1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,520 Several years ago, one of our evangelism teams went out calling on some recent visitors of 2 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:21,660 our church, two young men who were rooming together. 3 00:00:21,660 --> 00:00:29,080 They knocked on the door and were asked to enter and did so. 4 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:35,800 They introduced themselves on a first-name basis, which is their normal manner of approach, 5 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,000 and began to talk. 6 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:44,200 These two young men began to speak about their experience here at Grace Church and their 7 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,980 visit. 8 00:00:46,980 --> 00:00:53,880 One of them made a point of saying that he liked the music, he thought the people were 9 00:00:53,880 --> 00:01:01,800 friendly, but he said he did not enjoy the pastor's message. 10 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:09,740 Now what he did not realize was that the E-Team was composed of three people, two young men 11 00:01:09,740 --> 00:01:16,240 who were being trained and my wife who was the trainer. 12 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:22,240 Well she felt a little flustered not knowing exactly what to do with that comment, and 13 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,360 the two team members kind of chuckled to themselves. 14 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,400 But the young man did not leave it at that point. 15 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:34,360 He looked at my wife right in the face and he said, tell me, does the pastor meet your 16 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:42,960 needs? 17 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:49,640 And the two young men who were with her just collapsed on the floor in laughter. 18 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,320 And then they explained what the problem was. 19 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:58,080 But I don't think those two guys ever came back to our church. 20 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,360 We're going to read this morning in Luke 24 about some men who didn't realize who 21 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:07,640 they were with. 22 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:12,680 Luke recounts a touching story with powerful emotional impact. 23 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:18,320 It's a fascinating account of Jesus dealing with two disciples. 24 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:25,080 D. Campbell Morgan says regarding this that Jesus dealt with them with tender and beautiful 25 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,880 playfulness. 26 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,240 An interesting description of the account. 27 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:41,480 There's a certain humor in how the resurrected Christ led these men to discover his identity. 28 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:46,080 It almost reads like a game if you think about it. 29 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,000 But at the same time it exposes a very serious heart problem that they had. 30 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,360 We begin in Luke 24 verse 13. 31 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:58,360 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about 32 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:02,240 seven miles from Jerusalem. 33 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:07,480 And they were conversing with each other about all these things which had taken place. 34 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:12,940 And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached and 35 00:03:12,940 --> 00:03:16,040 began traveling with them. 36 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,080 Eventually the paths converged at some point. 37 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,160 Jesus was not coming at them but was going in the same direction. 38 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:29,200 And it just so happened by divine appointment that they came to that lie in the road at 39 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:33,000 the same time and began to walk together. 40 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,480 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 41 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:42,180 And he said to them, what are these words that you are exchanging with one another as 42 00:03:42,180 --> 00:03:43,800 you're walking? 43 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:48,600 Luke seems to describe the conversation as being rather vigorous. 44 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,680 And so Jesus' question was a natural one. 45 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,760 They were walking along during this whole time. 46 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:59,000 But when Jesus asked that question, Luke says, and they stood still. 47 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:06,200 They just stopped in their tracks immediately that anyone could ask such a question. 48 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,680 Looking sad, Luke further describes them. 49 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:16,040 And one of them named Pleiapus answered and said to him, are you the only one visiting 50 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:24,040 Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days? 51 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,160 And Jesus said to them, what things? 52 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:33,900 And they said to him, the things about Jesus, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in 53 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:37,780 word and deed in the sight of God and all the people. 