Are we on the road with Jesus, Or in the road of Jesus?

[0:00] A challenge. And hopefully this morning as we unpack a portion of Scripture that will focus on biblical principles as we journey with Jesus, our hearts and our minds will be open, that we'll feel a call from God to draw even closer to Him, to become more intimate, to become more aware of not only who He is, but more importantly what He requires of us.

[0:32] He gives us opportunities day and daily as we journey with Him. But what do we do with the opportunities? So just as we get ready to turn to God's Word, I'll encourage you again as I did last night, if you don't already journey with MEF, fill out these little boarding passes in your seat and journey with us a little bit further.

[0:54] We'll get to hear and see many incredible stories of life's been touched, life's been transformed, as they open up their hearts and their minds, receive Christ as their own personal Saviour, that they too then begin a journey with Him, to walk into the opportunities that the Lord has laid in advance for them just as He had and has for us.

[1:17] But just as we get ready to turn to God's Word, let's just take a moment to still our hearts before the throne of grace. Our Lord and Heavenly Father, at this time as we turn to your Holy Scripture, we pray that you, through the presence of your Spirit in each of our lives, would still our hearts and minds.

[1:38] He would help us through the presence of your Spirit to remove the things that wrestle for our attention, the things that consume our thoughts, the busyness of life, so that we can focus intently what it is you will reveal today about yourself, what you will reveal to us about ourselves, and more importantly, how we can become more in tune with who you are and what you require.

[2:07] So, Father God, I surrender myself afresh before the throne of grace, asking that the words that I would speak this morning are not my words, but your words spoken through me.

[2:19] That people would not see me, Father, but you would conceal me behind Calvary's cross, so that as people gaze forward, all they see is Jesus, all they hear is Jesus, and all that they respond to is Jesus.

[2:37] For this we ask, in and through the name of your Son, and of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. If you have your Bibles with you this morning, we're going to turn to Luke chapter 24, verse 13, and in my Bible it's entitled, and it's an incredible journey.

[3:01] It's a journey that hopefully will inspire us in personal relationship with Christ. So, Luke 20, verse 13, it's a fairly lengthy passage, but it's certainly worthwhile reading it.

[3:15] So, verse 13 of chapter 20, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them, but they were kept from recognizing him.

[3:36] He asked them, what are you discussing together as you walk along? They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them named Cleopas asked him, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?

[3:53] What things? He asked. About Jesus of Nazareth, they replied, he was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death and they crucified him.

[4:08] But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of the women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning, but didn't find his body.

[4:23] They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who had said that he was alive. Then some of her companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.

[4:36] He said to them, how foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?

[4:48] And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself. As he approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.

[5:03] But they urged him strongly, stay with us, for it is nearly evening, the day is almost over. So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread and gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

[5:16] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us?

[5:33] They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven and those with them assembled together and saying, it is true, the Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.

[5:45] Then the two told what had happened in the way and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Amen.

[5:56] And we can be sure of the Lord's blessing as we're reading his holy scriptures. It is an absolutely incredible passage of scripture. It's full of biblical principles.

[6:09] or not, as the case may be. It's about a journey. And we, each of us, are all on a journey. As a church, you are on a journey collectively.

[6:23] But one of the things that amazes me, I think this is one of the best journeys that's recorded in the pages of scripture. The journey on Emmaus Road. And as we worked our way through that passage, we read of many biblical principles that man practices day and daily in his life.

[6:43] And as we go through this passage together, we'll see many, most if not all, we practice on a daily basis. We do practice these biblical principles.

[6:55] And the first thing that we notice is it's about partnerships or togetherness. And it very much is a biblical principle that we all need for daily living.

[7:07] We can do nothing on our own. We can achieve nothing on our own. And as Cleopas journeyed along the Emmaus Road, he did it not alone, but with another.

[7:24] Certain writers would have you believe that it was his wife, but it's not recorded. It's Cleopas and his companion. But this is one such example of togetherness, of traveling together.

[7:36] togetherness. Man gains comfort from togetherness. We get comfort from togetherness, from our nearest and our dearest, our spouses, our friends, our children, our relations, our work colleagues.

[7:53] There's a great comfort generally in that. And when we look through Scripture, we can see many, many examples of togetherness, partnerships, if you like, right from the very beginning of Scripture.

[8:08] We had Adam and Eve. We had Cain and Abel. We had Moses and Aaron. And it is something that we have had plenty of practice in it.

[8:21] Partnerships or togetherness. But sadly, some of us still don't have the hang of what relationships are all about. But when it came to doing things together, Jesus very much promoted that fact, promoted that principle.

