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Home , Isaiah 32

Open Our Eyes The Road to Emmaus Spilman Memorial Baptist Church, Kinston, NC Dr. H. Powell Dew, Jr. April 26, 2020

Text: Luke 24:13-27, (read half way through sermon) vs. 28-35

Purpose: We need the Lord to open our eyes to the truth of who Jesus Christ really is. He is the Son of God, come to fulfill all of the prophecies. We are to live a Christ Centered life, based upon the Word of God – the . This God focused life should propel us to an outward ministry focus – bringing the unbelieving world to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Over the past few weeks, we have been examining the life of Jesus Christ, what He taught, who He healed, His triumphal entry into , His crucifixion, and His resurrection. Last week we examined Jesus’ encounter with Peter by the Sea of Galilee.

I have been pondering what I was going to share with you now that the full story of God’s plan of salvation has been communicated with you. I have shared with you that Jesus is the Son of God. That He died just as the scriptures foretold. He rose from the dead, just as He said He would. I believe I have faithfully communicated the story to you. But I suspect there are some reading this sermon that, even though you have heard the story, you still have not really opened your eyes to the reality of who Jesus really is. Yes you know the story of Jesus, but you do not know the Jesus of the story.

If you have ever worked with someone trying to help them with their math problems, or help a student understand a difficult concept in other classes, you sometimes try and try to get them to understand what you are teaching them or showing them. If you are a persistent teacher or tutor, you don’t give up, you keep telling them the same thing in various ways. It may take days or sometime weeks – then suddenly, the “light bulb” comes on. You know they finally get it. I believe that is the moment most teachers long to see happen in their students – that moment when their students finally get it.

Jesus had been with His Disciples for 3 years – teaching, talking, modeling, demonstrating in every way imaginable, to help them get their “light bulb” turned on. Yet they still didn’t get it.

The disciples saw the many miracles – water to wine, sight returned to a man born blind from birth, opening the ears of deaf individuals, healing numerous people of leprosy, casting out demons, preaching the gospel to the poor, and even raising the dead – they still didn’t get it.

So many had a preconceived idea as to what the Messiah would say, what He would do, how He would act, the type of Kingdom He would usher in – and Jesus didn’t match their expectations. Many people rejected Jesus because He was not what they wanted in a Messiah.

Even after the disciples saw the empty tomb, they STILL did not understand. Their eyes were still shielded.

After the resurrection of Jesus, there were numerous encounters with various people. • Jesus met Mary Magdalene there at the garden Tomb that Resurrection morning. (John 20:14-18) • Jesus met the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35) • He met with the 10 disciples seven days after the resurrection. (John 20:19-23) • He met with them again, this time including doubting Thomas. (John 20:24-29) • He met with Peter and six other disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-20) • He met with James, the brother of Jesus. (I Cor. 15:12) • He even met with over 500 in a public gathering. (I Cor. 15:12) • For 40 days Jesus presented Himself to testify to the truth of His resurrection. • Then after 40 days, Jesus ascended back into heaven.

The scripture we read earlier this morning is only found in the . Two verses mentioned it in Mark 16:12-13. It is known as the Road to Emmaus passage. I have read this passage over and over throughout my life. There is an attraction to me in this passage for several reasons. Here are two disciples that don’t know what to do next. They have followed Jesus, kept up

with His activities, followed His teaching, and yet here they are heading in the wrong direction – away from Jerusalem.

As I have pondered this passage over the years, it has occurred to me that maybe Christ himself has provided future followers a model for us follow as we try to minister to the blind unseeing world. After all, Jesus has given us other models which we are to follow.

Jesus Christ gave us the model prayer that is recorded in Matthew chapter five. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV).

Jesus gave us a model of sacrifice. He gave us a pattern for sacrifice when He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 KJV) As He laid down his life for us, we too should be willing to lay down our lives to reach the world for Christ.

Jesus gave us a model of salvation. The true “nugget of gold” concerning the way of salvation was revealed when Christ said: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Because we have been given the truth about salvation, we must be willing to share this good news with others. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14 KJV)

Jesus gave us a model of love and has instructed us in the way of agape love. “That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (I John 4:21 KJV) How truly difficult this can be at times! Yet we are commanded to love.

Many Christians today are emulating these models in their prayer life, their daily sacrifice for others, extending and offering salvation in Jesus Christ as well as expressing love to a world that desperately needs this.