54 00:04:37,780 --> 00:04:42,200 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to the sentence of death and crucified 55 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:43,200 him. 56 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:47,600 But we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel. 57 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:52,260 Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 58 00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:56,040 But also some women among us amazed us. 59 00:04:56,040 --> 00:05:01,560 When they were at the tomb early in the morning, that was that very morning, and did not find 60 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:07,200 his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that he was 61 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:08,680 alive. 62 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:13,720 And some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the 63 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:18,080 women also had said, but him they did not see. 64 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:23,880 Pleiapus seems to indicate here that there was a larger group than just the eleven who 65 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:31,360 had met together on that Sunday morning, that he and others were there. 66 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:32,660 And can you believe it? 67 00:05:32,660 --> 00:05:37,320 Maybe some of them went to the tomb to check it out. 68 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,160 It seems amazing to me. 69 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:45,560 And he said to them, O foolish men and slow of heart, to believe in all that the prophets 70 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,760 have spoken. 71 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:55,640 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into his glory? 72 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,440 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, he explained to them the things 73 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,600 concerning himself and all the scriptures. 74 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,120 And they approached the village where they were going and he acted as though he would 75 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,320 go farther. 76 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,400 And they urged him saying, Stay with us for it is getting toward evening and the day is 77 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,280 now nearly over. 78 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:18,400 And he went in to stay with them. 79 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:24,680 And it came about that when he had reclined at the table with them, he took the bread 80 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:30,600 and blessed it, and breaking it he began giving it to them. 81 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:38,680 And their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he vanished from their sight. 82 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:43,880 And they said to one another, Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking 83 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:48,840 to us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us? 84 00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:54,160 And they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem and found gathered together the 85 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:59,000 eleven and those who were with them saying, The Lord has really risen and has appeared 86 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:00,400 to Simon. 87 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:05,760 That is, that's what was the topic of conversation among those in the room. 88 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:10,720 And they, that is these two who joined them, began to relate their experiences on the road 89 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:17,380 and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. 90 00:07:17,380 --> 00:07:24,240 This account of Jesus' appearance is the fourth one on the first Easter Sunday as Scripture 91 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:25,960 records them. 92 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:32,840 The first one being to Mary Magdalene in the garden, John chapter 20, and then Jesus' 93 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:38,180 appearance to some other women in Matthew 28. 94 00:07:38,180 --> 00:07:43,720 His appearance to Peter which is not recorded anywhere in Scripture except in the comment 95 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:49,440 that is made in verse 34 of this text and in 1 Corinthians 15. 96 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:57,960 But oh, the volumes that it says to us about Jesus Christ's tender affection for someone 97 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,500 who has failed. 98 00:08:00,500 --> 00:08:08,440 For there was not a disciple who was lower than Peter after Jesus' crucifixion. 99 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:16,520 He wept with disappointment in himself for having denied his master. 100 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:24,400 For three days he had lived with that terrible thought that the last time he had seen Jesus 101 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,400 was in the courtyard of Pilate. 102 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:32,240 And Jesus had looked out at Peter just when the cock had crowed. 103 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:36,720 And that look brought to Peter's mind the words of Jesus earlier that very night that 104 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,920 before the cock would crow three times Peter would deny him. 105 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:46,520 And the look said to Peter, see Peter, I knew what I was talking about. 106 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,120 And Peter went out and wept in repentance. 107 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:53,000 But his heart was heavy. 108 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:58,400 On this resurrection Sunday, Jesus appeared to Peter in a private session. 109 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:05,820 And we can only allow our imaginations to tell us what they might have talked about. 110 00:09:05,820 --> 00:09:13,360 And how Peter might have wept in the arms of Jesus as Jesus tenderly spoke love to him 111 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:20,920 and assured him of his faithfulness and his love for Peter despite Peter's failure. 