[8:40] Luke chapter 10 verse 1. After this, the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them two by two ahead of them to every town and place where he was about to go.

[8:55] Togetherness, unity, harmony. Again, in Luke 19 verse 28. After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany on the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples saying to them, again, the principle of togetherness, unity, and harmony.

[9:18] And then we've got discussions and are talking and we'll look at that as a second principle, communication. We are called to be creatures that discuss.

[9:28] We are called to be creatures that reason, sometimes argue and debate, but we are called to communicate with one another.

[9:39] For we can look at a situation and make decisions based on what we see and what we hear. Very much like we see in Proverbs 27 and verse 17.

[9:50] As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. We look at Ecclesiastes chapter 4, 9 through 12 where it says two are better than one because they have a good return for their work.

[10:07] How can one keep warm if they lie alone but two together can keep warm? Partnerships, togetherness. But partnerships and togetherness is a principle that the world has employed and practices very well.

[10:24] So what sets the Christian apart? Ecclesiastes 4 and verse 12 where it says a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

[10:34] So it's you together and your partnerships a unity the harmony and we are inextricably bound by the Holy Spirit that binds us together, gives us strength and a harmony a unity that cannot be broken.

[10:51] Cannot be broken because the power and the authority of God himself is really in that partnership. But discussing we see all throughout scriptures discussing and debating Acts 26 and verse 31 Paul reasons and debates with King Agrippa.

[11:13] He sat down with the king and communicated albeit the king said do you think you can convince me to become a Christian in such a short space of time? Sadly when it comes to sharing our faith and partnerships and relationships that we have we are looking for an instant return for investment.

[11:32] don't fall into the trap. Let God do his work. Let God do his work in his time. We cannot save anybody but we are conduits of his grace of his mercy and of his salvation story.

[11:52] Again in Acts 20 in verse 7 through 11 it says Paul is recorded of been talking all night. Well I'll guarantee I will not talk all night.

[12:05] I'll be finished by 3. 3.30 at a push. But these are just some examples but the biblical principle is clear. We need to make sure that we have open communications so that we can reason and understand and apply so that others understand the enormity of what it is that we say.

[12:26] But the enormity of what we say only carries enormity and power and authority if we are in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

[12:39] Because if we are not in an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ then what we say carries no power no authority and it's got no substance. We're in it for our own self. We're in it for personal gain or recognition.

[12:52] But when we're in a relationship with Christ and we're communicating that clearly it carries power it carries authority and it tells us God tells us in scripture my word will not return to me void.

[13:05] It will not return to me void. But we sometimes get that confused by a positive response. We cannot be held responsible for the way that people respond to the message of the gospel.

[13:20] And as God's word returns to him it could be a yes we accept you as my Lord and Savior. No it's not for me. We're just commanded to carry the message.

[13:32] But the next principle that we see is that when Jesus comes up alongside them they see him as a stranger. They were kept from recognizing him and although it doesn't tell us a reason I think it becomes clear and apparent what the reason is.

[13:51] Their hearts were wrong. They knew of Jesus but they didn't know Jesus. They were aware of who he was, what he had done, what he had achieved, what was seen, but they didn't know him in the depths of their heart.

[14:11] So he came as a stranger. But without question Cleopas and his companion welcomed the stranger into their midst. A biblical principle to entertain strangers.

[14:23] And as he began discussing the events of the last few days openly with him, the stranger was welcomed. No question, just walk with us.

[14:38] And we can apply that principle in our daily lives. The strangers come across our path. So how do we entertain strangers?

[14:48] the homeless person, the addict, the ones who don't fit into our comfortable little worlds, who move in different social circles, the single parent, the seemingly successful businessman who is broken inside, who wanders through life.

[15:08] we carry the love of God in our hearts and that love of God should see us reaching out and touching the lives of strangers and leaving them in a better place than when we found them.

[15:24] It was a principle taught by Jesus that we're to reach out to the lost and to the strangers of the world. The next thing in that passage that we notice that is a principle that all of mankind has mastered, one that we carry off without even thinking about.

[15:47] If this was a gold medal sport in the Olympics, the room would be full of gold medals because we are good at it. Verse 18 through 22, we read this.

[15:58] one of them named Cleopas asked him, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? What things he asked?

[16:11] About Jesus of Nazareth he replied, he was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death and they crucified him.

[16:27] We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Isn't it incredible how quick we are to a portion blamed to the others when the story or the situation doesn't fit in with our particular narrative?

[16:44] We point the finger of accusation. Well, I would have done this if it hadn't been for them. Well, I would have taken that opportunity but they ruined it.

