Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. To get connected
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this message you feel called to make a change
in your life, text CHANGEME to 9700. Thank you
and enjoy the message. Happy Easter. We're so
glad you made it. If you need a seat, there's
couches in the cafe. What a morning! So it began
last night at about 10 o 'clock when I was rudely
awoken by a storm that I thought was literally
going to blow my bedroom off the roof to be quickly
informed at 5 a .m. that we had no power. Fast
forward to now 10 .30 a .m. and we are celebrating
Easter together as a community of faith. So if
this is your first time joining us, please bear
with us. As we planned on having a morning gathering
at 825 that would alleviate some of the seating
issues, and that was lost because we had no power.
So here we are together celebrating all that
God is doing in our midst. And just like you
saw on our announcements, for those of you who
didn't know, we had a Good Friday worship and
baptism this past Friday night. Where 56 people
declared that they are now following Jesus and
were baptized. I even got to baptize Andre the
Giant, which was just a personal and incredible
experience for me. So I'm just thankful that
you all made it and that you're here. I would
like to invite you all, if you would please,
could you please stand? And I would simply like
to read. Luke chapter 24, verses 1 through 12,
which is the reason that we gather this morning.
But very early on Sunday morning, the women went
to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
They found that the stone had been rolled away
from the entrance, so they went in, but they
didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they
stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared
to them clothed in dazzling robes. The women
were terrified and bowed with their faces to
the ground. Then the men asked, Why are you looking
among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't
here. He is risen from the dead. Remember what
he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of
Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful
men and be crucified, and that he would rise
again on the third day. Then they remembered
that he had said this. So they rushed back from
the tomb to tell his 11 disciples and everyone
else what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene,
Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and several
other women who told the apostles what had happened.
But the story sounded like nonsense to the men,
so they didn't believe it. However, Peter jumped
up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he
peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings.
Then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
Holy Spirit, come. God, we're just thankful for
the morning where we can gather to celebrate
all that you do for us. Overwhelm us, change
us, and allow us, God, to become new, fresh,
and just full of your Spirit. In Jesus' name,
amen. You may be seated. So Jesus, he only has
40 days. He's risen from the dead. He's resurrected
just like he said he would do. He has the keys
to death, hell, and the grave. He defeated the
devil when the stone was rolled away. He is risen.
He is risen indeed. The women went to the tomb.
It's Sunday morning and they brought some spices,
but they quickly learned that they would not
need them because the angel said to the women,
why are you looking among the dead for someone
who is alive? Now notice the women were searching
for Jesus, but he was no longer where they thought
he was. And if we're honest, I believe quite
often in our everyday lives. we find ourselves
searching for the presence and the power of God,
but we miss it because we search for it in all
the wrong places. See, we look for the living
among the dead, and Jesus is not there. He's
risen. Why do we look for a living God in dead
places, like a dead relationship or a dead career?
Or dead social media scrolling? Maybe it's a
dead habit. Why do we look for the living God
in dead religion? Or a dormant religion? See,
Jesus is alive and he's real. And the presence
of God is not meant to be an add -on or an accessory
or a bonus. See, the presence of God should be
the fuel or the source of life for anyone. Who
is in a relationship with Jesus? See, Jesus is
risen from the dead. That marked the most important
event in the history of the world. The cornerstone
of our faith. Now think about it. He's got to
get the message out because he's only got 40
days. He's about to be taken up to heaven and
seated at the right hand of the Father where
he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
Jesus has to get moving. He has to show the world
that he's alive. That they'll believe the proof
of the power in his resurrection. What should
Jesus do first? I mean, if he wants to reveal
himself to the world and let them know that he
is the son of God, that he is risen from the
dead, where does he go? What does he do? Maybe
he could gather the disciples together and host
a resurrection reenactment event at the Coliseum.
He definitely needs to get it out on social.
Maybe it will go viral. Maybe he'll go old school
and schedule an interview with Fox News. What
does Jesus do on the day he defeats sin and death?
