The Road to Amaze-Us
Kevin Horn
Midland SDA Church
March 2, 2019
One summer, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a long hike into the woods to the perfect spot in an opening, they stopped to setup camp. Soon they were sleeping but in the middle of night Holmes finds himself staring at the stars. He digs his elbow into Dr. Watson and asked him, “what do you see?”. Watson stared into the night sky and said, “stars and stars and more stars”. Holmes said, what does that tell you? Watson, who was always trying to impress his esteemed mentor, with his great intellect replied:
· Astronomically, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and probably billions of planets.
· Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in the constellation Leo.
· Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three
· Meteorologically, I suspect that tomorrow is probably going to be a beautiful day.
· Theologically, it shows me that we are just a tiny spec of the great big whole.
Hoping he impressed his tutor he asks Holmes, “Why, what does it tell you”?
Watson you fool, someone stole our tent!
In those early years, when I was first discovering Christianity and Adventism and starting to think on these ideas, I heard various complicated things discussed and preached that confounded me. Here are a few: Propitiation, Justification, Sanctification, Glorification, Antediluvian, Remnant, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Atonement, Apostate, Apostolic, Trinity, Sanctuary, Septuagint, Textus Receptus, Interlinear, Transliteration, Pentetuech, Torah, and on it goes. I appreciate the people in our church that have knowledge about these important Biblical concepts and I’m always hoping to learn more from them. But back then I spent half my time thinking “These people have gone mad, it’s like they live in an alternate universe or something” and the other half of the time I was thinking “Give me more, I gotta know more”. What an incredible time that was in my life. Do you remember your first Love? I hope you haven’t lost it!
Today I want to take a great Bible story and point out some of the simple, meaningful and impactful messages and lessons that are contained therein. In fact as you can see I’m not even going to do a PowerPoint today like I did the first two times I was up here. It’s funny, because my wife has said a few times that she feels that the PowerPoint slides are a distraction, so that was one of the reasons behind this decision. Then a couple of weeks ago my nephew Cade was visiting and he made the comment that “Every sermon needs a PowerPoint”. So I don’t know if that is a woman vs. man thing or more likely a youngster vs. a umm not so much a youngster thing.
Let’s pray!
The road to Emmuas story is primarily found in Luke 24, I encourage you to open your phones to that chapter.
I’ve sectioned this story into 5 parts:
· Meeting with Jesus
· Message from Jesus
· Meal with Jesus
· Mission from Jesus
· Messenger of Jesus
Section 1: Meeting with Jesus (Verses 13-24) - This first section encompasses half the total verses.
[Luke 24:13 NKJV] Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
· So “That same day” is “Resurrection Sunday”!
[Luke 24:14 NKJV] And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
[Luke 24:15 NKJV] So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
· It’s good to talk with other believers. Especially if something is perplexing you, it’s good to talk it through with someone else. I have gone through times of depression in my life, I thank God that these days it is very rare, but to some small degree, I understand what people who deal with these things go through and I feel for them. For me, as I tried to work though those times, I would develop plant. I’m a logical person so I would develop in my mind what I felt where logical responses and action plans for what was going on. Then the day would come when I would have occasion to share what I was thinking with someone. Many times, as I heard the things coming out of my mouth, I would think okay that’s pretty stupid (or at least illogical). Or they would point things out that I hadn’t thought about. Reasoning with one another is extremely beneficial.
· The road from Jerusalem to Emmaus was known to be dangerous so it was common to
join up with other travelers and make as large of group as possible for safety. But these two were so downcast, I don’t think they really cared one way or the other. It was fine if someone joined them but they probably weren’t seeking anybody out.
[Luke 24:16 NKJV] But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
· We are not told how their eyes were restrained. It seems to me that God doesn’t use miracles or super natural powers in a haphazard way if natural powerswill suffice. It’s possible that their eyes were restrained because maybe Jesus was wearing his hood and let it drape well over his face. Combine that with the dejected mood they were in and they really just weren’t paying attention. They didn’t care that someone had joined them, they didn’t look the person over to ensure they were friendly and they didn’t invite the person to walk with them which would have been not only a polite thing to do but it was customary.
· Are we sometimes so wrapped up in our own misery that we forget that Jesus is right there knocking on our heart’s door? He is right there and yet – we do not know him?
· How often are we so busy with daily activities or saddened by events of the day that we miss the blessing standing right beside us?
[Luke 24:17 NKJV] And He said to them, "What kind of conversation [is] this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
· They did not know Him and they were sad.
· If you don’t know the Lord you will be sad.
