Luke 24:13-35 "Don't Miss Jesus!"

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Amen.

His heart beats.

Praise the Lord.

That's good news, isn't it?

We've done that throughout this service to celebrate the risen, living Jesus.

It goes beyond one Easter Sunday, doesn't it?

He's alive today.

His heart beats today.

Never more to die.

That's why we're here, to rejoice in him.

He meets with us this morning.

In fact, the living Jesus shows up in people's lives all the time, doesn't he?

That's what he does.

He's like that.

We're going to see it as we keep studying.

We're getting to the very end of Luke.

Two people in my family this week said, so what are we doing now that Luke is over?

I said, hold on.

Just because we got to the resurrection doesn't mean we finished the book.

Let me hang on a little longer.

Jesus is going to appear now in several instances, show up in people's lives between his resurrection and his ascension to heaven.

He's only got a few chances to share his heart with his followers.

What's important to the risen Jesus?

We're going to see one of those stories this morning.

I've always wished I was there for.

This is Luke 24.

It's on page 885 of the Bible in the pew in front of you.

You may find that helpful to follow along as we're going to read this story together as we go.

This morning of Jesus meeting two of his followers who are sad and heading home.

Let's pray and then we'll talk together.

Holy Spirit, we need you.

We ask for your help because we are discussing things too great for us to know and understand.

The fact that our Savior is alive is too much for us to get our minds around.

And so we ask that you would help us, that you would teach us as we look at the word of God together.

Be with us and work in each of our hearts that none of us would miss Jesus this morning.

We ask it in his name.

Amen.

It's amazing how easy it is to miss someone great even when they're right near you.

A couple years ago, Christy and I got to go to an Auburn football game.

Now, Alabama fans, we already sang a song with Crimson Tide in it this morning.

So don't get jealous.

They were playing another Orange Tiger team that we'll go without naming.

But we were hanging out before the game with our friends at a tailgate when all of a sudden I noticed a small group of people walking down the road near our tailgate.

And I looked up and this is what I saw.

You see who it is?

You see him right there?

You can't tell from the great picture I got who that is?

Right there in the middle is Cam Newton.

See, he's got a...

There it is.

That's Cam Newton right there.

Cam Newton, the Auburn quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, national champ.

This guy's great.

And I wasn't the only one who noticed.

A handful of us out of the hundreds at the tailgate started walking quickly behind this crowd trying to get a picture that good.

And so we were walking behind them.

And this was what was really amazing to me.

This is why I tell you this story.

Do you know how many Auburn fans came up to me as they saw us following this crowd and said, hey, who is that?

Who is that?

Y'all, they had cheered for him.

They'd spent Saturdays together for multiple falls.

Hours cheering for him.

They'd watched him on TV over and over.

They admired him greatly.

But he walked right by him.

And without his name on the back of his jersey, they didn't know who it was.

Cam Newton was right there.

And it was really easy to miss it, even if you were standing right beside him.

That same thing can happen with Jesus, can't it?

For different reasons, perhaps, and in different contexts, we can be near Jesus.

We can know lots about him.

We can cheer for his team.

But we may not truly know him.

That's where the tension develops in this story that we're going to read this morning.

As we read this story, it's still Easter Sunday.

Remember, in Luke's account, no one yet has met Jesus.

He hasn't appeared to anyone.

Several have seen the empty tomb.

But so far, no one has seen the risen Jesus.

And then, he shows up.

Luke 24, verse 13.

Luke 24:13

That very day, two of them who'd been in the room hearing these reports from the empty tomb,

two of those were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

And they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

Jesus himself, he showed up.

Two of those followers of Jesus who've been in Jerusalem and hearing reports are now walking home a few miles.

And Jesus himself shows up.

And we expect next to be, ta-da, it's me.

Verse 16.

But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

When you see that passive voice in the Bible, it often is referring to God's work.

What God is doing.

Somehow keeping them from recognizing him.

We know Jesus' resurrected body is a bit different.

