1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,080 So this week there was a, this week in history type event, which took place where someone 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:15,080 experienced something for the very first time and it made a difference in their life and 3 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:20,280 it made a difference in an event and an action that took place. 4 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:25,080 So we're going to go back to the year 1896. 5 00:00:25,080 --> 00:00:31,600 So quite a few years ago and it is in, there we go, the nation of Greece. 6 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:38,020 So 1896 was when they were bringing back the Olympic games. 7 00:00:38,020 --> 00:00:42,520 Now I'm just going to let this, let you guys know this, that I'm a big Olympics fan and 8 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,360 this is an Olympic year. 9 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:49,680 So it may be over the course of the next few months that you may hear a few Olympic stories. 10 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:55,820 But this was the return of the modern Olympics and so it was 1896. 11 00:00:55,820 --> 00:01:01,920 Now in 1896 those Olympic games were just a little bit different because the athletes 12 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:06,120 had to pay their own way to go to the Olympics. 13 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:11,960 And so in 1896 there was a young man, a wealthy young man from a wealthy family named Robert 14 00:01:11,960 --> 00:01:19,040 Garrett and he was part, in fact he was the captain of the track team at Princeton. 15 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,920 So he was a student at Princeton, he was the captain of the track team, part of a wealthy 16 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:31,880 family and he was going to make his way over across the ocean in 1896 to participate in 17 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,480 the very first modern Olympic games. 18 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,440 That was a lot of things to say there. 19 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:42,460 But his coach came to him one day and said, you know what, there's an event at the Olympics 20 00:01:42,460 --> 00:01:44,160 that you have never done before. 21 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:48,360 In fact, no one in the United States has ever done it before. 22 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,840 But it was an ancient event, the event of the discus. 23 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:57,220 You've seen the discus where they throw a round disc as far as they can. 24 00:01:57,220 --> 00:02:00,920 And so they had no idea what this event was like. 25 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:07,760 And so they went to the ancient Greek resources and read the stories and so Robert hired a 26 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,680 blacksmith to make a discus for him. 27 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:16,100 Now the discus that was made, that he went and picked up from the blacksmith, it turned 28 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:21,260 out it was one foot across of metal and it weighed 30 pounds. 29 00:02:21,260 --> 00:02:25,440 So there was no way that Robert nor anyone else could throw this thing for more than 30 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,640 a few feet or a few inches. 31 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:32,880 So then he arrives in Greece and he sees what a real discus looks like. 32 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:38,320 It's about eight inches across, it's partially of wood, partially of metal, and it weighs 33 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,860 about four and a half pounds. 34 00:02:40,860 --> 00:02:47,060 And so the event takes place and Robert has never participated in this event before the 35 00:02:47,060 --> 00:02:49,120 Olympic day arrives. 36 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:54,920 And so in the discus you get three throws and whichever throw is the longest, that's 37 00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:55,920 the one they count. 38 00:02:55,920 --> 00:03:02,000 And so throw number one, throw number two, both of these were awful. 39 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,480 And the crowd laughed and he laughed at himself because they kind of tumbled over and over 40 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:07,740 and over. 41 00:03:07,740 --> 00:03:15,800 But then for the first time as Robert held this disc one more time and he kind of twisted 42 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:23,480 himself and he spun a little bit and he released the discus and this time it worked. 43 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:29,140 This time it got the spin that it was supposed to, it twirled through the air, he released 44 00:03:29,140 --> 00:03:32,480 it and it went 95 feet. 45 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:38,080 And before that day was over, Robert had won first place, he'd won the gold medal in the 46 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:43,800 very first modern Olympic games, the very first time he had ever participated in this 47 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:44,800 event. 48 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:49,760 And in fact, during that Olympic time he also won the shot put and he got second in the 49 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,000 high jump and the long jump. 50 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,360 So it was a good Olympics for him. 51 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:03,760 But the way he threw that discus changed kind of the direction of that sport because people 52 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:10,040 noticed the motion that he made and they saw how far the discus had gone and they kind 53 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:15,880 of began to craft a future training based on something that someone had done for the 54 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:17,840 very first time. 55 00:04:17,840 --> 00:04:26,400 And so believe it or not, sometimes a new experience can change your view about life. 56 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:34,000 And so here we are on this Sabbath morning on a weekend when only a couple times during 57 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:41,720 the year that many people in the world are thinking about Jesus, are talking about Jesus, 58 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,120 or maybe asking questions about Jesus. 59 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:51,000 So we're going to step aside from our study and acts and we're going to talk about Jesus. 