This morning I want to put forth a paradigm – a way of living – a pattern for a Christian walk – that I discovered at Campbell University Divinity School. It represents how we as Christians should orientate our lives. It is centered on the motto: Christ Centered, Bible Based, and Ministry Focused.

If you have had your eyes opened and understand and place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, then as a follower of Jesus Christ – there should be an overarching theme in your life. It should permeate all that you do in life. It is the Spirit of Christ abiding in you, leading you, guiding you, directing you.

Campbell chose the overarching purpose of the school to be Christ Centered, Bible Based, and Ministry Focused, because they saw that as the overarching theme of all believers that genuinely seek to live out their life to the Glory of God.

In the passage of scripture we read this morning about the two traveling to Emmaus, we see this paradigm of living enacted in a unique and special way. We find the interaction between Jesus and these two disciples as Christ Centered, Bible Based, and Ministry Focused.

Christ Centered

The verses found in Luke 24:25-26 draw us to the first point of being Christ- centered. “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his Glory?”

There is the tendency to talk with others about everything except Jesus Christ. We will talk about the weather. We will talk about the latest sports event. We will talk about the great social issues of the day, such as drinking and driving, abortion, church politics, moderates, conservatives, or prayer in schools. We can get sidelined with the war in the middle east, the latest scandal in Washington DC, or how high taxes are. Our latest distraction is the coronavirus. It is the daily topic of every news program and on every person’s mind. Each of these topics has taken a front place forum in our churches and lives at one time or another.

If we look carefully, we can see how quickly Jesus Christ came back to the main point there on the road to Emmaus. The central issue to be resolved is, “Who is this person called the Christ?” Jesus even went so far as to call these

two men “fools." Jesus verbally slapped them “upside their head” with the main point. Jesus Christ came to do the will of the Father. The central goal of Jesus was to validate all that the prophets spoke of in the “law and the prophets.”

Prophecy foretold where Jesus would be born, where He would live, how His ministry would affect His community, how He would be rejected, and how He would die. All of this would be accomplished in the fullness of time, in God’s timing. His death was a propitiation for our sins. By accepting Christ’s free gift of salvation, we are free from the penalty of eternal punishment and separation from God.

Today we are called to present the Gospel, the good news, to everyone. We are to be totally committed. We should be willing to be baptized in the same baptism of Jesus Christ. We must proclaim Christ crucified, risen, and now seated in authority at the right hand of God the Father. Christ’s salvation is available to all. We must not become distracted by the peripheral issues of the day. Yes, they are important, but until Christ is proclaimed in our preaching and teaching, our effectiveness will never be what God desires. Our every action in life should be Christ Centered.

Bible Based

Secondly, let us look now at the Bible-based verses found in Luke 24:27. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” It is most obvious that Christ began to teach the disciples straight from the scriptures. He did not quote from the current writers of the day. He did not quote from the editor of the Jerusalem Times. He did not quote those sitting at the city gate. He turned to the prophets of the Old Testament. Since these were proven prophets of God, their word could be trusted.

The phrase “Beginning with Moses...” must be the most powerful phrase in the whole story. Where else would Jesus begin the story unless he started at the beginning? Moses is credited as the writer of the (First five books of the Bible). Jesus even affirms the authorship of Moses by beginning the list of prophecies fulfilled when he started with Moses. In several other passages, Jesus reaffirms Moses again(Luke 13:31, Luke 24:44).

In our churches we need to be more Bible-based in our teaching and preaching. We need to avoid the trendy teaching of the day and stay with the timeless word of God. The fastest growing churches today are ones that stand on the authority of God’s word, proclaim it fully with confidence, and are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ’s example is still valid for us today, if we will only listen.

Throughout this printed sermon, I have included a compilation of many of the Old Testament passages of scripture. I want you this week to take the time to go back and examine for yourself how these prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. In the footnotes, you will find both the Old Testament reference as well as its fulfillment as testified in the .

