A ROADSIDE CONVERSATION
LUKE 24:13-35
HOW MANY OF YOU EVER HAD HEARTBURN? I’M SURE THAT MOST OF YOU, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS CONDITION. IT’S NOT PLEASANT AND USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER WE HAVE ENJOYED A PARTICULAR FOOD, OR TOO MUCH FOOD IN GENERAL.
TODAY THOUGH, I’M GOING TO SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THERE IS A HEARTBURN THAT YOU SHOULD DESIRE TO HAVE. IT IS A HEARTBURN THAT YOU SHOULD HOPE IS NOT QUENCHED, BUT IN FACT EXPANDED. IT IS A HEARTBURN THAT YOU SHOULD NOT SEEK RELIEF FROM, AND BE CONCERNED SHOULD IT EVER SUBSIDE.
THE HEARTBURN THAT I AM SPEAKING OF, IS THE HEARTBURN THE DISCIPLES FELT WHILE ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS.
BACKGROUND:
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND TO THIS PASSAGE. THIS CONVERSATION TAKES PLACE ON THE AFTERNNON OF THE RESURRECTION. TWO DISCIPLES, CLEOPHAS, AND ONE THAT IS NOT IDENTIFIED, ARE WALKING FROM JERUSALEM TO EMMAUS, A DISTANCE OF SEVEN MILES. WE ARE NOT TOLD WHY THEY ARE GOING THERE. WE DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED AND DISCOURAGED AS A RESULT OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY WERE PRIVY TO THE DETAILS OF THE RESURRECTION, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THEIR KNOWLEDGE WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THEIR GRIEF. IT CAUSED THEM TO HAVE SELECTIVE MEMORY, AND DWELL ON THE EVENTS OF JESUS DEATH AND HOW IT WOULD EFFECT THEM, RATHER THAN BE EXCITED ABOUT THE RESURRECTION. THEY UNITED THE MISSION WITH THEIR LEADER, IN THAT NOW THAT THERE LEADER, JESUS, WAS DEAD, THEY FELT THAT THEIR MISSION WAS OVER. THEY WERE SO CAUGHT UP IN THEIR DESPAIR, THAT THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE JESUS WHEN HE WALKED WITH THEM, ALTHOUGH TO BE FAIR, THEY WERE ACTUALLY KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING HIM BY GOD.
WE FIND THESE MEN AND JESUS WALKING ALONG THE ROAD TO EMMAUS. I MUST ADMIT THAT I FIND IT STRANGE THAT THESE MEN WOULD ENTER INTO SUCH A DEEP CONVERSATION WITH A TOTAL STRANGER, WHICH JESUS WOULD BE TO THEM AT THIS TIME, BUT GOD ORCHASTRATED THINGS THIS WAY FOR THEIR BENEFIT, AND FOR OURS.
AS WE LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE I WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON THREE THINGS:
1. DISCOURAGEMENT CAUSED THESE MEN TO LIVE IN THE PAST. (V.17-24)
2. DISCOURAGEMENT CAN CAUSE US TO QUESTION GOD’S CARE ABOUT US (25-33)
3. THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION CAN INSTILL AN EXCITEMENT INTO OUR HEARTS AND DEFEAT THE DISCOURAGEMENT WE FEEL. (33-35)
POINT ONE: DISCOURAGEMENT CAUSED THESE MEN TO LIVE IN THE PAST.
WHEN WE ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDST OF HEARTACHE OR DISCOURAGEMENT, A VERY NATURAL THING TO DO, IS TO DWELL ON TIMES IN THE PAST WHEN THE SOURCE OF DISCOURAGEMENT WASN’T THERE.
WE CAN SEE THIS IN THE PASSAGE. JESUS JOINS THEM IN THE MIDST OF THEIR DISCUSSION. HE KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT STILL ASKS THE QUESTION, IN ORDER THEM TO BE ABLE TO LEARN AND ACCEPT THE RESURRECTION ON THEIR OWN TERMS.
GIVEN THE RECENT EVENTS OF THE CRUCIFIXION THEY ARE AMAZED THAT JESUS HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EVENTS. JESUS ALLOWS THEM TO VOCALIZE WHAT MANY PEOPLE FELT.
LISTEN TO WHAT LUKE RECORDS THESE MEN AS SAYING:
HE WAS JESUS THE NAZARENE
HE WAS A PROPHET
HE WAS MIGHTY IN WORDS
HE WAS MIGHTY IN DEEDS
HE WAS LOVED BY THE COMMON PEOPLE
HE WAS HATED BY THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP
HE WAS CRUCIFIED
THEY DO NOT SPEAK OF JESUS IN THE PRESENT, BUT IN THE PAST WHEN HIS POPULARITY AND MINISTRY WAS AT IT’S HIGHEST. IT WOULD BE AN EXCITING TIME FOR THEM TO BE FOLLOWERS. THE QUESTION WOULD ALWAYS BE, WHAT’S HE GOING TO DO NEXT? WHO IS HE GOING TO HEAL? HOW IS HE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND MAKE THEM LOOK BAD THIS TIME.
