COMMUNING WITH JESUS
Luke 24:13-32
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: WHY GRANDMA WAS SPEEDING
1. Freda is over 90 years old and lives in the Woodlands. And she still drives her car to the mall and to church every week.
2. But then one day she was caught speeding. When asked by the police officer why she was speeding, she replied, "I'm very sorry for going so fast, officer, but my memory is getting worse and worse."
3. "So what has your memory got to do with your speeding?" asked the officer.
4. "Because I’m trying to get to the stores before I forget which stores I’m going to!" replied Freda.
B. MOSES’ COMMUNION WITH GOD
1. Exodus 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
2. Ex. 33:9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.
3. Commune (defined): “to converse or talk together, usually with profound intensity, intimacy, etc.; interchange thoughts or feelings.”
4. We can commune with God in the Holy of Holies too, like Moses, thanks to Jesus; “19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh….22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 10:19-22.
C. KEY TEXT
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Luke 24:13-32.
D. THESIS
1. “Communion” speaks of our glorious fellowship with God that fulfills the purpose of our existence. Yet how is it possible?
2. Since the entrance of sin we can’t commune with God: “for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?” 2 Cor. 6:14.
3. But Jesus redeemed us, taking away the source of our separation, and restored our fellowship with God by His death on the cross. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:9.
1 John 1:3, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
4. We’re going to look at the communion of the 2 disciples, why they didn’t recognize Jesus, how His absence affected them, and what they did when they saw Him.
5. The title of this message is “Communing With Jesus.”
I. REASONS WHY SAINTS DON’T KNOW GOD IS NEAR
1. When the Lord appeared unto Jacob, he said, “Surely the Lord was in this place, and I knew it not” Gen. 28:16. The same kind of thing happened here.
2. The Bible says, “their eyes were restrained.” There was a blinding cause in them. What was it? Could it be possible for US not to detect the Lord’s presence? If so, what might cause this?
A. OUR EYES CAN BE BLINDED BY SORROW
1. The Lord Himself remarked that the 2 disciples were sad, and they agreed.
2. They told of their hopes of His Messiahship being disappointed. And of his death, burial, and that now even His body was missing.
3. Maybe some of you are unaware of the Lord’s proximity due to overwhelming sadness.
4. There’s no sorrow for the Christian like the loss of their Master’s presence! Some have said, “O that I knew where I might find Him!”
B. DON’T SEE BECAUSE DISTRACTED BY THE WORLD
1. The Rich Young Ruler, Martha, Demas and many others have allowed themselves to be distracted and not make a proper appraisal of the Lord. He was self-absorbed, like many people today. It’s the plague of modern times.
2. This usually leads people to make bad decisions or choose the world over Christ. Peter and 6 other disciples decided to go back to their fishing boats again. The Resurrected Lord met them and called them a 2nd time to follow Him.
C. DON’T SEE BECAUSE LOOKING BACKWARDS
1. Lot’s Wife had been counted as a righteous person by God. She had held the angel’s hand as she and Lot & their daughters were led out of Sodom.
2. But she didn’t perceive the presence of the Lord with them because she was always looking backwards to what her heart longed for – the world! Be careful your heart doesn’t go after the world!
3. Many scholars think that these 2 disciples, after Jesus’ death, had decided to go back home and no longer follow Jesus. But Jesus came and confirmed His resurrection and Lordship to them!
D. DON’T SEE BECAUSE FORGOT GOD
1. James said many Christians are like “someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” James 1:23-24.
2. That’s how fast many people forget about God! I’ve seen people get saved on Sunday, and the next Friday night be back in the night clubs carousing and drinking!
3. The Israelites in the wilderness made a golden calf just days after Jehovah brought them through the Red Sea!
4. I’m sure some of Jesus disciples didn’t recognize Him for the were so forgetful of spiritual things, seeing only the physical.
II. HOW JESUS’ ABSENCE AFFECTED THEM
A. THEY WERE SAD
1. I hope you would be so dependent on the Lord’s presence that you would notice if He’d left you! But not everyone does notice.
a. Samson didn’t know it; “But he did not know that the Lord had left him” Judges 16:20.
b. King Saul didn’t know God had left him (1 Sam. 16:14).
c. Ananias & Sapphira had gotten away from God, but didn’t know it. THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE AWAY FROM GOD?
B. THEY CONVERSED TOGETHER
1. Though they didn’t know that their Master was there, they conversed together—a good example for all Christians.
2. It’s good for Christians to get together. Whether you’re full of faith or not, it’s still good to talk about the things of God!
3. “The strong ought to bear the failings of the weak” Rom. 15:1. “Two are better than one….If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” Eccles. 4:9-10.
4. One of them was saying, “I’ve lost my Lord!” and the other answered, “I’ve lost my Lord, too!” Suffering together makes it easier.
