Participants:
Series Code: ILL
Program Code: ILL230001S
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00:14 Hello and welcome to Imperative Life lessons
00:19 I'm Pastor Ryan Johnson and today I want you to 00:22 journey with me down the road to Emmaus. 00:26 Each of the four gospels tells of the narrative of Jesus Christ 00:30 and describes His earthly ministry from a 00:33 unique perspective, one that is different than that of 00:36 to the other gospels. 00:38 For example the gospel of Matthew portrays Jesus 00:41 as the consummate teacher, the preacher, whose word is truth, 00:45 His word is Life. 00:47 The gospel of Mark portrays Jesus as the Man, the God 00:54 of action, the immediate God for indeed in the gospel of Mark 00:59 one finds that word immediately over and over and it is then 01:05 followed by that which Jesus does. 01:07 Don't you just love the idea of Jesus the immediate God, 01:12 the immediate Savior? hmm. 01:15 And then the gospel of John which of course is written 01:19 by the same apostle who writes the Revelation of Jesus Christ. 01:24 It opens up by portraying Jesus as God as the Word who 01:29 becomes flesh who was there in the very beginning. 01:34 But our little lesson for today is taken from the gospel 01:38 of Luke. Luke records a little account that follows the 01:43 resurrection of Jesus. 01:44 This story is also found in Mark, but Luke gives it 01:49 special detail. 01:51 Actually, lately, I've been fascinated by that period of time 01:55 between the crisp morning when Jesus rose from the dead 01:58 and the afternoon when Bethany along the eastern slope 02:03 of the Mt. of Olives Jesus raised His hands 02:08 blessed the eleven, and ascends in a cloud of angels into heaven 02:13 to continue His intercessory ministry. 02:16 Two angels in the clearing that day had asked in 02:21 Acts chapter one... 02:35 Actually earlier two angels had asked in Luke chapter 24... 02:51 By the way, both the passage in Luke and the one in Acts 02:56 were written by Luke. 02:59 Can't you hear the similarities in their style? Yeah. 03:03 Well, between His resurrection and His assention Jesus appears 03:08 many times to His disciples His testimony is being told you see. 03:12 The young apostolic effort is being prepared 03:15 there is so much to study and learn from this time period 03:19 but for today's mini-study, I would like to zoom in 03:25 as it were upon the moments, mere hours really 03:30 after the stone was rolled away and Jesus returned to life. 03:36 The final word of His resurrection has yet 03:39 to reach the ears of all of His faithful, 03:42 so many still grieve the tragedy of the cross. 03:46 And in Luke 24, we find a little narrative with a lesson on the 03:51 value of our experience with Christ, there's even a lesson 03:56 in righteousness by faith. 03:57 But before we look at it why don't we have a word of prayer? 04:01 Father in heaven, please be with us, send your spirit 04:05 to study with us as we look at what happens as we walk 04:09 along the road waiting on you. Save us, in thy name, we pray, 04:12 Amen and Amen. 04:14 It was a very depressing scene that Sunday afternoon 04:18 as two downhearted men trudged from Jerusalem 04:23 to the city of Emmaus and once more this story can 04:26 be found in the gospel of Luke, chapter 24 with 04:29 a possible parallel in the book of Mark. 04:32 But Luke describes this interesting encounter 04:35 in exquisite detail. 04:37 Everybody was talking about the spectacle that had 04:40 taken place during the Passover weekend in Jerusalem 04:44 about 31 A.D. For after years of plotting the Jewish religious 04:49 leader have finally succeeded in infiltrating the ranks of 04:53 Christ's disciples and they had arrested, they had 04:57 mock tried and crucified Jesus of Nazareth 05:01 the Healer, the Teacher, the Messiah. 05:04 For some, it had been a spectacle, 05:07 for some, it had been an evil triumph, 05:12 but for the disciples of Jesus this was an utter tragedy. 05:16 It dashed their hope of seeing Him set up 05:18 an earthly kingdom where He would rule among men and women 05:22 as had King David. 05:24 I mean think about Jesus as an earthly human king 05:29 what would have meant to those who did not understand 05:31 His cosmic mission. 05:34 I mean, He was a man who could reach into the crumb speckled 05:41 baskets of starving people and pull out loaves of bread 05:45 and fat fishes. 05:46 If His men were to fall in battle He would merely 05:49 call to them as He did to Lazarus, Come Forth 05:53 and resurrect His dead armies from the decaying piles 05:56 on the battlefields. He could walk across the seas 05:59 to His naval fleet and insure that the waters were always calm 06:05 and His downhearted subjects would be raised in spirit 06:09 as the parable teller encourage them in the Lord. 06:13 Aand once more, once more the oppressed and hurting 06:17 Jewish people who for hundreds of years had languished 06:21 under the rule of one empire after another would be restored 06:24 to the greatness promised to Abraham promised to Isaac, 06:27 promised to Jacob. 