WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.199
 Has anybody been to the optician recently? One or two hands. I remember the first time I went to the optician as an adult and I think I was probably in my mid 20s at the time and I went really reluctantly but I prided myself on kind of never I thought I had absolutely perfect vision and in fact I generally

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:57.400
 did have pretty good eyesight but I kind of admitted that I was struggling a little bit but I so I wasn't that enthusiastic about going so anyway I sat down in the chair as you do and looked at the chart and started to read off and actually I was doing pretty well and then the optician took this you know this device I don't know what they call it but they put it on your head and I thought this is quite cool I feel like I'm in Star Wars

00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:09.239
 and suddenly I found myself looking at this chart and thinking okay so this is what eyesight is meant to be like

00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:19.420
 and then he said okay so that's lens one I'm just going to make a little tip so he pulled something out he said now lens two which is clearer

00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:22.420
 lens one or lens two

00:01:22.420 --> 00:01:25.420
 which is clearer lens one or lens two

00:01:25.420 --> 00:01:28.420
 and one of the things I wanted to make a little bit of a lens

00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:30.420
 and I thought I was going to make a little bit of a lens

00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:33.420
 and I thought oh my goodness this is what eyesight is meant to be like

00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:37.420
 and then went through as an and if you've had an eye test my apologies if you've never actually done this you're going to have to just bear with me for the next few minutes and just use your imagination here

00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:43.420
 but but then he did the thing you know where they put a lens in and then put another one in and says which is clearer lens one or lens two

00:01:43.420 --> 00:01:54.280
 which is clearer lens one or lens two I want you just to hold that image because we're going to come back to it

00:01:54.280 --> 00:02:03.879
 and I share that image with you because and there is so much in this passage this morning but the bit I want us to really kind of focus in on

00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:08.860
 is in verse 31

00:02:08.860 --> 00:02:12.220
 Jesus

00:02:12.220 --> 00:02:15.840
 who has been walking alongside

00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:18.600
 in his risen form

00:02:18.600 --> 00:02:21.540
 alongside these grieving

00:02:21.540 --> 00:02:22.860
 broken disciples

00:02:22.860 --> 00:02:27.000
 and they've been kept from recognizing him

00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:29.320
 and he's been walking

00:02:29.320 --> 00:02:30.520
 with them sometime

00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.880
 listening to them

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 and then explaining the scriptures

00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:36.880
 and then he breaks bread with them

00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:39.419
 and then we're told in verse 31

00:02:39.419 --> 00:02:43.120
 then their eyes

00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:44.519
 were opened

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 and they recognized Jesus

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 all of a sudden it comes into focus

00:02:54.300 --> 00:03:00.400
 all of a sudden they're seeing things through a different lens

00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:02.780
 and all the while they thought they got it

00:03:02.780 --> 00:03:05.859
 all the while they thought actually they had their vision was fine

00:03:05.860 --> 00:03:06.860
 and then it wasn't

00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:11.120
 now they see what it's meant to look like

00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:14.600
 now they see Jesus

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 now they're looking through the right lens

00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:23.800
 so here's a question

00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:28.420
 what was it that kept them

00:03:28.420 --> 00:03:31.300
 from recognizing Jesus

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 up to that point

00:03:32.700 --> 00:03:35.800
 now

00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:38.620
 we're not really explicitly told

00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:40.280
 the answer to that question

00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:41.380
 at least I don't think we are

00:03:41.380 --> 00:03:43.520
 but we can draw so many things

00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:44.860
 out of the narrative

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 which leads up to that point

00:03:46.540 --> 00:03:49.280
 where that lens is flipped round

00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:50.020
 which is clearer

00:03:50.020 --> 00:03:50.520
 lens one

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 or lens two

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 and all comes into focus

00:03:56.300 --> 00:04:00.000
 and they recognize Jesus

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 so what is it then

00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:04.820
 what is it about the lens

00:04:04.820 --> 00:04:06.219
 what was the lens problem

00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:08.400
 what was it that was stopping them

00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:10.740
 from seeing Jesus

00:04:10.740 --> 00:04:12.680
 I want to suggest

00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:13.939
 there are two things