60 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:56,740 And so we're going to talk about that one particular weekend that was a weekend of worry 61 00:04:56,740 --> 00:05:00,180 and tears and fear. 62 00:05:00,180 --> 00:05:05,360 Because that Passover week there at the end of Jesus' life on this earth, that Passover 63 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:11,600 week started with a parade, but it ended with a cross. 64 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,080 For that Sunday all the people were saying, blessed is he who comes in the name of the 65 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:17,080 Lord. 66 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,900 And they were waving their palm branches and they were shouting Hosanna. 67 00:05:20,900 --> 00:05:25,400 But as the week went on, the attitude changed. 68 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:30,080 And we're going to pick up our story on the next Sunday, Sunday afternoon. 69 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:34,040 We're going to spend most of our time in Luke chapter 24. 70 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:40,400 Because in Luke chapter 24, we find ourselves on Sunday afternoon and we find some weary 71 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,080 travelers making their way home. 72 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,080 So we're going to read here in Luke 24 starting in verse 13. 73 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:55,480 It says, now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, 74 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,640 which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 75 00:05:58,640 --> 00:05:59,640 Seven miles. 76 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:05,840 So they were traveling from the big city, which is kind of high in elevation up on the 77 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:12,360 ridge, and they're traveling down the slope, down seven miles to Emmaus. 78 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:19,120 Now just ask yourself, how long would it take you to walk seven miles? 79 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:20,440 We could all do it. 80 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,080 We could all do it in one day. 81 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,920 It may take some of us a little longer than others. 82 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:30,320 But an average walk, if somebody's out walking on the greenway, it's about three and a half 83 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:34,080 miles an hour is the average pace of a walk. 84 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:35,620 You could do it faster or slower. 85 00:06:35,620 --> 00:06:37,840 So about two hours. 86 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:45,760 This is a journey of about two hours as they're traveling from Jerusalem, traveling to home. 87 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:53,560 And it says in verse 14, and they talked together of all these things which had happened. 88 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:59,840 So they're making their way two hours, seven miles, and they're talking about all these 89 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:02,460 things that had happened. 90 00:07:02,460 --> 00:07:07,720 They were talking about what they had experienced, what they had seen, what are they going to 91 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:08,720 do now? 92 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,880 You know, as humans, we like to tell stories. 93 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,880 If you're like me and my wife, at the end of the day, it's like, how was your day when 94 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:18,160 you get home from work? 95 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,960 And sometimes it's just a normal day. 96 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,800 But then sometimes it's like, well, let me tell you this story. 97 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,960 I saw this, or I talked to this person. 98 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:34,720 Or maybe this week, you woke up one day and you saw that a bridge had collapsed and you 99 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:41,680 felt the need to share that with someone because that was a tragedy and it was an incredible 100 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,040 sadness of something that had happened. 101 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:47,660 And you wanted to make sure that other people knew about that. 102 00:07:47,660 --> 00:07:54,440 So these folks were talking about what they had seen, talking maybe about maybe they had 103 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,940 been at the Passover parade a week before. 104 00:07:57,940 --> 00:08:05,560 Maybe they had been in that mob that had kind of changed its attitude as the week went on. 105 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:11,600 Maybe they had felt an earthquake on Friday or they had seen the sky get dark, not in 106 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:16,480 an eclipse like we're going to have in a few weeks, but something supernatural where for 107 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:22,000 hours the sky was dark as Jesus hung upon the cross. 108 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,640 What did they see? 109 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,060 What now? 110 00:08:25,060 --> 00:08:31,960 And as they're talking, verse 15, the story goes on and it says, so it was while they 111 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:39,280 conversed and reasoned, so they're chatting, they're reasoning, they're thinking logically 112 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:47,920 about things perhaps in their own mind, that Jesus drew near and went with them. 113 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:53,240 So they're walking along this path, they're communicating, they're talking, and suddenly 114 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:58,360 someone comes up beside them, maybe from a side path, maybe catches up from them, maybe 115 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:03,000 they catch up to him as they're walking, but suddenly there's three of them. 116 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:10,400 But the very next verse says, but their eyes were restrained so they did not know him. 117 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:15,200 So two people are walking, we know the name of one of them is Cleopas, the other we don't 118 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:19,480 know and people think maybe it's his wife or just a friend, we're not sure who this 119 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:21,400 other one is. 120 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:26,920 But suddenly they're joined by someone else and it says their eyes are restrained. 