112 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:28,060 I want you to know that Jesus Christ loves those who have failed and those who are willing 113 00:09:28,060 --> 00:09:35,720 to admit it like Peter and who are willing to come to him. 114 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:42,200 After meeting with Peter, Jesus then appeared to Cleopas and his friend. 115 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:48,600 It may have been Mrs. Cleopas, but more than likely it was another male friend. 116 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:54,680 Jesus brought these disciples on the road to Emmaus to a renewed and more intimate 117 00:09:54,680 --> 00:10:01,340 knowledge of himself by restoring their spiritual sight. 118 00:10:01,340 --> 00:10:07,720 They had lost sight of some things and because of that, their hearts had grown careless and 119 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,360 unbelieving. 120 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,800 They needed a fresh knowledge of him. 121 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:14,200 And Jesus gave that to him. 122 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:19,120 And I want to say to you today that Jesus Christ desires to give every one of his disciples 123 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:26,560 that fresh knowledge, that intimate knowledge of himself that we need. 124 00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:35,600 And he will do that by opening our spiritual eyes, giving us a renewed spiritual vision. 125 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,320 Perhaps today you're going to find that your heart was similar to that of the disciples 126 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:41,320 of that day. 127 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:48,680 And you'll want to take some definite action on your part before leaving to know Jesus 128 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:53,960 in a different way than perhaps you have known him before. 129 00:10:53,960 --> 00:11:02,640 The incident recorded in our text revolves around two descriptions of the eyesight of 130 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,120 the two disciples. 131 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,040 The first description is, their eyes were closed. 132 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:12,040 And we see this in verse 16. 133 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:16,280 Their eyes were closed in the first place to the identity of Jesus. 134 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,840 They did not recognize him. 135 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:23,760 Now we can't be too quick to criticize them because they were not the only ones who failed 136 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:27,480 to recognize the resurrected Christ. 137 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:31,600 In fact, the very first person Jesus appeared to, Mary Magdalene, did not recognize him 138 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,640 at first in the garden, did she? 139 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:39,480 And even later when the disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee and the Lord was at 140 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:44,120 the shore, they did not at first recognize who he was. 141 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:50,080 And here we see these two disciples, eyes were closed to the identity of Jesus. 142 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:55,280 And then their eyes were closed as well to the fact of the resurrection. 143 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:59,160 They simply did not believe it. 144 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,600 And apparently they were among those who stayed wherever the disciples were meeting when the 145 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:08,480 news came about the events at the tomb. 146 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:12,980 Only some of the disciples went to the tomb. 147 00:12:12,980 --> 00:12:18,900 And the Gospels read that only John, seeing what happened there, believed. 148 00:12:18,900 --> 00:12:24,320 Even Peter returned, not accepting the fact of the resurrection. 149 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:28,560 These two disciples apparently did not even bother to go to the tomb. 150 00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:31,960 Their eyes were closed to the fact of the resurrection. 151 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:37,600 And thirdly, their eyes were closed to the meaning of Scripture. 152 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,720 Jesus had to explain to them what the Old Testament meant. 153 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:45,060 Again, we must be careful not to criticize them too harshly. 154 00:12:45,060 --> 00:12:53,340 The Holy Spirit had not yet come to live in the believers, to be the teacher to the believers 155 00:12:53,340 --> 00:12:57,560 as he has now in fullness in this age. 156 00:12:57,560 --> 00:13:00,840 They did not understand the Old Testament Scriptures. 157 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:06,580 Jesus explained to them the meaning of the Messianic Scriptures. 158 00:13:06,580 --> 00:13:12,360 What a Bible conference that must have been, although the attendance wasn't real good. 159 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:17,360 But the two who were there were listening closely as this stranger who was walking with 160 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:24,520 him began to explain from the Old Testament that Christ had to suffer before he could 161 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:27,080 enter into his glory. 162 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:28,320 Their eyes were closed. 163 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,520 What an interesting description of them. 164 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,560 What closed their eyes? 165 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:37,760 Well perhaps it was their emotional state. 166 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:42,480 Luke, the physician, describes them as being sad. 167 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,140 You can understand that, can't you? 168 00:13:45,140 --> 00:13:51,900 They were overcome with grief that the master whom they had followed was dead, so they thought. 