Walking Closely With Jesus

LUKE 24:13-35

As Christians, if we are walking closely with Jesus…

We will speak to those who can’t see.

Luke 24:16 NASB95

But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

Because of the curse of sin on all creation, we are all born spiritually dead and spiritually blind. These two followers of Jesus were prevented from recognizing Him when He approached them, and most people in your life will not recognize Jesus, either.

Proverbs 4:18–19 NASB95

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.

Ephesians 4:17–19 NASB95

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Romans 1:20–25 NASB95

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NASB95

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 12:34–41 NASB95

The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.

Illustration of Marco Polo water game.

As Christians, if we are walking closely with Jesus…

We will simplify for those who can’t understand.

Luke 24:26–27 NASB95

“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit inspired every word of the Bible, and everything it says has a special purpose. Some things the Bible teaches are more important than others, but nothing the Bible teaches is unimportant.

Sometimes a person doesn’t believe the Gospel because they don’t understand it. Like Jesus, we must be ready to explain from the scriptures who He is, what He has done, and why a person should trust and follow Him.

1 Peter 3:14–16 NASB95

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Colossians 4:5–6 NASB95

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

As Christians, if we are walking closely with Jesus…

We will show those who can’t hear.

Luke 24:28–31 NASB95

And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

After spending a day walking next to Jesus and hearing Him teach about the Messiah from the Old Testament, these two men still didn’t realize who was with them. They needed to see something to understand who Jesus was and what He was saying.

The revelation that Jesus was their resurrected Savior and Messiah didn’t happen in a church service, an altar call, or a prayer meeting. It wasn’t in a membership class or home Bible study. It was at dinner. Perhaps it was a familiar way He spoke a blessing over the bread. Maybe it was the nail scars on His hands that they saw as He broke the bread. It could have been just a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in that moment to give them understanding. In any case, being near Jesus and knowing a lot about the Bible wasn’t enough; they had to see something.

You and I do not have the power to make a spiritually dead person come back to life; only God can do that. We can, however, give the Holy Spirit LOTS of opportunities to do that work in a person by letting them into our lives. Sometimes hearing the Gospel message isn’t enough; sometimes learning about the Bible or being a theologian isn’t enough; sometimes people have to see healthy, normal, everyday Christianity in order to believe.

Finally, consider how this story begins and its importance for us today…

Luke 24:15 NASB95

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.

Jesus is Approaching

These two men were not seeking Jesus, because they had given up on Him when He was crucified. If Jesus had not come to them on the road out, they may never have seen Him resurrected and believed that He was their Savior.

Brothers and sisters,

We need to tell people that Jesus is approaching.

Until He returns, Jesus approaches unbelievers through the Good News spoken by His people, the Church, to others.

Once Jesus finishes His approach and comes again to the Earth, it will be too late for them to believe. Your calling as a Christian is to tell others about Jesus and how they can be saved before it is too late.

Take a moment to think of someone in your life who is not a Christian. How will you speak to them this week about Jesus? How will you simplify the Bible’s teaching for them? How will you show them the difference being a Christian makes in your life?

Pray