"Were Not Our Hearts Burning?"

“Were Not Our Hearts Burning?”

Luke 24:13-35

Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007

We come here each Sunday and we sing about Jesus, we pray to Him, we read about Him and listen to sermons about Him, and I hope we go out of here loving Him a bit more.

But for the average person in the seats, does it really make a difference?

Does it really burn inside us to the point where we’re convinced to our core that what we do and read is really true and is really worth living for and giving our lives to?

I wonder how many people are in churches today and thinking, “This is just another Sunday – I hope that today God will do something to convince me that He’s real, because I’m tired of just playing the game. I’m tired of sitting here like I have it all figured out, because quite frankly, I’m about to chuck all out the window.

“I know what the Bible says – I’ve heard it my whole life. But it’s not really part of who I am. I could take it or leave it.

“I want to believe it – I really do. God help me.”

I’ve been there. I grew up hearing about God and Jesus, and went through all sorts of religious rituals hoping that I would find God in all of it.

And while I sometimes got some really cool emotional stimulation, I never found God in any of it.

But I continued, just hoping that someday it would make sense and that God would show Himself to be real for me in my life.

I can guarantee you that there are people like that right now in churches all around the world.

Maybe that’s you today. Maybe someone is here today wondering just what kind of a difference this whole Jesus thing should make in our lives or if it’s just a big waste of time.

If that’s you, I want to invite you to open your heart today as we look at a passage of Scripture that I think you’ll identify with.

And for those of you who may not be struggling with that, let me just invite you to rejoice in what God can do in the lives of people who want a touch from Him.

Our passage deals with two guys who are talking about what had been happening the last few days – the arrest, trial, crucifixion, and now the body of Jesus is not where it was buried.

And while it doesn’t say all that they were discussing, I can’t help but wonder if maybe they were asking the same kinds of questions I’ve been talking about – is God real, and is this religion and Jesus stuff real, and does it really matter, given everything that’s just happened?

Luke 24:13-35 (p. 749) –

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 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?"

19 "What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

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.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.