Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even 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 him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

luke 24:13-35

Illustration: NCAA Tournament Upset

I don’t know how many of you in the audience watch college basketball. Every year the NCAA has a tournament in march of the top 68 men division one basketball teams. The teams are broken up into four regions and ranked 1 through 16. The teams that are ranked number 1 have a high chance of winning the whole tournament. They are the best of the best. During the year most of the number one teams were highly rank and expected to not only be in the NCAA tournament but to actually win it. In the history of the NCAA tournament no team ranked number one has ever lost to a team that was ranked number 16. That record was broken yesterday. Number rank Virginia lost to UMBC. Not only did they lose but they lost by 20 points a blow out. Now try to image being a member of the Virginia team. Before that game you had the hope of winning the whole thing and becoming champions. However; what we hope and dream for doesn’t come true. Instead of hope we are left with hopelessness.

Hopelessness: Us and Them

Imagining just having all your holds and dreams scattered in front of you. Have you ever wanted something and thought that you really might get it. You can almost see yourself with the new car or that promotion that you were waiting for. Then all of a sudden the wind gets knocked out of your sails. You don’t have enough money. Or the promotion will be going to somebody else. The girl doesn’t like you but likes your friend. This is what the disciples on the road to Emmaus are experiencing. They are now in the midst of heavy sorrow.

Now these two disciples weren’t one of the 11 Apostles chosen by Jesus. They were part of a group of other disciples that followed Jesus during his earthly ministry. We see luke describe then in

Luke 10:1 ESV

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

However; they did see Jesus do miracles and heard his teaching. They were disciples. Which means they were following Jesus Christ. They believed in. They placed their hope in Him.

During this sermon I want to describe the signs of hopelessness and the prescription of Hope. In this text we can see at least three signs of hopelesnnes and three ways of hope rising.

However; they did see Jesus do miracles and heard his teaching.

Sign of Hopelessness: Walking Away (v.13)

walking away

These disciples were walking away from Jerusalem. Emmaus according the text was about seven miles away from Jerusalem. I looked up how long on average it would take to walk seven miles and it about 1 and 45 minutes if you can do 1 mile every 15 minutes. So Emmaus wasn’t far from Jerusalem. However; I believe that even if the distance to Emmaus wasn’t far physically the heart and souls of these two disciples were. Pontenially they were walking away from the faith as well. The first sign of hopelessness is walking away. The death of Jesus was a tramatic event. Seeing something like that would shake anybody at the core of their being. Maybe they wanted to get away from it all. Not to walk the streets were they walked with Jesus. Maybe they said “ I don’t want to see that house anymore” or “I don’t want to see the Apostles anymore”. Jerusalem would just be reminding them of everything that they have lost. You know when you are on a Emmaus road when you start walking away. So ask yourselve is “What are you walking away from”? Were in your life have you started to turn away? One thing that is great about having good friends is that they can counsel you. They can ask you questions that will put your current situation in perspective.

My father use to joke with me when we would talk about my sister. My sister would do something crazy. Nothing that would cause her harm but just being a young girl doing things that are just ridiculous. Like yelling at the top of her lungs for no reason or asking for the most expensive school item. If she didn’t get want she wanted she would just throw a tandrem and stomp her way up to her room. My father would then say “Stevie I think I might go for the gallon of milk”. It was a express to say “I had it” I can’t take anymore of this. I’m leaving. I’m out.

Hopelessness results in reviewing history(v.14)

As they walked away they started talking the things that have happen in the last few days. The second sign of hopelessness is when you start debating your history. You see in verse 14 and 15 that they were debating with each other. The greek word used there is:

New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 4802 συζητέω (suzēteō)

συζητέω suzēteō; from 4862 and 2212; to examine together, hence to dispute:—argue(1), argued(1), arguing(3), debated(1), discuss(1), discussing(3).

Those these two disciples were arguing about their past experiences with Jesus. You know something has gone wrong when you start to figure out how exactly you got to the position you are in now. This happen to me and my wife when took our first trip to Sesame Place. We bought the tickets and were excited to go because Sesame Street the T.V show was raising Madison. I just joking. However; Madison loved Elmo and we knew it would make her little life is she actually got to meet him. I mean we could have went to 42nd st but those costumes are horrible and they look really weird. So me and wife are in our rented car and we put the instructions into the GPS of our phone. We get to a point were we have to make a right but the GPS freezes and I make a left turn. Well to make matters worst the GPS never fixed himself so I just kept following the wrong directions. Instead of going to Pennsylvania we ended up in Delaware. So it like 3pm and Jessica mad and Madison is sleeping in the back. I start looking at my phone and we argue about who fault it was that we were in this situation. This is what the disciples are doing. This is also we you do when you experience hopelessness. You start blaming other people for the way that you feel now. Its my lazy husband fault. I should have never taken that job. Should have never listen to my friend. I knew something was wrong. This is a tactic of Satan and the flesh. Hopelessness is stuck in the past. Let me tell you a secret: The past can’t be changed. Nothing good is going come from trying pinpoint the moment everything went wrong. No don’t get me wrong we should learn from our past so that we can grow. However reviewing out past in such a way that it cause us be depressed is not good and is unhealthy.