Prophecy Fulfilled Narrative

Beginning at Moses we see where the scriptures show us the things concerning the Messiah. Moses said that the Messiah would be the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15)1, that He would be from the line and lineage of (Genesis 12:3) ,2 and Isaac (Genesis 17:19)3 and be a blessing to all the nations (Genesis 18:18).4 Moses also said that the promised one would come out of the tribe of (Genesis 49:10) ,5 like a star out of (Numbers 24:17- 19) .6 He was to be as a (Deut. 18:15,18) ,7 but his throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7: 12, 13, 16, 25).8

David wrote in the concerning the life and death of the Messiah. He said he would be mocked and insulted, lots cast for his coat, and even his hands and feet would be pierced. (Psalm 22:1-31)9 Even then not a bone would be broken. (Exodus 12:46) 10 It was even prophesied that he was to be given vinegar and gall to drink. (Psalm 69:21)11 Even during his most agonizing hour, Jesus committed his hands into His father’s hands (Psalm 31:5).12 Jesus

1 Genesis 3:15 Galatians 4:4 2 Genesis 12:3 Matthew 1:1 3 Genesis 17:19 Romans 9:7 4 Genesis 18:18 Galatians 3:8 5Genesis 49:10 Revelation 5:5 6 Numbers 24:17-19, Matthew 2:2 7 Deuteronomy. 18:15,18, 19 John 6:14 8 2 Samuel 7:12,13,16, 25 Matthew 19:28 9 Psalms 22:1-31 Matthew 27:31-42 Mark 15:20 10 Exodus 12:46 John 19:36 11 Psalms 69:21 Matthew 27:34,48 12 Psalms 31:5 Luke 23:46

of Nazareth was accused by false witnesses (Psalm 27:12),13 betrayed by a friend ( Psalm 41:9),14 and even his friends stood afar off (Psalm 38:11).15

Zechariah was the one that said that Christ would enter into Jerusalem on a colt (Zechariah 9:9).16 He also said that his body would be pierced (Zechariah 12:10).17 As his body was smitten, his followers would be scattered (Zechariah 13:1, 6, 7).18 Zechariah also prophesied that the Christ would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver and then he would try to return it but it would be used to purchase a potter's field (Zechariah. 11:12-13)19.

Isaiah’s prophecies are one of the clearest teachings about the Christ. He would preach repentance for the nations, ( 2:2-4)20 be a light in the darkness (: 1-20,21 be full of wisdom and power (:1-10),22 and be the son of the most High (:22).23 He would be born unto a virgin (:14),24 cause the deaf to hear and the blind to see (:18).25 In all that the Christ would do, it would be done as a meek servant (:1- 6).26 Isaiah said that he would stand silent before his accusers (:7),27 would be scourged and spat upon (:6),28 and crucified with transgressors (Isaiah 53:12).29 He would make his grave with the rich (Isaiah 53:9),30 yet would become the King of Kings (Isaiah 32:1-4).31 Each of these foretold events that Isaiah spoke was fulfilled during the life of Christ.

• Hosea spoke of the Christ child’s flight to (Hosea 1:1).32 • Joel spoke of the promised Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32).33

13 Psalms 27:12 Matthew 26:60,61 14 Psalms 41:9 Matthew 26:14-16,47,50 15 Psalms 38:11 Matthew 27:55 16 Zechariah 9:9 Matthew 21:4, 7 17 Zechariah 12:10 John 19:34, 37 18 Zechariah 13:1, 6, 7 Matthew 26:31 19 Zechariah 11:12,13 Matthew 26:14,15: 27:9 20 :2-4 Luke 24:47 21 Isaiah 9:1,2 Matthew 4:14-16 Luke 2:23 22 Isaiah 11:1-10 Matthew 3:16 John 3:34 23 Isaiah 33:22 Luke 1:32 1 Timothy 1:17 6:15 24 Isiah 7:14 Matthew 1:22,23 Matthew 11:5 25 Isaiah 29:18,19 Matthew 5:3 Matthew 11:5 26 Isaiah 42:1-16 Matthew 12:17-21 27 Isaiah 53:7 John 1:29 11:49-52 28 Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67 John 19:1 29 Isaiah 53:12 John 12:37,38 Acts 8:28-35 30 Isaiah 53:9 Acts 10:43 13:38,39 1 John 1:7,9 31 Isaiah 32:1-4 Revelation 19:16 20:6 32 Hosah 11:1 Matthew 2:14

• Amos prophesied about the sun darkening (Amos 8:9).34 • Micah predicted the birthplace of the Christ at Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).35 Micah even saw restored (Micah 2:12).36 • Malachi spoke of the Messiah preceded by a forerunner (Malachi 3:1),37 which we know was John the Baptist.

