WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.240 Welcome to the kitchen here at the Vicarage. Last Sunday morning the Archbishop of Canterbury, 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:12.220 Justin Welby, gave his message from the kitchen at Lambeth Palace. So I thought not to be outdone, 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:16.500 I'll move from the lounge and come into the kitchen just for somewhere different. And what 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:22.460 a message we've got to share with you this morning. You've heard the reading already. 00:00:22.460 --> 00:00:35.340 And two people are on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. On the road to Emmaus, it's only about 00:00:35.340 --> 00:00:43.060 seven miles. We only know one of the people's names. He was called Cleopas. And we don't know 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:47.540 whether it was a man or a woman or two men together. Some people suggest it was his wife. 00:00:47.539 --> 00:00:55.479 There were two people. They've been returning home to Jerusalem at the time of Jesus's crucifixion. 00:00:56.879 --> 00:01:02.979 They'd seen Jesus crucified. They didn't know that he'd risen from the dead. They were despondent. 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:08.719 They were downhearted. Clearly they were followers. Maybe we would know what that feels like in our 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:16.900 bereavement of a friend. But they were definitely despondent as they walked home. Suddenly they're 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:23.219 aware of this person that's alongside them. And this person says to him, well, what are you discussing? 00:01:23.460 --> 00:01:29.140 Now, I think these people are amazingly gracious. Because if I was in the middle of a conversation 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:34.280 with somebody and a total stranger comes up and says, excuse me, mate, what are you talking about? 00:01:35.460 --> 00:01:40.200 But these people are amazingly gracious. They stop. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:46.439 And they say that, well, aren't you aware of what's been happening in Jerusalem? 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:54.960 They take a huge risk. They share their faith. They share their story. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:05.199 And this person, the risen Jesus, but they don't know it's him yet, listens and hears as they walk along. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:10.500 Jesus longs for us to converse with him, longs for us to share our hearts with him. 00:02:11.539 --> 00:02:16.719 So as they walk along this road and talk, then Jesus begins to talk to them. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:23.680 And he starts revealing things about scripture that points to the future. They are intrigued. 00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:29.379 They know there is something special. Is this man a teacher? What does he know? 00:02:30.219 --> 00:02:37.960 They get to their home and it's obviously getting late. And as is the custom, they invite him in. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:40.960 And he sits there at their table. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:47.400 They've taken a huge risk. They're followers of Jesus. They're followers of the way. 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:54.640 They don't know who this stranger is, but they've taken a huge risk in sharing their faith in this time of persecution. 00:02:55.200 --> 00:02:57.180 What amazing people these two people are. 00:02:58.700 --> 00:03:03.340 They're sat at the table and imagine the moment. 00:03:03.340 --> 00:03:12.120 He takes bread, he gives thanks, he broke it and he gave it to them. 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:17.259 And they knew that it was Jesus. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:22.500 Wow. Jesus at our table. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:24.780 We've been with him. We've walked on the road. 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:27.159 Jesus is risen. Hallelujah. 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:33.280 Hallelujah. I can't even imagine what their emotions were like at the time. 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:39.979 They asked each other, were not our hearts burning within us while he walked on the road and opened the scriptures to us? 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:43.759 This was it. A moment ago, their hearts were heavy. 00:03:44.019 --> 00:03:46.539 They seemed like hope was gone, that there was no future. 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:53.300 But now Jesus walks into their life, into their kitchen, sits at their table and everything's changed. 00:03:53.300 --> 00:03:56.860 There is fresh hope. There is a new beginning. 00:03:57.180 --> 00:04:00.219 Things will never be the same again. 00:04:00.340 --> 00:04:09.100 Jesus does that when he comes and walks into our lives and we recognise him. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:13.380 What an amazing moment. 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:17.580 They are believers, but now they encountered the risen Christ. 00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:19.400 Something had changed. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:21.920 So much so, it takes on a whole new perspective. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:23.060 They didn't hesitate. 00:04:23.580 --> 00:04:25.920 They go back to Jerusalem. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:31.780 They'd left there a few moments, hours before maybe, walking home. 00:04:31.860 --> 00:04:33.000 I don't know how long it took them. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:39.300 But as they walked back along this road, back to Jerusalem, they were changed people. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:41.319 They had left there despondent. 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:49.180 They returned excited, enthused, empowered, excited because they had met with the risen Jesus and wanted to tell people. 