Two Overcast Hearts On A Gloomy Day

Intro

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Perspective

A parent once described how her three children would respond to a spider web in the garden. The first child would examine the web and wonder how the spider wove it. The second would worry a great deal about where the spider was. And the third would exclaim, “Oh, look! A trampoline!”

There was only one spider web in the garden, only one reality. But how differently it can be perceived and understood.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Perspective

The importance of choosing to think positively was captured by the owner of a doughnut shop when he put this roadside sign in front of his shop:

When along life’s journey you roll,

Keep your eye on the doughnut and not on the hole.986

It is within our hearts where the misconceptions of life and fear begin. There is only one reality no matter how much we dream up. It is up to us to garner a portion of God to have the right perspective on life. THERE IS A MESSAGE IN YOUR MESS!

Luke 24:13–35 NKJV

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Two Overcast Hearts On A Gloomy Day V 13-24

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Overcast

over•cast \ˈō-vər-ˌkast, ˌō-vər-ˈ\ adjective

1536: clouded over 〈an overcast day〉

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Gloomy

1 a: partially or totally dark especially: dismally and depressingly dark 〈gloomy weather〉

b: having a frowning or scowling appearance: FORBIDDING 〈a gloomy countenance〉

c: low in spirits: MELANCHOLY

2 a: causing gloom: DEPRESSING 〈a gloomy story〉 〈a gloomy landscape〉

b: lacking in promise or hopefulness: PESSIMISTIC 〈gloomy prophecies〉 〈a gloomy future〉

These two disciples of Jesus have experienced a lot of drama within the past three days. Two days ago their Messiah was wrongly condemned in court, hung on a cross, and now his body is missing. Here we find them on their way to a village called Emmaus, 7 miles away from Jerusalem.

Luke 24:13–16 NKJV

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

lk 24

The New Revised Standard Version The Walk to Emmaus

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

The man, their teacher, the one whom they were sad about is now speaking with them but their eyes are kept from seeing who he really is. Because of what has happened they have chosen to focus on the what’s not there and because of it have totally missed Jesus. Now the verb for what is happening to their eyes is in the passive form which means that their eyes are being acted upon.

to be kept (state) v. — to be or become kept in a certain state, position, or activity.

Kratos-might or power

to recognize v. — to discern something clearly and distinctly, or as true and valid; often with a personal acquaintance that necessitates a reaction.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Perspective

When along life’s journey you roll,

Keep your eye on the doughnut and not on the hole.986

Luke 24:17 NKJV

And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

Kratos-might or power

Jesus knowing exactly what is going on asks them what they are discussing! It is within this verse I see two things. Jesus is concerned with what you are going through and he wants to be involved in your mess!

Psalm 55:22 NKJV

Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Sorrow, pain, and heartache are unavoidable in this life. We can choose to allow it to cloud our vision or give it to Jesus.

ps 55

Luke 24:18–21 NKJV

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

to recognize v. — to discern something clearly and distinctly, or as true and valid; often with a personal acquaintance that necessitates a reaction.

The response to Jesus is one that is full of despair and shock! They wonder how this unidentified traveler, does not know about the events that have taken place! What is more important is how they see Jesus.

They believe Jesus to be a "a man who was a prophet”. Man is omitted in some versions of our English Bibles but I found it to be present in the Greek version I translated from.

They say he WAS a man who was a prophet.

prophet n. — someone who speaks in behalf of and interprets the will of a supernatural being, often rebuking or predicting events; can be used of poets who were said to be inspired by the gods.

This is true. They say he was mighty in deed and word before God and all people. That is true.

“Mighty in deed and word before God and all the people...”

“…the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.”

This one is partly true due to the fact that they did not hand him over or deliver him, he did that himself. But yes he was condemned to death and crucified.

Luke 24:21 NKJV

But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

Here we see they are still down and having a terrilble weekend. Because of what has happened they have a cloud over their hearts and there is nothing but tragedy surrounding them. They do recall a portion of the prophecy. They say that he was “DESTINED to set us FREE, but now it is the THIRD DAY!” “Not only is he still dead but his body is gone!” But the day is still not yet over!

to be destined (state) v. — to be governed by inevitable external circumstances (as fate or a divine plan).

to liberate ⇔ ransom v. — to liberate, conceived of as redeeming a captured person by paying the price demanded for his return.

rate ⇔ ransom v. — to liberate, conceived of as redeeming a captured person by paying the price demanded for his return.