00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:16.139
 for us to ponder

00:04:16.139 --> 00:04:17.040
 here

00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:21.000
 the first thing

00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:25.120
 they were broken

00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.939
 they were utterly devastated

00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:34.259
 there's a slight degree of comedy going on

00:04:34.259 --> 00:04:34.540
 here

00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:35.939
 because they were in that broken state

00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:38.360
 they're walking along

00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:40.560
 and Jesus comes up to them

00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.259
 they don't recognize him at this point

00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:43.819
 and says

00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:44.740
 what are you discussing

00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:48.039
 and they turn

00:04:48.039 --> 00:04:49.560
 to Jesus

00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:50.779
 and say

00:04:50.779 --> 00:04:53.680
 are you the only person

00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:54.639
 in Jerusalem

00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:56.680
 who hasn't heard

00:04:56.680 --> 00:04:58.000
 of the things that have been going on

00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:00.699
 and Jesus

00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:03.719
 of all the responses

00:05:03.719 --> 00:05:04.959
 that he could have made

00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:05.800
 says

00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:07.899
 what things

00:05:07.899 --> 00:05:10.439
 tell me

00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:15.060
 but at this point

00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:15.779
 they're devastated

00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:16.519
 they're broken

00:05:16.519 --> 00:05:17.779
 utterly

00:05:17.779 --> 00:05:18.300
 utterly

00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:18.860
 broken

00:05:18.860 --> 00:05:22.620
 they say

00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:23.439
 in verse 21

00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:24.319
 we had

00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:25.339
 hoped

00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:27.920
 for being in that situation

00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:28.899
 where you talk about

00:05:28.899 --> 00:05:30.019
 hope in a sense of

00:05:30.019 --> 00:05:31.259
 well it was

00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:32.300
 but it's not now

00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:33.899
 we had hoped

00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:35.620
 that this was the one

00:05:35.620 --> 00:05:37.519
 we had hoped

00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:38.819
 we'd seen all this going on

00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:39.740
 in the life of Jesus

00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:39.980
 but

00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:43.720
 we don't know what to think now

00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:47.079
 hope is relegated

00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:48.139
 to the past tense

00:05:48.139 --> 00:05:51.379
 you ever been in that situation

00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:53.540
 where there's a set of circumstances

00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:54.620
 that's facing you

00:05:54.620 --> 00:05:56.620
 and you cannot see beyond them

00:05:56.620 --> 00:05:59.019
 that your vision

00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:01.740
 is utterly impaired

00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:04.819
 because you cannot see

00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:06.439
 beyond those circumstances

00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:09.560
 maybe

00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:10.819
 maybe you're going through

00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:11.339
 a time of

00:06:11.339 --> 00:06:12.480
 physical pain

00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:14.180
 you're wrapped with pain

00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:15.180
 and you cannot see

00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:16.399
 beyond that pain

00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:18.040
 you can't imagine

00:06:18.040 --> 00:06:19.399
 ever being out of that pain

00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:20.899
 maybe it's a kind of

00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:21.839
 emotional pain

00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:22.420
 something

00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:23.199
 you've been given

00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:23.899
 a blow

00:06:23.899 --> 00:06:25.240
 this isn't just

00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:26.240
 mild disappointment

00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.100
 you're utterly

00:06:27.100 --> 00:06:28.279
 utterly devastated

00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:29.040
 and you cannot

00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:30.060
 see beyond it

00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:32.159
 maybe you're

00:06:32.159 --> 00:06:32.839
 wrapped with

00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:33.360
 depression

00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:34.720
 or wrapped with fear

00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:36.200
 or wrapped with anxiety

00:06:36.200 --> 00:06:37.560
 such that you just

00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:38.640
 can't see through

00:06:38.640 --> 00:06:39.200
 that cloud

00:06:39.200 --> 00:06:40.900
 you want to

00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:42.720
 but you can't

00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.300
 here's an experiment

00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:48.080
 which is

00:06:48.080 --> 00:06:50.000
 experiment

00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:50.700
 something that is

