April 15, 2001

Luke 24:13-35

How to Win God’s Way

1. Introduction

1. Illustration – My wife once had an interesting conversation. Kim was talking to the son of an older woman she was taking care of, and he went on and on about a certain family. He talked about what a group of low-lifes this family was and how awful and rotten and horrible and no-good this family was. "And the worst one," he said, "is Dick. Do you know him?" Glen asked her. She answered, "Yes." "Oh," he replied and went on and on to tell her what a worthless person Dick was. Finally, he stopped and asked Kim, "How do you know him?" Kim answered, "He’s married to my sister."
2. Context – Have you ever noticed how often we slam the door shut on someone because we think we know who they are but really don’t? A couple of Jesus’ disciples had a similar problem. They had been with Jesus and had seen all that He did, but still didn’t quite open the door. They heard that He had risen from the dead, but they still didn’t quite open the door. So Jesus approached them in a way they could accept. And when they accepted Him, they became winners. Let’s take a look at Luke 24:13-35 to see what happened.

1. Scripture Passage

1. Luke 24:13-35 - Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" ¹⁹ "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. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ 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. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." ²⁵ He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. ²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² 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?" ³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
2. We tend to think of winning as coming out on top in life. But Jesus has a different definition. And He is willing to meet us wherever we are at in order to help us win His way.

1. From Stranger to Lord

1. When we first see these two disciples, they’re walking along the road, which is really more like a winding path through the hills. Jesus comes up to them, and they’re kept from recognizing Him. They don’t know who He is or what He is all about, so He is a stranger to Him. As you’re sitting here this morning, maybe Jesus is a stranger to you. Maybe you don’t know Him, but He is willing to meet you at this point and give you a chance to get to know Him.
2. Then Jesus asks them a question, and they start talking a bit about what had happened over the past few days in Jerusalem. At this point, He is more than a stranger to them but less than a friend. He becomes an acquaintance to the two disciples. They know Him just enough to talk to Him, but that is about it. Maybe this morning you know just enough about Jesus to be acquainted with Him. That’s okay, because Jesus will meet you where you’re at and give you a chance to get to know Him a little better.
3. The conversation goes a bit further. Jesus begins to explain to them all about Himself using the Old Testament, their Bible. By the time they got to Emmaus, a walk of at least a couple of hours, they knew Jesus well enough to strongly urge Him to spend the night in their home. He had become their friend. Maybe as you’re sitting here you consider Jesus to be just a friend. No problem, because again Jesus is willing to meet you where you’re at, and He is the friend who never lets us down. But He also desires to take you to a higher level of relationship with Him.
4. What is that higher level of relationship? Well, the two disciples honored Jesus by allowing Him to bless the meal. So He did exactly as He had during His last meal with the twelve apostles. He took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and started to hand it to them. The Bible says that their eyes were opened. All of a sudden they understood exactly who Jesus was. They understood that He truly is the Messiah, or the One sent by God to reconcile the people He loves to Himself. Looking back, they could see that they had a bit of an inkling of Who He was while they were on their journey. But until He was ready to reveal Himself to them, the two disciples could not recognize Him. Until then, they could not believe in Him as Lord.
5. Today, Jesus wants to reveal Himself to you. In 2 Corinthians 6:2, Paul, who Jesus revealed Himself to while Paul was on another journey, wrote, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. So wherever you’re at on your journey with Him, whether He is a stranger or an acquaintance or a friend or your Lord, He wants to reveal Himself to you. He doesn’t just show up and expect you to understand Who He is, He walks alongside you and gradually helps you understand Who He really is.

2. Conclusion

1. The first question you need to ask yourself today is, "Who is Jesus to me? Is He stranger or acquaintance or friend or Lord?" Then you need to decide, "Who do I want Jesus to be in my life?" We all need Jesus to be more in our lives than He is now. Those for whom He is only stranger or acquaintance or friend need Him as Lord and Savior. Those for whom He is Lord need Him to be Lord of every part of us. Remember the verse Paul wrote? "Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." Right now, Jesus is reaching out to you, wanting to be more than just stranger or acquaintance or friend. He wants to be your Lord because that is what is best for you.
2. In Romans 5:6-8, Paul wrote, You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus wants to be your Savior and Lord because He loves you and wants what’s best for you. Are you willing to allow Him to become Lord today? Are you willing for Him to become more to you than He was when you first came in here this morning? The choice is yours.
3. If you want Jesus to become more to you this morning than He has been before, please take a card from the back of the seat in front of you and write "More than before" on the back, write your name and address on it, and leave it on your chair when you leave. I’ll collect them and pray for you. If you want me to call you about this, write "please call."
4. If you want to ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord this morning, please take that card and write "Savior and Lord" on the back. Then put your name and address on it and leave it on your chair when you leave. We’ll contact you this week and help you get started on your new relationship with Him.
5. If Jesus is your Savior and Lord, then you win God’s way. Let’s pray together.