121 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:32,160 Could this be a miraculous intervention so that they don't recognize that they're now 122 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,160 walking with the Savior? 123 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:38,680 Could it be that they're just so consumed with their own conversation that they don't 124 00:09:38,680 --> 00:09:43,200 notice that someone they recognize and that they know has come up beside them? 125 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:50,040 We're not entirely sure, but they're now walking with Jesus, but they don't recognize him. 126 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:55,760 They're thinking logically, they're reasoning, they're discussing the details, but they're 127 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:57,440 confused. 128 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,960 Something is missing. 129 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:07,840 Have you ever been confused about your spiritual life, confused about your spiritual journey? 130 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:12,720 Have you ever been going through your day or your week and you just seem to be missing 131 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:13,720 something? 132 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,240 It seems important, but you're not quite sure what it is. 133 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:21,960 Well, if you're confused in your spiritual walk today, I want to assure you, encourage 134 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:28,000 you to recognize and know that Jesus still walks beside you. 135 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:33,640 Even if you don't see him, even if you don't recognize him, Jesus walks beside those that 136 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:34,640 are confused. 137 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:40,560 Jesus walks beside those that are uncertain and he wants to clarify things. 138 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:43,200 He wants to make things clear. 139 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,920 So Jesus asked them a question. 140 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:50,000 He said to them, verse 17, what's up? 141 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,440 What are you guys talking about? 142 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:58,360 What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are 143 00:10:58,360 --> 00:10:59,360 sad? 144 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,440 So they're sad as they're experiencing this. 145 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:10,280 And then it tells us the name of one of them is Cleopas and said to him, who are you? 146 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:12,100 Where are you from? 147 00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:17,960 Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem and have you not known the things which happened 148 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,020 here in these days? 149 00:11:20,020 --> 00:11:23,880 How can you be here and not know what's going on? 150 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:29,240 How can you be coming out of this city and not know what we're talking about? 151 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:33,380 How can this make a difference in your life? 152 00:11:33,380 --> 00:11:36,600 How could you be living and not hear these things? 153 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,400 And then it goes on in verse 19. 154 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:43,020 Jesus answered and said to them, what things? 155 00:11:43,020 --> 00:11:46,400 What are you guys talking about? 156 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:47,860 Explain to me. 157 00:11:47,860 --> 00:11:49,880 What are you talking about? 158 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:55,380 It's incredible to me that they're now talking to the resurrected Savior, but they don't 159 00:11:55,380 --> 00:11:56,380 even realize it. 160 00:11:56,380 --> 00:11:57,580 They don't even know it. 161 00:11:57,580 --> 00:12:02,840 They don't even know that Jesus is walking beside them. 162 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:04,200 And Jesus says, what things? 163 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:09,480 And so they said to him, the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth. 164 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,440 And yet here he is. 165 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:18,280 And they begin to describe who Jesus was as they're talking to Jesus. 166 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:26,120 And continuing in verse 19, who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all 167 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,120 the people. 168 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:31,840 Maybe they talked about miracles that they had seen or at least miracles that they had 169 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:32,840 heard about. 170 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:37,760 You know, what are your favorite miracles to read about Jesus when he took the fish 171 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:41,980 in the loaves and he fed a mass of people? 172 00:12:41,980 --> 00:12:44,360 When he walked on the water? 173 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:49,440 When the storm was raging and he stood up and he said, peace be still? 174 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:54,040 When Jesus came into a town and touched those who were sick, touched the blind, touched 175 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:57,200 those who couldn't walk, and they were healed. 176 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:04,240 Maybe they told some of those stories of how Jesus was a prophet, mighty in word, mighty 177 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:09,280 in deed and word before God and all the people. 178 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:16,500 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and they crucified 179 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:18,080 him. 180 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:24,400 He was mighty in word and deed, but then they turned on him. 181 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,520 Then they crucified him. 182 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:28,680 Then they killed him. 183 00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:30,220 And maybe they were there. 184 00:13:30,220 --> 00:13:35,120 Maybe they had been in that crowd that saw Jesus carrying the cross up the Via de la 185 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:36,340 Rosa. 186 00:13:36,340 --> 00:13:42,320 Maybe they were there standing far back as they saw a mass of people watching three people 187 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,080 dying on a cross. 