IT IS IN THE PAST WHERE DEFEATED PEOPLE FIND THEIR GLORY DAYS. THEIR FAVORITE WORDS ARE “I REMEMBER WHEN”, AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THESE PEOPLE WERE DOING.
NOW LET ME SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH LOOKING BACK AT THE PAST WITH FONDNESS AND TO TALK ABOUT THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”. THOSE THOUGH WHO LIVE IN THE PAST ARE DISCOURAGED IN THE PRESENT AND NOT FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE AT ALL. THERE WAS NO HOPE FOR THEM AS HOPE HAS IT’S HOME IN THE FUTURE. THE SADDEST DEATH OF ALL HAS TO BE THE DEATH OF HOPE.
POINT TWO: DISCOURAGEMENT CAN CAUSE US TO QUESTION WHETHER GOD CARES ABOUT US.
AS THESE DISCIPLES CONVERSE WITH CHRIST, THEY ARE COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS TO THE MANY FACTS THAT THEY STATE CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION. AS DISCIPLES, THEY ARE OBLIVIOUS TO WHAT IS SAID IN THE OLD TESTAMENT CONCERNING THE MESSIAH AND ALL THAT WAS TO HAPPEN TO HIM. THEY WANTED TO BELIEVE THE GOOD THINGS MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE, BUT DID NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH JESUS SUFFERINGS.
JESUS SAW RIGHT THROUGH THEM AS YOU CONSIDER HIS REPLY IN VERSE 25.
LUKE 24:25: “He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
THEY BELIEVED PART OF THE WORD OF GOD, BUT NOT ALL OF IT. THEY BELIEVED THOSE THINGS THAT FIT IN WITH WHAT THEY WANTED TO BELIEVE IN. ONE WRITER PUT IT THIS WAY:
“HEARTBREAK HAPPENS THIS WAY: WE THINK GOD SHOULD DO SOMETHING BASED ON OUR FAULTY KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WORD. HE DOESN’T DO IT. WE GET DISCOURAGED AND THINK THAT GOD HAS LET US DOWN, THAT HE HAS DISAPPOINTED US. BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH GOD, IT IS WITH US.”
THE DISCIPLES WERE LOOKING FOR A POWERFUL LEADER WHO WOULD FREE THEM FROM THE ROMANS. THEY WERE NOT LOOKING FOR A SACRIFICIAL LAMB.
LUKE 24:25-27:
“25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
THE LORD TOOK THE DISCIPLES BACK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT TO SHOW THAT THIS SUFFERING WAS FORETOLD. HE MAY HAVE TAKEN THEM TO :
THE PROMISED SACRIFICE IN GENESIS 3:15
THE SUFFERING SERVANT IN ISAIAH 53.
THE PIERCED ONE OF ZECHARIAH 12:10
THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT IN MALACHI 3.
THROUGH PASSAGES SUCH AS THESE JESUS KEPT INTRODUCING HIMSELF TO THESE DISCIPLES. LITTLE BY LITTLE THEY REMEMBERED THE PROPHECIES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. LITTLE BY LITTLE THEIR HEARTACHE BEGAN TO WANE.
POINT THREE: FROM HEARTACHE TO HEARTBURN:
AS NIGHT APPROACHED THE TWO DISCIPLES DECIDED TO STAY IN EMMAUS FOR THE NIGHT. TRAVELING AT NIGHT WAS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. JESUS MADE IT LOOK LIKE HE WAS GOING TO CONTINUE, BUT THEY INSISTED THAT HE STAY WITH THEM.
JESUS PLAYED THE PART OF HOST AS THEY SAT DOWN TO EAT. THE HOST WOULD BREAK THE BREAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEAL. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT THE DISCIPLES RECOGNIZED JESUS.
HOW THEY RECOGNIZED HIM WE DON’T KNOW. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE NAIL SCARS IN HIS HANDS AND FEET, POSSIBLY THE SPEAR WOUND IN HIS SIDE, WE DON’T KNOW.
WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THIS. AT THIS POINT THEIR EYES ARE OPENED BY GOD. ALL THROUGH THIS JOURNEY THEY ARE KEPT FROM KNOWING WHO THHEY ARE TALKING TO, BUT NOW THEY KNOW, AND IMMEDIATELY HE VANISHES.
JESUS HAD ACCOMPLISHED WHAT HE WANTED TO DO HERE. HE TOOK THEM FROM A PLACE OF HEARTACHE AND RE-INSTILLED IN THEM THE BURNING DESIRE FOR EVANGELISM. LOOK WHAT LUKE SAYS IN 24:32:
LUKE 24:32: “They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"”
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU FIRST GOT SAVED? THIS WAS WHAT JESUS WAS GIVING THESE DISCIPLES A CHANCE TO DO. MARK BUCHANAN DESCRIBED WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS WAY:
“I HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. IMMEDIATELY I VOLUNTEERED FOR ANYTHING, EVERYTHING, THAT I FELT VAGUELY INTERESTED IN AND MARGINALLY QUALIFIED FOR. I LED THE YOUTH GROUP; I HELPED WITH THE MUSIC, I TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL; I WROTE THE CHURCH LETTER, I BECAME A CAMP COUNSELOR, I SERVED AS A MENTOR TO SEVERAL YOUNG MEN….BUT SOMETHING, SOMEWHERE WENT AWRY. THE ZEAL FIZZLED. THE FIRE IN MY BONES BECAME ONLY AN ACHE IN MY JOINTS. MY RUNNING BECAME PLODDING. MY LIGHTNESS BECAME HEAVINESS. MY JOYFULLNESS BECAME JADEDNESS. I JOINED THE RANKS OF THE MURMURERS AND FAULTFINDERS – THOSE WHO DID NOT LIKE THE MUSIC OR THE SERMON OR THE COLOR OF THE AZALEA’S BEHIND THE CHURCH – AND I FOUND THEIR NUMBER LEGION.”