I believe that all of us might actually be surprised
because what he does next. Is he simply takes
a walk. And this morning I'm going to invite
you to take a walk with me. And not just me but
to take a walk with Jesus. Because see on the
day of his resurrection. The day that we celebrate
this morning. With only 40 days to tell the world
that he is God. And convince them with many signs
and proof. He simply appears to two travelers.
Whose names we have never seen. I mean, Jesus,
at least go talk to James and John. I've heard
of them. But these two travelers, see, they were
just like you and me walking along on the road
of life. These two travelers were headed toward
a village called Emmaus. And what's interesting
about this town as I was studying is that no
one exactly knows where Emmaus is today. It was
such an insignificant place. in its day, that
there's no archaeological evidence that it ever
existed. So why would Jesus go to a place that
wasn't even significant enough in Jesus' time
to be pinpointed on our map today? Well, see,
I believe it's a reminder, which leads us to
our first thought here on Easter Sunday, that
the resurrected Jesus, see, he pursues us. See,
let's take a walk and join Jesus on the road
to Emmaus as we read in Luke 24, 13 through 17.
That same day, two of Jesus' followers were walking
to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem.
And let's just simply pause there for a minute
and just highlight that they're walking toward
Emmaus. And remember, Jesus died in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was, of course, the place where the
Passover feast had just been celebrated. Jerusalem
was the place where the promised Holy Spirit
was to come. But Jesus leaves that place where
the Spirit is coming to follow two people, and
we don't even know who they are. Let's continue.
As they walked along, they were talking about
everything that had happened. As they talked
and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly
came and began walking with them. But God kept
them from mechanizing him, and he asked them,
what are you discussing so intently as you walk
along? So picture this with me. Jesus, he's just
trampled sin, hell, and the grave. He made a
complete mockery of Satan, and suddenly he walks
up to these two unnamed people and asks them
a simple question, a question he knows the answer
to. And listen, you may be here this morning
and you think that you can only go on this journey
if you're perfect and without sin. You might
think that you can only go on this journey if
your life is profound and meaningful. That God
can only use somebody that other people know.
But listen, don't believe that lie because our
culture unfortunately worships the idol of fame
and importance. But the famous one, the name
above every other name, meets these two previously
unnamed travelers. And I believe this morning
he wants to meet you. It doesn't matter what
you believe, what you've done, what you've said,
where you've gone, or where you're even headed.
Jesus is with us right now. He's with us when
we're wrong. He's with us when we're moving forward.
He's with us when we're stuck. He's with us when
we're celebrating. He's with us when we're strong.
He's with us when we're weak. He's with us when
we're defeated. And notice that all these two
were doing was walking. They didn't invite Jesus
to join them. They didn't pray to Jesus. They
didn't go to church. They didn't sing a hymn.
They didn't pray a prayer. They didn't even memorize
a verse. I mean, heck, they weren't even a part
of a growth group. Even though you should be,
they weren't. All they were doing was walking.
And they were walking toward a village called
Emmaus. And if we look at our own lives, isn't
it true that daily we walk through life? We raise
our kids. We go to work. We go to school. We
travel to the store. We cook dinner. And I believe
that Jesus wants us to see that he's walking
with us. And here's the crazy thing. These two
were walking the wrong way, which leads us to
our next thought. You see, the resurrected Jesus
meets us in our despair and our disappointment.
Remember, they're going away from Jerusalem toward
an unnamed town that can't even be marked on
our maps today. And if they really believed Jesus
was going to be raised from the dead, they would
have stayed in Jerusalem. But they didn't. And
God followed them anyway to this wrong destination
because God wants us to see that grace chases
us down. Let's continue our story, Luke 24, verses
17 to 24. They stopped short, sadness written
across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas,
And let's pause there again and recognize. Most
scholars believe that these two people were husband
and wife. We learn that the man's name was Cleopas.