But there's also divine activity going on here.

We don't know exactly why right now.

But I think we'll see a little bit as we keep reading what God is up to.

Notice what Jesus does.

Verse 17.

And he, Jesus, said to them,

What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?

And they stood still looking sad.

Jesus enters into their situation and he listens.

There's a lot we could learn from that, by the way, isn't there?

But he still does that today.

Entering into our doubts, our fears, our disappointments.

And these two followers have plenty of those, don't they?

Let's keep reading.

One of them, named Cleopas, answered him,

Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened these days?

I want you to feel the pain of what they're about to say to Jesus.

There's a lot of things they've seen happening in Jerusalem.

And this is more evidence of the historical reality of Luke's account.

Listen, these things, everybody knows about them, right?

Everybody's talking.

You can ask anyone.

They'll tell you what's been happening.

And they're standing right there.

Feel the pain of what they're about to say to the risen Jesus right there beside them.

Jesus said, What things?

And they said, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth.

Ever heard of him?

A man who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.

And how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him.

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.

Yes, and besides all this, it's now the third day since these things happened.

Moreover, some women of our company amazed us.

They were at the tomb early in the morning.

And when they did not find his body, they came back saying they'd even seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.

Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said.

But him they did not see.

Y'all, these are the things we talk about and celebrate.

Usually when you give this report of Easter morning, it's with joy.

He's not here.

The angels told the women he's alive.

But they're discouraged, aren't they?

Him they did not see.

We're usually celebrating our redemption by Jesus.

His mighty words and deeds.

His death.

His empty tomb.

And they've witnessed all of it.

But they're sad.

Let down.

Missing Jesus.

He's walking right there with them.

And they don't know him.

Isn't it so easy for that to happen?

These followers are right there near Jesus but miss him completely.

They have an extraordinary amount of Bible knowledge.

We'll see.

They know the prophets.

They're good Jewish people.

They're in the inner circles in Jerusalem for the Passover and the crucifixion.

So what keeps them from recognizing Jesus?

Disappointed expectations for one.

They thought he would do different things in their lives.

And the fact that he's not delivering them from Roman oppression is frustrating and confusing to them.

They had hoped that.

But the cross put that hope out really fast, really strong.

That's why they're still down.

Have you felt that in your own life before?

Some of you keep coming to church but deep in your heart you gave up on a living Jesus years ago.

In the midst of grief or heartache.

They've also witnessed evil perpetrated by religious leaders.

I bet there's more than a couple of you in here today who find it hard to see Jesus because of the marred vision of him that someone in church leadership has given you at some point in your life.

How about the chief priests and leaders gave the Messiah, the Son of God, over to be killed?

You think that could leave your hopes discouraged?

Your vision of Jesus disenchanted really fast?

I bet it would.

Maybe you've felt that.

How about being distracted from Jesus by busyness?

They've had so many things going on.

All these things that have been happening.

Plans they've been making.

And they've missed who he really is for them.

Now the good thing is I know that none of you are busy with the cares of this life.

But if you ever are.

If you ever see that day.

I warn you and I plead with you.

Be careful not to miss Jesus in the rush of lesser priorities.

It's so easy.

Perhaps missing Jesus can even be caused by information overload.

What do I mean by that?

Well, they seem to know everything about Jesus, don't they?

They can tell you all sorts of things he's been doing, what he's like.

But they've missed who he really is.

I grew up in church as a pastor's kid and learned a lot of stuff about Jesus.

And spent several years knowing about Jesus without actually knowing Jesus.

I knew in so much in some ways that I could keep my personal need for him at arm's length.

There were probably people at my tailgate that day who could have told you the score of every game that Cam Newton ever played in.

Could have given you lots of statistics on him.

Knew lots of things about him.

But when he walked by without his name on the jersey, they didn't know him.

Kids, is Jesus just some questions and answers that you've memorized?

Is Jesus just someone you've heard some stories about when you come to church?