188 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,200 They crucified him. 189 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,320 They condemned him to death. 190 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,280 And then we see their attitude. 191 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:56,680 Verse 21, but we were, is that present tense or past tense? 192 00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:57,680 That's past. 193 00:13:57,680 --> 00:14:04,160 We were hoping, we used to be hoping that he was going to redeem Israel. 194 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:09,020 It's almost as if they're saying, but now our hope is gone. 195 00:14:09,020 --> 00:14:14,700 We were hoping that this man who was mighty in deed and word was going to redeem Israel, 196 00:14:14,700 --> 00:14:16,240 but now he's been crucified. 197 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:17,840 Now he's gone to his death. 198 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:24,320 Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 199 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:29,920 We know that he's dead because this is the third day, but there's some confusion because 200 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:38,800 it says certain women of our company arrived at the tomb early and what did they do? 201 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:40,600 Astonished us. 202 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,080 You remember that story. 203 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:47,960 Those ladies, depending on which gospel you're reading, there's different journeys. 204 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:55,000 It's one or it's a couple that go down to the tomb to be where Jesus was laid and they 205 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,640 get down there and there's no Jesus. 206 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:03,040 And they come back and tell these followers of Jesus that he's not there anymore. 207 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:07,840 And it says, when they did not find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a 208 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:13,400 vision of angels who said he was alive and certain of those who were with us went to 209 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:19,360 the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but did not see. 210 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:25,640 These women went to the tomb and it was empty and they astonished us. 211 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,480 I love that word. 212 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:32,080 When was the last time you were astonished by something? 213 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:38,240 Did someone throw a surprise party for you that you really had no idea was going to happen? 214 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,840 Did somebody get you some gift that you'd been hoping for but you didn't think it was 215 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:44,520 going to happen? 216 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,200 Or maybe I think it was Wednesday night driving home from prayer meeting. 217 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:53,200 There was an incredible sunset that took place on Wednesday night. 218 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,800 If you didn't miss it, you missed being astonished. 219 00:15:55,800 --> 00:16:00,900 When was the last time you were astonished by something? 220 00:16:00,900 --> 00:16:05,680 When was the last time you were astonished by God? 221 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:10,240 Are we sometimes at the place where we're just going through the motions of our day, 222 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:14,460 we're going through the motions of our week, and so it's Saturday morning so we get up 223 00:16:14,460 --> 00:16:22,720 and we come to church, but we leave and we haven't been astonished by what God is doing, 224 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,440 by what God is saying. 225 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:33,640 If I was writing this story, if I wanted the best effect, this would be the moment. 226 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:38,200 If this was a movie or a television show, this would be the moment where the music would 227 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:39,800 get more suspenseful. 228 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,280 This would be the time of the big reveal. 229 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:47,920 Perhaps there'd be an angelic choir which would begin to sing and the sun would beam 230 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,760 down upon this stranger that was walking with them. 231 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:58,360 Perhaps in a voice like the burning bush, Jesus could say, I am he. 232 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:00,360 That's not what happened here. 233 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,640 That's not how this event took place. 234 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:08,960 You see, Jesus didn't want them to be astonished by his presence. 235 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,400 He was right there and they missed it. 236 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:16,180 Jesus wanted them to be astonished by the promises of the word of God. 237 00:17:16,180 --> 00:17:19,600 It wasn't enough for them to see that Jesus was there. 238 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,920 He wanted this to be a learning moment. 239 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,720 He wanted to teach them something. 240 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:31,080 So we go on as they were astonished, as this tomb was empty. 241 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:36,840 Jesus says something that I hope he doesn't say to me, but I recognize that probably sometimes 242 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:39,800 too often he does. 243 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:47,760 Verse 25, he said to them, oh foolish ones, in slow of heart to believe in all that the 244 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,800 prophets have spoken. 245 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,520 I wonder how many times that has been said about me. 246 00:17:52,520 --> 00:18:00,200 Oh foolish one, why are you so slow to believe the prophecies, believe the words of scripture, 247 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,320 to believe the things that are there? 