Don’t Miss the Cross
Notes
Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
Have you ever missed something that was obvious?
Food in the fridge (mom knows)
Caroline’s phone
Looking for my glasses while wearing them
We all know what if feels like to not be able to see something but then someone points shows us and all of the sudden it’s so obvious
TENSION
TENSION
But what about when reading your bible?
When you read your bible do you feel like your missing something?
then someone else reads the same text or preaches on the same text any begins to explain it and you are like bruhhh that’s so obvious… how did I not see that
But let’s take it a set further…
what if it’s not just one or two texts but the whole bible
What if you are reading your bibles and missing the whole point?
and by doing so you’re missing the very truth and reality that could change your life?
The good news for us tonight is that Jesus himself is going to teach us how to read our bibles
and in a way that we never miss the point
TRUTH
TRUTH
Before we dive into tonights text let me give you some context as to what is going on
This is right after the resurrection
Two disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus
They have heard the news from the women that the tomb is empty
They’re confused
They’re discouraged
They think everything is over.
And then… Jesus shows up
But they don’t recognize Him
Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. But they were prevented from recognizing him. Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.
The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked them.
Not knowing who they are talking to, Jesus ask them what they are talking about
this stops them in their tracks
they are in shock
“Where have you been?”
“Have you been living under a rock? How do you not know?”
What is ironic is that they are talking to the only human on the planet at that time that actually fully understands and knows what’s going on
yet, he asks… “what things?”
“What things?” he asked them.
So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
They go on to explain that there was this man named Jesus
he was prophet
a powerful one at that
he spoke with authority
like no one they had seen or heard before
he was whom they believe was the promised redeemer or messiah of Israel
the one they have been waiting on
but he was crucified and buried
and no his body is gone
so it’s over
In summary they tell Jesus:
“We thought He was the one…”
“But He died.”
They had the facts…but they missed the meaning of it all
This angers Jesus and he responds with a rebuke
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
He calls them foolish
for not believing the prophets who have explained to them the very things they think means it’s over are the things that were necessary or had to take place
Then Jesus begins to walk them through the scriptures beginning with Moses showing how it all points to Him
Don’t miss this…
Jesus just preached the greatest sermon ever to these two disciples
Helping them see that the scriptures is not about them
but the Messiah
Can you imagine walk?
He probably took them all the way back to Genesis…
“Genesis 3:15… the serpent crusher…” that’s the Messiah.
“Abraham… all nations blessed through your offspring…” that’s the Promised One.
“Isaac on the altar… God provides the lamb…” that’s the Savior.
Then Exodus…
“The Passover lamb… whose blood saves…” that’s the Messiah.
“The manna from heaven…” that’s the One we’ve been waiting for.
“Water from the rock…” that’s Him.
The Psalms…
“Psalm 22… suffering and pierced…” that’s the Messiah.
“Psalm 16… not abandoned to the grave…” that’s the Promised One.
“Psalm 23… the Good Shepherd…” that’s the Savior.
The Prophets…
“Isaiah 7… born of a virgin…” that’s the Messiah.
“Isaiah 53… crushed for sin…” that’s the Savior.
“Micah 5… born in Bethlehem…” that’s the One.
“Daniel 7… the Son of Man…” that’s the Promised King.
And over… and over… and over again…
every page…
every story…
every promise…
was pointing to one person
The Messiah
And the craziest part?
The one they had been reading about…was walking right next to them
And they still didn’t see it...
They didn’t miss a verse…
they missed the Messiah
So, let’s watch how this moment actually plays out for them…
They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
They walked with Him…
talked with Him…
heard Him explain the entire Bible…
and they still didn’t see Him.
But then in one moment their eyes were opened
Not because they figured it out
Not because they got smarter
But because God revealed it to them
And suddenly
everything they just heard…
everything they just experienced…
clicked
The one they were talking about…
the one they were hoping in…
the one they thought was gone…
was right in front of them the whole time
And then He disappears.
And they say, “Did not our hearts burn within us…?”
Notice this
their hearts were already burning…
before their eyes were opened.
Jesus was already working…
even when they didn’t fully understand yet
They didn’t need more information…they needed revelation
They didn’t need a different Bible… they needed their eyes opened
And once they saw Him… they couldn’t unsee Him
And I wonder how many of us…
have Jesus right in front of us in His Word…and we still don’t see Him
And if that is the case for some of us then we need to understand with this account teaches us?