[16:57] They took the opportunity from me. We only have to go right back to the Garden of Eden. It was the women you put with me that caused me to sin.

[17:12] It's easy to apportion blame. Blame others, intent and looking for scapegoats. Cleopas and his companion had no understanding of who Jesus was and why he had come to earth.

[17:29] Even though they were sort of disciples and had been taught by Jesus over the last three years or so, the penny hadn't dropped. We may like to blame others for the condition of our lives.

[17:45] We might like to blame others for the sin that's prevalent in our own lives and in our own hearts. But you're deluded. you're kidding yourself on because it's your responsibility.

[17:59] Genesis 4 verse 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door.

[18:11] It desires to have you, but you must rule over it. You see, our lives are our responsibility. it's only you that will stand in the judgment for your life.

[18:27] So Cleopas and his companions, well, it was a chief priest and the rulers, it was because of them. We had hoped this, we had expected this, we had seen nothing that was happening, and the next progression would be that, yes, he would redeem Israel, but because of them.

[18:44] And now we're wandering endlessly, heading, we are responsible for our own lives, the decisions we make in it. We must master the sin for us, which leads us nicely on to the next principle in this particular passage, one that is listening.

[19:07] In verses 25 through 27, Jesus explained everything which contained in the scripture about him. And what an amazing privilege for these two, to have Jesus as their personal tutor, a Bible study with the Son of God.

[19:29] But the amazing thing here is that even though Jesus explained everything, everything, it tells us that he started to be Moses and the prophets and all of scripture explained everything concerning himself, they still didn't recognize Jesus.

[19:49] How often have you been to church or a Christian gathering or a Christian event and heard about Jesus but never received, never received him as your personal savior?

[20:06] Or he's given you a call to do something or stop something but he never acted upon it. It's one thing to hear but another to respond positively.

[20:24] It tells us in the passages that we read, Cleopas and his companion were discussing, weren't their hearts burning within us? They had this fire infernal within them but it quickly diminished.

[20:44] But his journey's end was in sight. We see yet a further biblical principle, the one of hospitality. Jesus made as if he was going a little further but Cleopas and his companion insisted that Jesus stay for the night.

[21:07] discussing with one another, entertaining the stranger, walking with the stranger, discussing all the things that had happened and now we see this other principle of hospitality but they still didn't recognize Jesus.

[21:27] You see, we can apply all the biblical principles in our life and when it boils down to it means absolutely diddly squat unless Jesus is at the center of it. So back to hospitality.

[21:42] 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 7 through 9 and we read this. The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

[21:56] above all love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

[22:13] Love is the overarching theme underpinned by prayer and if we have that love and prayerful attitude then we can offer hospitality to whatever the stranger is.

[22:28] To whatever set of circumstances the stranger presents himself. So this is where everything now begins to make sense to the two of them. They were about to share a meal together and Jesus lifted the bread and gave thanks and at that point they could not have missed the nail holes in his hands as he took the bread and lifted it at heaven was to give thanks.

[22:59] It was then that their eyes were opened to who Jesus actually was. And the only way that we can fully recognize who Jesus is is to enter into the most intimate of personal relationships.

[23:19] One where we can share in the breaking of bread. a communion with the creator God. A communion.

[23:32] And we can only enter into that communion if we have surrendered every aspect and element of our lives to him. It's one thing to have all the principles but principles without that godly relationship means absolutely nothing.

[23:51] And it's in that intimacy that we can recognize everything that Jesus suffered in Calvary's cross. And when we enter into that relationship we see that the suffering in Calvary's cross was for each of us.

[24:07] for God so loved the world that he gave the very best the most valuable.

[24:20] So in God's eyes we are priceless. He wants to draw us into that intimate communion. And as we journey through life he is a God who will pursue us.

[24:35] Pursue us to the point of taking us to where he needs us to be. Where he needs us to be in an intimacy of communion with his son.

[24:54] But incredibly we often focus on John 3 16 without reading verse 17 and 18 and condensing it it says we stand condemned already.

[25:10] He's there to rescue us from condemnation. And when we understand that we should run racing towards him for he will embrace us with nail pure hands.

[25:24] at this point here they go on to talk about their burning hearts. Weren't our hearts burning within us when Jesus walked with us?

[25:38] The thing to note here is that we may from time to time consider the emotions of the heart but sometimes our emotions blind our eyes dull our thoughts but it's only when we open up our hearts only when we open up our minds only when we sacrificially give of our bodies to Jesus that a permanent change is made.

[26:11] A change that affects us not just in the here and now but right into eternity. And we are almost at journey's end for this particular passage.