248 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:09,160 But then he goes on and says, ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to 249 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,520 enter into his glory. 250 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,040 Isn't this what was supposed to happen? 251 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:20,080 You know there's lots of Bible stories that I would love to see what they look like and 252 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:24,440 I can imagine, you know, whether it's the parting of the Red Sea, what did that look 253 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,000 like as they're walking through? 254 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:35,120 Or the burning bush or a pillar of fire or creation or Noah's Ark during the flood or 255 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:39,720 the sanctuary, all these different things. 256 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:47,560 Bible stories that I wish that I could see, but maybe this is not as visually dramatic, 257 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,480 but oh how I wish I could have heard what was said here. 258 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:58,560 Because notice what happens, it says, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, Jesus expounded 259 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:05,920 to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 260 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:13,480 Jesus doesn't make the light flash, he doesn't make the thunder boom, he gives them a little 261 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,360 Bible study as they're walking along. 262 00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:23,380 And he says, remember this story, remember this passage of scripture, wasn't that talking 263 00:19:23,380 --> 00:19:30,680 about how the Messiah was supposed to suffer and enter into his glory is the way that he 264 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,200 described it in verse 26? 265 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:39,080 What stories could Jesus have told that afternoon as they were walking along? 266 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:45,120 Could he have recited to them Psalm 22, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 267 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:53,040 Or maybe recited Isaiah 53 by his stripes, by his wounds, we are healed. 268 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:57,840 He was to be, you know, buried with the criminals and different things like that. 269 00:19:57,840 --> 00:19:59,980 Talk about the suffering servant. 270 00:19:59,980 --> 00:20:05,520 Maybe he reminded them about the lamb from the Garden of Eden that was sacrificed so 271 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:11,760 that Adam and Eve could have clothes or the sacrificial system where a creature, an animal 272 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,140 was dying in place of the one who had actually sinned. 273 00:20:16,140 --> 00:20:18,720 Maybe he reminded them of the sanctuary service. 274 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,600 You know, you remember the temple here, we just came from there. 275 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:28,400 There's an altar with a sacrifice for sins to be confessed upon. 276 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,720 There's a laver, a basin of water for cleansing. 277 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:35,760 And you guys have read about the Most Holy Place. 278 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:36,760 There's bread. 279 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,120 You know, man does not live by bread alone, but by every word from God. 280 00:20:40,120 --> 00:20:46,520 And you know, on this side, there's a candlestick where we are illuminated by the Holy Spirit. 281 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:49,280 Don't forget that incense altar. 282 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,880 That's like our prayers, you know, ascending to heaven. 283 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:58,960 And then, you've read about it, that Most Holy Place with a seat of mercy where the 284 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:01,040 blood is sprinkled. 285 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:06,360 I don't know what passages he shared, but there's so many that I just wish I could see 286 00:21:06,360 --> 00:21:14,680 this Bible study that Jesus gave as he expounded to them in the books of Moses, in all the 287 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:20,200 prophets and in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself. 288 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:28,520 And so, as Jesus is sharing, they make their journey seven miles, two hours or so, and 289 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:32,480 they arrive to the place that they're going. 290 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:37,720 And we'll look at verse 28, and it says, They drew near to the village where they were going, 291 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:44,160 and he, Jesus, indicated that he would have gone farther. 292 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,360 Maybe they're like, oh, this is our stop. 293 00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:52,120 And Jesus waves or indicates or takes another couple steps. 294 00:21:52,120 --> 00:21:57,200 He indicated that he would have gone farther. 295 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:03,400 You know, Jesus comes alongside of us when we're confused, when we're uncertain, but 296 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:07,220 Jesus never forces himself upon anybody. 297 00:22:07,220 --> 00:22:11,760 We have to invite Jesus to be a part of our life. 298 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:18,520 We have to invite Jesus to guide us and to welcome him into our life. 299 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:24,040 And so here we are on this side of the cross, on this side of the resurrection, just as 300 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,320 these two folks were. 301 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:32,000 What can we do to welcome Jesus into our life? 302 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,120 Are we spending time in God's word? 303 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:38,060 Are we spending time in prayer? 304 00:22:38,060 --> 00:22:42,480 Are we recognizing how Jesus can change our life? 305 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:49,440 You know, if we want to spend more time in God's word, that may mean that we've got 306 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:53,080 to turn something off in the evening. 307 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:59,020 You've got to hit the power button on a remote for a few minutes at least. 