Jesus is the point
Jesus is not just a part of the bible
He is the point of it
The Bible is not a collection of random stories…
It’s not a book of disconnected moral lessons…
It’s not primarily about:
how to be a better person
how to fix your life
or how to become the hero of your own story
The Bible is one story
From Genesis to Revelation…
one story about one person
Jesus
Most people read the Bible like this:
“Be like David.”
“Be brave like Daniel.”
“Have faith like Abraham.”
But that’s not the point
You’re not David
You’re not the hero
David isn’t about you defeating your giants…
It’s about a better David…
who defeats sin and death for you
Noah isn’t just about obedience…
It’s about rescue from judgment
and Jesus is the greater rescue
Moses isn’t just a leader…
He points to a better deliverer
who doesn’t just free people from slavery but frees them from sin
The Bible is not about what you must do for God…it’s about what God has done for you in Christ
Now don’t misunderstand
not every verse says the name “Jesus.”
But every verse is connected to the story that leads to Him
flows from Him or points back to Him
Some passages predict Him
Some prepare for Him
Some point to Him
Some picture Him
Some proclaim Him
But all of Scripture in some way is about Him
It’s like watching a movie a second time.
The first time you miss things
But the second time you realize:
“This was about that the whole time.”
That’s what Jesus is doing with them
He’s not giving new information
He’s showing them what was already there
You don’t need a new Bible… you need a new way to see it
Because if you read the Bible without seeing Jesus… you will either:
become prideful
“I’m doing pretty good…”
or crushed
“I’ll never measure up…”
But when you see Jesus…everything changes.
He lived the life you couldn’t live
He fulfilled what you couldn’t fulfill
He became what you were supposed to be
So now you don’t read the Bible trying to be the hero
you read it seeing the Hero who came for you
If you miss Jesus…you miss the point.
And when that finally clicks your heart can’t stay the same
Jesus changes the heart
They said, “Did not our hearts burn within us…”
That’s not just emotion
that’s transformation
Before this moment, they were walking away from hope
Confused
Discouraged
and done
But after seeing Jesus, everything changes
And notice nothing around them changed
The world is still broken
Jesus was still crucified
But their hearts changed
Because when you truly see Jesus, you don’t just learn something, you’re changed by someone
Some of you think the Bible is dry because you’re reading it like a task instead of a relationship
Like something to finish instead of someone to know.
But when you see Jesus in it the pressure lifts
You realize you’re not the one holding your life together
He is
The weight falls off
You realize you don’t have to be perfect
He already was
And joy comes in
Because now you’re not just reading words…
you’re seeing your Savior
You start realizing
He did that for me
He fulfilled that for me
He succeeded where I failed
And now the Bible isn’t something you have to read…it becomes something you want to read
Not out of guilt but out of love
That’s what it means for your heart to burn
And when you see Jesus like that…your heart can’t stay the same
But how does this happen?
Jesus opens the eyes
Verse 31 says, “Their eyes were opened.”
They didn’t figure it out
God revealed it
This is so important because it means you can read the Bible and still miss Jesus
You can grow up in church…
hear sermons…
know the stories…
and still not truly see Him
Because this isn’t just about information
it’s about revelation.
You don’t just need to learn more…you need God to open your eyes
Think about it
Jesus was right in front of them
Talking
Teaching
Explaining
And they still didn’t see Him
Why?
Because until God opens your eyes…you can have Jesus right in front of you and still miss Him
And some of you are there
You’ve heard about Him
You’ve been around it
But you haven’t seen Him.
But when God opens your eyes…everything changes
It’s like when something finally clicks and now you see it everywhere
That’s what happens with Jesus
It’s like when you start thinking about a car and then all of the sudden you see it everywhere
And here’s the best news is that if God opened their eyes
He can open yours too
So the question isn’t, “Can I figure this out?”
The question is, “Will I ask God to open my eyes?”
Because once He does…you will never read the Bible the same again
CLOSING
CLOSING
So here’s the question
Are you seeing Jesus or are you missing what’s right in front of you?
Some of you have been around the Bible your whole life and still missing Jesus
You don’t need a new reading plan
You need new eyes
Some of you don’t need more information
you need salvation
Stop trying to figure everything out and trust the One it’s all about.
Others of you know Jesus…
but you’ve drifted into making the Bible about you
No wonder it feels heavy
You’re carrying something you were never meant to carry
If this is the case for you then I have a challenge for you
This week, every time you open your Bible, ask
“How does this show me Jesus?”
And don’t stop until you see Him
BOTTOM LINE: If you miss Jesus…you miss the point
BOTTOM LINE: If you miss Jesus…you miss the point
testimony
PRAY
PRAY
