Luke 24:13–27 NKJV

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 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?” 19 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, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 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. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 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.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Luke 24:30–32 NKJV

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?”

Back At the Cross: re(Building) a better future

(Pray)

Brothers and Sisters, it was the earliest believers (present in the days of Jesus) who began gathering on Sundays, recognizing the “third day”, honoring the resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. It was the earliest believers who regularly took the wine and bread of communion, remembering Christ and proclaiming His death until He comes. (And we continue these practices through today.)

This time of year (that we call Holy Week, Good Friday, Easter) is an explicit reflection and appreciation of these events—the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I find it humbling to know that Jesus was thinking of you and thinking of me around 2000 years ago. In one of Jesus' final public prayers to God the Father (before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion), Jesus spoke:

John 17:20–21 NKJV

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Many of us are a part of "the world" that Jesus intended to one day believe that God sent Him.

Jesus had in mind future followers of Christ in speaking the words, "...for those who will believe in Me through their word"...acknowledging that it is one thing to see Jesus--touch and ask questions in person of Jesus--and to believe and it is another thing to come to believe Jesus through the testimony of those who had experienced such.

This is one reason why I am so passionate and excited about your testimonies--your(e a) testimony-in-the-making. Who knows what person, hearing your personal story, will come to know God through Jesus Christ, through you.

It's humbling thing to think that I am a life-changing testimony in-the-making. I may not look like much right now, but God is working for me an intimate and personal testimony of who He is and has been in my life.

2 Corinthians 4:16–17 NKJV

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Chat to your neighbor, "He's working it out right now. He is working it out right now."

Last week we touched on the point that God has vision for you.

God sees you.

That God has both vision for you and vision of you.

When Jesus had His back on the cross, God was thinking of a better future for you.

God sees you.

Matthew 6:26 NKJV

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

God has not forgotten about you. God sees you.

One of the big questions going through life can be, "Does God see me? Does God hear me? Does God even know and remember that I am down here?"

Jesus is evidence--the person and presence of Jesus is evidence that God remembers you and has plans for your future together.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I appreciate God letting us know through scripture that it was God’s idea to exchange Christ' life for our life. It was not initially my idea, not initially your idea to pursue God; but while still in our sinful life God sent Jesus Christ who came and died for us.

Romans 5:6 NKJV

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

As we reflect on "Good Friday" when Jesus was crucified and we celebrate today (Sunday) Christ’s resurrection to life, I sing the song, "Jesus Paid it all", and I try to acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice and significance with the words:

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

What did Jesus pay?

Let's look at one (1) thing Jesus paid.

(.....when He put His back on the cross to (re)build a better future for all.)

There is one thing I want to lift up before you that I think Jesus paid (and relates to us following in Jesus' footsteps as visionary leaders for a better future) is that Jesus chose reality...(refusing to live in a make believe world, pretending that issues don't exist, Jesus paid a price to be sober-minded, eyes-wide-open and subject to the elements of the world.)

Jesus responded affirmatively to the reality of His assignment and the reality of the people to whom He was sent and interacted.

Jesus could have shielded Himself from what was really happening on earth, with people. Jesus could have stiffed-armed and kept at a distance the people, the problems, the persecutions, the prophecies, the problems, the penalty of sin—death.

Jesus did not wear "rose colored glasses". Jesus did not ignore what was before Him as if the complexities of His assignment did not exist.

No. Jesus literally got His hands dirty (for more than 30 years) in the mess and beauty of life.

Q: How many of you can relate that many of an idea seem promising until you dig into the details of it and begin to execute it?

(What you envision sounds wonderful until you try to pull it off.)

(Taking that elective seemed like a good idea until you got that first assignment (or rather got that first assignment back.)

(That relationship seemed like a good idea until after you got the ball rolling.)

If you know what I'm talking about chat, "Amen!"

(Saving humanity seems like a good idea until the people you are trying to help are trying to kill you.)

Jesus dug into life and did not abandoned His course.

The song says,

You came from heaven to earth, to show the way

From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay

From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky

Lord I lift Your name on high

Scripture says

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus’ journey to build a better future for you and me included deep sacrifice. Jesus endured the cross; Jesus despised the shame.

It's from Jesus' example that I learn (and want for you to know):

Every significant vision, every vision of transformation, has in its path a “cross”, has a price to pay.

(Jesus instructed us to take up our cross and follow Him.)

Between that future I envision, that dream becoming true is/waits a cross, is/waits my cross. From the time that I begin to put my feet to what I envision, begin to step in place towards (in service of) a better future, the reality of every moment and the scope of the vision become real.

Let's take a step back:

How many of yo know, It's one matter to dream a thing and it's another matter to walk that thing out.

Q: Do you hear what I am saying?

It's one thing to dream of college, it's another thing to begin classes.

It's one thing to want professional or graduate training, it's another thing to begin studying for the exams, begin reviewing case studies, begin seeing patients.

It's one thing to want to be married; it's another thing to have to share your decision making.

It's one thing to want a friend; it's another thing to be a friend.

It's one thing to want to be free in Christ; it's another thing to surrender all to Jesus.

Can I talk about it today?

The space between--and there is space between--"what I have" and "what I want to have" is full of opportunities and obstacles.

If you experience few opportunities and few obstacles than perhaps what you are going for is relatively similar to what you already have--significant transition is not really required. (This message will be more relevant to you in the next vision you pursue.) But when what you envision significantly repositions how you and people experience life then the difference between the book ends is notable. Matter of fact, it commands attention, commands a response, commands there be some "figuring it out" in order to chart a path forward.

When you get into the thick of things (when the “rubber meets the road”, “when your back is against the cross”) you might ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” and “Can it be done?”

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus endured the cross. But why?

Jesus despised the shame. But how?

Quickly:

Jesus believed He was a divine part of the divine solution. (Matt 20:20-22) (Luke 22:49-51)

Jesus acknowledged roles and timing and recognized that the Cross was His part and this was His season.

(Matt 20:20-22) (Luke 22:49-51)

When comrade Peter drew his sword to defend Jesus from being arrested, Jesus resisted the help, replying, “Permit even this.”

Jesus believed God, and not satan, was the best partner.

Matthew 4:8–11 NKJV

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Jesus believed agreeing with God was most important.

Matthew 26:39 NKJV

39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus believed that seeing clearly/embracing the reality of the human condition was worth the emotion--compassion, joy, anger, love. no fear.

Jesus embraced the children the disciples tried to dismiss. (Mark 10:13-16)

Jesus heard the cries of the ones society told to keep quiet. (Mark 10:46-52)

Jesus crossed ethnic, cultural, regional, political, socioeconomic, gender and religious lines to declare and prove His accessibility and the love of God.

Jesus allowed the betrayal by a friend to lead to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. (Luke 22:47-51)

Jesus was constantly correcting His disciples propensity to shield Jesus from the people and life in Jesus' midst.

Jesus believed solutions were available for present-condition circumstances, and so would not accept apathy, conformity, laziness, lack of ingenuity, lack of faith.

Proving that Jesus was “All in” and paid dearly for His commitment to the vision, purpose and plan of God:

Matthew records...

Matthew 27:27–31 NKJV

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

Acts 8:32–33 NKJV

32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”

Jesus understood victory was worth His cross.

Isaiah 53:10–12 NKJV

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Family, the way Jesus could endure the cross and despise the shame is because of the joy.

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.