169 00:13:51,900 --> 00:13:54,900 They were sad. 170 00:13:54,900 --> 00:14:00,040 Sadness has a way of dulling our senses, doesn't it? 171 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,640 It may have been their mental state. 172 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,960 Verse 21 suggests to us that they were a disappointed group. 173 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:14,080 He says, we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel. 174 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,800 There you see hope that is shattered. 175 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,760 Their mental state was one of disappointment. 176 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,020 And not only that, but some bewilderment. 177 00:14:24,020 --> 00:14:27,600 Because they say in verse 22 that they were amazed at what the women who had gone to the 178 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,400 tomb came back and reported. 179 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,720 They could not understand what was taking place. 180 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:37,120 They were amazed and bewildered by these events. 181 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:43,140 Their mental state was not such as that they could easily recognize someone who had joined 182 00:14:43,140 --> 00:14:45,520 them on the path. 183 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,880 But then their spiritual state is further described. 184 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,960 Jesus tells us very plainly in verse 25 what it was like. 185 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:56,120 O foolish men and slow of heart to believe. 186 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:57,240 They were unbelieving. 187 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,020 That was their spiritual state. 188 00:14:59,020 --> 00:15:02,180 They were disciples. 189 00:15:02,180 --> 00:15:05,480 They had given faith to Christ in some sense. 190 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:10,840 But faith was not active in their lives at this point and Jesus mildly rebukes them for 191 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,440 it. 192 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:19,120 Those were the human factors involved for their eyes being closed. 193 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:27,100 But I think beyond that we probably find here also some divine design. 194 00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:35,200 That is because of the condition of their hearts, their minds, their emotions. 195 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:40,360 The Lord went a step further and just caused their eyes for a period of time to be blinded 196 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:42,640 to who He really was. 197 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,960 Why would God do that? 198 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,960 Doesn't the Lord desire for us to see Him in every circumstance? 199 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:55,080 To always recognize His presence? 200 00:15:55,080 --> 00:16:04,680 It seems that on this occasion the Lord blinded them to His identity so that He might draw 201 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:12,480 out from themselves what their true spiritual condition was. 202 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:16,880 He wanted them to recognize the condition of their own hearts. 203 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:24,080 And so for a period of time He hid Himself from their eyes. 204 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:29,940 There are times in my life and in yours when we wonder where the Lord is. 205 00:16:29,940 --> 00:16:34,640 We don't recognize His presence with us. 206 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:39,120 And we even say, God, where are you? 207 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:44,680 When in fact He is right there. 208 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:49,080 Why is it that the Lord allows us to enter into times like that when we fail to recognize 209 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,080 His presence? 210 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:56,720 Well, I want to suggest to you that perhaps He does it for us for the same reasons He 211 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,560 seems to have done it for them. 212 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:04,560 And that is so that our true heart's condition might be exposed. 213 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:12,860 It's not always very pleasant because sometimes that heart condition involves foolishness 214 00:17:12,860 --> 00:17:18,440 and slowness of heart and unbelief as it did with them. 215 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:25,640 But you see, that has to be exposed for our Lord really to give us a renewed spiritual 216 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:29,800 vision. 217 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:34,320 And so He allows Himself as it were to be hidden from our eyes in our circumstances 218 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:41,680 of life so that the end result might be that we might know Him better. 219 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:49,640 But we have to go through the process first of seeing our hearts and what our problems 220 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:50,960 are. 221 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:58,280 I'm glad that Jesus doesn't leave us in the middle of that process. 222 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:05,360 Having exposed to us the condition of our hearts, He goes on then to deal with that. 223 00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:08,720 Some of you may feel that you're in the middle of the process and you wonder just where God 224 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:10,160 is in all of this. 225 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,560 Let me assure you that He's involved. 