λυτρόω - to set free a slave

I had a co-worker that I worked with that would melt like butter in a skillet at the first sign of trouble. It was humorous at first but looking back it was a bit troubling. We could come in and be clocked in for 7 minutes and if something bad happened that changed HIS course he was slamming stuff and slapping the table for the rest of the day! Even though the shift was not over and there was still plenty of time left for good to happen his day would be ruined prematurely because he focused soley on the troubles that occured and were now over. Can we get tunnel vision on our problems today?

Do we get tunnel vision on your problems today?

The story for our traverlers gets worse!

Luke 24:22–24 NRSV

Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that 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 did not see him.”

lk 24

So now on top of the confusion, the body of Jesus is missing! Can you imagine the thoughts going through their mind?! “If I didn’t have bad luck I wouldn’t have any at all!”

Message In The Mess V 25-27

Luke 24:25–27 NRSV

Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

Verse 25 Jesus’ rebuke of them

mindless adjs. — not marked by the use of reason.

ἀνόητος - without mind

slow (dull) adjs. — slow to learn, understand, or react; lacking intellectual acuity.

He tells them that they are not using their minds! He also says that they are slow… to understand! He goes back and shows them how God has always done with Israel from Moses through the Prophets.

The Bible Guide On the Road to Emmaus (24:13–35)

There is a pattern of events. The history of Israel has always moved from despair to hope, from slavery to exodus, from exile to return. Surely the experience of the Messiah will be the same—from death to resurrection. But at Passover? Of course!

God has always had a message through the mess throughout time! Before the foundation of the earth he had a plan! This plan always pointed to the Christ!

Jesus Brings Clarity V 28-35

Luke 24:28–35 NKJV

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 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 stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Examine here the shrewdness of Jesus...

“He indicated that He would have gone farther.”

Jesus pump fakes the two for a purpose. This is further proof that Jesus wants to be a part of your gloomy day but he needs you to want to be! This word here in the Greek is defined as...

to behave as v. — to act or appear as if having certain qualities or a particular state of mind.

προσποιέω - act as though. Jesus pumped faked them! LOL

Luke 24:29 NRSV

29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.

After they had Jesus explained to them and saw his purpose in the scripture they did not want the traveling stranger to leave. This man took away their cloudy days, he made their way clear, and he turned their gloominess to gladness. When you dig in to the very nature of Jesus and his mission everything else seems to go away.

Luke 24:30 NRSV

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

to bless (favor) v. — to invoke (or enact) divine favor, often implying a positive disposition or kind actions toward the recipient.

εὐλογέω

to break off v. — to detach a piece from a whole.

κλάω - break

Luke 24:31–32 NRSV

31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

lk 24 31-32

When they took their eyes off of the distractions of the world and its cares they were better able to see who Jesus was. It says that their hearts burned within them!

to burn (emotionally) v. — to feel strong emotion, especially anger or passion.

Their hearts burned because this message was for them! Just as it is for you! Jesus gave them a pep talk for what was to come!

Luke 24:33–35 NRSV

33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

They felt so strongly about what had happened that they went back at that same moment and traveled 7 miles back to Jerusalem to speak to the apostles! They had a message for them!

to resurrect ⇔ wake up v. — to resurrect, conceived of as waking up and arising (out of bed).

ἐγείρω- He was NOT dead, he was sleep and now has gotten up!

They now realized that he is not dead, the prophecies are not a lie, and his body is not missing! He is alive! He is RISEN! Their problems are not real problems! Though their hearts were overcast and their day was gloomy in the end God reigns supreme and he can and WILL turn your life around, inside out, and upside down. He is a God that makes triumph from tragedy! I can because He can!

Conclusion

God can and will turn your life around. It does not matter how dark and heavy the clouds are that are surrounding your heart. We can face the world with promise and expectation. Jesus went what he went through not just for our victory in this life but for an eternal victory in the next.