Sermon – “Coming Alive to Christ”

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain 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.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Forty days ago I challenged. All of you and. Worse that went out on the Facebook and many others joined in to read to scriptures every day and. Discuss and talk about it forty days for Jesus is my corner. OK OK. And you know I was hoping that it would be more than just the. Time to casually read the scripture or time just to say all. I’ve read today I’ve got it done. I was hoping that it would be something it would spark. Of renewal when you spark. That first love that you had when you first came to the Lord it would spark. You know it would bring Christ to live in you allow Christ to come alive in you that it would just create a hunger in you to hunger for that word more and more and more. Because his word is the Living Word. Coming alive to Christ. That’s what it’s all about. Coming alive to him. Our scripture the Smorgon comes from Luke. The last chapter of Luke. Versus thirteen through thirty five. This is as two of his disciples were traveling on the road. Says now behold two of them were traveling that same day to a village called the May S. which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they walked together. And they talked to gether. Of all the things which had happened. So it was. While they converse and reasoned that Jesus himself journey or him went with them. But their eyes were restrained so they did not know him. And he said to them what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are saying. Then the one whose name was clear up US answered and said to him. Or you the only stranger in Jerusalem. And have you not known the things which happened there in these days. And he said to them what they. So they said to him the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth. Who was a proper. Mighty indeed and word before God and all the people. And how the chief priest in our rulers delivered him. To be condemned to death and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed besides all the. Besides all this. Two days a third day since these things happen. Yes. And certain women of our company who arrived at the tomb. Early astonished us. When they did not find his body. They came saying that he that they had a also seen a vision of angels. Who said he was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found that just as the woman had said. But he did not see. But him they did not see. It’s early yet. Then he said to them. Over fullish ones. And slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken. Ought not the Christ. To have suffered these sayings. And to enter into His glory. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets. He expounded to them. In all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going. And he indicated that he would go farther. But they constrained him saying abide with us. For it is toward evening. And the day is far spent. And he went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass. As he said at the table with them. That he took bread bread. Blessed and broke it and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew him. And he vanished from their sight. And they said to one another Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us on the road. And while he opened the Scriptures to us. So they rose up that very hour to return to Jerusalem and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together. Saying the Lord is risen indeed. A man. And has appeared to Simon. And they told about the things that happened in the. I’m on the road. And how he was known to them in the breaking of bread. May God had His blessings to the here and in the reading of His Holy Word. Let us pray. Heavenly Father we thank you so much for your word. Your word that reveals. Life. Your word reveals life to us and reveals. Knowledge to us the word and gives us understanding. And Father I thank you that you declared your word. To those disciples as you walked along the road. And Father I thank you that you open your eyes and allow them to see that you are alive. That you were well. And Father I pray that your spirit will move upon this nation Norden. Upon the earth today Lord in open eyes and let those that are walking in darkness see the light. Let them see that you are alive that you are risen indeed. That you are the savior of the world. I just prayed or did your peace will be upon us. May your spirit lead us in Jesus’ name amen. He opened the Scriptures to them. He opened the Scriptures as they walked along the road. And of course when they broke the bread. The Bread of Life. Their eyes were open. You know I’m going to share a story about a young lady. Young girl named Helen Keller. She was imprisoned by our own circumstances. She could neither see nor hear. She could feel with her hands but without sight or hearing. How could she know what she was feeling. One day her teacher and Solomon took young. Helen down a familiar path to the well house. Someone was drawing water. And then let the water run over one of Helen’s hands. And in sign language. She spelled in the other the word water. Suddenly. Something happened within how. Helen. Something dramatic something life changing. It was only a five letter word. But for Helen Keller. It was a gigantic breakthrough. She now had a name for a familiar. Or experience no experience with water. If this experience had a name. Other familiar objects. And sensations must have names as well. It was as if C. was suddenly burst forth from a closed guarded prison. Now she could be a whole person. Experience the world as real him. As a real human being in spite of her handicaps. Her world around her suddenly came alive to her. Such a breakthrough you know so exciting is always exciting. But such a breakthrough came to the disciples of Jesus that day as they were making their way to M A S. These two were in mourning. They were saddened because the one that they thought was going to deliver. Israel. From the Romans had died. They were so confused. Their master had been crucified. So the. They as well as all the other disciples they were stunned. They were stunned beyond words. The one they followed for several years. Listened to all of