So we have Jesus and we have Cleo. Because that's
what his friends call him, right? Cleo. And notice,
we don't even get the woman's name. Because in
biblical times, people didn't treat women very
well. They were overlooked. They were forgotten.
But we quickly see that that's the kind of people
that Jesus likes to hang out with. The people
who are overlooked and forgotten. I mean, remember,
he worked a miracle with a little kid's lunch.
In their minds, kids didn't count. But in Jesus'
eyes, they were what was needed for multiplication
to happen. When people walked past them, he saw
them as the ones that would produce life. Jesus
pursues the forgotten. Let's continue. What things,
Jesus asked? The things that happened to Jesus,
the man from Nazareth. Remember, they're talking
to Jesus. They said, well, he was a prophet who
did powerful miracles and he was a mighty teacher
in the eyes of God and all the people. But our
leading priests and our other religious leaders
handed him over to be condemned to death and
they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah
who would come to rescue Israel. This all happened
three days ago. Then some women from our group
of his followers were at this tomb early in the
morning and they came back with an amazing report.
They said his body was missing, and they had
seen angels who told them Jesus is alive. Some
of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his
body was gone, just as the women had said. Why
would Jesus make one of his first resurrection
appearances to two unnamed people headed toward
a place that was away from the Holy Spirit toward
a place that no one could even remember? Why?
Because Jesus is pursuing us. He comes after
us, even when we're walking in the wrong direction.
And notice, Cleo and his wife, they're talking
about all the things that had happened. How the
Romans had crucified the one that was supposed
to be the deliverer, to free them from the oppression.
And remember, the Jewish... believers, they thought
that Jesus was going to set them free from Rome.
They didn't see him as setting them free from
the sin, death, and destruction from just Rome.
So they were downcast, and they were sad, and
they were walking away from Jerusalem. And apparently,
Jesus, he stops with them in their sadness, and
he steps into their sadness. And they start explaining.
to the one that they just happened to, how it
was supposed to turn out. Then in verse 15, as
they talked and discussed these things, you know
these life events, what they had just walked
through, you know the divorce, the job loss,
the financial struggle, the wasted relationship
that you didn't really know how to handle, that
stressful day, that disappointing outcome. They're
talking about all these things with Jesus. They
talked about the death and what they had put
their expectations on, their hope. And they're
right there in the middle. As they're explaining
all these things, Jesus doesn't even ask to join.
He just walks right in. He walks right beside
them. Have you ever felt like God wouldn't leave
you alone? Even if he wanted him to, like, get
away from me, God. Like you tried to turn off
your conscience and you still felt bad smoking
it or drinking it or looking at it. You tried
to turn it off, but you still feel really bad.
You're like, God, just get away. And it's one
of those things where Jesus walks right up to
us. I mean, that's what he does. That's what
he did here. He walked right up to it. But the
scriptures say that they were kept from recognizing
him. And I believe that's a reminder for all
of us that quite often we don't recognize the
resurrection that's right in front of us. See,
we often look to God in the dramatic. But this
is a reminder that he shows up in the everyday
details. He takes a walk with us. But Jesus,
you don't have time for this. You've only got
40 days. You've got people to meet. You've got
to get the good news out. But Jesus says, yeah,
I've got to get the good news out to Cleo and
his wife. I've got to show myself to them. But
again, they were kept from recognizing it. It
didn't say that he didn't recognize him. It says
that they were kept from recognizing. And how
many times have we been kept from recognizing
what God is doing right in front of us? How many
times have we been kept from recognizing the
ordinary moments of joy because we were waiting
for the perfect? How many times have I missed
a miracle because I saw the mess? How many times
have I missed the opportunity to give something
to someone else, but we're so self -centered
that we don't give it away? And God is inviting
us this morning, Easter Sunday, to change. Yes,
he's pursuing us, but what if we began to pursue
him? They didn't recognize it. They didn't see
him. And for so many of us, we don't even recognize
that our kids are growing up too fast because
we're so busy working with life. We don't recognize
that God gave us a faithful partner to love and
commit to and we get tired of the ordinary and
suddenly we're in fights that mean nothing. We
don't recognize that the people we're hanging
out with are leading us down a path that is not
abundant but is destructive. See, resurrection
begins in your life when you ask the question,
what is keeping me from recognizing the presence
of God that is right here beside me and inside
of me? Proverbs 3, 5 through 6 says, trust in
the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on
your own understanding. Seek his will in all
you do and he will show you which path to take.
