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Main Idea

Live passionately and boldly in light of Jesus’ victory over death.

Try to remember that time when the light came on, and you put your faith and trust in Jesus. What convinced you? What did you finally understand that you didn’t see before? How were you changed?

There is a difference between living with a head knowledge of Jesus and a heart knowledge of Jesus. If we aren’t careful, we can live in light of His death instead of living in light of the resurrection.

Passage

Luke 24:13–36 ESV

That very day two of them 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. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, 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 is 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 that they had 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.” And he said to them, “O 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.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He 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. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 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?” And 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 has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

Living in light of defeat

As we approach the text, we need to see the way in which these two disciples were living. These were disciples who were with Jesus in His earthly ministry. They were with the 11 when the women came and gave their report of the empty tomb and their conversation with the angels. And yet, they weren’t seeking out the risen Jesus. That is because they were living in light of defeat, not in light of the resurrection.

They were living in:

•       confusion (v. 14 – talking and discussing recent events together)

•       doubt (v. 21 – we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel)

•       skepticism (vv. 22-24 – explanation of what the women told them, but they were still sad v.17)

•       wayward faith (vv. 25-26 slow to believe all the prophets have said)

But don’t miss this crucial point. Even in their confusion, doubt, skepticism, and wayward faith, Jesus walked with them… even when they didn’t see Him.

Jesus is walking with you in your shortcomings because He’s ALIVE.

Being exposed to Jesus

But now, Jesus is with them, though they were kept from recognizing Him for who he was. Even in their inability to see, just being exposed to Jesus changed their hearts.

Jesus reprimanded them for their unbelief.

They didn’t know this was Jesus talking. They assumed this guy didn’t even know what had happened to Jesus.

They could have easily gotten angry, defensive, and prideful. “We spent years with Jesus!” …they could have said. “You have no idea what you are talking about!” But they didn’t.

Exposure to Jesus should make you teachable

And yet, they didn’t become prideful or resentful.

Jesus continued the conversation and unpacked everything the Old Testament said about the Messiah.

And as they listened, they yearned for more.

Exposure to Jesus should make you desire more of Him.

They invited this stranger in because it was getting dark.

They provided a meal for him.

Exposure to Jesus should make you hospitable.

Eyes opened to the truth of Jesus

See Jesus for who He is:

He is not just a Rabbi, Teacher, Carpenter, Historical thought leader, and crucified rebel

He is:

•       The Messiah

•       The King of Kings

•       The Lord of Lords

•       The Son of God

•       The great I AM

•       The Bread of Life

•       The Living Water

•       The Light of the World

•       The Good Shepherd

•       The Vine that gives life to the branches

•       The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

•       The Lion of the tribe of Judah

•       The Logos

•       The Creator of all things

•       The one who holds all things together

•       The treasure of all wisdom and knowledge

•       The Alpha and Omega

•       Your Lord and Savior

Open your eyes and recognize Jesus for who He really is! Up until now, His true glory has been veiled or hidden, but no longer!

If you see Jesus for who He really is, it will forever transform who you are.

Live your life in light of the resurrection, not in defeat.

Living in light of the resurrection

You realize He is always with you, even when you don’t see Him

Exposure to Jesus makes you teachable

Exposure to Jesus makes you desire more of Him

Exposure to Jesus makes you hospitable

Seeing Him for who he is will transform who you are

But, there is more…

They could have easily beat themselves up. When their eyes were opened, and Jesus vanished, they could have looked at each other and said, “How did we miss this?! We should have known! How dumb could we possibly be?!”

But they didn’t. They didn’t backslide into living in light of defeat or ignorance. They embraced Jesus and continued to live in light of His resurrection.

When you see Jesus for who He really is… when you embrace the fullness of His Kingship and attributes… when you hear the words of the living God … it produces a burning passion in your heart.

“Did our hearts not burn within us”:

•       at the words of Jesus

•       at the explanation of scripture

Is that you? It could be!

Just because Jesus isn’t standing directly in front of you, don’t think you can’t have exactly what they had. The risen Christ spoke to them, but they didn’t have the Holy Spirit within. We do. Don’t diminish the work of the 3rd member of the Trinity in your life. He guides you into all truth because He is also God and is named as the Spirit of Christ.

Spread the good news

They immediately turned back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples.

I bet they probably apologized to the ladies, too, for not believing them to begin with.

They told them everything that happened on the road and at the table with the risen Jesus.

Continue until Christ’s return

“As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them…”

For these two disciples, that was a quick turnaround.

But, can I encourage us today that we can live passionate lives and tell others about that passion until Christ comes again? I know that isn’t a direct interpretation of the passage, but it can be a meaningful application, amen?

Conclusion / Takeaway

Today, I have shown you one of dozens of ways we can live in light of the resurrection. Because Jesus lives, we are everything He says we are.

We are:

•       redeemed

•       reconciled

•       adopted

•       ambassadors

•       a royal priesthood

•       a holy nation

All of these things are true and are ways we can live in light of who Jesus is, but I want you to walk away today with this one truth lingering in your heart.

We will always live in the tension of striving for holiness, yet falling short often.

But that doesn’t mean that you cannot:

1.     See Jesus for who He is.

2.     Maintain the burning fire in your heart as you hear Him speak in prayer and in the word.

3.     Let that fire rage so hot that it cannot be contained.

That is sustainable. That is achievable. A burning passion for Jesus and His word and an excitement that must be shared is at the center of living in light of the resurrection.