when they implored Jesus: Luke 24:29 “But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.”

Toward evening or not, it didn’t matter! They went to tell others about the Risen Saviour!

They could have said ‘Let’s wait till morning, it’s getting dark - and that’s a long ways!

The Bible tells us that Emmaus was ‘threescore furlongs’ (v13) - a furlong is 660 feet & 60 of that equals 7.5 miles! They at dusk took off back toward Jerusalem - 7.5 miles to tell others about Jesus! THEY DIDN’T WAIT!

So many Christians today PUT OFF serving the LORD! They wait and wait and wait, until they finally come to the end of their life and they realized they waited too long!

May I remind you of the Word of Christ: John 9:4 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

We must make the decision to serve the LORD and do the work TODAY!

Immediately

Completely (v33b)

They weren’t satisfied seeking out just Peter, James & John - they got all 11 - AND THE OTHERS WITH THEM.

Church, do you know how many people I want to be responsible for telling about Christ? Everyone the LORD has for me to. I don’t want to miss one of them!

(Ill.) When I get to Heaven, I don’t want to look back over my life and see all that I could have done - all the souls I could have reached, yet I only reached a few. I want my Christian walk Complete!

Church - do you know how many missionaries we should be supporting? Everyone that God has for us to! Not one less, or more!

Completely

Fervently (v34-35)

They were passionate about their witness.

Church let me ask you - are you passionate about missions? Whether it’s foreign or domestic, overseas or local - do you have a passion to see lost souls saved? If not, may I ask why?

No Christian that doesn’t care about missions is where they need to be with God. Christ died for the mission! I pray that eyes are opened today

Fervently

Conclusion

When you know the LORD (Are Saved)

When you learn of Jesus (are Taught)

When the Holy Ghost Speaks to your Heart (you are Touched)

You will Testify of Christ as well!