WHAT HAPPENS IS WE FORGET WHY AND WHO WE MINISTER FOR. IN THE BEGINNING IT’S ALL ABOUT GOD AND PLEASING HIM. THEN OUR PRIDE TAKES OVER AND IT BECOMES ALL ABOUT US. THE DISCIPLES WERE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT THEIR OWN DREAMS AND NOT SEARCHING FOR THE WILL OF GOD.
THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION WOULD SET THE DISCIPLES HEARTS BURNING WITH THE DESIRE TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS.
LUKE 24:33-35:
“33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”
JESUS HAD REPLACED THEIR HEARTACHE WITH HEARTBURN, AND HE WANTS TO DO THAT FOR US TODAY.
A) JESUS WANTS OUR HEARTS TO BURN WITH THE DESIRE TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST.
MARK 5:19: “Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."”
WHEN THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION HIT THESE MEN THEY RAN IN THE DARKNESS BACK TO THE OTHER DISCIPLES AND TOLD THEM NOT ONLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED, BUT WHAT THEY HAD HEARD THAT DAY WAS TRUE.
THERE SHOULD BE A DESIRE IN OUR HEARTS TO LET GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN US BEFORE OTHERS. AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD SET THE EXAMPLE, NOT BE THE EXCEPTION. NO ONE WILL SEE YOUR FAITH WITHOUT SOME ACTION BEHIND IT. ABRAHAM SHOWED HIS FAITH BY OFFERING HIS SON ISSAC.
B) JESUS WANTS OUR HEARTS TO BURN WITH DEVOTION.
JOHN 21:15-17:
“15 ¶ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.”
JESUS WAS MAKING SURE OF PETER’S COMMITMENT TO HIM BEFORE HE COULD HELP OTHERS. TO BUILD THE CHURCH ON ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOD IS COMMITTING IDOLATRY. IF YOUR DEVOTION IS TO THE CHURCH, BUT NOT TO GOD, IT IS IDOLATRY. JESUS DIDN’T ASK PETER IF HE LOVED THE CHURCH, OR HIS FELLOW MAN. JESUS ASKED PETER “DO YOU LOVE ME?”
IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU ARE MORE DEVOTED TO, IT COULD BE YOUR CHURCH, IT COULD BE YOUR FAMILY, PERHAPS YOUR HOME, OR SOMEHTING THAT YOU LOVE THAN THE LORD THEN YOU ARE COMMITTING IDOLATRY.
C) OUR HEARTS SHOULD BURN WITH DETERMINATION:
DANIEL DETERMINED THAT HE WOULD NOT DEFILE HIMSELF
DANIEL 1:8: “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”
DANIEL’S DETERMINATION WOULD BE REWARDED BY BEING THROWN INTO THE LION’S DEN. I BELIEVE WHEN HE FACED THIS HE WAS PRAYING THAT THOSE LIONS WERE VEGETARIAN, OR HAD FALSE TEETH.
PAUL’S DETERMINATION WAS LEGENDARY.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:2: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
D) OUR HEARTS SHOULD BURN WITH DENOUNCIATION:
OF SIN
OF COMPROMISE
OF THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT
CONCLUSION:
MY DEAREST HOPE FOR YOU TODAY IS THAT YOU WILL LEAVE THE CHURCH TODAY, WITH A CASE OF HEARTBURN, A HEARTBURN THAT WILL NOT BE QUENCHED BY ANYTHING KNOWN TO MAN. I PRAY THAT YOUR HEART AND MY HEART WILL BURN JUST LIKE THOSE DISCIPLES HEARTS DID WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT GOD.
I PRAY THAT THIS HEARTBURN WILL NOT LET YOU REST, AND THAT YOU WILL GO TO THOSE AROUND YOU, JUST AS THE DISCIPLES DID, AND TELL THEM THAT YOU KNOW JESUS IS ALIVE, AND SHARE THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION AND THE GOSPEL WITH THOSE YOU MEET TODAY.
IT CAN HAPPEN TO US TODAY, BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO THEM THAT DAY. THESE WERE NOT NOTED DISCIPLES. WE ARE NEVER INTRODUCED TO THE SECOND PERSON, AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THEY ARE MENTIONED IN THE SCRIPTURES. IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO THEM, IT CAN HAPPEN TO US.
