“The Forest-for-the-Trees Syndrome”
Luke 24:13-35
Have you ever heard someone recommend, “Don’t miss the forest for the trees?” Or a person say, “You can’t see the forest for the trees!”? That phrase simply means that someone is so overly occupied with all the details and loads of information that they miss the main point. It’s when someone is so inundated with the intricacies of a situation that they miss the impact of it.
That phrase describes well the two men walking to Emmaus on a Sunday Evening about 5:00 back in about AD 30. They were so immersed in the weekend’s incredible turn of events that they didn’t even understand the point of everything that happened. It wasn’t random or ridiculous; it was prophesied and predictable. Yet, in the flurry of activity surrounding the mock trial of Jesus, his crucifixion and burial, as well as the reported resurrection, these two men missed the very person all the events were pointing towards. In other words, they missed the forest for the trees.
So take your Bible and turn to Luke 24, and put a finger on verse 17. While you’re turning there, here’s some background. Emmaus was a city just 7 miles southwest of Jerusalem (24:13). I think these two men were part of the morning’s conversation with the women, but were still wandering in doubt and debate. As they walked and worried, suddenly Jesus joins them (24:15), but the two guys weren’t allowed to recognize him in his post-resurrection body (24:16). We’re not sure why, but it is clear there is a divine blindfold in place here. Let’s pick it up now in Luke 24:17
[Exegete Luke 24:17-24]
• 24:17-18 lets us know they were not resurrection believers yet. The word “downcast” indicates disappointment and discouragement.
• In addition, they were surprised that this newcomer to their walk wasn’t aware of the most recent events in the city of Jerusalem (24:18). In fact, they assumed he was a guest!
• As a way to update their guest, Cleopas and his friend begin to fill Jesus in (who he was, why he came, and why they were disappointed). Not surprising, though, their commentary is in the past tense (24:19-24), affirming they were in a state of unbelief and doubt. Quite honestly, they were assuming it was all over and done. And they were simply letting Jesus know what happened.
• In addition, their commentary was quite extensive (24:19-24); they knew a lot of information. Yet, none of it was penetrating their hearts and minds. It was just information without any impact. By the way, that’s what religion is – information without impact! Its lots of trees with no connection to the forest.
Isn’t it intriguing how they were so “informed,” yet so “in-the-dark”? Information on their terms seemed to be primary to Cleopas and his friend, and a relationship on God’s terms seemed to be secondary. They were overly occupied with what they knew, not who they knew.
You can see why I say that Cleopas and his friend were having difficulty believing because of what I call the Forest-for-the-Trees Syndrome. What is that? The Forest-for-the-Trees Syndrome occurs when there are so many things for one to see that one can’t see the one thing.
In a simple contrast, it would look something like this:
Information vs. Interaction
(“There’s a lot of trees here.” vs. “This is a beautiful forest!”
Fortunately, Christ doesn’t leave them in this no-man’s land, this contrasting desert of unbelief and doubt. He rescued them from the “inferno of information.” Let me show you.
[Exegete Luke 24:25-32]
• Christ confronts their religion – their unbelief (24:25). And he begins to bring them towards faith and belief by using the Scriptures (24:27). But this time it isn’t information without a connection. Instead, it is information tied to a person. Luke 24:27 says, “concerning himself.” That’s when information turns to interaction: when Jesus becomes the focal point of it all! It all came together when the Scriptures were explained with the relationship in mind.
• Based on what we read here (24:27), Jesus used much of the Old testament to explain the Gospel. Rest assured, church, all of the Bible points to the cross. The Old Testament points forwards, and the New Testament points backwards. In every book, though, it is God’s redemptive hand throughout history that shines clearly.
• As he did this, we know from 24:32 that their hearts were “burning” within, indicating that the light bulbs were starting to come on! As he connected the trees to the forest, guess what? Impact! Interaction! A relationship!
• Luke 24:31 says “their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” WOW! The text doesn’t tell us specifically why they recognized him at this point, except that it was during the breaking of bread. Was this communion? Simply a meal? We don’t know. My personal opinion is that when they saw his hands and the scars, the lights came on. Up to this point the interaction, though not distant, was still not very close. They were traveling, so it was a casual conversation. But when you eat with someone, you get closer, don’t you? They did, and at that point – probably when he gave thanks and broke the bread – all the Scriptures Jesus had planted burst forth and their eyes were wide open to the truth of who was actually with them – Jesus!