Or have you actually met Jesus in your life and seen how much you need him to die and rise for you?

Are you starting to feel a little uncomfortable for Cleopas and his companion?

Him they did not see.

We just can't find this Jesus anywhere.

They've heard all these reports and they've concluded, oh well.

Empty tomb.

Time to move on, I guess.

Going home sad.

On Easter Sunday.

Jesus is really not okay with where his followers are stuck.

Sad.

Disenchanted.

Missing him.

Verse 25.

Jesus said to them,

Oh foolish ones.

And slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.

Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?

And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

One of the reasons Jesus is not revealed to them right away is that apparently he has a sermon that he wants them to hear and to understand.

Remember, he's mighty in word and in deed.

Here are some words he wants them to know and understand in new ways because Jesus himself in the flesh is not always going to be there with them, is he?

And he wants them to know and understand his word.

Now two reasons I'm jealous.

First, because Jesus preaches probably a two hour sermon.

They're walking seven miles.

And it's a really powerful one.

So starting next week in an effort to be more like Jesus among you.

Just kidding.

The real reason I'm jealous, y'all, is can you imagine that sermon?

You just sat through this two hour sermon.

You'd walk out on me, but you just sat through this one.

Jesus unfolding everything in the Bible, beginning with Moses and all the prophets.

He interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Listen to me.

The risen Jesus wants to open your Bible with you and help you meet him there.

Isn't that good?

He wants to meet you there and help you know him.

At Southwood, we are committed to being Christ-centered.

Giving glory to Jesus, proclaiming the good news of his finished work is the goal of our corporate worship,

all of our ministries, and our life and community together.

That's what we're about.

So there's a reason that at a church committed to being Christ-centered,

every single Sunday, this book is open on this pulpit.

It always points us to Jesus.

That's what he's telling us.

Since every page of the Bible points us to Jesus,

every sermon, every Sunday school lesson,

every conversation we have should point us back to Jesus

so that we live each day in his strength rather than our own

and for his glory rather than our own.

Amen?

That's why God has us here.

The angels did this last week, didn't they?

Remember what they pointed the women at the tomb back to?

Remember his words?

Remember how he told you that this would have to happen?

Jesus is going to do it again with his followers in the next passage,

the next time he appears to them,

and he does it again here,

pointing them back to Scripture so that they understand who he is.

Here's where you know him, he says.

I want you to know who I am.

Open your Bibles.

In this case, he especially wants you to know

why he had to suffer and die

to then enter into his glory.

I'll admit I don't know everything that Jesus said to these two

on the road to Emmaus,

but I think we get some idea from the way his followers

will write things in the New Testament.

They make many connections back to the Old Testament,

I suspect, because many of them heard them from him.

The words here indicate that Jesus told them

how the whole story of the Hebrew Scriptures

pointed to a Messiah

who would die to rescue God's people

and reunite them to God in covenant relationship.

Maybe he started with Genesis.

How God's people were created for a relationship with him

that they broke by eating the fruit,

and how in that moment God's promise to fix that relationship

would come at a cost.

The painfully bruised heel of the one promised

to crush the head of the serpent.

Maybe he mentioned the ram caught in the thicket

that died as a substitute offering

in place of Abraham's son Isaac.

Certainly he reminded them of the Passover lamb, right?

Whose blood had to be shed

to deliver God's people from Egypt

and bring them to the promised land

where they could worship him.

How as soon as God took up residence

in the tabernacle or in the temple,

what had to happen?

Sacrifices had to be there

for a sinful people to be able to live

in relationship with a holy God.

All of those sacrifices had to start.

And maybe even mentioned that the Messiah

was the new temple in his flesh.

Had they heard of the torn curtain yet?

Did you hear what happened a couple nights ago?

The new temple is here because the Messiah has come.

Maybe he explained how the bronze serpent

was lifted up in the wilderness

so that those who would look up at the serpent

at what was killing them would live.

