Luke 24:13-35
“The Eyes Have It”
By: Rev. Ken Sauer, Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, Soddy Daisy, TN www.graceumcsd.org
In their song entitled Eleanor Rigby the Beatles address the loneliness that seems to pervade much of our world.
“Ah, look at all the lonely people…
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?”
In our day the bonds of community have broken apart at an alarming degree.
Most persons no longer know their neighbors.
More persons than ever can not name one close friend—besides a spouse—with whom they share a close relationship.
People are lonely!!!
People no longer sit on front porches and interact with passer-by’s.
Instead, when and if we are outside, we sit on a deck in a fenced-in back-yard!
My wife Jeanne often says we were created for communal living, and I think she may be right.
After-all that is how the first Christians lived.
They had found a Power greater than their differences.
They were so close to one another that they sold their material possessions and made a common fund from which the basic needs of everyone were met.
This past week at Grace we had two work-nights in a row.
We planted flowers, laid down mulch.
Some of us worked inside cleaning out closets and Sunday school rooms, fixing cabinets in the kitchen, and changing out the hot-water heater under the sink in the Narthex.
Sounds like a lot of work.
Right?
It wasn’t really.
It was more about community or if we want to use the Greek word—koinonia—which means fellowship—a profound oneness and unity.
Any person who came out did not need to worry about being lonely.
And that’s the way it is within the Church.
Church is about community.
It’s a reiteration of God’s decree that humans were not created to be alone.
The more we become involved in the community of faith—whether it be joining the choir, coming to Sunday school, coming out to Wednesday night Bible Study, attending United Methodist Men’s or Women’s groups, coming to Youth group, staying for Lunch on the Grounds, participating in outreach activities—the less lonely we are…
…the more connected we become to the community…
…and the more we grow in our faith!
Life becomes more meaningful, and soon we find that, not only do we have more than one friend—we have a whole church full!!!
Another special thing we have here at Grace are Band Societies.
I know it’s a funny name, but it comes from the early Methodist Movement.
There are a number of folks who have been involved in a band society for several months, and I understand they have been exceedingly helpful in creating bonds of friendship, and coming very close to other Christians who love them and pray for them.
Band societies are small groups that meet weekly.
If you are not currently in a Band Society and you would like to be…
…please come and speak with me after the worship service this morning—we’ll get you plugged in!!!
There is no good excuse to be lonely within the community of faith.
In our Gospel Lesson for this morning we come in contact with two folks who had been disciples of Jesus Christ.
Obviously the circle of disciples was larger than just the Twelve.
These two people were sadly returning to their homes after the Sabbath and the tragic death of Jesus.
Their destination was the village of Emmaus, about seven miles northwest of Jerusalem.
As they walked along, talking about everything that had happened, “Jesus himself came up and walked along with them.
He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’
They stood still, with their faces downcast.
One 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?”
The conversation continues as they walk together—with Christ—on the Road to Emmaus.
They felt so alone, so dejected, so sad.
They missed Jesus so much.
Their hopes had been dashed because Jesus of Nazareth has been crucified.
Maybe some of our hopes have been dashed as well.
Perhaps a marriage has ended in divorce.
Perhaps a serious dating relationship has come to an end.
Maybe our children have not yet embraced our faith in Jesus.
Perhaps we feel as if we don’t quite fit-in with the rest of society.
Maybe we feel we have no close friends in whom we can confide and share life together.
Perhaps we have lost hope of this ever happening.
Anyhow, these two disciples’ hopes had been dashed because Jesus had been crucified, and yet here He is walking and talking with them—and they don’t even know it!!!
They tell Jesus about the crucifixion.
Then they tell Him how some of the women had found the tomb empty that morning, and how they had seen a vision of angels, who told them that Jesus was alive.
And then, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
This must have been raising some hope within their souls.
They were intrigued and fascinated with what Jesus was saying to them—even though they still didn’t know it was Jesus.
They were really getting to like this guy’s company!!!
They weren’t feeling so alone now that Jesus was walking with them and talking with them.
It’s interesting, you know?
Jesus is always walking and talking with each and every one of us.
Jesus talks to us through the miracle of creation…
…through the budding of the trees…
…through the laughter of children…
…through the love and care of our brothers and sisters in Christ…
And Jesus talks to us through the Scripture and through the Holy Spirit Who convicts us and brings us into Truth….
…and yet, oftentimes we don’t even know it!
Perhaps we are just too wrapped up in our own thoughts.
Perhaps we would rather attend our own lonely pity party.
Whatever it is, Jesus is always walking and talking to us—and we don’t even know it!!!...
…but when we do become aware of it…
…when we do stop and listen…
…we find hope rising out of the ashes of sin and despair…
…and we find that we aren’t so lonely anymore!!!
Anyhow, as Jesus and the two disciples approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted
as if He were just going to keep on walking.
But, oh, wait a minute!!!
These disciples had been falling in love with this so-called stranger—or at least with what He had been telling them.
They had begun to feel hope again!
They were not so lonely.
They didn’t want to part company.
They needed this person desperately.
They wanted Him to talk with them more!
After-all, while they had walked on the way to Emmaus, while Jesus had been talking to them, their hearts had been burning within them and the Scriptures had been coming to life!!!
And this is what happens to all of us as we listen to and walk with Jesus!
Our hearts are set ablaze with love and the Scriptures become much more than just some book…
…they become living and active…
…the very essence of our lives!!!
So they implored Jesus to stay the night with them.
So, Jesus “went in to stay with them.”
How desperately we need Jesus when we are treading through the shadows of life!
How desperately we need Jesus at all times!
And look how willing Jesus is to come and stay with us!!!
Jesus says in Revelation Chapter 3: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
Have you listened for Jesus?
He’s knocking on the door of your heart.
Have you asked Him to come in?
And so Jesus and the two disciples go inside and prepare to eat dinner.
And when they sat down and were prepared to eat, Jesus “took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him…”
This is not the only Post-Resurrection appearance where the disciples see Jesus for the first time at a meal.
Therefore, as Christians, Holy Communion is a time in which we seek to see and know once again who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us.
As United Methodist Christians Holy Communion is one of two sacraments.
The other is baptism.
We believe that, at Holy Communion, Jesus comes down to meet us and that Christ’s Real Presence is with us in a special way.
Wesley believed that persons could even be converted at the Communion Table—as their eyes are opened and they recognize Christ!!!
Perhaps this has happened to you or perhaps this will happen to you this morning.
John Wesley’s mother, Susanna, had been a believer her entire life.
She had also been a scholar in her own right.
But it wasn’t until August of 1739 that she had her own experience of personal assurance of salvation that God had forgiven her all her sins, whereas previously she had reservations about this type of assurance.
This assurance came to her at Holy Communion.
Susanna wrote in her journal,
“When my son Hall was pronouncing those words, in delivering the cup to me, ‘The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given thee,’ the words struck through my heart, and I knew God for Christ’s sake had forgiven me all my sins.”
Following this conversion Susanna Wesley finally affiliated herself with the Methodist movement of renewal and its doctrines.
Upon seeing the Risen Christ, the two disciples got up and returned right away to Jerusalem.
They found their friends saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen…”
All the dark shadows had disappeared.
They had invited the Risen Christ in, and their eyes had been opened!!!
The Beatles asked in their song,
“All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?”
The lonely people are all around us.
They ride with us to school on the bus.
They work with us.
They live next door.
They are lonely, and they will remain lonely unless you and I invite them to come into this community to meet the Risen Christ!!!