The spoke of the time that the Messiah would return. If the chief Priests and elders had numbered their days as instructed in the scriptures, they could have known who the Messiah would have been. Daniel said the time of the Israelites would be 490 years. He said it would be 7 periods of 70 or 490 years. The Messiah would come after 69 of those periods or 483 years.38 The beginning point for the counting of the days began in the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of the King Artaxerxes.39 It was then that the decree was given to rebuild the temple. If they had numbered every day since that time, they would have seen that the 483 years were completed the very day that Jesus of Nazareth rode into Jerusalem.40 No wonder Jesus scolded those “teachers of the law" for their failure to know the scriptures.

I have tried to glean the highlights from prophecy concerning the Messiah. In no way is this sampling intended to be exhaustive. Jesus and the two disciples traveled about seven miles together that day. I am certain that Jesus expounded on each point along the way. I do not assume to know what Jesus taught or how he said it. As Jesus shared a list similar to what I just shared, their hearts burned within them because they knew the truth of what Jesus was teaching. Jesus is the only way of salvation provided by the creator, God.

Yet the paradigm in where we are to live out our lives does not end there. Yes we are to live Christ Centered and Bible Based, but we also need to be Ministry Focused.

READ LUKE 24:28-35

33 Joel 2:28-32 Acts 2:17-21 Romans 10:13 34 Amos 8:9 Matthew 24:29 35 Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1 Luke 2:4,10,11 36Micah 2:12,13 John 10:14,26 37Malachi 3:1 Matthew 10:11 Mark 1:2 Luke 7:27 Hebrews 1:3 38 Daniel 9:24-27 Luke 19:41-44 39 Nemehiah 2:1 40 “The Hand Writing On the Wall” study guide by Jermiah volume 3, page 36

Ministry Focused

Luke 24:30-31 said. “And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.”

As Jesus ministered unto these two, their eyes were opened. Cleopas and the other unnamed disciple obviously were in need of a “pep” talk. They were confused by the past weeks' events. Their world had been turned upside down. Their spirits had been crushed. They were in need of personal one-on-one counseling.

Jesus Christ came and met them at their point of need. They needed reassurance that Jesus was the chosen Messiah. They had chosen to stick with Christ right up to the end. They were among the few followers that continued to believe His teaching. In the midst of the storm, their faith foundations had been shaken because they saw Jesus die and buried. They probably felt as if it had all come to an end. They had heard stories of the resurrection but were not sure of its truth.

Just as Jesus met with these two men and met their needs, we need to intentionally determine the needs of those around us. Is it a physical problem or a spiritual problem? We must identify the needs of those around us and set about on a plan that meets those needs. In doing so, we may draw them closer to a relationship with Jesus Christ. If it is homelessness, then provide housing. If it is hunger, then provide food. If there is a spiritual need, then teach the truth about Christ. Find a need around you, pray about it, and God will direct your paths to meet the needs of the people.

Our world is increasingly seeking relationships that are real, people that are true to their word, a faith that is genuine, and a God that is faithful and true. We have people all around us that are seeking these very things.

John the Baptist, while in prison, asked the question: “Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3) Our culture is asking the same question as well.

God has spoken to us through His word. The word became flesh and dwelt among us. He lived life with His disciples. He cried at the tomb of Lazarus.

He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and gave hearing to the deaf. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God waiting until the fullness of time to complete His work. God is patient. His time is perfect. He tarries so that you may come to know Him as your savior. Time slowly moves forward. Eventually our time will run out.

The world needs this message. God’s appointed One has come. Jesus is the answer to our world’s crises. Christians need to get out of the pews and into people’s lives. People need what we take for granted.

Children need Jesus. Teenagers need Jesus. Teachers need Jesus. Parents need Jesus. Single parents need Jesus. Lonely people need Jesus. Prisoners need Jesus. You need Jesus.

Jesus is our Savior. We need to tell the world!!!

If you have never stepped forward and confessed Jesus Christ as your Savior, publically, TODAY is the day of salvation. Its as easy as ABC.

Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, take God at His word. Believe that He is the Christ and He will forgive you. Confess Jesus as your Savior.

We do not have to come to God as a perfect person. He has accepted us just as we are – and He loves us anyway. When I was nine years old, I made this decision. I have never regretted it at all. It is a wonderful life to live for Christ.

Maybe God is working in your heart today.

Open our spiritual eyes Lord so we may see and hear You call us.

Let everyone “Come” unto the Lord for salvation! Amen!

LET US PRAY