And how someone had to be lifted up

as sin for God's sinful people

so that as they looked up at what was killing them,

they too would live with God again.

And when God's people are run out of God's land

and they're far from him,

he sends prophet after prophet to call them home,

to remind them he forgives,

to reassure them that he loves them.

He will never give up on this relationship

that he created them for.

And all the prophets are saying

that someone's coming to make sure it happens.

And I bet you he talked about the prophet Isaiah

who said there's gonna be a suffering servant.

The one coming to make this happen

will not just be a glorious king,

he'll be one.

In order to bring many back

into right relationship with God,

will suffer.

be pierced,

crushed,

wounded,

sorrowful,

to the point that the psalmist would say

that he cries out,

my God, my God,

why have you forsaken me?

And Jesus said,

have you heard those words lately?

Do you see how it's all coming to this Messiah?

Don't you see, Jesus says,

that the Messiah had to suffer and die

for you to know God?

It was the only way.

Before then,

a glorious,

triumphant resurrection.

Friends,

don't let anyone

discourage you from your Old Testament.

Jesus wouldn't have it.

I can't believe you're hearing that

in churches these days.

Every page of the Old Testament

is preparing us

to long for

and rejoice in

a Savior who brings us

back to God,

who fixes the relationship

we broke

at great personal cost

to himself.

Jesus says,

you'll meet me

and know me better

there.

That's my story.

And it's yours too

if you trust in me.

Amazing words,

I'm sure,

was much better than that.

It was longer.

But the story continues.

And it leaves us in suspense

for

Cleopas and his companion.

They still don't understand.

So they drew near to the village

to which they were going

and Jesus acted

as if he were going farther

but they urged him strongly

saying,

stay with us

for it is toward evening

and the day is now far spent.

So he went in

to stay with them.

Jesus diverts to

Emmaus.

I think Cleopas

and his companion,

something's going on

in their hearts

but they're not,

don't let this guy go yet.

We're still not sure

we've got it figured out.

But Jesus stops

not just because it's dark

but because he wants them

to know him.

Their eyes aren't open yet.

Verse 30,

when he was at the table

with them,

he took the bread

and blessed it

and broke it

and gave it to them

and their eyes

were opened

and they recognized him

and he vanished

from their sight.

Luke doesn't tell us

for sure what God

used to open

their eyes

to see their Savior

but we know

it was as he sat

and ate

with them

as he blessed

and broke bread.

Maybe

maybe seeing

his nail-pierced hands

up close.

Maybe watching

the way he

blessed the bread

and spoke to his father

in a way no one else did.

It was like he did

before the feeding

of the 5,000.

Maybe that helped

but whatever it was

they have an experience

with the risen Jesus.

An experience

of his deeds.

Deeds that match

his words.

Not isolated deeds.

Deeds that match

his words.

They've heard

and confirmed

the truth

of a living Savior.

It's not just

that he was promised

to rise from the dead.

He's actually here.

We're seeing him.

They said to each other

did not our hearts

burn within us

while he talked

to us on the road

while he opened

to us the scriptures?

Cleopas said

when that happened

did you feel

something?

I was feeling something.

That's why

it was Jesus.

Even

even the empty tomb

and the discarded

grave cloths

hadn't

hadn't helped them

believe

but now

they see

Jesus.

Jesus wants them

truly to encounter

and experience

him.

That

experience

of meeting him

and knowing him

personally

is different

for each of us

isn't it?

But Jesus still

makes himself

known

today.

How has it

happened in

your life?

Maybe through

an answered prayer?

Through a

burning heart

as you were

reading or

listening to

God's word?

Through an

unmistakable voice

calling you

to follow

and trust

him?

What was it

like for you?

Pastor Chunu

is one of many

I got to know

in India

a few weeks

ago.

His story

is remarkable

but not at

all unusual.

Chunu grew

up in a

Hindu family

that prayed

to many

different gods

and goddesses

but never

heard anything

back from any

of them.

