From Stranger to Friend

Intro:

How do we make friends? Often times that person is a stranger and next think you know you find things in common and some things that you have in common form a special bond that elevates the status from associate to friend because of the mutual affection. You made a lasting friendship from your first day of school, or kindergarten, first grade, new school, high school or college and our university. There are times you made new friends moving to a new area to live, a new job or a new hobby.

There are some people who are very friendly to all they meet with such compassion and kindness. These people we describe by saying, “They never met a stranger”. The transition from stranger to friend is not simple it takes time and development through conversation and social interactions. We conduct these actions often times around tables. We meet people as strangers and we look to know them better we set up lunch, dinner or coffee meetings to sit at a table and get to know them. We turn an enemy into a friend around tables. We strike deals of agreement around tables. We initiate binding relationships around tables. We come to know Jesus and our selves around the table of communion.

Lead into text:

Today we are seeing the development of the relationships of the Stranger teaching the two disciples about how the work of the Messiah had to be done before entering his glory. This impactful teaching moment will also lead to a table of communion.

First let me point out the powerful call of Jesus work before he entered into his glory as we review Luke 24:25-26.

Luke 24:25–26 NLT

25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”

We were created for God’s glory. .

Isaiah 43:7 NLT

7 Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ ”

We come to know this glory through the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins. This is the work that Jesus is teaching the disciples how all the Scriptures point to the Messiah suffering before he enter His glory. This leads us to where we are now.

Luke 24:28–31 NLT

28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

He acted as if he were going on

1. Jesus does not force his way in.

He gave them the opportunity to invite him to stay. Here the Stranger has open up the scriptures to them and pointed how the Messiah was revealed in the Scriptures.

He has drawn them in and seem to developed a connection with them. We were first introduced by them seeing him as a Stranger, but we know him to be the Son of God. He has broaden their understanding of the events that have took place these past days. You can see how they have intently listen to this stranger and have been drawn in by their conversation.

2. The Stranger is invited to stay.

Luke 24:29 NLT

29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them.

Now the stranger becomes a friend. The irony of this is the Stranger knows them better than they know themselves. This Stranger is friendly to them and entertains their invitation of continued fellowship.

How things change when we accept Jesus.

Jesus has invited us to know him and have a relationship with him. The two disciples show us how to be open to receive Jesus into our life by being open to hear the Word of God.

Jesus changes us when we let him in our life.

Invite Jesus into your life

Jesus is already present in our life, but is he a stranger or a welcome friend? Jesus moves from stranger to friend when we accept his presence in our life as we week to have fellowship with Him through the Spirit.

Jesus in our life is intimate and life changing.

THis fellwoship with Jesus is intimate. We welcome Jesus in to our life and simultaneously give him permission to take over our life.

We are open to receive his rebuke as we all his praise.

The change in our life will open us up to be convicted as the issues, troubles, dark secrets are exposed in our life under the light of Jesus.

Letting Jesus in is to let him change us from the things in the past we could deny because we did not let others see what God always sees.

We are changed by Jesus.

You might have met a stranger that changed your life for the better or for the worst. Think how Jesus will change your life for eternity. There is no other person you can meet that can have that kind of effect on your life. Jesus is the Son of God who possesses that kind of eternal power to change your life.

Think how we practice not to talk to strangers or stranger danger.

We know the fear of seeing people we do not recognize or treat them differently because of implicit biases.

We need to be mindful that we may never know who we might be meeting on the streets.

Jesus was a stranger to the two who did not know they were entertaining the Son of God.

They welcomed this stranger to their table.

Sitting at the table.

Luke 24:30–31 NLT

30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

Think how we fellowship around tables.

Television and Hollywood make scenes around tables, because of how we use the tables in our lives. These tables are in business rooms, dining rooms, breakfast nooks, ballrooms, dine-in establishments, and parks. The people that gather around these tables gather to speak on business, secrets, relationships, negotiations and other situations.

Intimate Settings of the table.

When the table is in your home it is a more intimate place. When people gather around the table it exposes the temperature within the house. When there is tension it is sensed in the air compared to the synergy from the warmth and the joy in the air. The other way is who is not at the table because of the relationship status is broken and a person refuses to sit at the table. There are times when one is no longer welcome at the table and therefore are missing.

Have you invited Jesus to Sit at the table?

Inviting Jesus to the table will change you, because He will become the host for you are in the presence of the most high.

Luke 24:30 NLT

30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them.

Jesus communes with the two.

Jesus taking lead by being the one to:

Bless the bread

Break the Bread

And give them the bread.

Jesus took the lead and eats with his disciples like he did before his death.

When Jesus walks into the room everything changes.

Welcome Jesus into your heart.

Invite Jesus to the table of your life. Allow him to become your host and give him the best. Seek to know him and commune with him daily as you allow him to transform you as you follow His Word.

The wonderful presence of the Lord will change you from the inside out. His presence show you the power we have access because of our relationship with him. Trusting in Jesus will open our eyes to see him as God alone.

Luke 24:31 NLT

31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

When we recognize Jesus as our Lord we will be awaken to see how he has always been looking out for us and is not a stranger, but our God!