06:31 The covenant would be fulfilled in the way they imagined 06:34 but all of that was moot now because the previous Friday 06:40 at the command of Pilate and under the influence of the 06:44 Sanhedrin, Roman guards forced Jesus the Messiah onto a 06:50 wooden torture device... 06:52 They had taken iron spikes and like a bug under a collectors 06:57 gaze, Jesus was pinned to a cross, they hoisted and 07:02 displayed Him like some carnival attraction. 07:05 and they watched, you know what, all of the heavens 07:09 observed, the galaxies and planets beheld as He died. 07:14 I think we ought to just pause here to contemplate 07:20 The Significance of the Savior giving His very life for you 07:25 for me. Yeah. 07:33 The Sabbath was spent in fear and sorrow as the now 07:36 eleven disciples huddled together in the Upper Room 07:40 wondering if those same Roman guards would burst in 07:43 and end them as well, but of course you know this story... 07:47 At the breaking of Sunday morning a powerful Angel was 07:51 dispatched to roll away the stone covering Jesus' tomb 07:55 He hailed the Son of God, Thy Father calleth Thee 07:59 and Christ arose from the dead victorious, successful and 08:05 full of power and glory. 08:07 Now, when Mary Magdalene, Johanna, and Mary, 08:13 the mother of Jesus went to anoint His body 08:16 angels informed them that He had risen and they ran 08:20 to tell the brothern that He would not leave them. 08:23 Indeed as we focus on the 24th chapter of Luke verse 11 08:31 actually states... 08:38 So this is how in verse 13 we find a couple of disciples 08:45 not of the remaining 11, yet followers and believers 08:49 in Jesus Christ conversing with hopeful confusion 08:53 but with their heads still hung is sorrow as they walked 08:58 from Jerusalem to the city of Emmaus. 09:01 Now Emmaus is likely the city known as Al-Qubeibah 09:06 located about 8 miles of road northwest of Jerusalem 09:10 ah, it's about a two-hour journey if you are on foot, 09:14 and the Bible says in verse 15... 09:28 Don't you just love that phrase, that Jesus drew near? 09:33 Can you envision that? 09:35 Jesus walking with them the entire time and then He 09:38 draws near and they become aware of His presence. 09:43 Can you apply that to your own experience that as you walk 09:47 in life, Jesus walks with you and when you are in your 09:51 direst need, He draws near. 09:54 You become aware of a of a presence that was 09:56 of a always there. And the scripture continues verse 16... 10:07 Of the word translated here in the King James Bible 10:11 as holding is krateo in the original language which is Greek 10:16 and this word means to place under one's grasp 10:21 or to put under control. 10:23 It occurs 47 or so times in the New Testament 10:26 in various accounts, but this is one of the times 10:30 when it is Jesus who is seizing control. 10:33 Now the other such times Matthew chapter 9 verse 25, 10:37 Mark chapter 5 verse 41, Jesus seizes krato 10:42 the hand of the dead girl and He says unto her 10:47 Talitha Kumi which is being interpreted 10:50 damsel, I say unto thee, arise and straight-way the damsel 10:56 arose, that's Mark chapter 5 verses 41 to 42 11:00 but Jesus seizes control of their ability in Luke to 11:04 recognize Him, He shields their understanding. 11:08 But according to Jesus' reputation, 11:11 when He takes control something awesome happens. 11:14 The dead arise, hope springs, but let's not get ahead 11:18 of ourselves, I get excited at that part, 11:20 we have the benefit of hindsight don't we? 11:23 It's always easy to say Amen from the perch of hindsight 11:26 Isn't it? Since for the sorrowful journeying men 11:32 holding their vision kind of seems unnecessarily untoward 11:36 doesn't it? I mean here they are, they are sad, 11:39 they are wondering, their confused, and Jesus, the one 11:43 the answer, the risen Savior draws nigh unto them 11:47 in their confliction but He does reveal Himself. 11:51 He doesn't show the nail prints, He doesn't utter a familiar 11:56 phrase. One considers doesn't one? 12:00 Why Jesus didn't just show up and announce, I'm back guys, 12:04 I'm risen from the dead just like I said I would be 12:08 but His identity is gratao, holdin from them. 12:13 You know some of us are desperately looking for answers, 12:17 a solution, healing and we desire Jesus to appear 12:21 and with a nod of His head clear the clouds from our skies 12:25 that tangles from our hair, the thorns from our sides 12:28 and He can, very often He does. 12:31 But look at what happens in verse 17, 12:36 Jesus said unto them... 12:48 You see that, Jesus begins to talk with them. Really? 