Hopelessness results in discouragement

Hopelessness results in rejecting testimonies

The next sign that you are dealing with hopelessness is that you openly ignore or reject testimony of God’s goodness and grace. The two disciples do this they respond to the traveler who asked them what has happen in the last couple of days. They call Jesus:

A Nazarene

A Prophet

Powerful in action and speech

They don’t mention anything about him being God. Nothing about him being the Messiah. How are you describing Jesus in your sorrow. How are you talking about God? Analyze your speech. Are you talking about him in a way that makes him to be a very good person? Or maybe you are talking about God as somebody you knew in the past? Like I use to go to church. I use to pray to him everyday? Hopelessness talks about God like his is a ex boyfriend or girlfriend. Somebody you use to know. A person you use to have a relationship with. Instead of think of God as your savior. Your present help you distant yourself from him and make him a memory. So they reject their own personal testimonie and continue to reject the testimonies of the women at the tomb. Between the women encounter with Jesus and the walk on Emmaus these disciples hear the testimony. But when you are hopeless you don’t look for hope. Any light you close. Any signs of grace. Of God working in our midst we turn a blind eye too. Sorrow feeds on sorrow. It can’t grow in a atmosphere of hope. So it forces you to look at the bad and reject the good. He makes you the worst pessimitic. When you hopeless you say I can’t get that job. This date is not going to save my marriage. Next semester my childs grades will go back down to normal. Stop speaking death into your situation. Stop looking for worst possible outcome of every situation. It not your personally it is sin working death in you. Through the examples of these two disciples we seen that hopelessness results in you:

Hopelessness results in rejecting testimonies

Walking away

Reliving the past

Ignoring the testimonies of God

Now that we diagnosed the disease what is the cure? What do we need to do get out of our hopelessness?

Hope Starts with Jesus

The road back to hope starts with Jesus. Jesus is the one that draws near to the two disciples heading to Emmaus. jesus is the one that starts the conversation and questions the disciples. When you read this story from being to end you see the disciples draw further away from God in hopelessness. But you see Jesus drawing closer to the disciples and bringing them to Himself. The disciples didn’t ask this stranger to walk with them. Jesus did this on his on accord. He started to engage these two disciples of His. What does the bible say about the shepherd and his lost sheep:

John 10:11 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

This is good news. Jesus is that annoying friend who won’t leave you alone. In your hopelessness know that Jesus is walking with you. In your hopelessness know that Jesus is walking wit you. You may be with your family and friends during your trail. During your disappoint. But don’t forget Jesus. Don’t forget the Holy Spirit. Don’t forget the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is with you.That Jesus is not waiting for you to ask for help to being his work. Like a good Father he is anticipating your needs. he seeing what you are going to need now and in the future and he starts providing it right then and there. Right now God is drawing near to you. Or maybe it is better to say God has drawn near to you. God is a Spirit and is able to do things within your Spirit in an invisible but powerful way.

Hope rises with a reality check

Hope rises with a reality check. I can image these disciples walking with Jesus with a sad face and body looking discouraged. I can see them holding back tears at the lost of their prophet and the outcome of their walk with Him: Death on a cross. However; Jesus keeps it 100 with them and doesn’t sugarcoat reality with them. he says:

Luke 24:25 ESV

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

He calls them “foolish” and “slow of heart”. Harsh words. Typically you would tell somebody that your sorry that they feel that way or that you can understand their situation. Not with Jesus. He cuts through the fog and go straight to the issue: Our hearts. Sorrow and hopelessness has a way of making you a genius when it comes to your situation. You don’t need to go to a counselor. You don’t need to tell your friends. You don’t need to be accountable. Ask yourselve if you said the following sentences in the midst of your depression or hopelessness:

I heard it all before

I know what I have to do

Its no point in talking them

They won’t understand

Nothing is going to change

If you said these words you are probably being deceived. Look what the bible says in Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Jeremiah 17:6 ESV

He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

I personally believe if we can just believe this one verse our lives would be so much more fruitful. We have to come to a point that we come to grips with our limits. We are only human. We are creators created by God. We are not God. We don’t know everything. We are not as smart as we think we are. Also on the flip side of this lets not forget . We are living life after the fall. After the apple. The deceitful of sin is present in our bodies and if we don’t check our motivates and actions by the word of God we will be deceived. Even Job when he was suffering fell victim to this. Look how God’s confronts him:

Job 38:1–5 ESV

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

Job 38:1-5

reference job and God talk with him

Job in looking for answers in his suffering thought he fully understand his own situation. God confronts Him with the limits of His knowledge and the vastness of His. In our hopelessness we have to come to a place of humility of we are to walk the path of Hope.

Hope rises with the Scriptures

Hopes rises with the scriptures. Jesus beings to tell the disciples everything that had to take place in order for the Christ to enter into his glory. jesus calls them foolish because they didn’t believe what God has said before. We become hopelessness when we forgot the word of God. Certain things God says will happen to us as we walk with Him in this life. God says we will have sorrow be persecuted. The word of God also says that the joy that we have the world can’t take away. That the work that he began in us he will be to completion. That He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. The scriptures are fuel to our faith. Are you adding it? Are you neglecting to warm your faith with the word of God? What does the bible say.

Romans 10:17 ESV

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

If you are feeling low. Downcast. Open up your bible. Get the bible on your phone. Get an audio bible. Read and mediate on it. The more the scriptures are in your mind and soul the more fuel you have for the journey of life.

Closing

We see that hopelessness starts with us walking away from God, reliving our past, and rejecting testomonies of God goodness and truth. The road to hope starts with activity of Jesus, humility at our limitations, and believing the scriptures. The road to hope is a walk of faith. Its going to take us believing God words and living our lives in light of that.