On the Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13-35
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him. 17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" 33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Today’s story from the book of Luke is of two disciples walking to Emmaus. I love this story, oh how I long to see Jesus! This story also reminds me of a tag line I once heard. “Man is broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue.” Cleopas and his friend are broken over the sad news that Jesus has been crucified and buried. They had hoped that Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. They had hoped that Jesus would be the long awaited Messiah. Neither understood at the time that Jesus was all that they had hoped for and more. They stood still in their sadness and disbelief as they told their story to the stranger who joined them. As they continued their travel, they spoke to this stranger that a few of the women had gone to anoint the dead and returned proclaiming that Jesus had risen and was alive! But that this was too much to believe.
All of us can identify with these two broken disciples and their failure to believe in the Risen Christ. Life is a difficult journey full of broken things; broken relationships, broken bodies, broken spirits, broken families, broken churches, broken wealth, and broken faith. You can finish my list with your own broken things if you like, but my point is that along with this broken life comes the belief that there is no glue strong enough to fix us and bring us hope. Sin does a very terrible job in breaking things, the wages of sin is death, but before death sets in Someone is revealed to us. Then Someone comes to us. Then someone is raised from the dead. And the name of this Someone is Jesus. Sin is no longer a guarantee of death! Jesus reveals himself to us in Scripture, through the church, and through the Holy Spirit. The grace of God is the Christ Glue mending us and healing us and putting us back together again as often as we need. I am broken today yet mending and Jesus is my glue. And I know that some of you can use a little mending as well. Let Jesus be your glue today! Christ is Risen!
Many of us fail to see Jesus because we are looking for Him in all the wrong places. Some of us are looking for Him in material things, good works, money or power. Some of us are looking for Him in a grave or on a cross. He is not there! He is seated at he right hand of the Father in heaven. If you want to see Jesus, look in His Word and He will reveal Himself to you, just as he did to Cleopas and his friend. My question for you today is, Are you broken? Are you ready to break bread with Jesus? Then you must be mended (SAVED) or you will remain broken. Amen!
Adapted By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
Copyright 2008 © MinTech, Inc.Luke 24:13-35
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him. 17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" 33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Today’s story from the book of Luke is of two disciples walking to Emmaus. I love this story, oh how I long to see Jesus! This story also reminds me of a tag line I once heard. “Man is broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue.” Cleopas and his friend are broken over the sad news that Jesus has been crucified and buried. They had hoped that Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel. They had hoped that Jesus would be the long awaited Messiah. Neither understood at the time that Jesus was all that they had hoped for and more. They stood still in their sadness and disbelief as they told their story to the stranger who joined them. As they continued their travel, they spoke to this stranger that a few of the women had gone to anoint the dead and returned proclaiming that Jesus had risen and was alive! But that this was too much to believe.
All of us can identify with these two broken disciples and their failure to believe in the Risen Christ. Life is a difficult journey full of broken things; broken relationships, broken bodies, broken spirits, broken families, broken churches, broken wealth, and broken faith. You can finish my list with your own broken things if you like, but my point is that along with this broken life comes the belief that there is no glue strong enough to fix us and bring us hope. Sin does a very terrible job in breaking things, the wages of sin is death, but before death sets in Someone is revealed to us. Then Someone comes to us. Then someone is raised from the dead. And the name of this Someone is Jesus. Sin is no longer a guarantee of death! Jesus reveals himself to us in Scripture, through the church, and through the Holy Spirit. The grace of God is the Christ Glue mending us and healing us and putting us back together again as often as we need. I am broken today yet mending and Jesus is my glue. And I know that some of you can use a little mending as well. Let Jesus be your glue today! Christ is Risen!
Many of us fail to see Jesus because we are looking for Him in all the wrong places. Some of us are looking for Him in material things, good works, money or power. Some of us are looking for Him in a grave or on a cross. He is not there! He is seated at he right hand of the Father in heaven. If you want to see Jesus, look in His Word and He will reveal Himself to you, just as he did to Cleopas and his friend. My question for you today is, Are you broken? Are you ready to break bread with Jesus? Then you must be mended (SAVED) or you will remain broken. Amen!
Adapted By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
Original By: Rev. Dr. Dennis R. Bolton
Lexington, South Carolina
Christ is Risen © 2004
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