Two disciples were walking with Jesus but they did not recognise him.
• They could tell Jesus what had happened, but they did not understanding it.
• Jesus said, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (v.25)
• He took time to explain the Scriptures, beginning from Moses and all the Prophets, concerning Himself.
• Later, while He was eating with them, the disciples’ eyes were opened and they recognised Him (v.31).
The two then went back to Jerusalem and told the rest of the group.
• Jesus appeared to them, and also ate in their presence.
• He explained to them again from the Scriptures, the fulfilment of what was written about Himself, in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.
• 24:45 “Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
Jesus directed the disciples back to the Scriptures.
• The answers are all there, but they need to understand it.
God has given us the Scriptures. In it we have the answers to life.
• We know who God is, we know why we are here, and we know why we need Jesus.
• But sadly this is not always true. People can have a Bible and not read it, and not understanding it.
• They do not recognise God’s work in their life. They do not recognise Jesus, even though He has been present with them.
When we buy something new, we always find a manual with it.
• The manual is essential especially when we have no idea of how to set up and use the product.
• The manual explains and teaches us what the product is capable of doing and what needs to be done to ensure its maximum performance.
Many of us use computers but have never taken the time to read the manual that comes with it.
• For some of us, we use it only for simple tasks, like emailing or browsing the web.
• The computer is capable of doing more, it can perform many more functions but we are not using them.
• We can use computer now to make free calls and communicate with friends from all over the world. And you can see their faces when you talk to them. But not every one of us knows this, or knows how to use this.
It is like this life that God has given us.
• There are many incredible things that we are capable of but know nothing about.
• God has given us a manual to inform us of who we are and what we can do, and how we can achieve greater things through Him.
• But do we value this manual enough to read it? And seek to understand it?
• This manual is called the Bible.
Jesus explained everything from the Scriptures.
• He directed the disciples’ attention to what was written in the Scriptures. This is where we find the truth, and where we find the hope we need.
• God’s will for us have been revealed in the Scriptures. Whatever is written here is very important. We need to read it, study it and most of all, UNDERSTAND it.
• Through the help of the Holy Spirit, the Lord will enlighten us on what we read.
• He will open our eyes so that we can recognise Him.
• We need to know what has been written here.
These two disciples had heard about the resurrection of Christ from Mary and Peter.
• But because they were not personally there to see the evidence, or they did not understand what was going on, they were afraid and discouraged.
• They decided to go back home to Emmaus and return to their old way of life.
• In plain language they had given up on Jesus because they could not understand and interpret the Scriptures correctly.
Many give up on Christ when they encounter problems, because they do not understand what God is doing.
• Jesus did not give up on these two disciples, and He will not give up on us too.
• Jesus knew their need and came to where they were, joined them and revealed Himself to them from the Scriptures.
• Today He comes to you and reveals Himself to you in the same way.
• Search the Scriptures and you will find God’s answer for you.
Dear friends, do you know Jesus and what He has done for you?
• The Bible says He is our Saviour. We need to be saved because we have fallen into sin, every one of us.
• We have chosen to turn away from God, and this is what we deserved.
• The penalty of sin is death, but Jesus came and died in your place.
Christ died in your place to pay the penalty for your sin and rose from the dead to prove God’s acceptance of His sacrifice.
• But that is only the facts. Knowing the fact is one thing, you need to accept it.
• The Bible says we need to confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord, and believe in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead.
The two disciples in this passage knew that the tomb was empty but could not understand what that means.
• Until they see for themselves, the living Christ standing in their midst.
• It’s no longer something they know, but something they experienced.
• Christ is here with us today, brothers and sisters. He dwells in our heart.
The two disciples could not understand the significance of Jesus’ resurrection at first because their focus was somewhere else.
• They were discouraged by all that has happened. They were worried about the future of their group. They were afraid that the authorities will arrest them.
• In short, they were looking at their problems. They were not thinking about what Christ has said, or what has been written in the Scriptures.
• When we focus on our problems, we will not see Jesus. Even though He is with us.
• Apostle Peter could walk on upon the waters because he took his eyes off Jesus, and saw the storm.
So the two disciples ended up walking away in the wrong direction - away from the fellowship of believers in Jerusalem and back to Emmaus.
• If we look only at our problems, we too will end up walking away in the wrong direction.
• We fail to understand what God is doing. We begin to doubt the Scriptures.
All of us have gone through times of disappointments, and some of us may be going through them at this time.
• There have been times when we have prayed and prayed and no answer.
• There have been times when we have prayed and the problems got worse.
• There have been times when we have lost all hope.
What does this mean? It does NOT mean that God has left us.
• It only means we have lost our focus, our vision of Christ was blurred.
• In such situations, we must go back to the Scriptures, and recall what God has said.
The Lord will come to us.
• He will draw near and walk with us, to help us understand His words and His plan for us.
• He will talk to us, and open our understanding so that we can clearly see Him and the hope we have.
God will never abandon His children. The truth is, we often abandon Him.
• God will not go where He is not welcomed. If you do not want Him, He will leave us alone.
• If we want to keep pushing God out of our life, if we continue to ignore His Word, if we continue to break His commandments, then why should we expect him to be there for us?
But we thank God, because He is always present where He is welcome.
• No matter what we are going through, the good news is that sooner or later Christ will meet our needs just as He met the needs of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
• Instead of being preoccupied with our problems we should look up to Christ.
God wants us to remember we are His beloved children, and He cares for us.
• When we take the communion today, remember this.
• Recognise that the Lord is present in your life, to walk with you and help you.
• The problems you see around you did not change that fact.
• God promised never to leave us nor forsake us.
The times we are facing difficult problems is the time you need to keep our eyes on Christ.
• It is the time to turn to the Scriptures and to other believers for help.
• Christ knows the solution and will enlighten us from the Scriptures.
The two disciples immediately went back to share this new revelation about their Messiah.
• They were no longer afraid or without hope and didn’t care it was dark because this good news could not wait until morning.
• The short fellowship with the living Christ changed them. They received peace, hope and encouragement.
• When you really hear from Christ, whether in your devotion, in bible study or from a sermon, you will be encouraged.
• We must not neglect meeting together because God wants to speak to us and help us in our circumstances.
There is a popular poem called FOOTPRINTS.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes form his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
Jesus can take what seems like the most hopeless situation and turn it around.
• If our life is moving in the wrong direction we can trust Jesus to turn things around.
• If we will only allow Him, He will put us on the same road again only this time with a new joy, a new hope, and a new purpose in life.
• What these two disciples experienced can be our portion today.
• Trust Him.
