A Third Day Journey With Jesus
Or
Expounding All The Scriptures
Sunday Sept. 24, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“Now behold, two of them [of the larger group of followers of Jesus] were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.”
“So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and 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 sad?’”
“Then one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have not known the things which happened there in these days?’ And Jesus 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, and how the chief priests and 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 this, today is the third day since these things happened. 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 they had 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 it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.’”
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things 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.” Luke 24.13-27
Something To Consider:
It could have been that these two followers of Christ had been part of the seventy that Jesus sent out in pairs to minister earlier. We simply do not know. We do know that their eyes were somehow spiritually or physically restrained from recognizing Jesus. And so, they journeyed together and communicated the events of the past few days.
How many times in our own lives have our eyes and or minds been restrained to the point that we did not understand the truth of Jesus? Solomon, King David’s son asked of God in 1 Kings 3.9; “Therefore, give to your servant an understanding heart.” What a glorious thing to ask of God!
Evidently Solomon had read Psalm 119.130, which declared; “The entrance of Your words [the Word of God] gives light; it gives understanding to the simple [or uneducated].” Many faithful followers of Jesus Christ down through the centuries have been considered simple or uneducated by man’s standard, but we should not let that stand in the way of our speaking of the things of God as often as someone will listen as did these sad for the moment followers of Jesus.
Something Else To Consider:
If the truth would be known, there are times in all of our lives when we too do not recognize the presence and or the purposes of Jesus. There is no doubt that each of us has experienced difficult spiritual setbacks and possibly temporary spiritual derailment, only to later understand that it was part of the divine will and plan of God working in and through a situation or circumstance that was out of our control, but not out of His control.
It is in those times of spiritual struggle that we must rely on God’s unconditional love for us in Christ. And according to Paul writing in Romans 8.28; “We know that all things [good things, bad things, all things] work together for good to those who love God.” Then the question becomes, do we truly love God or do we simply love the perks and feeling of security that comes from calling oneself Christian?
The apostle John affirmed in 1 John 2.5; “Whoever keeps His [Jesus’] Word, truly the love of God is perfected [or completed] in him [or her].” Paul continued in verse 6, by stating; “He [or she] who says he [or she] abides in Him [in Jesus] ought also to walk just as He [Jesus] walked.” Can we honestly claim to be living and walking as an ambassador of Jesus and in His likeness?
It is imperative that we allow Jesus by way of the Holy Spirit to expound all the Scriptures. Therefore, Jesus’ last command in Matthew 28.20, was not only to make disciples, but according to Jesus He declared; “Teach them to observe all things that I have commanded.” But is the so-called church fulfilling the above-mentioned command of Jesus? And if not, why not?
Something More To Consider:
But there is always hope and helpful encouragement to be found when we are found journeying with Jesus. There is always newfound grace and mercy when we allow Him to expound and clarify the Scriptures to us. For all the Scriptures point directly to, and speak clearly of Jesus, the Word of God.
Therefore, at times of doubt, despair, or even disillusion, our best laid battle plan is the study of God’s Word. For according to the Word of God, “For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” If we study, He will expound and instill His faith available within the Word of God. Therefore, let us study to show ourselves approved unto God; workers not ashamed of the gospel!
A Few Final Words:
How is our journey to and with Jesus progressing? Do we set aside times for our attending the classroom of His Holy Spirit, and thereby allowing Him to expound the Scriptures? And if not, we can be assured that our faith may become stunted in its growth.
The Word of God continues to cry out from every corner of the earth and within every generation concerning the person of Jesus and His liberating plan and purpose of eternal redemption that is only revealed in His Word.
And according to Luke’s record, “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” And that is one message I would pay dearly for His sermon notes!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, allow Your Holy Spirit to open our eyes and the Scriptures that we might become more faithful and more like Jesus. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 