12:56 A talk? Hey, here's a rhetorical question, 12:59 when we are brokenhearted and searching for answers from 13:03 meaning, what value is there in having a little talk 13:06 with Jesus? Can you imagine? Verse 18. 13:24 Verse 19. 14:00 You know what guys? Though they didn't realize it 14:03 they went from muttering and communicating among themselves 14:07 and strolling with themselves to speaking with Jesus, 14:11 to walking with Jesus and Jesus began to teach. 14:17 Verse 26. 14:33 Jesus broke down the prophecy's beginning at Moses 14:38 He unites Jewish history and theology into Himself 14:43 Wow! I wonder what Jesus said? 14:46 You know, Moses wrote the book of Genesis? 14:49 And where the creator promises that He would in Genesis 3 14:53 crush the serpent's head. 14:55 I wonder if the risen Savior began His teaching right there? 14:59 You know, as he walked with the men? 15:01 I don't know, Jesus is a far finer teacher than a simple 15:05 human like me could ever dream to be. 15:07 But maybe He took them through the meanings of the aspects 15:11 of the early sanctuary first built-in mobile form 15:15 by Moses reminding them the lamps, the showbread, 15:20 the sacrifice, it all pointed to the redeemer 15:23 you know often Jesus read from the book of Isaiah 15:26 when teaching in the Tabernacle of the Sabbath day 15:29 He even references here in verse 26, 15:32 so maybe He further reminded the men of where Isaiah wrote 15:36 that Christ would be wounded for our transgressions 15:40 bruised for our iniquities, he probably broke down the 15:43 writings of Daniel chapter 9 showing that the Messiah 15:47 those related time prophecies were being fulfilled 15:51 in their very sight. 15:53 However, He did it, Jesus walked, talked, and taught them 15:59 along the way until they arrived at their destination in Emmaus. 16:06 Verse 28... 16:36 They were so blessed by His presence that they begged 16:40 the stranger to stay. 16:42 How wonderful to invite Jesus in, huh, we ought to do the same 16:47 Jesus please, Jesus, please stay with us, stay with me, 16:51 for the hour is late and Revelation says... 17:07 So Jesus entered their home and His very presence 17:11 dispelled the darkness, the shadows, the fears, 17:15 They distributed food among them and this stranger 17:19 whom they didn't know was Jesus raised His hands 17:24 to bless the food and He began to serve them. 17:29 Verse 31, It says... 17:52 As He broke bread with them their eyes were opened 17:56 and they were allowed to know who Jesus was and that word 18:02 for opened, (anoígo) means to open completely. 18:08 It was if you'll allow me to make a scriptural connection, 18:13 it was a revelation of Jesus Christ, 18:17 all was revealed to them. 18:19 He fed them spiritually, He fed them physically, 18:23 and they said that their hearts burned within them 18:27 their cold doubts had become the fire of conviction. 18:31 So much to be learned here, but let's lean closer 18:40 still, as it were to the Word. 18:43 I want to return to the question that we asked earlier. 18:47 Why didn't Jesus identify Himself at the start? 18:51 Why go through all of that, why allow the men to endure 18:59 the road? Well, when you think about it had Jesus identified 19:07 Himself at the start and then vanished after the fact 19:11 they would have been robbed of the walk that they had 19:15 experienced with Him. 19:17 They would not have had the talk that they shared with Him, 19:21 something about examining the scriptures with Christ 19:25 from that perspective on their journey made the destination 19:30 more meaningful because they had a greater appreciation 19:34 for who Jesus is in our lives with our experiences 19:40 we become discouraged, don't we? 19:43 We cry to Him and He hears, we seek Him, and He's there. 19:51 And so often we desire an instant Revelation in our lives. 19:59 Zap, and God can do that, I've seen God do that, 20:05 you've seen it, sometimes He does, but have you ever 20:10 considered that rather than operating on our schedule. 20:17 Jesus desires to take the time to walk with us, 20:22 talk with us so that our hearts may burn within us 20:29 as we build a relationship with Him. 20:33 You know, there's another more uncomfortable way of asking 20:39 that question. Might our prayers be unanswered yet 20:45 because Jesus is waiting on us to walk and talk with Him? 20:51 Might our unease whatever it is, whatever it is be all about 20:57 getting us to spend quality time with the Master? 21:01 We ought to each pray about that, we should. 