00:06:50.700 --> 00:06:51.700
 an analogy

00:06:51.700 --> 00:06:52.180
 which is

00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:53.260
 sometimes used

00:06:53.260 --> 00:06:53.840
 actually in

00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:55.380
 a form of

00:06:55.380 --> 00:06:56.840
 cognitive behavioural

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 therapy

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 you can all join in on this

00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:00.279
 in fact

00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:01.100
 if you're listening to this

00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:01.920
 on the podcast

00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:02.899
 later in the week

00:07:02.899 --> 00:07:03.860
 you can do this

00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:04.600
 at home

00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:06.519
 to begin with

00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:07.560
 you might not be able

00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:08.220
 to do this at home

00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:08.660
 if you're listening

00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:09.459
 but if you're sat here

00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:09.899
 right now

00:07:09.899 --> 00:07:11.740
 just look at the cross

00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:12.740
 if you're listening

00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:13.420
 to the sermon

00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:14.519
 just look at

00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:15.480
 it can be anything

00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:16.680
 that is in front of you

00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:17.259
 choose an object

00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:18.019
 but because we have

00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:18.339
 a cross here

00:07:18.339 --> 00:07:18.839
 I'm going to ask you

00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:20.160
 to look at the cross

00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:22.480
 and now

00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:24.079
 just hold your hand

00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:25.199
 and you're going to

00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:26.560
 need to bear with me

00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:27.480
 and even though

00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:27.779
 you're not going to

00:07:27.779 --> 00:07:28.240
 be able to see

00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:28.780
 very much

00:07:28.780 --> 00:07:29.960
 for the next few moments

00:07:29.960 --> 00:07:31.439
 just trust me on this

00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:31.800
 okay

00:07:31.800 --> 00:07:32.600
 I'm not going to

00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:33.019
 walk out

00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:36.180
 but put your hand

00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:37.400
 pretty much right

00:07:37.400 --> 00:07:38.199
 over your eyes

00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:39.040
 or really close

00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:40.800
 about an inch away

00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:41.540
 so basically

00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:42.079
 you're just looking

00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:42.480
 at your hand

00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:42.960
 you can't really

00:07:42.960 --> 00:07:43.900
 see anything else

00:07:43.900 --> 00:07:47.000
 that's what's going on

00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:49.079
 when you're so

00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:49.900
 keep your hands there

00:07:49.900 --> 00:07:50.680
 while I'm talking

00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:51.259
 because I'm going to

00:07:51.259 --> 00:07:51.579
 ask you to do

00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:51.900
 something else

00:07:51.900 --> 00:07:52.280
 in a moment

00:07:52.280 --> 00:07:54.699
 that's what's going on

00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:56.740
 when you're so

00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:57.800
 caught up

00:07:57.800 --> 00:07:59.579
 with whatever it is

00:07:59.579 --> 00:08:00.220
 that's weighing you

00:08:00.220 --> 00:08:00.460
 down

00:08:00.460 --> 00:08:01.340
 when you're overwhelmed

00:08:01.340 --> 00:08:02.220
 you're consumed

00:08:02.220 --> 00:08:03.300
 by whether it's fear

00:08:03.300 --> 00:08:03.960
 anxiety

00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:05.120
 something that you

00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:05.920
 cannot shake off

00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:06.960
 it dominates all

00:08:06.960 --> 00:08:07.500
 your thinking

00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:08.259
 from the moment

00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:08.860
 you wake up

00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:09.259
 to the moment

00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:09.939
 you hit the pillow

00:08:09.939 --> 00:08:11.540
 you struggle to get

00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:11.879
 to sleep

00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:12.460
 because you can't

00:08:12.460 --> 00:08:12.939
 see anything

00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:13.980
 that's it

00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:14.980
 it's right in your

00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:15.220
 face

00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:16.080
 whatever it is

00:08:16.080 --> 00:08:16.939
 that's dominating

00:08:16.939 --> 00:08:17.560
 your thinking

00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:19.460
 now ever so slowly

00:08:19.460 --> 00:08:20.439
 move your hand

00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:21.920
 away from your face

00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:22.680
 till it's about

00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:24.220
 eight inches away