See, when we try to search for God with our own
understanding, And we say, well, I'll start my
journey when I understand. Listen, you're never
going to understand. That's just not how God
works. Resurrection begins when we acknowledge
that God is in control. And we stop looking past
all the incredible blessings that we're given
each and every day. And we recognize that Jesus
is walking right along with us. Which leads us
to our next thought. The resurrected Jesus meets
us in the scriptures. Continuing in Luke 24,
then Jesus said to them, you foolish people.
So not only does Jesus not invite himself on
the walk, but now he listens to them and he calls
them out. You foolish people. You find it so
hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in
the scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that
the Messiah would have to suffer all these things
before entering his glory? Then Jesus took them
through the writings of Moses and all the prophets,
explaining from all the scriptures the things
concerning himself. So Jesus quickly, and not
necessarily quickly, because a seven -mile walk,
that's a long walk, walks them through the scriptures.
He begins with Moses. He goes into the prophets.
And he's explaining to them and us. That this
entire book that we're to read every single day
all points to Jesus. From the beginning to the
end. It's all about Jesus. And now he's standing
right in front of us. He broke it down. He broke
it down in a way that allowed them that as they
walk this journey, as we walk through life together,
we can see our story in the midst of this book
that we read every single day. But it requires
faith. And it requires for you to jump in the
story. As you jump in the story, as you step
out in faith, as you hope and desire more of
God in your life, you grow as you go. Notice
these two unnamed travelers that Jesus chooses
to meet with. They begin to grow and change as
they walk down this seven mile dirt road to a
no -name town that isn't even on our maps today.
And my challenge to you this morning on Easter
Sunday 2025 is keep searching for the presence
of God. Every single day. And as you search for
it, as you read the scriptures, allow the scriptures
to change and make you new. Hebrews 4 .12, for
the word of God is alive and powerful. It is
sharper than the sharpest two -edged sword, cutting
between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.
It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
I mean, the Bible that we read is alive and active.
It will make you scream. It will make you wince.
It will convict you. It will make you wonder.
I mean, just listen. Just listen to the book
of Deuteronomy. It will make you wonder. But
as we wonder and as we second guess, God, why
is all this in the Bible? Why, why, why? Remember,
it all points to who? Jesus. When the word of
God is alive in you. When Jesus shows up on the
road and meets you in your sin, your choices,
your mistakes, it frees you from your sin and
it makes you celebrate. Which leads us to our
final thought. See, the resurrected Jesus makes
himself known to us. Luke 24, 29 and 32. Jesus.
acted as if he was going on, but they begged
him, stay the night with us since it is getting
late. I mean, as you read through this section
of the scriptures, as Luke tells us this story,
I mean, it's just amazing to think what was going
through Jesus' mind. It's like he's playing games
with these two. He wasn't even going to stop
and meet with them. He acted as if he was kept
on going, but they begged him, no, don't leave.
And see, as we... our interests, as we read the
Bible, as we step out in faith, as we pray for
others, our faith only grows but we have to be
willing to step out. We have to be willing to
go on the journey. So he, meaning Jesus, went
home with them and as they sat down to eat, he
took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke
it and gave it to them and suddenly their eyes
were opened and they recognized him. And at that
moment, he disappeared. And they said to each
other, didn't our hearts burn? Now notice, Within
us as he talked with us on the road and explained
the scriptures to us. Didn't our hearts burn?
Burning hearts. So Jesus goes in and stays with
them. He sits down. And remember, he's the same
God who sent the angels to the tomb. Right? And
told the women, he's not here. He's the God of
the dramatic. But he's also the God of the details.