226 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:14,640 Don't give up on Him. 227 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:20,840 He has not given up on you. 228 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:25,320 The second description of the eyes sight of these two disciples is that their eyes were 229 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:26,320 opened. 230 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,360 First, their eyes were closed. 231 00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:30,600 Then their eyes were opened. 232 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:32,400 Verse 31 tells us of that. 233 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:34,960 They recognized Him. 234 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:36,600 And how were their eyes opened? 235 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:43,640 Well, in the first place, we must point out the immediate context of verse 30 as well 236 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,040 as their response in verse 35. 237 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:53,360 It was in the breaking of the bread that their eyes were opened. 238 00:18:53,360 --> 00:19:00,880 Some have accused Jesus of being deceitful and acting as though He would go further on. 239 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:02,640 That's a terrible thing to say about our Lord. 240 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,860 He is not deceitful ever. 241 00:19:05,860 --> 00:19:09,120 He does not play tricks. 242 00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:12,480 I believe He does have a sense of humor. 243 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:18,320 And I think we see it a little bit in this text. 244 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:26,280 But our Lord was simply acting in the customary oriental manner, for they are very gentle 245 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:29,320 and courteous people. 246 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:31,040 And He pretended as though He would go on. 247 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:34,520 He did not want to impose Himself on them. 248 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,520 And yet they asked Him what He felt that they would ask. 249 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,240 They said, come in and spend the night with us. 250 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:49,740 People did not dare to travel alone, particularly at night on the highways of Palestine. 251 00:19:49,740 --> 00:19:53,200 And so Jesus went in. 252 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:57,700 And they prepared the food, whatever it was, included bread. 253 00:19:57,700 --> 00:20:00,840 Then Jesus did something that was not customary. 254 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,060 He did something different. 255 00:20:03,060 --> 00:20:10,600 He was the guest, but He took the initiative and assumed the place of the host. 256 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:15,560 It was He who gave thanks for the bread and blessed it. 257 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:19,040 And then He who broke it and began to distribute it. 258 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:20,720 That was unusual. 259 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:24,220 And that, of course, caught their attention. 260 00:20:24,220 --> 00:20:31,280 It seems to be that it was the act of His handing the bread to them that caused them 261 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,120 to recognize Him. 262 00:20:33,120 --> 00:20:39,080 Now, the text does not say this, but I think that it's a logical conclusion that as He 263 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:44,240 stretched out His hands to hand them the bread, they immediately noticed the wounds in His 264 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,520 hand. 265 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:52,320 And that it was that which caused their eyes to be opened, and they recognized Him. 266 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:59,360 And as soon as they had recognized Him, He vanished from their sight. 267 00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:04,900 But it was in the breaking of the bread that they recognized Him. 268 00:21:04,900 --> 00:21:08,700 But as they thought back on the experience, there was another clue that they missed the 269 00:21:08,700 --> 00:21:13,840 first time around, and that was the explaining of Scripture. 270 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:21,320 Because they say, were not our hearts burning within us while He explained to us the Scriptures? 271 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,160 Now, they had not caught that the first time around. 272 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,240 They missed it. 273 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:33,160 But as they thought back on it, they realized that something inside of them was happening 274 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:39,400 as the Scripture was being taught as they walked toward the city of Emmaus. 275 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:43,900 They realized that Jesus had gone back into all of the Scriptures and showed them the 276 00:21:43,900 --> 00:21:46,120 truth about Himself. 277 00:21:46,120 --> 00:21:50,800 Later in the chapter, He does the same thing for the eleven and others. 278 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:58,800 He goes back to the writings of Moses, to the prophets, and to the writings of David, 279 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:07,500 the Psalms, the poetry of the Old Testament, and reveals there the things about Himself. 280 00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:14,920 Perhaps He went back to the writings of Moses and He talked about Isaac's sacrifice, almost 281 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:20,960 the first sacrifice, by his father Abraham, and how that pointed to His being given as 282 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:22,800 the Lamb. 283 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:27,360 Perhaps He talked about the Passover Lamb. 284 00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:31,960 Perhaps He went to Leviticus 16 and talked about the Day of Atonement, or the early chapters 285 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:37,200 of Leviticus and pointed out the burnt offering and the sin offering and the meal offering 286 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:38,200 and the peace offering. 