00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:25.060
 just do this

00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:25.560
 slowly

00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:27.180
 do it slowly

00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:27.819
 and gradually

00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:28.500
 you'll notice

00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:29.620
 that your field

00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:30.100
 of vision will

00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:30.519
 expand

00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:31.240
 you'll see a few

00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:31.720
 things

00:08:31.720 --> 00:08:32.740
 my guess is

00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:33.519
 you may or you

00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:34.360
 may not be able

00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.299
 to see that cross

00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:35.899
 just yet

00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:36.720
 but keep your hand

00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:37.220
 in that position

00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:38.019
 don't let it go

00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:38.379
 down

00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:39.559
 and just

00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:42.519
 hold that image

00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:43.259
 for a few moments

00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:43.840
 that posture

00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:45.299
 because that's what's

00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:46.019
 going on

00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:46.879
 when we begin

00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.299
 to lay hold

00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:49.080
 of some hope

00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:50.120
 and we begin

00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:50.659
 to get some

00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:51.220
 perspective

00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:52.860
 and that issue

00:08:52.860 --> 00:08:53.480
 is still

00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:54.320
 blocking our

00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:54.620
 vision

00:08:54.620 --> 00:08:55.680
 we still can't

00:08:55.680 --> 00:08:56.600
 really live life

00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:56.920
 fully

00:08:56.920 --> 00:08:57.840
 but we begin

00:08:57.840 --> 00:08:58.420
 to see that

00:08:58.420 --> 00:08:59.540
 there is something

00:08:59.540 --> 00:09:01.360
 beyond that thing

00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:02.220
 that would otherwise

00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:03.220
 utterly utterly

00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:05.480
 consume us

00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:07.200
 and now slowly

00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:08.300
 slowly move

00:09:08.300 --> 00:09:09.279
 your hand away

00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:10.120
 from your face

00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:11.920
 until you're

00:09:11.920 --> 00:09:12.580
 holding your arm

00:09:12.580 --> 00:09:13.320
 out straight

00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:15.580
 and now

00:09:15.580 --> 00:09:16.320
 you'll be able

00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:16.800
 to see

00:09:16.800 --> 00:09:17.800
 quite clearly

00:09:17.800 --> 00:09:19.519
 of course

00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.040
 you'll still

00:09:20.040 --> 00:09:20.580
 notice that

00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:21.200
 hands in your

00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:21.600
 way

00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:22.780
 and in the same

00:09:22.780 --> 00:09:23.200
 way

00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:23.820
 that when you

00:09:23.820 --> 00:09:24.540
 put your faith

00:09:24.540 --> 00:09:25.080
 in Jesus

00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:25.879
 those problems

00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:26.800
 don't vanish

00:09:26.800 --> 00:09:27.780
 they are there

00:09:27.780 --> 00:09:29.900
 but they don't

00:09:29.900 --> 00:09:31.280
 dominate everything

00:09:31.280 --> 00:09:31.860
 put your hands

00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:32.320
 down

00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.320
 everyone

00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:34.580
 please

00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:35.440
 a sigh of relief

00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:37.520
 you see

00:09:37.520 --> 00:09:38.140
 the thing is

00:09:38.140 --> 00:09:38.680
 when you put

00:09:38.680 --> 00:09:39.220
 your faith

00:09:39.220 --> 00:09:39.780
 in Christ

00:09:39.780 --> 00:09:40.360
 it doesn't

00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:41.420
 necessarily mean

00:09:41.420 --> 00:09:42.280
 that everything

00:09:42.280 --> 00:09:43.160
 immediately stops

00:09:43.160 --> 00:09:43.720
 sometimes

00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:44.340
 praise God

00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:45.280
 miracles happen

00:09:45.280 --> 00:09:46.400
 and that experience

00:09:46.400 --> 00:09:47.200
 can be instant

00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.700
 but generally

00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:49.200
 speaking

00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:50.480
 most of the time

00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:51.960
 as we're walking

00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:53.039
 through our lives