[Luke 24:18 NKJV] Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"
[Luke 24:19 NKJV] And He said to them, "What things?"
· Did Jesus know “What Things”? Was He showing his sense of humor? He was in the center of “What Things”. Why did he ask the question? I’m sure there are many reasons: Starting with getting them to think it through. To solidify in their own minds where they were spiritually, at that moment.
· Also, He asked in order to gain an opening. So that he could teach them a lesson that would last a lifetime. Have you heard of “Teachable Moments” Well this takes the cake!
Continuing on with verse 19: So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
· It’s not wrong to call Him a prophet. There are places in the Bible that refer to Him as a prophet, but it’s entirely inadequate. This starts to show how their belief system has been shaken.
· I have worked with a guy from Germany, that often answered in the affirmative by saying “Indeed”. Every time I read this verse, I can imagine asking him “was He might in deed? Indeed”.
· He is not just a smooth talker (mighty in word) lots of people can do that. He backs up His words with Deeds. Are we a people of action? Do your actions match your words? Do you walk the walk or just talk the talk?
· Not just before the people, but before God and all the people!
· What have you gained if you impress people? What have you gained if you impress God? How much “more good” can you do for your fellow man if what you are doing is right before God? What kind of influence are we to those around us?
[Luke 24:20 NKJV] "and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
[Luke 24:21 NKJV] "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
· We were hoping: That’s past tense. They had lost hope…
· You have to believe that right up until He took His last breath they were anticipating that He would step down from the cross and show the religious leaders and especially the Romans just who they were dealing with. Now He’s dead, how can that be? Everything is lost! Our hopes and dreams, everything.
· They thought he was going to redeem Israel.
· Did he redeem Israel? Not just Israel – but the entire world.
· Not from the heavy hand of the Roman intruders, but to the much heaver and much more deceiving hand of Sin, Death and the Tomb. He defeated Satan.
[Luke 24:22 NKJV] "Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
[Luke 24:23 NKJV] "When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
· Some say that they didn’t believe what the women said is because they were women. I can’t rule that out, but I believe the problem was much bigger than that. You see, they were looking for the wrong thing. They expected a Moses more than a Messiah. They couldn’t believe because they couldn’t understand, they couldn’t understand because they had the entirely wrong paradigm. They were pointed in entirely the wrong direction. If I had done this with a Power Point I would have had one of the pictures you have seen before where someone is standing there looking in to the camera and something is happening behind them like a bear or a lion is charging them but they are oblivious. Except is the opposite – the savoir is following them.
[Luke 24:24 NKJV] "And certain of those [who were] with us went to the tomb and found [it] just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
· Even if they were tempted to believe the women, they had their fears confirmed by the others. When you are so sure of something, it doesn’t take much to confirm your thoughts. When we study the Bible, are we just looking at it to confirm our preconceived beliefs or are we opening our hearts to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?
Section 2: Message from Jesus Verses 25-29
[Luke 24:25 NKJV] Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
· Is Jesus talking to only those two?
o Or does the same thing apply to the 11 in the upper room?
o Does the same thing apply to any of us here today?
· Do we ever read the Bible and are slow of heart to believe? Maybe we just choose not to believe? Maybe that only happens when there is something in our life we need to change? Maybe we need to give something up or start doing something? Maybe it’s something that is uncomfortable? Maybe it will intrude on our “free time”? Maybe we believe but are lackadaisical about it or should I say Laodicean about it?
· Can we trust the prophets?
[Luke 24:26 NKJV] "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
· You see, this was in the plan since before the foundation of the world. There was a savior before there was Sin.
· Jewish children were taught the Torah starting at the time they first start to speak. They were supposed to have it memorized by the time they were 8 and not long later they were supposed to memorize the entire Old Testament.
o I wonder if we let our children off a little to easily today? Do we short change them? Do we expect too little? I wonder if we do a disservice to them by not work with them and encouraging them to do a bit more. Are we missing the golden opportunity of a young vibrant mind?
· If they knew the scriptures so well – what was the problem? What went wrong? Did they understand the word of God? Was it just good literature or good history lessons? Where they praying to allow the word of God to change them? Were they devouring the message or just reading the words?
o [1 Cor 2:14 NKJV] But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
o We need to pray for discernment and when needed, make changes in our lives to follow His word.
· The religion leaders of that time didn’t help their understanding? Do we rely on our Pastors and Evangelists to spoon feed our religion to us? Has a pastor ever led his flock astray? Has Jesus every led his flock astray? Do you think it’s possible the devil is once again doing all he can to lead people astray as we look to the second coming?