308 00:22:59,020 --> 00:23:03,360 Maybe you've got to set your alarm just a couple minutes earlier or take a few minutes 309 00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:05,360 of your lunch break and say, you know what? 310 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:07,240 I'm going to focus on God. 311 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,680 I'm going to concentrate on something that was happening. 312 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,160 Jesus would have gone further, but notice what happened. 313 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:15,160 These guys wouldn't let him. 314 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:16,760 It says they constrained him. 315 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,720 I don't think they wrestled him, but they invited him. 316 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:25,880 They compelled him saying, abide with us, stay with us for it is toward evening and 317 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:27,400 the day is far spent. 318 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:28,800 And that's all it took. 319 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:33,960 An invitation, Jesus come and be with us, a simple invitation. 320 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,280 And he went in to stay with them. 321 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,000 That's hospitality of the day. 322 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,880 And it wasn't just enough to stay, but there was food to be provided. 323 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:51,360 It came to pass as he sat at the table with them, that he took the bread and bless and 324 00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:55,200 broke it and gave it to them. 325 00:23:55,200 --> 00:24:01,880 And something in that action, something in that motion, whether it's the way that he 326 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:08,920 prayed or the way that he broke the bread or maybe they saw scars upon his hands or 327 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:13,880 maybe that miracle that had been closing their eyes suddenly was removed so that their eyes 328 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:14,920 were open. 329 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:19,120 But it says then their eyes were open and they knew him. 330 00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:28,240 And I can almost see them sitting at the table like, wait, how, who, how could this be? 331 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:29,240 We were just taught it. 332 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,920 You were sharing and how could this be? 333 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:40,680 And as soon as they recognized him, amazingly, another miracle, he vanishes from their sight. 334 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:41,680 But they knew. 335 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:43,720 It wasn't like, oh man, that was, we were hot. 336 00:24:43,720 --> 00:24:44,800 We were dehydrated. 337 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:46,840 That was a hallucination. 338 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:52,000 These two people, they, they knew and notice what they said to each other in verse 32. 339 00:24:52,000 --> 00:25:00,960 Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road and while he opened 340 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,840 the scriptures to us, our heart was excited. 341 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:07,020 Our heart was burning within us. 342 00:25:07,020 --> 00:25:10,160 Not because Jesus was there physically. 343 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:13,480 They didn't even recognize Jesus was there physically. 344 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:14,480 Their hearts were burning. 345 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:19,040 Their hearts were excited because he was opening up the Bible promise. 346 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:21,120 It wasn't about his presence. 347 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:22,880 It was about the promise. 348 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:26,880 And because of that, they had hope again. 349 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,120 They had hope in what Jesus wanted to do. 350 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:36,860 And our scripture of the day, 1 Corinthians 2, 2, it says, Paul writes, for I determined 351 00:25:36,860 --> 00:25:42,520 not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 352 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:49,760 And later in chapter 15, it says, I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you, by 353 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,560 which you also were saved. 354 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:57,880 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins 355 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:03,180 according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day 356 00:26:03,180 --> 00:26:05,280 according to the scriptures. 357 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:09,600 And so for the New Testament, that was what that gospel was all about. 358 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:13,480 That Jesus had died, that Jesus was resurrected. 359 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:22,880 And for these people who were uncertain, their life was changed because they had hope again. 360 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:27,000 They had said, we had hoped that he was going to redeem us. 361 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:31,880 But they had lost that hope because they had a misconception of what the cross was about. 362 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:35,400 But now they said, did not our heart burn within us? 363 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:36,580 So what is their response? 364 00:26:36,580 --> 00:26:37,580 What is their action? 365 00:26:37,580 --> 00:26:44,040 Verse 33, it says, they rose up that very hour and they returned to Jerusalem. 366 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:45,920 How far was that? 367 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:46,920 Seven miles. 368 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,080 Do you think it took them two hours? 369 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:51,360 Or do you think they did it a little faster on the way back? 370 00:26:51,360 --> 00:26:52,360 I don't know. 371 00:26:52,360 --> 00:26:55,600 It was uphill, so it was a little more difficult journey. 372 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:57,960 They'd already walked seven miles. 373 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:01,120 I think that's about 14 total. 