Because we learn that Jesus walks with us everywhere
we go. The Bible says that while he was at the
table with them, he took bread, right? And he
broke it. And as he broke it, right? As he's
in the midst of our conversations over dinner,
as he's in the midst of our conversations with
our coworkers, right? Jesus suddenly is there
with them and their eyes are opened. Their eyes
are open. And I believe that as we step out in
faith, as we talk about God, as we reflect on
the spiritual side of us, God makes himself known
to us. But so many of us are afraid to talk about
God because we don't think we know the Bible.
You don't have to know the Bible. You just have
to read it. You have to apply it to your lives.
You have to allow it to change you. Jesus takes
bread. He breaks it. And many scholars point
this to, now remember, these two unnamed disciples,
they wouldn't have been in the upper room, they
didn't see the Last Supper, but scholars believe
that these two were probably either at the feeding
of the 5 ,000, right? And they saw when Jesus
broke the bread and multiplied it, suddenly their
memory was kind of urged, like, whoa. But ultimately,
scholars point to, when he reached out and handed
them the bread, they saw the marks in his hands.
And you say, well, why didn't they recognize
the marks or the beaten body as they were walking
on the road? Because you have to remember that
this is Jesus' resurrected body. We just read
about him disappearing. He goes to and from.
We're going to learn quickly later in Luke that
he just appears to the 12 disciples out of nowhere.
Hi, guys. Then he walked through a door. That's
our resurrected bodies. But as he takes pride
and he hands it to him and he blesses it. Suddenly
they recognize him and they realize that Jesus
has been walking with them all along. Their eyes
were opened. This is very similar to what happened
in John chapter 20, verse 14 to 16. She turned
to leave and saw someone standing there. It was
Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. Dear woman,
why are you crying? Jesus asked her. Who are
you looking for? She thought he was the gardener.
Sir, she said, if you have taken him away, tell
me where you have put him and I will go and get
him. Mary, Jesus said, she turned to him and
cried out, Rabbani, which is Hebrew for teacher.
And notice when Mary recognized him, Jesus called
her by name. Jesus calls us by name. And not
only does he call us by name, but he pursues
us. He pursues us. When we're walking in the
wrong direction, away from God's call in our
life, away from God's abundance in our life,
not only does he pursue us, but he calls us by
name, and the Holy Spirit desires for transformation
to take place. And unfortunately for many of
us, it's unexpected. I mean, let me be honest
with you. Two hours ago, I was sick on my stomach,
ready to cancel all of these gatherings. Literally,
I was recording a video that said our Sunday
morning gatherings were canceled on Easter. But
remember, we're the hippie church. We're going
to celebrate Easter next Sunday because a calendar
doesn't tell us when to celebrate Easter. I was
all planning on celebrating Easter next Sunday.
And then Rhett ran out the front door as I was
about to speak. And he said, the lights are on.
Right? So for those of you seated here this morning,
I want you to know Jesus desires to make himself
known to you. And it doesn't matter if you're
running in the wrong direction. It doesn't matter
the choices you've made. It doesn't matter if
you don't even believe. He is pursuing you. And
he desires to make himself known to you. And
when he makes himself known to you, the transformation.
It's incredible, Luke 24, 33 to 34. And within
the hour, they were on their way back to Jerusalem.
