To Seek And To Save

The Walk Of A Lifetime

Luke 24.13-35

 A.     Their Despondency (vs 17-24) 

1.      Their Hearts Were Sad (vs 17; Prov 12.25;15.13;18.14 ) [- And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? Nothing will bring you down like sadness.  These two disciples give us a brief glimpse into the emotional state of the followers of our Lord.  They felt defeated and they were sad.  This particular Greek word means they had sad countenances.  In other words their whole being declared their sadness.] 

[Sadness has a way of draining the life out of you.  The Bible reminds us:] 

[Proverbs 12:25 ²⁵ Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.]

[Proverbs 15:13 ¹³ A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. ]

[Proverbs 18:14 ¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? ]

[Our Lord himself declared the sadness of these two disciples, and the fact of our Lord’s presence with them on the road to Emmaus should have been a cause of Joy rather than despair.]

2.      Their Hearts Were Slow (vs 25) [– Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe . . . – How were these disciples slow?  They were slow in their belief.  They had heard that the tomb was opened and empty, they had even heard that angles had declared that Jesus was alive, but they were still defeated in their hearts and minds.  Our Lord Jesus Christ declared that they were slow to believe.]   

[It shouldn’t surprise us that these disciples were slow to believe.  Many a professed Christian is slow to believe.] 

[Illustration:  My wife says that I have selective hearing, because she says I only hear those things I want to hear.  She even says that there are certain tones of voice that I just never hear, one of those tones just happens to be the tone of her voice.] 

[Well, many a Christian has selective believing, you will only believe those things that you choose to believe.  There are certain things that, if you believed them, would require a significant sacrifice or a significant change in your lifestyle, so you just choose not to believe them.  Hence you might say you are slow to believe as well.]  

B.      Their Deliberation (vs 25-27) [– Jesus begins to challenge these disciples understanding of the events of the last few days by bringing these events under the illumination of the Word of God.  Jesus challenges them with:] 

1.      The Bibles Revelation (vs 25)  [- Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: - Jesus challenges these disciples by reminding them of all that the prophets said about their Messiah.  The Old Testament contains more than 70 major prophecies and 270 prophetical ramifications concerning the first advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.]   

a.       [The Address of the Messiah - These prophecies are most accurately described as the address of the Messiah. When these prophecies are put together they accurately designate the only individual that is the promised Messiah. These Prophecies include:] 

(1)   [A Bethlehem Birth (Micah 5.2)]

(2)   [The Virgin Birth (Isa 7.14)]

(3)   [The Slaughter of the Innocents (Jer 31.15)]

(4)   [The return from Egypt (Hos 11.1)]

(5)   [The Forerunner (Mal 3.1)]

(6)   [His Betrayal (Psalm 41.9)]

(7)   [The Price of His Betrayal (Zech 11.12)]

(8)   [The Piercing of His Hands and Feet (Zech 12.19)] 

[An Address uses some basic codes to first single out a region of the world, then a region within a country, then a single household with in that region, and finally a single individual within the household.] 

[Jesus was saying to these two disciples on the road to Emmaus that if they had just heard the prophecies contained within their Bible they would have been able to identify the Messiah and would have realized that everything that happened to Jesus God had already said would occur.] 

[The Truths Of Our Lives – My dear Christian friend, don’t be slow to believe those things that God has already said.  Many are discouraged by the circumstances of their personal lives.  Their discouragement has caused them to loose faith in God.  But why?  God has already told you about much of what you will face in and through your Christian journey.  The reason you are discouraged is because you fail to hear and heed the living Word of God.  Just as these disciples ought to have heard the Word of God and then rejoiced at its fulfillment, so should you.] 

2.      Their Expectation (vs 26, cf. 21; Mark 7.8) [- Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?  - It is almost as if Jesus is asking these disciples, “What did you expect?”  Notice what these disciples said to Jesus in verse 21:] 

[Luke 24:21 ²¹ But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel . . . ]

[It’s as if these disciples are saying, “God just didn’t do what He was supposed to do.”  They were still expecting a great deliverance from the Lord Jesus Christ.  What they fail to realize is that they indeed received the biggest deliverance known to mankind.  Yet, it wasn’t the deliverance they expected.] 

[Their expectations, which were not based on the Word of God, but were based on the traditions of men, had led them to dismay.  Our expectations will lead us to the same disabling positions if we are not watching and aware.  Jesus had warned that much of their religious systems were not based on the Word of God.  Jesus said:] 

[Mark 7:8 ⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, . . . ]

[Jesus often told the disciples about His coming death and resurrection.  But for what ever reason Jesus disciples refused to understand what Jesus had said to them.  It seems that often when people find themselves in discouragement or despair it is largely because they are expecting something from God that is contrary to the revealed Word and will of God.] 