his teachings. And now. To them. He was dead. They poured out her grief to one another as they slowly walk that road to a modus they were mulling over the events of the past few days. They were disturbed by the news that they had heard earlier that the women when. Went to the tomb. To prepare the body in the body wasn’t there. They were disturbed by this. The women share that an angel appeared to them and said that he is not dead but alive. But they still were confused. They didn’t know what all this meant. They didn’t fully understand. They wondered. Could someone have stolen the body. What should they do. What should the other disciples do. Even though they heard that news. They still did not understand. When they heard the news that he had risen they didn’t shout hallelujah he’s risen. No they still. Wander alone confused. Trying to make sense of it all in their minds. In their minds Jesus was still in the grave. He was still dead. He wasn’t alive. In our hearts. He was still in the grave. He was not alive. It David made a comment the other day that the church has been referred to as the sleeping giant or the church has been referred to as a sleep. And not awake. I’ve heard that. Said about the church for quite a few years. Could it be that many in the churches today. And I say the churches not. The Church. This. Just this church. But it could be. Could it be that main the churches have uncertainties. Could it be there are uncertain about their faith. Could it be they’re confused about their faith. Could it be that there were wondering is it all really true. Is it really true Did Jesus really die for my sins. Is he really alive. Do they lack confidence in the risen Lord. Some even question is he really alive. The two believers on the road. They became intrigued when Jesus open his scriptures up didn’t so much so that they begged in the stay a little longer. Let us hear a little more. That evening when they gathered around the table we took the bread and blessed and broke it. And he gave it to them. And it was like a Helen Keller experience for them all a sudden. Their world became alive. Their eyes were open. You know as the water trickled over her hand. Her life became alive. As he handed in the bread their eyes were open. Jesus was alive to them. He made Himself known to them. It was true he is alive. Coming alive to Christ. How does that happen for us. How do we come alive. For Christ like these disciples did that day was the first way is through the bread of life which comes through His Word. That’s why we’ve been reading. To allow him to come alive. They said did our not that our hearts not burn within us. When he opened the word to us as we walked down the road. Do you want your hearts to burn within you get in that word. And allow it to speak to your heart. Allow it to spread out to life. That See that’s in there. Let it. Sprout. The Risen Savior in your heart. It’s a saying that. Many of us. Have let our daily encounter with the word slide. We become lax. We have to get up get pick this thing up in a all. Week or two and dust it off because we haven’t picked it up in a week or two weeks or maybe three. We have to get in his word. Those who discipline themselves to make daily reading of the word a part of their lies. Invariably find themselves drawn closer and closer and closer to the Lord. I even find it. If I have opportunity if I’m working in a situation at work where I can have that ready you want to fill in this vessel with. Music Christian music or else teaching. It helps me to feel. More live in closer to him. The more we discipline ourselves and the more we get into that word the closer we’re going to feel to him. The more alive he’s going to be to us. John Calvin was fond of comparing the Scriptures to a pair of spectacles. He often said that even though we could. Know something about God. From the wonders of creation. Sets knowledge was fuzzy and incomplete without the aid of the Bible. Calvin insisted that just us people with failing vision need glasses to read even the most beautiful printed volumes. We who are fallen creators must look through the Scriptures to read. The beauty of God. The other place. We are most likely to encounter the risen Christ is in the breaking of the bread. Which is his body. It is significant that I was when Jesus took the bread and blessed and broke it. That the disciples knew who he was. Hearts have been touched for two thousand years when persons have taken the bread in the cup and heard those timeless words. This is my body. Which was broken for you. This is my blood which was shed for you. Part of the power of the sacrament. Is that we experience. Together. We are Christ’s family. And we feel that in a most beautiful way. When we symbolically gather together. Around his table. And partake of communion. So today is we long for an M A S kind of experience. As we proclaim the word and we share together with Christian fellowship and worship. We know that the risen Christ. Is among us. And we pray that he will make Himself known to us. In the breaking of bread. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a glorious man a face. Manifestation of the victory. Of love over death. The victory of. Love over death. The same love that makes us mourn and protest against death. Will now free us to live in hope. Do you realize a Jesus appeared. Only to those who knew him. Who had listened to his words. Who had come to love him deeply. It was that love. They gave them the eyes to see is face. The ears to hear his voice. When he appeared to them. The third day after his death. Once they had seen and heard him and believed the rest of their lives. Became a continuing recognition of his presence in their midst. The angel told him. He is not here. He is not dead. He is alive he is risen. I pray that all while all of us I know all of us. Have loved ones and. Bitter dear to us that we love deeply. But that we know. Do not know Jesus Christ in a personal way. I pray that all of us will become so alive to Christ. So alive. From his word and so alive within us that we. We just can’t hold ourselves back from sharing that love with them. Sharing the love of Christ with them and hoping that they too will receive. The risen Lord. Because he is alive. We have the victory. Because he had the victory over death. Amen.