Luke 24:13-35 NLT
Walking home
13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat,[b] he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.[c]”
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.
THE WORD OF GOD
FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
I went to visit a parishioners grand mother. He told me when he ask me to visit her that she was from another denomination. So after we talked for awhile I offered her Communion. She said “Oh no, I have sin in my heart. I will die.” I told her to ask her Pastor about that when He came to visit with her. Then we prayed together and I left.
I would like to go over what Paul said about our Scripture text:
1 Corinthians 11: 20-22; 27-31
Verses: 20-22: Paul is talking about what we today call a covered dish dinner.
20 When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!
-The rich would bring their food and then hurry and eat it so they wouldn't have to eat the common folk food.
-The people would eat all the food up so when the slaves came there wasn't food for them to eat.
--These people had a sick heart that reached down to their soul and they were sick.
-----
Verses: 27-31
Then he moves into what we call the Lords Supper or Eucharist without skipping a beat.
Note: The earliest extant written account of a Christian Lord Supper or Eucharistia (Greek for "thanksgiving") is that in the First Epistle to the Corinthians (around AD 55), {this text} in which Paul the Apostle relates "eating the bread and drinking the cup of the Lord" in the celebration of a "Supper of the Lord" to the Last Supper of Jesus some 25 years earlier.
27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.
- Examine Ourselves. With a humble and loving heart we talk to God in a personal way and ask for forgiveness of those things we know we have done wrong. Also those things we don’t know we have done wrong. OUR HEART HAS TO BE RIGHT WITH THE LIVING GOD.
-LOOKING BACK:
I've been thinking about holy moments, how Christ has surprised me by his presence. One of those moments came when I visited and had Communion with a member who was dying of cancer. Near the end of the visit I asked her how I could pray or for what she would like me to pray for. She expressed concern for family members and a sick church staff member; (the janitor). As I bowed my head to pray she got out of her recliner with great difficulty and with help she knelt there at that chair. I went over and knelt down beside her and held her hand. After I prayed she prayed and in her prayer she prayed for me. I knew I had been in the presence of the living Christ and I now treasure that moment.
After traveling on the road to Emmaus with Jesus and setting down and starting to break bread with them,
-verse 30 reads:
30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
THE MOMENT Jesus broke the bread and gave it to them they REALIZED who Jesus was.
If you are looking for that Holy Power then:
Let us examine ourselves and PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO PARTAKE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER.