3.      God’s Illumination (vs 27; 2 Tim 3.16; Matt 5.17-19) - And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. – What Scriptures did Jesus expound?  Considering that none of the New Testament had yet been penned, we must understand that Jesus manifested Himself in all of the Old Testament Scriptures.  It is most important to note this plenary fact.  All of the Bible is inspired by God and is useful for your spiritual growth.  The Bible declares:] 

[2 Timothy 3:16 ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ]

[Jesus illuminated all of the Old Testament Scriptures concerning His manifestation on that road that day.  Christians who ignore and neglect the Old Testament in their personal Bible studies and devotions are neglecting God’s revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This was the Bible Jesus declared to these two disciples on the Road to Emmaus.  Those who assume that the Old Testament was meant for the dispensation of Law or for ancient civilizations will deprive themselves of much of the revelation provided by God about our Savior.]

[Jesus did not neglect the Old Testament Scriptures, not even after His resurrection.]

[It was Jesus who during His earthly ministry said:]

[Matthew 5:17-19 ¹⁷ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.]

[There is nothing wrong with diligently studying the New Testament, but if you neglect the Old Testament because you focus solely on the New Testament then you are missing the largest portion of the revealing Word of God.]

C.     Their Delight (vs 28-35) [– As they come to Emmaus these disciples compel Jesus to stay with them, and as they are breaking bread for supper, for what ever reason they suddenly realize who Jesus is and He vanishes from their sight.  It is at this realization that they understand that:] 

1.      Jesus Satisfied Their Hearts (vs 32; Heb 4.12; Jer 17.10; Prov 17.3) [Conviction - And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? – There had been a deep conviction working inside of these two disciples to whole time they were listening to their Lord.  The truth of God’s Word was finding its mark in their heart and understanding.] 

[Many approach the Bible as a book that must touch their minds, rather it is a truth that must touch their hearts.  The Bible declares:] 

[Hebrews 4:12 ¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.]

[The Word of God does not seek to just change your mind, it seeks to change your life.  It seeks to transform you from the inside out. The Word of God is about a person, not a law code.  The written Word of God is about the living Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.] 

[Understand that God will not be able to get a hold of your mind until He first gets a hold of your heart.  Hence God says,] 

[Jeremiah 17:10 ¹⁰ I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. ]

[Proverbs 17:3 ³ The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts].

[As Jesus taught these disciples He was not working on their minds nearly as much as He was working on their hearts.  Jesus wants to get a hold of your life, but He will only be able to do that when you allow the Lord Jesus Christ to get a hold of your heart.] 

2.      Jesus Satisfied Their Home (vs 30-31; Exodus 3.5; Rom 10.9-10) [Manifestation - And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. - He turned their home into a sanctuary, and their meal into a sacrament. That is what Jesus does every time He comes into your "house-life"; He makes it a sanctuary. [—Olford's Expository Preaching Outlines]] 

[When Moses approached the burning bush God called out to Moses and said,] 

[Exodus 3:5 ⁵ And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. ]

[What was it that made that ground holy?  What was it that turned that mountain side into a sanctuary?  It wasn’t the bush.  It wasn’t Moses.  It was the presence of Almighty God.  When Jesus joined these two men in their home it was the presence of Lord that turned that home into a sanctuary.] 

[Not only did Jesus turn their home into a sanctuary He turned their meal into a sacrament.  For these two men, when Jesus broke that bread, their mind realized who Jesus was, that was the moment of their salvation.  They realized that the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected physically from the dead and they believed in Him.]  

[There are some in our world who do not believe in the physical resurrection of our Lord.  They figure it just is not necessary for their salvation. But the Bible states,] 

[Romans 10:9-10 ⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.]

3.      Jesus Satisfied Their Happiness (vs 33-35) [Proclamation - And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, ³⁴ Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. ³⁵ And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.  - Where is Happiness? ] 

a.       [Not in Unbelief-Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: "I wish I had never been born."]  

b.      [Not in Pleasure-Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: "The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone." ] 

c.       [Not in Money-Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth." ] 

d.      [Not in Position and Fame-Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret."]  

e.       [Not in Military Glory-Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, because he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer." ] 

f.        [In Christ Alone - Where then is happiness found?-the answer is simple, in Christ alone." [– The Bible Friend, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (Rockville, Md., 1979), p. 682.]] 

[For these two disciples everything in their life was for ever changed when they realized that the resurrected Savior was with them.  They got up, risked their lives and well being, traveled back to Jerusalem, and shared the resurrected Lord and Savior with the other disciples.]

CrossRoads Baptist Church, March 30, 2008