· Jesus is the Suffering Servant and Conquering King. They totally missed the suffering servant part and didn’t understand the conquering king part.
[Luke 24:27 NKJV] And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
· The two disciples are not only confused but in utter despair. Maybe if you have lost a loved you can begin to understand the mood. They lost the MESSIAH! Even though they misunderstood what he was going to do and how he was going to do it, they still had no doubt about it. They were very sincere, then in one day, it was gone! What do we do now? All hope is lost? Why bother going on? What does it matter? Life is short, then you die.
· Jesus knew that they loved him, what more can he expect or ask of them? Of course, He loves them back even more. So why doesn’t Jesus just put an end to their suffering and immediately tell them it’s okay, here I am, I have risen! If it was your loved one would you want to end their suffering as soon as possible. Hey it’s me, I’m here it’s all going to be okay. Why does he cloak himself and then give a Bible Study? This is about a seven-mile journey and clearly, they had no pep in their step. So he probably gave them a 2.5 to 3 hour Bible study. I have heard that the road was so rough it might have taken several more hours than that.
· How much would you pay to have heard this Bible study? I’ve heard it said that it’s the greatest Bible Study NEVER recorded! I believe it was the greatest Bible Study ever given. What kind of money could you make if you had the one and only recording of this event?
o Better question, how many souls could you save if you had this recording?
o Better question yet, are we preparing to give an account of Jesus throughout the Bible so we can give this study ourselves?
· Back to the question of why the bible Study. I think there are several reasons:
o First and foremost, He wanted to anchor their faith to the scriptures. Where it belongs. Instead of them finding reassurance in an event, they can fall back on the scriptures. In fact, over time they can continue to study them and have even more assurance/faith of a risen Christ. If performing miracles was the key to salvation, Jesus would have been running around doing that all the time. But a miracle in this case probably wasn’t going to force the paradigm shift that was needed.
§ [Eph 2:8 NKJV] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God,
§ [Heb 11:1 NKJV] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
§ [Rom 10:17 NKJV] So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
o He wanted them to come to the conclusion themselves. Come let us reason together… He doesn’t force himself on anyone, which is what he would have effectively been doing if he immediately revealed himself.
o Not only anchoring their faith in the scriptures but anchoring their paradigm shift. A lesson they will never forget!
[Luke 24:28 NKJV] Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
· Maybe it was a fork in the road just outside the village limits and Jesus says goodbye and begins to continue on down the road. Again, He doesn’t force himself on them, He’s waiting for an invitation.
[Luke 24:29 NKJV] But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.
· It wouldn’t be out of the norm for them to invite a traveling partner or even a stranger to stay with them. We already talked about the road being dangerous, but it’s MUCH more so at night. Did the disciples suggest that he stays with them? Were they just doing the polite thing and the stranger can take it or leave it? The scripture says: “they constrained Him”. They URGED him or even PLEADED with him to stay.
· Do we plead with Jesus to abide with us? Do we pray with all our heart? Or are we lackadaisical (or Laodicean) about His presence?
· The scripture says “He went in to stay with them”.
o This is good news. The Bible says if we ask him to abide with us, he will abide with us. He stands and the door and knocks. He wants to abide with us. If we pray with all our heart – He will come in!
Section 3: Meal with Jesus Verses 30-32
[Luke 24:30 NKJV] Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke [it], and gave it to them.
[Luke 24:31 NKJV] Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
[Luke 24:32 NKJV] And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
· Remember when they didn’t know Him – they were walking and were sad. Now, after he breaks bread with them and they do know Him and they aren’t sad anymore. Are we breaking bread every day to be sure that we KNOW Him and aren’t sad?
· But now as their heart started to burn within them and their senses are awakened,their guest takes the bread and blesses it and breaks it:
o Hey, he did the blessing just like Jesus used to.
o And look at those hands, they carry the wounds that Jesus suffered.
o Maybe he also put his hood back so they can finally see his face.
· Then he disappears… But their faith was restored. Actually, it was more than that. They experienced a paradigm shift. Now their faith was put in the proper place. They now know they can not only trust the scriptures, but they know how to search for Jesus throughout. And the scriptures gave them life!
· They had the Old Testament and an actual encounter with Jesus. We have the Old, New testaments and the Holy Spirit. Do we pray for the Holy Spirit to bring the scripture to life in our life? Is our faith anchored in the proper place?