• What do they do? Luke 24:33-35 confirms they did exactly what the women did that morning: They got up and went and told the others. Even though it was probably close to 9:00 pm, Cleopas and his friend went back to Jerusalem, excited and confident about the truth. Now, all the information made sense; what was once a lot of “trees” was now a beautiful “forest;” the many things that were blurry were now a main thing that was crystal clear.
Yes, these two gentlemen finally got the main thing! You’ve heard that line before, haven’t you? You know, the one that says, “Keep the main thing the main thing.” Why was that circulated as a popular saying? Why did someone feel it necessary to encourage us in that way? Because of a simple change in only 3 letters: “main thing” to “many things!” Look at the screen here…see how easily the “main thing” can become “many things”? Main Thing to Many Things [SHOW SLIDE] That’s right – Someone finally figured out that people get distracted, become detoured and off-centered; that we often start seeing many things, not the main thing! We become all-consumed with information about Jesus and forget the main thing: interaction with Jesus! So some wise guy (or girl) somewhere finally made it simple for us all, didn’t she/he? And he or she said one day, “Keep the main thing the main thing!” Good advice, isn’t it? That’s simply another way of making sure we don’t miss the forest for the trees!
Listen very carefully, church. If all I have is information about Jesus, I have a religion that suffocates. But when I have (information that leads to) interaction with Jesus, I have a relationship that saves. Remember 24:27? “He explained to them all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Before this encounter, information was primary and the relationship secondary. Suddenly, the relationship was primary, the information secondary. All because of interacting with Jesus, the one to whom all Scripture points as the “only mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus!” (1 Timothy 2:5).
This is what everyone needs – an interaction with Jesus! Do you know what that is called? Salvation! It’s when a man or woman comes face-to-face with the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ and, consequently, humbly repents of their pride and sin. This repentance is followed by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as our only way to heaven (the Gospel as explained in the Scriptures), and at that split-second in time God works a miracle in the heart of that man or woman – he internally and eternally changes their spiritual DNA and makes them a child of God instead of a child of the devil. This is what matters most; this is the main thing!
Unfortunately, many people get distracted from that saving relationship and attracted to a suffocating religion. How sad! Many of them are knowledgeable, moral, upright, even “churchified.” But they’re lost because all they are banking on is head knowledge about Jesus, not heart-belief in Jesus. My question to you today is this: Which word describes you? Information of interaction? Religion or relationship? Head or heart?
Let me show you an example of someone who suffered from the same syndrome for years but finally understood the Scriptures and believed. Turn to Philippians 3 and look at a brief synopsis of the life of Paul.
Paul, in Phil 3:4-6, describes how he knew a lot about Jesus and God, at least from an informational point of view. And he says he was the best of the best at being religious. Yet he was still lost.
But in Phil 3:7ff, he describes his new found passion for a relationship with the living Jesus! Yes, he talks in terms of a relationship, not a religion. And why not? After the Damascus road interaction with Jesus Christ (Acts 9), Paul became fully aware of who was behind the what! Thus, he desired to know him personally – “that I may know him!” (Phil 3:10)
In fact, it was Paul who used two different words for “know” in the New Testament. “Know” in a mental way (gnosko…factually and from a distance) and “know” in a personal, experiential way. (epignosko…personally and experientially). Guess which one is used in Phil 3? You got it – epignosko!
So what do we do? I take you back to the beginning – don’t miss the forest because of the trees! If you are here this morning, confused by religion and wandering due to doubt, let me clear away the brush and point you to the One that all the Scriptures point to – Jesus Christ! Start there, and everything will make sense in due time. [GOSPEL AND PRAYER]
If you are here this morning frustrated with others who don’t believe, I encourage you to quit trying to “inform” them into heaven! Here’s a tip: love them to Jesus! Obey the Word yourself, answer questions honesty and humbly, then get out of the way and let God do what he does best – reveal himself so that men and women are drawn to him in salvation. That’s the kind of impact that makes the biggest difference to those caught in the “Forest-for-the-Trees” Syndrome. That’s the best way to partner with God as he leads them out of the religion of information towards a relationship of impact with Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray!
Close w/ “Heart of Worship”