287 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:43,040 He's pointed out in these how they point to Him as the Christ and the sacrifice that 288 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,880 He must make. 289 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:52,720 Perhaps He pointed out the brazen serpent to them as He had to Nicodemus years before. 290 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,640 Whatever He did, Jesus explained from the writings of Moses how all of those things 291 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:57,960 pointed to Himself. 292 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:05,880 And then He went to the prophets, perhaps to Isaiah 53. 293 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:12,320 Perhaps He went to Micah 5 and talked about Bethlehem being His birthplace, or to Zechariah 294 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,400 and the smitten shepherd. 295 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,360 And then He went to the writings of David. 296 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:25,360 Maybe He talked about Psalm 2 or Psalm 22, the description of the crucifixion a thousand 297 00:23:25,360 --> 00:23:28,840 years before He was crucified. 298 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:36,000 Maybe He went on to Psalm 40, that God had raised Him out of the miry clay, out of the 299 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:45,600 pit and set His feet upon the solid rock, a description of His being delivered from death to resurrection life. 300 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:50,360 Whatever text Jesus pointed to, He showed how all of the scriptures pointed to Him. 301 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:54,680 Oh, what a good lesson that is for us. 302 00:23:54,680 --> 00:24:04,560 The scriptures are not merely nice poetry or accurate history, but the scriptures are 303 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:06,920 lessons regarding Jesus Christ. 304 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:11,320 He is the theme of all of scripture. 305 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:17,240 He went back and wove together the theme of the Messiah from the Old Testament. 306 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:21,340 And in a matter of what, an hour? 307 00:24:21,340 --> 00:24:22,560 It could not have been too long. 308 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,000 They were already walking toward Emmaus. 309 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:29,680 It doesn't take too long to walk seven miles. 310 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:36,760 And in that period of time, Jesus wove together the theme regarding Himself in the Old Testament. 311 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:39,200 Wouldn't you like to have been there? 312 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:44,000 Don't you wish there were tape recordings of what Jesus said? 313 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:50,360 There is no inspired record of that exposition of the Old Testament by the Son of God. 314 00:24:50,360 --> 00:24:54,400 And yet, many Bible scholars believe that what He said to them on that occasion, and 315 00:24:54,400 --> 00:25:04,760 what He said to the disciples later, as recorded in verses 44 through 48 of this chapter, that 316 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:10,320 these expositions of the Lord became the basis for the preaching of the apostles in the Book 317 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:12,080 of Acts. 318 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:18,240 And that if you see how they used the Old Testament, then you will understand some of 319 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:23,800 the things that Jesus may have said to them to give them that insight in their preaching 320 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:27,840 just a few weeks after this. 321 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:37,060 Peter became a powerful spokesman for Jesus Christ because he had heard from Jesus Himself 322 00:25:37,060 --> 00:25:43,600 how these passages of the Old Testament pointed to Him as the Christ. 323 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:48,920 For example, in Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, you find him referring to the 324 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,560 prophet Joel, a major portion from Joel. 325 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:58,360 You see him referring to 2 Samuel chapter 7 in the promise regarding someone to sit 326 00:25:58,360 --> 00:26:01,060 upon the throne of David. 327 00:26:01,060 --> 00:26:04,280 You see him referring to Psalm 16. 328 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:07,680 He pulls upon Psalm 110. 329 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:14,800 Peter knows how the Old Testament refers to Christ, probably because Jesus Himself taught 330 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:21,040 him those things in these expositions that are suggested to us at the end of the Gospel 331 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:23,360 of Luke. 332 00:26:23,360 --> 00:26:28,400 Jesus Christ desires to teach you of Himself, too. 333 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:33,960 That brings me to two or three closing lessons that I think we ought to learn from our text. 334 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:35,040 The first one is this. 335 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:41,280 Jesus wants you to know Him in His resurrection glory. 336 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:47,000 In fact, He wants that even more than you want it. 337 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:51,280 I would point out to you, for example, that Jesus is the one who sought out these two 338 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:52,280 disciples. 