Known To Them

Luke 24: 13 - 35

Intro: The story is told of a woman of modest means who received a letter from Jesus informing her of his impending visit. She cleaned her small home, took what money she had and purchased food to fix and serve Jesus when he arrived. One the way home from the store, she met a young woman who asked if the woman could help her with food for her children. The woman gave her what she had purchased. Further along the street she saw a person shivering in the cold and she took off her coat and gave it to her. As she walked home, the woman thought to herself that she had given away all she had. What would she do when Jesus came? When she arrived home, she found a note in her mailbox thanking her for the warm coat and the food. It was signed, “your friend, Jesus.”

I The story of the Emmaus walk is only in Luke where it is the first appearance of the resurrected Jesus who goes unrecognized.

A VS. 16 – “but they were kept from recognizing Him. What kept them from recognizing Him?

B Perhaps it was their disappointment, their grief, their disbelief or what once they thought was worth their whole life was now gone. VS. 21 “but we had hope that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”

C What should we do when we have reached our wit’s end, when we are washed up emotionally, financially, physically, or spiritually?

II The love of Christ Jesus for us is such that we are always free to turn our backs upon him, close the door of our hearts against Him, or bolt our minds shut in fear.

A Jesus never forces himself upon us. Faith must always be a spontaneous, voluntary response to God’s grace even in times of turmoil and trouble.

B VS. 25 & 26 – “He (Jesus) 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!’”

C We’ve all had disappointments when things don’t turn out the way we had planned. Fear of the unknown future may keep us from responding to the call of Christ Jesus to come and follow where He would lead.

III We may have our own “Emmaus walk.” Think of the walk to Emmaus as whatever we do or wherever we go to make ourselves forget that the world holds nothing sacred. Emmaus may the place to which we retreat when life is too much for us.

A Perhaps you hoped that Jesus would be there for you. You feel disappointed that life is not what you expected or anticipated.

B VS. 29- “But they urged him (Jesus) strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.”

C At our “Emmaus place” we can invite Christ Jesus to say with us. Jesus uses 4 verbs at the table and the disciples recognize Him. Takes, blesses, breaks, gives.

Concl: Cleopas and the other disciple go back to Jerusalem. We cannot stay isolated from Christ. Resurrection is not the end of the story; it is the beginning. The risen Lord continues to be present with us. You may look for Christ in beautiful churches behind stained glass windows. We must recognize that Christ Jesus is always in the ordinary places and times of our lives. Christ Jesus was known to them in the breaking of bread. How will he be known to you?