Grasp The Truth

“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’ They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’

“’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. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.’

“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But 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. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:13-32, NIV.)

Show a video of Devil’s Kettle in Minnesota ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul1b_3eH9sA ).

Until now, no one could explain where the water goes that flows into that rocky “container.”

In the case of spiritual truth, it seems people would regard it just a simple thing that they could just find it in their own way.

On our own, we need to accept our incompetence to do it. But, we can also do something to… GRASP THE TRUTH, which is the title of our topic today, as we deal with our text (Luke 2:13-32).

So, how could we really grasp the truth? Is there anything we can do to have it?

Before we supply the answer, let’s realize that the account in our text happened after Jesus suffered His horrible death on the cross. And on the very early morning of the first day of the week, the women who had prepared spices and perfumes for His body went to tomb of Jesus.

But, they could not find the body and while wondering where it was, two men “in clothes that gleamed like lightning” appeared and told them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!...” (vv. 4-6.)

When they returned from the tomb, they told the eleven and the other disciples, but they did not believe.

Later in that day, as we come to our text, two of those disciples left Jerusalem and went to a village called Emmaus, about two and half hour average walk.

While they walked, the resurrected Jesus joined them. And in their encounter, we could also learn how in our time we could learn to arrive in the truth. So, how could we do it?

First, IDENTIFY OUR NEGATIVE FEELINGS (vv. 17-26)

We read verses 13-26:

“He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’ They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’ ‘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. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.’ He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’”