339 00:26:52,280 --> 00:27:01,840 He could just as well have allowed them to go on to Emmaus and to find out later about 340 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,920 His resurrection, to have it confirmed to them. 341 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:13,800 But Jesus took advantage of the opportunity to go out to them, walk beside them for this 342 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:18,480 hour or two hours or three hours, and began to eat a meal with them. 343 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:23,480 He sought them out because He wanted them to know the truth about Himself. 344 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:30,640 He wanted them to see Him, to recognize Him, to believe on Him in His resurrection glory. 345 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:35,640 I want you to know that He hasn't changed one whit from that. 346 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:42,440 He wants you to know Him far more than you want to know Him. 347 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:48,320 He is working in the circumstances of your life to draw you to that knowledge. 348 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:52,980 It may be that you are here today and you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, 349 00:27:52,980 --> 00:27:57,900 but you have had some unusual things happening in your life, and you seem to be drawn to 350 00:27:57,900 --> 00:28:03,920 people who are Christians or drawn to worship or drawn to the Scriptures like you never 351 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:08,080 have before in your life, and you really don't understand why, what's coming about in your 352 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:09,080 life. 353 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:15,760 Well, I can tell you that it's the work of Christ wanting you to know Him. 354 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:22,480 And for those of us who have believed on Him, He is just as eager for you and for me, too, 355 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:28,760 to continue to know Him and to grow in our intimacy of knowledge with Him. 356 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:33,960 Jesus wants us to know Him more than we want to know Him. 357 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:39,440 The second lesson I see is this, that the understanding of Scripture is what leads us 358 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:43,160 to a deeper fellowship with Christ. 359 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:50,000 If you would like to have spiritual heartburn, like these disciples did, there are two essentials. 360 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:51,620 The first is faith. 361 00:28:51,620 --> 00:28:55,400 The second is illumination. 362 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,960 Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith. 363 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:04,400 If you and I want to have the reality of the fellowship of Jesus Christ, we must be men 364 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:09,040 and women of faith who are believing God. 365 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:16,120 If we are disciples who are foolishly walking in unbelief, then we are disciples who cannot 366 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:21,400 have our eyes open to see Him and to know Him. 367 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:29,040 But if we will learn to walk by faith, even if it's baby steps, that is one of the essentials 368 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:38,180 we must meet so that our vision of Him might be open and intimate and growing. 369 00:29:38,180 --> 00:29:41,360 But then we also have to be illuminated. 370 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:45,680 On our part, it is the responsibility to take steps of faith. 371 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:52,600 On his part, it is his responsibility to teach us to illuminate or enlighten us. 372 00:29:52,600 --> 00:30:03,920 He is the author of the Bible, and he will use this book to illuminate us to himself. 373 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:09,740 The Scriptures are the light which will show us Jesus Christ. 374 00:30:09,740 --> 00:30:15,820 If we dare to ignore this book, then we cannot grow in our knowledge of Him. 375 00:30:15,820 --> 00:30:18,420 We will not have a deeper fellowship. 376 00:30:18,420 --> 00:30:26,600 It is the understanding of Scripture that leads us to a deeper fellowship with Christ. 377 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:33,360 We will understand it if we will walk by faith and open our hearts to His teaching ministry 378 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:35,360 by the Holy Spirit. 379 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:37,560 Does that describe your heart today? 380 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:40,520 Are you walking by faith? 381 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:49,000 That is really hard to do in our culture because we have our needs met almost immediately. 382 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:55,000 It's tough to learn to depend upon the Lord. 383 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,760 Those steps of faith are so important. 384 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,160 Then opening our hearts, saying, Lord, teach me. 385 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:05,600 Just as we sang in that song before the message, open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth 386 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:08,080 Thou hast for me. 387 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:10,120 Open my ears. 388 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:14,320 Open our minds. 389 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:19,760 The understanding of Scripture is what leads us to a deeper fellowship with Christ. 390 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:26,920 The third lesson is that walking with Jesus daily is the way to keep your heart burning 391 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:30,360 and your spiritual vision working. 392 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:31,520 Walking with Him daily. 393 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:37,480 What prevents that? 394 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:40,600 I'll tell you what prevents it. 395 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:46,760 Just in a nutshell, it's me choosing my own way. 396 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:51,720 We can call it sin, we can call it selfishness, carnality, we can call it a lot of different 397 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:52,720 terms. 