00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:54.100
 things happen

00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:54.659
 and our lives

00:09:54.659 --> 00:09:55.100
 will be a

00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:55.759
 combination of

00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:56.039
 the good

00:09:56.039 --> 00:09:56.500
 and the bad

00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:57.139
 and the ugly

00:09:57.139 --> 00:10:01.940
 when Jesus

00:10:01.940 --> 00:10:02.500
 is with us

00:10:02.500 --> 00:10:03.039
 and we know

00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:03.800
 he's with us

00:10:03.800 --> 00:10:05.420
 we may know

00:10:05.420 --> 00:10:05.879
 those things

00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:06.519
 are still there

00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:06.920
 they haven't

00:10:06.920 --> 00:10:07.320
 stopped

00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:08.960
 but no longer

00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:09.700
 do they block

00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:10.259
 our vision

00:10:10.259 --> 00:10:11.899
 there's hope

00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:13.139
 there's that

00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:14.240
 wider perspective

00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.799
 I want to

00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:18.419
 suggest to you

00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:19.100
 that perhaps

00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:20.680
 the first thing

00:10:20.680 --> 00:10:21.560
 the biggest thing

00:10:21.560 --> 00:10:22.919
 that experiential

00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:23.340
 thing

00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:24.960
 for those

00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:25.539
 disciples

00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:27.000
 was that they

00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:27.639
 just could not

00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:28.220
 see beyond

00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:28.620
 their own

00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:29.419
 devastation

00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:31.460
 that's the reality

00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:32.320
 of what it is

00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:32.980
 to be a human

00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:33.440
 being

00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.720
 life throws

00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:35.340
 all sorts of

00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:36.100
 things at us

00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:37.320
 and our challenge

00:10:37.320 --> 00:10:38.259
 is how do we

00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:39.159
 actually live

00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:39.659
 with those

00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:40.240
 realities

00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:42.299
 Christ makes

00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:43.100
 all the difference