Section 4: Mission from Jesus Verses 33-36
[Luke 24:33 NKJV] So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those [who were] with them gathered together,
[Luke 24:34 NKJV] saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
· They rose up that very hour: The Bible doesn’t specify but it’s very possible they didn’t even eat their meal. Anthony Boca tells the story of his conversion experience, he had decided that he needed to study the Word of God every morning before facing the day. Then one night he messes his alarm up and woke up late. Now he didn’t have time for a Bible Study and Breakfast before going to work. He quickly decided onbreakfast would be skipped. He did his study and went straight to work. How about us? I know I often think, well I have to take care of this or that but I’ll be try to fit my Bible Study in later. But then the day gets busy and you never get to it. I do this ALL the time. I think that’s Satan’s biggest weapon in our society today. Where is our priority?
· They returned to Jerusalem: Now they were on a mission for Jesus. They took action without delay. They HAD to tell the others, they were not willing to let the others sleep one more night not knowing about the risen Christ.
[Luke 24:35 NKJV] And they told about the things [that had happened] on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
· Do you break bread every day? Is he known to you?
Our last verse: [Luke 24:36 NKJV] Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."
· The first thing Jesus offers you is peace. He is the prince of peace! Isn’t this the main difference between believers and not believers? Because we have this hope within us, we can live life a little more care free. Not in terms of duty free, no one said it would be easy and in fact because the adversary is out there like a roaring lion, it might be harder, but in terms of worry. If you have purposed in your heart to be on a mission for Jesus and each day you rededicate yourself to that mission, what is there to worry about? If God is for us, who can be against us? Like I said earlier, life is short and then you die. I don’t care how long you live, your life on this earth is short. But that’s not the end of the story is it? Because of this knowledge, we can have peace in this life time.
You might have noticed that the title of this sermon is “The road to Amaze-Us”. Why should we be amazed?
· Two followers of Jesus met up with Him on the road and didn’t recognize him.
· He didn’t reveal himself immediately. That’s what we would do and what we would expect Him to do as well!
· He gave them spiritual “heart burn” just by reviewing the very same scriptures that they already had memorized.
· If you and a friend were talking to someone and you look up to find that they have disappeared into thin air, would you continue discussing the topic at hand? Or would you be saying – whoa, did you see that? No! They looked at each other and said “did not our hearts burn within us”. This miracle happened right in front of them, but it was the Bible Study that they started talking about. I think that is even more amazing than the fact that Jesus disappeared into thin air.
· Probably for the first time in the disciple’s life, those very scriptures, had life in them.
o [John 6:63 NKJV] "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life.
Section 5: Messenger from Jesus DA Page 84-88
In this last section we are going to rewind and go back through the story filling some gaps in with information from the spirit of prophecy or the “Messenger from Jesus”. This is taken from Chapter 83 “The Walk to Emmaus”, pages 84-88. It is really hard to not just read the entire chapter. When I read her writings, I can’t pick the part that’s my favorite because it’s all my favorite and it’s all relevant.
These disciples had had no prominent place in Christ's work, but they were earnest believers in Him. They had come to the city to keep the Passover, and were greatly perplexed by the events that had recently taken place. They had heard the news of the morning in regard to the removal of Christ's body from the tomb, and also the report of the women who had seen the angels and had met Jesus. They were now returning to their homes to meditate and pray. Sadly they pursued their evening walk, talking over the scenes of the trial and the crucifixion. Never before had they been so utterly disheartened. Hopeless and faithless, they were walking in the shadow of the cross.
They had not advanced far on their journey when they were joined by a stranger, but they were so absorbed in their gloom and disappointment that they did not observe him closely. They continued their conversation, expressing the thoughts of their hearts. They were reasoning in regard to the lessons that Christ had given, which they seemed unable to comprehend. As they talked of the events that had taken place, Jesus longed to comfort them.
· When we are sad, does Jesus long to comfort us?
Other points she brings out:
· She says the wept as they walked.
Jesus knew that their hearts were bound up with Him in love, and He longed to wipe away their tears, and fill them with joy and gladness. But He must first give them lessons they would never forget.
… Jumping ahead…
The disciples wondered who this stranger could be, that He should penetrate to their very souls, and speak with such earnestness, tenderness, and sympathy, and with such hopefulness. For the first time since Christ's betrayal, they began to feel hopeful.
· Does that sound like the Jesus you know and love?
They were filled with amazement, and their hearts began to throb with joyful expectation.
· The road to Amaze-Us!
Beginning at Moses, the very Alpha of Bible history, Christ expounded in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Had He first made Himself known to them, their hearts would have been satisfied. In the fullness of their joy they would have hungered for nothing more. But it was necessary for them to understand the witness borne to Him by the types and prophecies of the Old Testament. Upon these their faith must be established. Christ performed no miracle to convince them, but it was His first work to explain the Scriptures.