[26:26] You'll be glad to hear. But verse 32 to 35 we read of the change within them and how they went and told others.

[26:44] Once we are in that life changing relationship with Jesus we must confess with our lips. We have to tell others of who Jesus is and how Jesus changed our lives and how Jesus can change their lives.

[27:04] But why was it so important that Jesus pursued them along the Emmaus road? When he caught up with them they were about seven miles.

[27:16] Jerusalem was behind them. You see Jesus pursued them along the Emmaus road engaged with them taught them confronted them restored their hearts and mind revealed themselves to them and then they acted.

[27:34] They could do nothing but having that personal engagement with Christ. So Jerusalem why Jerusalem?

[27:45] Jerusalem well let's look at this using the gospel of Luke and bear with me here I'm sure you'll see where we're going.

[27:59] Luke 9 verse 31 they spoke about his departure which is about to bring to fulfillment which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

[28:15] Luke 9 51 as the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9 53 but the people there did not welcome him because he was heading for Jerusalem.

[28:35] Luke 13 and 22 then Jesus went through the towns and villages teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Luke 13 and 33 in any case I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem.

[28:56] Luke 17 and 11 now on his way to Jerusalem Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. Luke 18 and 31 Jesus took the twelve aside and told them we are going up to Jerusalem and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

[29:16] ! Luke 19 and 11 while they were listening to this he went on to tell! them a parable after Jesus said this he went on ahead going up to Jerusalem Luke 20 this is when things have begun to go a little pear shape for Cleopas his companion now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus about seven miles from Jerusalem the wrong direction Luke 24 and 18 one of them named Cleopas asked him are you in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days Luke 24 after an encounter with Jesus they get up and returned at once to Jerusalem and those with them assembled together then they worshipped him and returned to

[30:19] Jerusalem Jerusalem is a narrative in this whole passage Jesus had to get those wanted them to be because in Acts chapter 1 in verse 4 we read this on one occasion while he was do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my father spoke about Acts chapter 1 in verse 8 when!

[30:47] when the Holy Spirit comes in you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and to the ends of the earth you see we need to be where Jesus wants to be to receive the power that he told those who come into earshot to remain in Jerusalem because the power of the Holy Spirit I have asked you to remain stay there until you receive it and once you've received it you will be my witness here and then Samaria and then to the very ends of the earth everything to Cleopas and his companion when he gave him the personal Bible study and on to blame the chief rulers and priests and some of the women went to the tomb and never found his body and went and Jesus they did not find in

[31:51] Africa and seen this practice the passage meant not a great deal to me but in John's gospel chapter 20 so Peter and the other disciples started for the tomb both were running and Peter and reached the tomb first he bent over and looked at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb he saw he saw this as well as the cloth had been wrapped around Jesus head that cloth was still lying in its place on the linen Jesus was brought up and as the carpenter's workshop would take in orders to make this that or the whatever to weigh in their workshop at the end of the day saw this and whatever else they would take the skin from the hook and they would douse them their belt and wipe themselves down and put the cloth back in their belt the job was done and when the job was done they would wet themselves down dry themselves off and they would take the cloth and fold it and lie it on top of the work would automatically know that the job was ready it is finished the cloth and the tomb was taken and lain separately there are other practices that explain the gospel as well but

[33:33] I haven't experienced it personally it demonstrates a completed work it is finished the cry of Calvary's cross life's journey and how Jesus pursued these two along the Emmaus road the promised Holy Spirit would give them power to be his witnesses our own lives are we are we in the road of Jesus Cleopas and his companion were in the road of Jesus and the mercy and the love and the compassion of Christ he pursued them if there's anything within your life that needs changing a road or a journey where you're in the road of Jesus now is the opportunity to change your tour operator for your journey

[34:41] Matthew 28 in the Great Commission it said go into all the world and make disciples unless we know that depth of communion then we can't unless we know him as our own personal saviour abrupt and painful end are we on the road with Jesus I know what I want I know what you want I know what Jesus wants Father God again we do thank you for the power and authority of your holy scriptures we thank you for the way you continue to teach and rule together and as we open up your scriptures Father through the remainder of this week we pray you continue to reveal yourself for it's required blessing is encouraging is and uplifting is but Father we want to have any other relationship that we have in life an intimacy that helps us through our witness to reflect the glory of Christ that promise there in the upper room we pray that you would pour out your

[35:43] Holy Spirit abundantly equipping us and enabling us to go through life's journey with you proclaiming the gospel being you're not for anything we can benefit or gain from but for your glory your son and our saviour the Lord Jesus Christ Amen just before we come to our time of communion to sing one first hymn of worship he has risen Amen