5. Talk about Jesus; what you know of Him; of your sorrows about Him; even of your neglects of Him; your sins against Him. As long as you’re talking about Him, it will be good. Confess your faults to one another, pray for one another, join your prayers together.
6. For if two of you are agreed, you know the power agreement has with heaven. “They that feared the Lord spoke often to one another.”
7. A book of remembrance was written before him about them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” Mal. 3:16. Church, even if you are out of fellowship with Jesus, don’t forsake the assemblies of God’s people! We need each other!
C. THEY TALKED OF JESUS TO OTHERS
1. In addition to talking with each other, they were ready to be communicate with others about Jesus. Another pilgrim on the road came up and asked them a question and they weren’t shy, but readily gave him an answer.
2. They poured out their hearts to Him, and He talked to them, and they were soon on the way to being instructed.
3. It’s amazing how we can travel all over the world in an airplane not six inches from another person but never say anything about Jesus to them! It ought not to be that way.
4. We should always be looking for opportunities to talk about the Lord we love!
5. ILLUS. One lady was complaining that she knew the Lord had left her and would never have anything to do with her. She was a spiritual hypochondriac. They lack assurance of salvation.
a. So Spurgeon said, “If that’s the case then why don’t you go ahead and completely renounce the Lord? As a matter of fact, I’ll give you $100 to renounce the Lord!”
b. She was scandalized; she looked at him with utter horror. “$100? I wouldn’t give Christ up for 5,000 worlds!”
c. “But you haven’t got Him, you said.” “No, sir, maybe I don’t, but I’ll never give Him up!” Ah, there came out the real truth!
d. So was it with these two disciples. They didn’t have
Jesus, but they wouldn’t give Him up!
D. THEY WERE HUNGRY FOR TEACHING ABOUT HIM
1. Though He was lost to them, they were hungry for teaching about Him. Jesus opened the Word: from Moses through the prophets. Do you have a teachable heart, ready to receive the engrafted Word of God?
2. Some have thought that the breaking of bread that night was only Christ’s ordinary way of offering a blessing before meat. But they had already eaten when He took the bread and blessed it.
3. I think at that moment they recognized the marks of the nails in His hands!
III. ACTIONS WHEN THEY DISCOVER THEIR LORD
“Their eyes were opened, and they knew Him.” What then?
A. THEY SAW THE EVIDENCES OF HIS PRESENCE
1. “Did not our hearts burn within us while He spoke with us by the way?” This heavenly heartburn never comes to any but through the presence of the Lord Jesus!
2. I’ve heard a poor lost person say, “Oh, how I wish that I could find the Savior, but I can’t find Him.” Why? Your heart is burning after Him! Who is it that makes you long after Him? It’s God Himself! He is near you.
3. “But I feel so much of the evil of sin!” Oh, but your Savior is near you! The summer of your soul is approaching. The ice is melting, the trees are beginning to bud, and spring has come!
4. The Lord is not far from you, and one day you’ll say, “I thought I couldn’t find Him, but all the while He was close upon me!”
5. Do you think you would have your heart burning like that if He had quite gone? I think not! He must have been near.”
6. ILLUSTRATION
You are blindfolded, and cannot see the fire; yet, if on a cold day you get very hot, I should think there must be a fire near you! Similarly, you can’t see Jesus, but you can sense the heat of His presence, so you know He’s very near you!
B. NEXT THEY COMPARED NOTES
1. The next thing they did was to compare joys. The one said to the other, “Did not our hearts burn within us?”
2. God turned their Burdened Hearts into Burning Hearts!
C. THEY HURRIED TO TELL OTHERS
1. It was probably the dead of the night by the time the Lord
revealed Himself. Yet they immediately jumped up and made the 2 mile trek back to Jerusalem.
2. Oh, for more enthusiasm in telling of the Savior’s love and hearing of it!
3. I remember when I would’ve barged into someone’s house or stopped their car to tell them about Jesus! May our earnest love for Jesus never grow cold.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: NO TIME TO PRAY (Poem)
1. I got up early one morning, and rushed right into the day; I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray.
2. Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task. “Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered. He answered, “You didn’t ask.”
3. I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak; I wondered why God didn’t show me. He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
4. I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”
5. I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day; I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.
B. THE CALL
1. Song, “Shut in with God;”
SHUT IN WITH GOD, IN THE SECRET PLACE,
THERE IN THE SPIRIT, BEHOLDING HIS FACE,
FINDING NEW POWER TO RUN IN THE RACE,
HOW I LONG TO BE SHUT IN WITH GOD!
2. How about you? Do you need to be shut in with God? Are you walking in God’s love and peace?
3. Let’s seek God at the altars.
[This is a rewrite of Charles Spurgeon’s “Jesus Near But Not Recognized.”]
