Road to Hope

The Status of the World

Job 5:7 NIV

Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

Job 5:7

job 14

Job 14:1 NIV

“Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.

Ecc

Ecclesiastes 2:23 NIV

All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

People who obsess about the news and politics - no peace

Our families

Our own lives

Plenty of reasons to lose hope

The Men on the Road

Background - Heritage

In the OT they inherit the promised land and have their on kingdom

History of their own Kingdom splitting and falling

Persia takes over and carries them to Babylon - you must assimilate

They fight among themselves and split

Greeks take over and allow them to go home and to a certain extent worship the one true God. but then persecution takes place.

They dive into Sin

Maccabean revolution they have a time of independence but eventually Romans take over.

Fake peace based in fear and oppression.

For the most part enslaved for over 400 years

Their Great Hope

John the Baptist - the first prophet in over 400 years.

Jesus even here is described as a great prophet and miracle worker.

This was a down grade from when the disciples called Him the Christ and Simons name was changed to Peter because on the rock of the truth that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of the Living God the church is built and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it ()

Just weeks before Jesus came into Jerusalem in great fashion as the prophesied savior riding on a colt.

at that point in time all was great

Jesus - the healer of the sick, the giver of life, the feeder of 5000, the man who walks on water, the man who cleanses the leper and gives sight to the blind, the one who teaches with authority and turns the pharisees away. This man enters Jerusalem as the delivering future king

But he is captured, beaten, flogged and killed.

Hopes dashed.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a hopeless place - our hopes for true freedom seem dashed. The mountains are to big and valleys are to low.

To top it all off, his body is gone and confusion reigns.

The Road to Hope

7 mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus (about 2 1/2 hrs)

Probably comforting each other

They hoped Christ was going to set Israel free - physically.

Christ had bigger plans to set Israel free not just physically but from EVERYTHING that keeps them bound

Jesus starts at the beginning and reminds them of the prophecies concerning Himself

Finally they recognize him when he breaks the bread

Conclusion

Luke 24:32 NIV

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Maybe you are like these men on the road. We are all on a journey and this journey is full of twists and turns that were not expected. We have troubles, We are not walking free the way we want to and maybe we have convinced ourselves that maybe we cant. But what I know is that no matter what the world has thrown at us Christ has a great future and a great hope for us. He has blessing not curses He knows how to keep us from falling and present us faultless. He knows how to make everything work together for your good. Come on.. He had victory over death and because of hat we can rest on His great promises

assignment

Stick to reading and learning the scriptures - the Bible

Luke 24:45–49 NIV

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

luke 24:45-49