21:07 But for those us who are trying by God's grace and feel 21:13 that we deserve a reprieve, we've suffered and endured. 21:18 So we earned the right to sit and commune, 21:22 we've earned the right to be comforted by Jesus. 21:25 Let me ask another question, did Cleopas and his companion 21:31 earn the right to have Jesus reveal to them? 21:34 Is that what the road was about, working their way step by step 21:40 to a Revelation of Jesus Christ? 21:43 Was it that Christ did not reveal himself until they had 21:48 walked far enough, until they have worked for it? 21:52 No friends, the road was not a walk of works, 21:58 it was a walk of faith. 22:01 Faith that comes from the study of the scriptures contemplation 22:06 of the promises and though they did not realize it at first 22:11 faith that walking with Jesus will lead to salvation. 22:20 It was true for them, it is true for you 22:25 and one day all will be revealed, all will be revealed. 22:32 How many times as a pastor have I sat in the room 22:38 with a grieving and heartbroken person? someone who has seen 22:48 the absolute ugliest that life has to offer. 22:54 First of all when you are in that position, one doesn't 22:56 be condescending, one doesn't hit such a grieving person 23:01 with platitudes and empty promises. 23:03 The grief is real, the pain is real, the road is real 23:07 but how many times have I seen in that grief, in that pain 23:15 on that road, such a person take the opportunity 23:22 as badly as it hurts to walk and talk with Jesus. 23:29 It's a miracle every time, let me not point the finger, 23:36 How many times in my struggle at my lowest, 23:40 at my most confounded have I needed to be reminded 23:47 to take the time to walk and talk with Jesus 23:53 even while on the road. 23:56 And you know what? And you know what? 23:58 The relationship builds, the faith builds 24:06 the power is manifest, the Holy Spirit does His work at 24:14 you know, it is not all in vain, it's not all for nothing. 24:20 We are promised that if we would walk with Him, 24:23 and if we talk with Him, we will one day have 24:30 everything revealed. 24:32 We will understand it as the old song says, better by and by 24:38 and we will see Jesus as He is. 24:44 Maybe God is just wanting you and I to take the time 24:51 to walk and talk with Him. 24:55 You know this reminds me of an experience that I had 25:01 some time ago. I was pastoring at a church in Las Vegas, NV 25:04 and after service a very concerned grandmother 25:10 came up to me where my wife and I were standing 25:13 praying with folk and she said my grandson is in the hospital 25:16 there's been a terrible accident, will you go 25:18 and see him? Well, of course we said. 25:21 So I got my Bible grabbed my wife by the hand 25:24 and we went over to the hospital and when we got in the room 25:27 there was this young man just barely held together 25:31 he had been so depressed that he felt as though he had 25:35 no other option but to kill himself. 25:38 So we had gone to one of the top level of one of the 25:41 parking garages and had jumped off, but he lived. 25:46 God had His hand on that young man. 25:48 But there he was in the bed being held together by pins 25:53 and needles, holy duct tape I used to say. 25:55 And I went up to him and he said preacher I'm such a failure 26:00 I can't even kill myself right. 26:04 I said young man, we need to pray and as I grabbed 26:07 my wife's hand and we went to the bed and I very lightly 26:11 laid my hand there on the hospital bed, 26:15 I thought to myself, this young man is on the road. 26:19 This young man is walking the road in pain and shame 26:27 and before we began to pray I was like Lord be with him 26:33 draw him close to you and I started praying with the 26:37 young man and you know what I believe? 26:39 Here's what I believe, as we were there praying, 26:42 Jesus who had been walking with him the whole time drew nigh 26:47 to the young man, yes He did, such as when I said Amen 26:52 the young man opened his eyes, pins in his legs, 26:57 needles in his legs and arms, and he said pastor, 27:01 I don't know how I'm going to hold it but would you go 27:04 and bring me a Bible? 27:08 He decided to take that time on the road and walk with Jesus. 27:14 Yes! Talk with Jesus, and then the Lord deliver him, 27:20 yes He did, will the Lord deliver you? Yes, He will. 27:23 We gotta walk with Him, hey let's pray. 27:27 Father in heaven, help us to walk with you 27:31 talk with you and draw us close to you, even on the road 27:37 until the day that you are revealed. 27:38 In Thy name we pray, Amen. 27:42 God has plans for you, you walk with your hand in His hand 27:46 and He will lead you to His destination. May He bless you. 27:50 And as always friends, be encouraged. |
Revised 2025-04-17