374 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:05,600 I think they might have done it faster because they got back, they found the 11 and those 375 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:10,880 who were with them and they said to them, the Lord is risen indeed. 376 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:12,280 And that is what gave them hope. 377 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,960 And I think that is what gave them speed as they were returning back. 378 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,580 The Lord is risen indeed. 379 00:27:18,580 --> 00:27:25,280 And we recognized him and we know that he has made a difference in our life. 380 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:28,840 And they went back and said, the Lord is risen. 381 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,160 The Lord is risen indeed. 382 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:32,880 And they were changed. 383 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:37,240 They were changed by what had happened. 384 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:42,080 Even someone inexperienced can make a difference. 385 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:47,600 These two folks, they had just heard these Bible stories, just heard this Bible study, 386 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:48,600 I should say. 387 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:53,200 They probably knew the stories, but they zeroed in on how it related to Jesus. 388 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,960 The little maid and the children's story. 389 00:27:55,960 --> 00:28:01,320 She was inexperienced, but she could tell somebody about God. 390 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:02,320 There was a story. 391 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,360 I'm going to see if this works because it's a video. 392 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:07,160 I'm going to hit it one more time and it's supposed to play. 393 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:08,280 We'll see if it does. 394 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:12,320 But this was a couple years ago in England or Great Britain. 395 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,540 There was a group of people, they were having an Easter egg hunt. 396 00:28:15,540 --> 00:28:19,480 And so they were out in a field and they were enjoying themselves. 397 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:24,260 And as they were out there, two strangers run by. 398 00:28:24,260 --> 00:28:29,520 And before long, they see some helicopters and their police helicopters. 399 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:34,560 And they begin to realize that the police helicopters are looking for the people that 400 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,240 ran through the field. 401 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:38,640 And they can't tell them. 402 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:41,880 And so the children lay down and they point a little arrow. 403 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:47,200 They make an arrow so that the people in the helicopter can say, look, they went that direction. 404 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:51,520 And the helicopter flies that direction and sure enough, sees these two burglars, these 405 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:58,360 two criminals, and they call the police on the ground and they go and track them down. 406 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,000 One can make a difference. 407 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,360 Christians like you and me can make a difference. 408 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,920 We don't have to be experts at everything. 409 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:09,180 We can be inexperienced. 410 00:29:09,180 --> 00:29:14,760 We can be like these two travelers who were confused and who were hurting and who did 411 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:20,200 not understand what was happening until they heard the power of God's word. 412 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:22,720 And they saw a resurrected savior. 413 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:29,280 And they saw the promises that pointed to Jesus who was dying as the Messiah and resting 414 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:31,960 and then resurrecting again. 415 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:35,440 We have one more promise that the Bible tells us about. 416 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:41,280 One more promise that this crucified and resurrected savior is coming again. 417 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:47,260 We look forward to the day when Jesus will return and we can be in his physical presence. 418 00:29:47,260 --> 00:29:52,720 But until then, we can be astonished at the promises that we have. 419 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,820 We can be astonished by the grace that we have. 420 00:29:55,820 --> 00:30:01,760 Our hearts and our faith can burn within us as we recognize what Jesus has done. 421 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:07,760 And we can come to Jesus in our confusion, in our uncertainty, but each and every day 422 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:13,120 as we invite Jesus to be with us, we can leave different. 423 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:19,520 So that's my challenge for you this week, look to Jesus the resurrected savior. 424 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:26,720 Invite him into your life each day and open up your heart to be astonished by what Jesus 425 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:27,720 wants to do for you. 426 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,480 Let's bow our heads for prayer. 427 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:38,200 Dear God, we thank you for a story of grace, a story of miracles. 428 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:43,800 And Lord, it's my prayer that each of us will find something each day, each week to be astonished 429 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,200 because of what you do for us. 430 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:52,320 And that we can hear your promises and look for that day when we can be in your presence. 431 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:54,960 In your name we pray, amen. 432 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:57,760 I invite you to open up your hymnals now. 433 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:03,660 We're going to sing hymn number 526, Because He Lives. 434 00:31:03,660 --> 00:31:06,760 Because He Lives, number 526. 435 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:11,760 Just stand with us.