Never had

anything like

a relationship.

Never

considered that

a possibility.

As a young

man he got

seriously ill

and doctors

were perplexed.

Multiple

Hindu priests

praying to

multiple gods.

They were

getting desperate

and nothing

was helping

but he had

a friend

who got

really concerned

for his

life.

It looked

like perhaps

he had

days to

live and

so his

friend took

him to

a Christian

pastor.

He'd never

heard anything

about Jesus

but he went

to this

pastor who

prayed for

him and

for his

healing and

Jesus met

him.

Healed

him.

And ever

since that

day Chunu

has been

learning more

of this

living God.

a God

that he

knows now

he can

actually

have a

relationship

with.

He's been

learning from

the Bible.

He studied

God's word.

He's sharing

with others

about the

Jesus who

met him.

And so I

got to go

and as I

taught that

week we

talked through

the stories

of Ruth

and Jonah

and others

in the Old

Testament and

he would say

oh yeah

that's my

God.

I recognize

Jesus there.

That's what

he's like.

I've met

him.

He met

God in

his deeds

first.

first and

then in

his words.

Maybe your

story is more

like my

story.

Kids I

was in

church like

you remember.

I told you

I knew a

lot about

Jesus.

I'd learned

a lot of

things.

I knew he

loved people.

I knew that

he died for

sinners but

I really

wasn't sure

I was one

of them.

I mean I

was supposed

to be true

that I was

a sinner but

I don't know

it didn't

always feel

like that.

And so it

took some

time as I

got older

for me

personally to

realize my

need for

Jesus.

I remember

one night

when my

sin was so

overwhelming to

me that I

got really

scared.

I was afraid

of what a

big sinner I

was and I

didn't know what

to do about

it.

I went to

talk to

my dad.

I said

dad help.

I'm scared.

And he

told me about

God's love

for me.

And other

people at my

church told me

about God's

love for me

so that Jesus

met me there

and I had this

overwhelming sense

not just that

Jesus loved

people and died

for sinners but

that Jesus loved

this sinner

and died for

me.

I recognized

the Jesus that

I'd heard about

over and over

in the Bible

since my

birth.

In fact

there's several

ladies here this

morning from the

church I grew up

in and since

they're here I

might as well

just say they

taught me in

Sunday school

what Jesus was

like.

They taught me

in eighth grade

literature class

what Jesus was

like and then

I met him.

then he showed

up and all the

things I'd learned

about made sense

and I knew him

and I praise the

Lord for how he

works in our lives

like that.

For me words

first and then

an experience.

Jesus meets us

often in very

ordinary ways.

If you've never

met him or if he

seems distant

today lean into

his word and his

people he will

meet you.

I love this

beautiful picture

of what happens

when the risen

Jesus shows up

in your life.

This is the end

of the story.

Cleopas and his

friend realize

they've been with

Jesus.

Their hearts have

been burning

within them and

despite the

darkness it's not

safe anymore

without finishing

their dinner.

They hurry back

to Jerusalem to

tell everyone the

big news.

Verse 33 they

rose that same

hour and returned

to Jerusalem and

they found the

eleven and those

who were with

them gathered

together saying

the Lord is risen

indeed and has

appeared to Simon.

Then they told

them what had

happened on the

road and how he

was known to

them in the

breaking of the

bread.

It's kind of funny

to imagine them

rushing in with

their big news

only to find

everyone already

talking about

meeting Jesus.

Hey y'all guess

who we met?

Hey Peter just

talked to Jesus.

Oh man no more

surprise.

It's like me

running to find

my friends.

Hey I saw

Cam Newton and

they're standing

there comparing

autographs they've

already gotten.

But we might

think of that as

discouraging.

It doesn't dampen

their enthusiasm

does it?

No way.

Y'all the risen

Jesus is not about

who has the best

story is it?

It's about sharing

together all night

about the Jesus

who met them.

Brothers and

sisters here's a

glimpse of gospel

community.