00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:44.379
 when you know

00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:44.879
 that you are

00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:45.740
 not on your

00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:46.060
 own

00:10:46.060 --> 00:10:47.600
 that he is

00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:48.080
 alive

00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:48.700
 that he is

00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:49.680
 with you

00:10:49.680 --> 00:10:54.759
 I said

00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:55.420
 that there

00:10:55.420 --> 00:10:55.700
 are two

00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:56.220
 things going

00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:56.680
 on here

00:10:56.680 --> 00:10:59.200
 and the

00:10:59.200 --> 00:10:59.519
 other thing

00:10:59.519 --> 00:10:59.940
 the second

00:10:59.940 --> 00:11:00.320
 thing that I

00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:00.500
 want to

00:11:00.500 --> 00:11:01.180
 suggest that

00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:01.659
 we see

00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:02.000
 here

00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.440
 is that

00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:05.940
 these

00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:06.840
 followers of

00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:07.300
 Jesus

00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:10.360
 the lens

00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:10.720
 that they

00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:11.220
 were looking

00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:11.759
 through

00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:13.980
 was such

00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:16.980
 that they

00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:17.580
 couldn't

00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:18.279
 grasp

00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:19.480
 the reality

00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:20.279
 the fullness

00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:20.899
 of God

00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:22.860
 because their

00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:23.939
 understanding

00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:24.960
 their concept

00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:25.899
 and their

00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:26.759
 leaning towards

00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:27.360
 God itself

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.019
 was distorted

00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:30.559
 so Jesus

00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:31.200
 had to go

00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:31.860
 through

00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:33.500
 the scriptures

00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:34.319
 with them

00:11:34.319 --> 00:11:35.600
 and unpack

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.340
 the scriptures

00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:37.100
 to them

00:11:37.100 --> 00:11:39.259
 gradually

00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:41.580
 setting out

00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:42.480
 before them

00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:45.440
 who God

00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:46.100
 really is

00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:46.700
 as he is

00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:47.220
 revealed to

00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:47.560
 us in

00:11:47.560 --> 00:11:47.920
 scripture

00:11:47.920 --> 00:11:50.639
 and I

00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:50.879
 want to

00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:51.300
 suggest

00:11:51.300 --> 00:11:51.860
 that this

00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:52.379
 is in

00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:53.220
 some ways

00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:53.759
 a lifelong

00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.200
 progress

00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:54.680
 because we're

00:11:54.680 --> 00:11:55.500
 still always

00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:55.940
 on that

00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:56.340
 journey

00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:57.480
 of learning

00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:58.460
 more and

00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.060
 more and

00:11:59.060 --> 00:11:59.680
 more about

00:11:59.680 --> 00:11:59.980
 him

00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:03.759
 but that

00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:04.200
 doesn't mean

00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:04.500
 to say

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:04.920
 we can't

00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:05.139
 see him

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:05.480
 at all

00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:06.240
 I think

00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:06.420
 it was

00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:07.240
 D.A.

00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:07.580
 Carson

00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:07.980
 that said

00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:08.200
 something

00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:09.340
 that just

00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:09.860
 because we

00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:10.399
 can't see

00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:10.639
 God

00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:11.139
 fully

00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:11.500
 doesn't

00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:11.779
 mean to

00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:12.200
 say we

00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:12.720
 can't

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.200
 know him

00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:13.840
 truly

00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:20.240
 it was

00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:20.580
 A.W.