398 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:57,100 Basically what it boils down to is me choosing my own way. 399 00:31:57,100 --> 00:32:06,900 When I choose to live my life being in control of it, then what I do is turn off a communion 400 00:32:06,900 --> 00:32:07,900 with Christ. 401 00:32:07,900 --> 00:32:15,400 I'm no longer walking with Him and my spiritual vision will grow dim just as these disciples 402 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,820 had experienced. 403 00:32:17,820 --> 00:32:26,540 On the other hand, if I choose daily to surrender to His Lordship and instead of taking charge 404 00:32:26,540 --> 00:32:31,640 myself, say, Lord, what would You have me to do? 405 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:36,680 Lord, I give this problem to You. 406 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:43,080 If we will choose daily to live life that way, then our spiritual energy will remain 407 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:50,800 strong and our vision of Him will remain fresh because we will be walking with Him every 408 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:51,800 day. 409 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,800 Friend, that is the way that God wants us to live. 410 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:55,920 That's the way I want to live. 411 00:32:55,920 --> 00:33:01,760 I believe if you're a Christian, that's the way you want to live. 412 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:05,240 If it were as easy as saying it, we would all be doing it. 413 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,760 There's every pressure in the world against us. 414 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,580 I mean every pressure in the world is against us. 415 00:33:11,580 --> 00:33:14,240 The devil is against us. 416 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:16,840 Sin within us battles that. 417 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:25,880 But, oh, may today as we talk about our spiritual vision, may there be rekindled in our hearts, 418 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:35,600 a new desire, indeed a new commitment to daily come to the Scriptures and to daily yield 419 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:45,080 ourselves to His Lordship that we might walk with Him and have spiritual heartburn every 420 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,640 day. 421 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:53,640 Would you pray with me as we close? 422 00:33:53,640 --> 00:34:05,980 With our heads bowed, I wonder if you like me need to say something to the Lord regarding 423 00:34:05,980 --> 00:34:09,480 your own heart condition. 424 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:15,080 Jesus brought these disciples to a renewed and more intimate knowledge of Himself by 425 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:18,960 restoring their spiritual vision. 426 00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:25,720 Some of us have come today with our eyes closed. 427 00:34:25,720 --> 00:34:32,540 We're choosing our own way, living for ourselves, living in unbelief, though we call ourselves 428 00:34:32,540 --> 00:34:35,200 disciples of Christ. 429 00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:43,200 Oh, what we need today is restored spiritual vision. 430 00:34:43,200 --> 00:34:51,040 Will you say something like this, Lord Jesus, open my eyes and teach me to walk with you 431 00:34:51,040 --> 00:35:05,800 every day so that my spiritual vision will work and my heart will burn with devotion 432 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:07,960 to you? 433 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:15,480 Lord Jesus, let that be the true attitude and response of the hearts of all of us who 434 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:18,480 are yours today. 435 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:21,480 Amen. 436 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:43,000 I walked today where Jesus walked. 437 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:55,640 In days of long ago I wandered down each path He knew 438 00:35:55,640 --> 00:36:02,320 with reverence, step, and slow. 439 00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:15,280 Those little lanes they had not changed, a sweet peace fills the air. 440 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:36,560 I walked today where Jesus walked and felt His presence there. 441 00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:49,680 My pathway led through Bethlehem, our memories ever sweet. 442 00:36:49,680 --> 00:37:01,400 The little hills of Galilee that knew those childish feet. 443 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:13,160 The Mount of Olives hollowed scenes that Jesus knew before. 444 00:37:13,160 --> 00:37:33,120 I saw the mighty Jordan roll as in the days of yore. 445 00:37:33,120 --> 00:37:47,480 I knelt today where Jesus knelt where all alone He prayed. 446 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:59,160 The Garden of Gethsemane, my heart felt unafraid. 447 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:10,160 I picked my heavy burden up and with Him by my side 448 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:15,240 I climbed the Hill of Calvary. 449 00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:20,560 I climbed the Hill of Calvary. 450 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:35,520 I climbed the Hill of Calvary where on the cross He died. 451 00:38:35,520 --> 00:39:01,480 I walked today where Jesus walked and felt Him close to me. 452 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:04,800 Aren't you glad that He does walk close with us? 453 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:08,120 We can pick up our heavy burdens and bring them to Him. 454 00:39:08,120 --> 00:39:14,080 He says, Come unto me all you that are heavy, weary and heavy laden, and I will give you 455 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:15,080 rest. 456 00:39:15,080 --> 00:39:18,860 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall 457 00:39:18,860 --> 00:39:21,840 find rest unto your souls. 458 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:37,120 Let's stand together, please.