You want to taste it

this morning?

Just imagine

Peter says he

met me.

Let me tell you

about his grace

for failures.

And Mary says he

met me in the

garden.

Let me tell you

how he showed up

in the midst of my

grief and transformed

my life.

And Cleopas says

hey yeah he met us

too on the road.

In fact he was

breaking bread and

then we recognized

him.

And hey y'all

get your scrolls

out.

Open up.

Turn to Leviticus.

Look what it says

about him.

I never saw it

before.

He told us this.

Can you imagine

what that night was

like?

One of them after

another.

Do you see how

Jesus is setting up

his church to work?

People with

different experiences,

different stories,

different gifts,

now sharing how

he met them.

them and sharing

his word together.

Is your small group

like that?

How could you help

make it more like

that?

Stay for a connect

community today.

Connecting with each

other around God's

word.

Why?

So that we all know

Jesus more.

Right?

See this story

shows us how

committed the

risen Jesus is to

our knowing

him.

He wants us to

know him.

In his word,

in our personal

experience, in

particular through

his people, he

patiently and

persistently lingers

with us through

our doubts,

our pain,

our struggles,

struggles,

because he

doesn't want us

to miss him.

He wants you

to know him

and he'll keep

working with you

patiently.

It doesn't always

happen once in a

moment.

Jesus will stay

with you.

He wants you to

have the relationship

with your father

that he went to

the cross to give

you.

We're going to see

in the next

passage how

committed the

risen Jesus is to

our making him

known.

But here he

begins by walking

with us, opening

his word to our

burning hearts,

breaking bread in

the midst of our

lives, really

showing up so

that we will know

and have

relationship with

him.

The risen Jesus

is so committed

to you knowing

him that he's

here this morning.

That's how

passionate he is

about it.

He doesn't want

you merely to

hear his word

preached.

He wants you to

see and touch

and taste his

love for you.

So by his

spirit he meets

you in a meal.

Jesus said that

he sat with his

followers that night.

This is my body

which is broken

for you.

Do this in

remembrance of

me and so I

ministering in his

name.

Give this bread to

you and say take

eat.

This is the body

of Jesus broken

for you.

And after supper

he took the cup

and said this cup

is the new covenant

in my blood.

Shed for many

for the forgiveness

of sins.

Drink from it

all of you.

This table is not

Southwood's table

or the Presbyterian

churches.

It's the Lord's

table.

So if Jesus who

died and rose for

you is your only

hope, your living

trust today, then

please come eat,

celebrate with us.

Come touch and

taste and know

Jesus more.

But no matter how

much you know

about Jesus,

if you don't

personally trust

him, if you

haven't placed

your faith in

him and entered

into a relationship

with him, then

we'd invite you

this morning not

to come to

these elements,

but to Jesus

himself.

Contemplate

these as you

see them, the

body and the

blood of Jesus

given for you.

We'd love for you

to still come

forward to these

tables.

You can ask us

to pray with you

if you'd like.

We'd love the

chance to talk

with you longer,

maybe even after

the service, and

tell you more

about Jesus.

He's the one

we'd want you

to take this

morning, not

this picture of

him that we

celebrate.

And then some

of you will be

coming to this

table to celebrate

with us for the

first time.

And it's really

special that you

get to do that.

We're so excited.

Our prayer for you,

young ones, is that

every time you come

to this table, some

of you maybe

thousands of times

in your life, that

you will remember

how much Jesus

loves you, that

you would taste

that, that you

would know him, and

that you'd never

forget that.

Let's pray and

we'll celebrate

together.

Jesus, thank you

for revealing

yourself to us

again this morning.

by your spirit, would

you open our

hearts, open blind

eyes, bring life

where there's been

dryness and

distance.

Help us to see

you and know you.

Use these common

elements for that

holy purpose that our

faith in you would

grow.

We would know you

more.

We ask in Jesus'

name.

Amen.

For more

information, visit us

online at

southwood.org.