00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:21.000
 Tozer

00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:22.720
 that said

00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:23.240
 what comes

00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:23.620
 into our

00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:23.920
 minds

00:12:23.920 --> 00:12:24.259
 when we

00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:24.639
 think about

00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:25.000
 God

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.920
 is the

00:12:26.920 --> 00:12:27.620
 most important

00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.240
 thing about

00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:28.639
 us

00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:33.259
 God's

00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:33.519
 not just

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:33.939
 an abstract

00:12:33.939 --> 00:12:34.539
 idea

00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:34.960
 he's not

00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:35.220
 just a

00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:35.759
 philosophy

00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:36.120
 he's not

00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:36.419
 just a

00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:37.240
 set of

00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:38.120
 theological

00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.000
 propositions

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:42.100
 the way

00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:42.559
 that we

00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:43.240
 hold that

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:44.179
 picture of

00:12:44.179 --> 00:12:44.699
 who God

00:12:44.699 --> 00:12:45.120
 is what

00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:45.679
 God's

00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:46.100
 character

00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:46.659
 is like

00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:47.299
 will in

00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:48.059
 turn shape

00:12:48.059 --> 00:12:48.799
 and form

00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:49.279
 our

00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:49.939
 character

00:12:49.939 --> 00:12:52.939
 when you

00:12:52.939 --> 00:12:53.480
 think about

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:53.899
 God

00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:55.980
 it's the

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:56.620
 most important

00:12:56.620 --> 00:12:57.299
 thing about

00:12:57.299 --> 00:12:58.179
 you because

00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:59.079
 it will

00:12:59.079 --> 00:13:00.459
 shape

00:13:00.459 --> 00:13:01.779
 and determine

00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:02.299
 it will

00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:03.000
 define

00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:04.199
 the way

00:13:04.199 --> 00:13:04.959
 in which

00:13:04.959 --> 00:13:05.859
 you interact

00:13:05.859 --> 00:13:06.199
 with the

00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:06.599
 world

00:13:06.599 --> 00:13:09.299
 it will

00:13:09.299 --> 00:13:09.759
 determine

00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.759
 your values

00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:12.259
 your

00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:12.799
 decision

00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:13.199
 making

00:13:13.199 --> 00:13:13.919
 processes

00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:15.679
 your

00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:16.339
 character

00:13:16.339 --> 00:13:16.959
 your very

00:13:16.959 --> 00:13:17.559
 being

00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:18.179
 God

00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:20.459
 our

00:13:20.459 --> 00:13:20.979
 lives

00:13:20.979 --> 00:13:21.239
 as

00:13:21.239 --> 00:13:22.039
 individuals

00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:22.519
 as

00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:22.779
 a

00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.339
 church

00:13:23.339 --> 00:13:24.139
 and

00:13:24.139 --> 00:13:24.419
 as

00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:26.259
 society

00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:28.119
 will be

00:13:28.119 --> 00:13:28.559
 either

00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:29.239
 limited

00:13:29.239 --> 00:13:30.419
 or liberated

00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:30.979
 by the

00:13:30.979 --> 00:13:31.459
 way we

00:13:31.459 --> 00:13:31.719
 see

00:13:31.719 --> 00:13:32.119
 God

00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:35.240
 to

00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:35.360
 our

00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:36.200
 history

00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:37.100
 will

00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:39.539
 probably

00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:40.100
 show

00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:41.320
 that no

00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:41.759
 people

00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.419
 has ever

00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:42.879
 risen

00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:43.340
 above

00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:43.580
 its

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.039
 religion

00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:47.600
 and

00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:47.799
 our

00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.340
 spiritual

00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:48.960
 history

00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.179
 will

00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:50.840
 positively

00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:51.539
 demonstrate

00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:53.340
 that no

00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:53.720
 religion

00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.279
 has ever

00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:54.500
 been

00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:54.899
 greater

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:55.139
 than

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.360
 its

00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:55.679
 idea

00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:55.879
 of

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.180
 God

00:13:56.180 --> 00:14:00.159
 so

00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:15.659
 here's a question. Is your God too small? Because it would seem to the disciples on their journey,

00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:22.000
 walking alongside Jesus, their understanding of who God is, their understanding the bits that they

00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:28.959
 had taken from scripture, or rather the bits that they hadn't taken from scripture, was such

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:36.240
 that when it came to the notion that Jesus could have been raised from the dead, it just wasn't there.

00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:45.000
 It wasn't in their thinking. And how impoverished our lives become when we don't grasp the height

00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:53.639
 and the depth of who God is, really is. Here's a story that will make you chuckle,

00:14:53.639 --> 00:15:00.360
 it may be chuckle anyway. It was a couple of years ago, the BBC reported a story about an airline

00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:17.220
 that keeps mistaking a 101 year old woman who continues to fly. They keep mistaking her for a baby.

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:26.500
 American Airlines has a booking system, it seems, that only allows for the last two digits of the

00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:32.519
 year of your date of birth. Yeah? So when she was booking flights, and this has happened quite a lot,

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:41.160
 it would seem, that she puts in her date of birth, which was 1922, but it only shows up as 22.

00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:48.439
 So she arrives at the airport, or she arrives at the gate, and they're expecting a baby that was born in

00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:52.679
 2022, and they're saying, where's the baby? You can't come on this flight, madam. Well,

00:15:53.079 --> 00:16:00.259
 it is me. Well, you can't be. You weren't born last year. I know I wasn't. I was born 101 years ago.

00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:06.120
 And apparently she's got herself into all kinds of trouble over and over and over again with this.

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:11.500
 She's been stopped and held at the gate and questioned, holding everybody else up many, many times.

00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:19.759
 So you have a picture in your mind as to what this person's going to be, and then they appear,

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:27.019
 and then you realise you totally got it wrong. You have completely a false idea of who this person was,

00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:29.080
 how old they were.

00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:39.060
 To a sense, in a sense, throughout our whole lives, we're coming to terms with the reality of who God is.

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:45.100
 Yeah, when we come to faith in Jesus, that can be a very sudden and dramatic explosion,

00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:49.680
 whereby suddenly we see things in a new way. But let's not think it stops there,

00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:54.280
 because it goes on throughout our whole lives. This side of eternity, we're in this process

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:58.019
 of that vision being more and more and more and more finely tuned.

00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:01.159
 Just when we think we've got it, then we realise, no, we haven't.

00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:02.720
 No, we haven't.

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:10.720
 And for these disciples, walking alongside Jesus in his risen form,

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:16.940
 you know, God can't have raised Jesus from the dead, because that doesn't happen.

00:17:17.339 --> 00:17:18.440
 God's not like that, is he?

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:24.000
 I love the way that the disciples actually, again, at this point, they haven't recognised Jesus,

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:26.600
 but they turn to Jesus and they say to Jesus,

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:28.420
 they say this to Jesus,

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:32.160
 some of our companions went to the tomb

00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:35.299
 and found it just as the women had said,

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.940
 but they didn't see Jesus.

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.240
 So again,

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:46.240
 let me ask you that question.

