The Road to Emmaus

Intro

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After Easter

We are starting a brand new series this morning called, After Easter.

We are going to take the next number of weeks and look at the stories of the disciples as they wrestle with the reality that Jesus has died, and whether they believe he has come back to life.

In the same way, we have victory in Christ, but the challenges and temptations still come; the doubts still creep in, and we are faced with the task of overcoming these challenges.

As we walk through the different stories the gospel writers tell us, we’re going to see several different ways that the disciples were wrestling with their new reality, and how Jesus had an answer for each one.

Luke 24:13–17 CSB

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.

3. The Road to Emmaus

Our first story, we meet two disciples walking to a town called Emmaus. Some translations will say that Emmaus was a Sabbath’s day walk.

There’s two key things that we find out about these disciples right out of the gate.

They are discouraged

They are arguing

These two things quite often go hand in hand, don’t they? How often have we gotten into empty arguments for no other reason then we are frustrated or discouraged?

We may not even fully disagree about what we are arguing about, but there is some fine point that rubs us the wrong way, and so we take it upon ourselves to take our stand.

We’ve been around each other too much and now the peace is starting to dissipate and fighting is on the rise.

We’ve talked about at our pastoral prayer meetings that their are reports that domestic violence is on the rise because of the sudden close proximity and really no where to go.

We so often get discouraged after we have experienced a victory in any area of life. Whether we’ve broken an addiction, or we’ve surrendered our life to Christ and experienced the newness, only to feel like the temptations and the pressures of the world mount even heavier on our shoulders.

Where do we turn? How do we overcome?

1. We Open Up

Luke 24:18–24 CSB

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. 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.”

4. We open up

Notice how Jesus gives opportunity for the disciples to share. Of course he knows what’s been going on, he’s the one that it happened to. They don’t know that.

Sometimes I think we refuse to open up to God because we know he already knows all the details, so why would be open up?

The opening up is nothing to do with informing God of the situation, and everything to do with opening ourselves up to the healing God wants to do in our lives. So often we will admit something is wrong, but never actually voice every detail. Yet it is in the opening up that we so often discover something that is bothering us that we didn’t even know was an issue.

Maybe you have a tough time opening up to God, then find someone you trust and open up to them. The Apostle James says that healing comes when we confess to one another. Even if we just start with, “I’m feeling really discouraged right now, I don’t know why, but I just need to bounce things off someone to help me figure it out.”

2. We Get into the Truth

Luke 24:25–27 CSB

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.

5. We get into the Truth

Jesus proceeds to open the scriptures and fill in all the blanks that they had been missing.

We so desperately need to be people of the truth.

One other source of frustration that has been on the rise is the spreading of half truths and one sided arguments. There’s been a rise of conspiracy theories running around social media, fingers being pointed and conclusions being drawn.

The disciples did the same thing. Their discouragement came from a place of only having half the picture. They imagined Jesus was going to chase out the Romans and redeem Israel. Then, the only people who had seen him before they left were women. Remember, women didn’t have high standing in these days, so the fact that the women were the only ones to have seen Jesus alive would have been difficult for some of the believers.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus came with truth and grace. As disciples of Jesus, we have to have our facts straight at all times. What kind of witness are we bearing when we jump onto social media or chatting and spread the latest conspiracy theory or present one side of an argument? The Apostle Paul says to live peaceably with everyone as much as it is dependent on you. Don’t go stir up trouble, and don’t take sides on arguments that don’t have any eternal value. We say our lives are defined by the gospel and that God is the source of all truth; then let us only be people of the truth. Get into your word and know what God says. Fact check everything before you post it. Be grounded in the only truth that really matters; God’s truth.

3. Get Back on Mission

Luke 24:28–35 CSB

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.

6. Get Back on Mission

These two disciples have all their questions answered, and their doubts are erased, and they get back to what Jesus told them to do; proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God

So often when we get into these times of doubt and discouragement, we stop doing what God has called us to do. Sometimes we even run away from. The disciples weren’t running, but they were leaving Jerusalem. As soon as their questions were answered, they headed straight back.

Doubts and questions are not bad things. In fact, if we put in the work, ask the right people and find the answers, doubts and questions can actually lead us into a deep faith and stronger conviction then when the questions and doubts started. These disciples immediately got up, went back, and shared their experience with everyone.

The problem is that all too often, we allow our doubts and questions to linger, and then they turn into discouragement and frustration. Don’t allow for that. Even if you’ve been asking the same question for a while and don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Maybe God is trying to teach you something in the process. Maybe you’ve been asking the wrong people or seeking the wrong answer. Don’t try to fit the answer into your mold, but allow the answers to mold you. Maybe you are asking the wrong question, and that’s why the answer isn’t coming. Maybe you are avoiding the answer and need to ask yourself why.

Whatever it may be, get into God’s truth, allow Holy Spirit to lead you to the answer, whatever it may be, and get back on mission. Do what Jesus has called you to do.

7. Summary

Open up, get your frustrations and questions out in the open where you can really get to the root of the issue

Get into the Truth, and allow God’s word and Holy Spirit to fill in the gaps that may be causing the frustrations and discouragement. As a disciple, one of the things you are defined by is the truth, so get into it, know it, and be grounded in it

Get Back on Mission, do what Jesus has called you to do. God has a plan for your life, and he wants to change others’ lives through you. Be an instrument in the hand of Almighty God, and even in this time of quarantine, you can make a difference.

8. Let’s Pray