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:58.220 And they told people so much so that Luke records it for us to be excited and enthused by their story today. 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:04.579 Often in a crisis, Jesus reveals himself in ways that bring fresh hope. 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:08.300 And he certainly brought fresh hope to them this day. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:13.960 Maybe you've experienced that meeting with Jesus. 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:18.720 Maybe you haven't experienced that yet, but long to do that. 00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:32.860 Maybe you've been a Christian for some time, but you're seeking that fresh encounter with Jesus that brings this excitement, enthusiasm and power back to your life. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:36.460 Maybe you just want to share the story as these people did. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:38.939 Ask him to come and join you. 00:05:39.960 --> 00:05:41.360 That's what these two people did. 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:42.379 Come and join us. 00:05:43.520 --> 00:05:45.480 Come and join us at the table, Jesus. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:48.139 And he revealed himself to them. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:52.420 Have you shared your story of meeting with Jesus? 00:05:53.660 --> 00:05:55.259 It's a powerful thing. 00:05:55.259 --> 00:06:05.099 I take every opportunity that I can to share the story of meeting with Jesus. 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:09.180 Not that my story is any different than anybody else's. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:10.860 It's very powerful. 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:17.279 And people, believe you me, want to hear it as they did on this great day for these two people here. 00:06:19.339 --> 00:06:21.219 It's a contagious story. 00:06:21.220 --> 00:06:25.880 It empowers people and it encourages them. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:29.040 These two people are there. 00:06:29.400 --> 00:06:31.400 Presumably, I don't know where they stay there. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:33.120 In Jerusalem. 00:06:33.940 --> 00:06:35.440 I pray that they did. 00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:41.420 Because when we read on in the book of Acts, the whole world was changed as the Holy Spirit came. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.780 And people were empowered afresh. 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:46.540 I would love to hear what these people's story is. 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.180 I will on that great day when we all meet together. 00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:53.560 The thing was that when you meet with Jesus, you can't hold it in. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:55.939 I don't know about you. 00:06:56.019 --> 00:06:59.120 I've been catching up on some films while we've been at home. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:02.400 And one of my favourites, Billy Elliot, as you probably know. 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:04.920 And I love that bit in the film. 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:07.699 He's not really done well at the audition. 00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:10.319 He knows that he hasn't done well. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:15.939 But one of the women on the audition panel says to him, 00:07:16.099 --> 00:07:19.500 What does it feel like when you're dancing? 00:07:20.680 --> 00:07:21.240 Billy. 00:07:23.819 --> 00:07:24.860 He pauses. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:27.699 And then he said, It's like electricity. 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:31.459 It's like electricity in every part of my body. 00:07:31.879 --> 00:07:35.620 You watch the panel look at each other because they know. 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:38.519 Because they've experienced that themselves. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:40.800 They know what it's like. 00:07:41.779 --> 00:07:43.680 It's great sharing your story. 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:46.659 When we as a church, the people of God, 00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:53.500 in a few months' time, I pray that when the virus is moved on 00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:56.060 and we move back to a new normal, 00:07:56.640 --> 00:07:59.300 that there will be people who we have encountered 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:01.180 whose lives have been changed 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:04.320 because we shared our story with them. 00:08:04.580 --> 00:08:06.480 We've shown kindness and love 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:10.000 and they met with the risen Jesus 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.660 in new and exciting ways. 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:15.740 They were hungry to meet with him. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:21.280 These two people invited Jesus in 00:08:21.280 --> 00:08:25.120 and if you're doing that for the first time, 00:08:25.760 --> 00:08:27.220 you haven't invited him in, 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:28.620 I'd encourage you to do that. 00:08:29.200 --> 00:08:30.200 Just sit there and say, 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:32.300 Lord, just come and be with me. 00:08:32.420 --> 00:08:34.840 Reveal yourself to me, I pray. 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:39.779 Listen, watch and pray wherever you are. 00:08:39.779 --> 00:08:42.959 And as we watch this, 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:45.139 I would encourage us as Christians 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:46.659 to go and share our story. 00:08:47.319 --> 00:08:51.819 Continue empowered afresh to tell our story 00:08:51.819 --> 00:08:54.159 because it makes such a difference.