00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:49.299
 How big is your God?

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:57.220
 Let's go back into that optician's examination room.

00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.799
 See yourself in the chair.

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:04.700
 Which lens are you looking through?

00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:08.259
 Lens one or lens two?

00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:12.700
 The lens of your own human perceptions.

00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:19.019
 The lens of your own human concept of God

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:21.819
 and the limitations that you would impose on him.

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:28.700
 The lens that sees things through your own human brokenness,

00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:30.799
 and that's all of us.

00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:37.080
 Or looking through the lens of Christ.

00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:40.799
 The God of resurrection.

00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:44.419
 The God who defeats

00:18:44.419 --> 00:18:47.180
 and walks away from death itself.

00:18:51.180 --> 00:18:52.680
 We're going to pray in just a moment,

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:54.759
 and we're going to spend a few moments

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:56.139
 holding that question in prayer.

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:58.039
 So we hold that before God.

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.680
 But before we do,

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:00.960
 just one last thought,

00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:01.419
 and in fact,

00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:03.720
 I think it's my favourite part of this story,

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:07.180
 and it's as simple as it is powerful.

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:11.220
 All this while,

00:19:11.600 --> 00:19:15.259
 the disciples don't recognise Jesus.

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:18.519
 He's walking alongside them.

00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.920
 They just didn't realise.

00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:29.539
 Let's pray.

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:37.300
 Lord, thank you for the resurrection.

00:19:39.300 --> 00:19:41.360
 And thank you for this story.

00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:46.539
 Lord, thank you for the appearance of the risen Jesus

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:50.339
 on that road to Emmaus.

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:53.379
 As we reflect on this story now,

00:19:53.479 --> 00:19:57.539
 Lord, we think of our own vision or lack of.

00:19:57.539 --> 00:20:02.059
 And we think of those lenses

00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:04.879
 through which we look at our lives.

00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:10.720
 In the stillness of this moment,

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:12.420
 let's just hold on to that question.

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.899
 Which lens are you looking through?

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:23.500
 Hold before God that lens.

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:30.140
 Hold before God those realities of fear

00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:33.100
 or anxiety or brokenness

00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:34.340
 or whatever it may be

00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:37.320
 that you find preoccupies your thinking so often.

00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:40.880
 Just spend a few moments

00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:44.540
 asking God to break through those things

00:20:44.540 --> 00:20:46.040
 and to give you a different lens

00:20:46.040 --> 00:20:49.480
 for those things not to dominate your vision

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:52.360
 but to see those things

00:20:52.360 --> 00:20:53.940
 through the lens of the risen Jesus.

00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:57.000
 Take a few moments now

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.120
 to hold back the full blood.

00:20:58.119 --> 00:21:08.559
 Now still

00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:11.759
 holding that posture before God.

00:21:13.959 --> 00:21:16.099
 Ask what limitations perhaps

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:19.759
 you have in that lens

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:21.139
 that you look at things through.

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:26.119
 And just ask God now

00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:27.559
 in the silence of this moment

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.859
 in the power of his spirit

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:31.399
 to open things up

00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:33.720
 to expand your view

00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:35.220
 of who he is.

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:37.799
 To know more of his character.

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:42.919
 To know him as the one

00:21:42.919 --> 00:21:45.359
 who not only raises Jesus

00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.879
 from the dead

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:49.379
 but raises you too.

00:21:49.380 --> 00:22:04.420
 Lord in the power of his spirit

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:06.840
 help us to see things

00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:08.760
 through your lens

00:22:08.760 --> 00:22:11.100
 through the lens

00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:12.680
 of resurrection hope.

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.140
 Lord may we know

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:18.880
 that you are always with us.

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.259
 That you are alongside us

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:23.000
 even when we haven't

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.940
 been aware of that presence.

00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.740
 Fill us afresh

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.000
 with your Holy Spirit

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:35.040
 now and in the time to come.

00:22:37.520 --> 00:22:38.720
 In Jesus name.

00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:40.860
 Amen.

00:22:40.860 --> 00:22:41.000
 Amen.

00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:41.060
 Amen.

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