They had looked upon His death as the destruction of all their hopes. Now He showed from the prophets that this was the very strongest evidence for their faith.
· The Paradigm Shift!
In teaching these disciples, Jesus showed the importance of the Old Testament as a witness to His mission. Many professed Christians now discard the Old Testament, claiming that it is no longer of any use. But such is not Christ's teaching. So highly did He value it that at one time He said, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
…
The miracles of Christ are a proof of His divinity; but a stronger proof that He is the world's Redeemer is found in comparing the prophecies of the Old Testament with the history of the New. Reasoning from prophecy, Christ gave His disciples a correct idea of what He was to be in humanity. Their expectation of a Messiah who was to take His throne and kingly power in accordance with the desires of men had been misleading. It would interfere with a correct apprehension of His descent from the highest to the lowest position that could be occupied.
· The suffering servant.
He showed them that the awful conflict which they could not yet comprehend was the fulfillment of the covenant made before the foundation of the world was laid. Christ must die, as every transgressor of the law must die if he continues in sin. All this was to be, but it was not to end in defeat, but in glorious, eternal victory. Jesus told them that every effort must be made to save the world from sin. His followers must live as He lived, and work as He worked, with intense, persevering effort.
· Notice the words used here. Live, Work, Intense, Persevering, Effort. Does following Christ means your are on easy street? If you feel like you are on easy street, there is probably something wrong…
Thus Christ discoursed to His disciples, opening their minds that they might understand the Scriptures.
· Again – do we pray for our minds to be opened that we might understand?
The disciples were weary, but the conversation did not flag. Words of life and assurance fell from the Savior’s lips.
…
Had the disciples failed to press their invitation, they would not have known that their traveling companion was the risen Lord. Christ never forces His company upon anyone. He interests Himself in those who need Him. Gladly will He enter the humblest home, and cheer the lowliest heart. But if men are too indifferent to think of the heavenly Guest, or ask Him to abide with them, He passes on. Thus many meet with great loss.
…
· She talks about the evening meal of bread and how the guest took it, put his hands out to bless it exactly the way the master used to do it and then they noticed the nail prints.
Both exclaim at once, It is the Lord Jesus! He has risen from the dead! They rise to cast themselves at His feet and worship Him, but He has vanished out of their sight. They look at the place which had been occupied by One whose body had lately lain in the grave, and say to each other, "Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?"
· Now watch this…
But with this great news to communicate they cannot sit and talk. Their weariness and hunger are gone. They leave their meal untasted, and full of joy immediately set out again on the same path by which they came, hurrying to tell the tidings to the disciples in the city. In some parts the road is not safe, but they climb over the steep places, slipping on the smooth rocks. They do not see, they do not know, that they have the protection of Him who has traveled the road with them. With their pilgrim staff in hand, they press on, desiring to go faster than they dare. They lose their track, but find it again. Sometimes running, sometimes stumbling, they press forward, their unseen Companion close beside them all the way.
· Is Christ with us when we are on a mission for Jesus?
The night is dark, but the Sun of Righteousness is shining upon them. Their hearts leap for joy. They seem to be in a new world. Christ is a living Saviour. They no longer mourn over Him as dead. Christ is risen--over and over again they repeat it. This is the message they are carrying to the sorrowing ones. They must tell them the wonderful story of the walk to Emmaus. They must tell who joined them by the way. They carry the greatest message ever given to the world, a message of glad tidings upon which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend.
Why is this story here?
Why did Jesus spend all this time with these two non-descript follower on the resurrection day when he could have appeared to so many others. I think it’s here exactly for us. This is our story, most of us are not world-famous people but He loves us just the same.
Which road are you on?
Have you been beaten down? Have seeds of doubt started to sprout in your life? Are you disheartened or hopeless or even faithless? Are you on the road to Emmaus?
Or…
You have no worries for yourself, you are on a mission from God? The path might be rocky, steep, slipper and dangerous, but your only worry is about the salvations of others. You are on the road to Jerusalem!
If the first road describes your experience, I recommend this reading chart. You have seen these plans for reading the Bible in a year, this is similar except it shows you where you can find the companion texts from the spirit of prophecy. I put several copies of it on the table in the foyer, if they run out feel free to contact me. I pray that if you are on the road to Emmaus, this idea can breathe Life into your walk with Jesus. If you are on the way to Jerusalem you never lose your first love!