There they found the 11 disciples and the others
who had gathered with them who said, the Lord
has really risen. He appeared to Peter. So think
about it. These two unnamed travelers, which
many scholars believe the husband and wife, Cleo
and Mrs. Cleo, they had just walked seven miles
to an unnamed town that's not even on our maps
today. But as soon as they recognized that Jesus
was alive, what did they do? Within the hour,
they quickly turned around, and I believe they
ran back to Jerusalem. And understand this, because
it's not written here, but this is truth. Returning
to Jerusalem in the middle of the night was probably
the most dangerous trek they ever could have
taken. From wild animals to thieves. to death
and destruction facing them, it didn't stop them
from going and sharing the good news. Jesus makes
us uncomfortable. And my question to you this
morning, are you willing to experience the resurrection,
even if that means following him somewhere that
doesn't make you feel comfortable? Which leads
us to our simple action steps this morning, experiencing
the resurrection. Our first step in experiencing
the resurrection is, church, you have to acknowledge
his power. Philippians 3 .10, I want you to know
Christ and experience the mighty power that raised
him from the dead. Are you willing to step out
in faith and experience the abundance that God
has for you? My challenge to you this morning
is stop putting God in a box. Open your eyes
and your ears to the reality that Jesus is pursuing
you. And not only is he pursuing you, but he's
right beside you walking every step of the way.
Ephesians 3 .20. Now all glory to God who is
able through his mighty power at work within
us to accomplish infinitely more. than we might
ever ask or think, which leads us to our next
step. We have to seek him through worship, prayer,
and scriptures, Colossians 3 .16. Let the message
about Christ in all its richness fill our lives,
right? Fill our lives. How do our lives get filled?
By reading and understanding the scriptures,
by applying it into our lives. Teach and counsel
each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with
thankful hearts. Now, why would we do that? Why
would we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual
psalms to God with thankful hearts? Because that's
when this presence of God is active and moving
amongst us. He's changing lives. He is drawing
us close to him. But my challenge to you this
morning is we're about to sing psalms and hymns
and spiritual psalms back to him as we celebrate
Easter this morning. Are you willing to let go?
Are you willing to let go and step out? And quite
possibly head towards an unnamed town on an unnamed
journey, pursuing Jesus and desiring the best
for him, which leads us to our next step. You
got to surrender to his power, 1 Peter 5, 6 through
7. So humble yourselves under the mighty power
of God. And at the right time, what's he going
to do? He lifts you up in honor. Give all your
worries and cares to God, for he cares about
you. you are you willing to lay down your cares
and concerns of this world to pursue the presence
of God in your life see when we lay down the
cares and the concerns and the worries and the
doubt and the frustration and the negativity
and we allow God's spirit to wash over us then
we truly become the people that he desires but
it's a choice It's a choice to turn around and
go the other way. It's a choice to pursue him
and desire the best for your life, which leads
us to our final step. Church, you need to expect
the impossible. Matthew 19, 26, Jesus looked
at them intently and said, humanly speaking,
it is impossible. But with God, everything is
possible. And let's not take that out of context,
church. Hold on. Let's not take those words out
of context. Those words spoken by Jesus were
challenging the people that even the richest
people can make it into the kingdom of heaven
if, if, if they choose to follow him. If they
choose to surrender. If they choose to lay it
down. If they choose to pursue him. And it's
the reminder, because quite often it's about
us pursuing him. It all starts with Jesus pursuing.
He is pursuing you this morning and desires to
be in a vibrant, everlasting relationship with
you. Will you stand with me this Easter Sunday?
Now, as many of you know, we pray a simple prayer
here in our community of faith every single Sunday
because we believe God brings people into our
midst that are distant and far from Him or of
walking away from Him. Maybe some of you can
identify with Cleo and his wife and you're walking
in the wrong direction. Jesus is pursuing you
and inviting you to come back to Him, to turn
around and to run towards the Spirit so that
you'll be filled with the Spirit at that day
of Pentecost. Amen? So pray with me, church.
Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full of doubt, shame,
regret, sin. Change me. I believe you're God's
son. I believe you died for me. Make me new.
Set me free. Fill me with your spirit. Help me,
God, to serve others and pursue you in Jesus'
name. Amen. Now listen, if you prayed that prayer
for the first time, let me know on your way out.
High five me, hug me so that I can encourage
you and give you some next steps. But here is
your opportunity to experience the presence of
God. We're going to sing back to Jesus and be
thankful for all that he did for us, that he
pursues us even when we're headed in the wrong
direction because his power is resurrecting me.
Amen?