Opened Eyes

Have your Bibles with veteran with me if you would to the 24th chapter of Luke and start in verse 13 and going dancing verse 27 to begin with that very day two of them were going to a village name Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about all these things that it 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're holding with each other as you walk in. They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them.

Then Clea plus after him. Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem. He does not know these things that have happened there in these days we said to them, what things I said to him concerning Jesus of Nazareth. Amanda was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people that are chief priests and rulers delivered them up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. We had hoped.

He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes. And besides all this is now the third day since these things happened over some women of our company amazed us. They were the tomb early this morning when they did not find his body. They came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels said that he was alive.

Some of those were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women it said with him.

They did not see. He says them all foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all the prophets are 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 interpreted them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself that with me as we got our Lord in prayer. Heavenly father, your people at Grace Church has come to this building this morning, for the purpose of worship today. Our focus is on the resurrection. What sets us apart from every false religion on earth, the resurrection sets us apart boot instead. Confucius's dad showed to his dad. Mohammed is dead but I Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is alive, the grave could not holding his resurrection was your sign of approval on everything that Jesus ever said or did Lord that excites our souls I worship is not just look back on history is a present reality. Jesus, we thank you we praise you.

We honor you and we glorify you. We know that you can receive our worship because you are alive. No other religion can say that Lord your resurrection proves every other religion to be false as our assurance that every word, every jot every tittle of Scripture is true. Father, help us to feel this kind of joy not just on Easter but every day as we look today at the two disciples from Emmaus.

We pray that you will open our eyes to truth. Just like you opened their eyes to truth. 40 is the precious holy name of Jesus that we pray. Amen. You may be seated. Today is Easter resurrection Sunday. It is the greatest day of the year for the Christian.

This is the day that we celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ is alive. He is not a dead Savior on the cross. He is a living Lord on his throne and we have not come here today to study the teachings of the holy man live 2000 years ago who died in his body, his decay and in some deserted tomb in Israel know we are here to hail a conqueror.

We are here to worship today, the Lord Jesus Christ on his throne.

That's the purpose of our being here today, but he is the King of Kings. He is the Lord of lords, and he is alive.

If you're Christian today.

Your emotions are to be soaring with the Eagles for what is he done for you. Please died for you. So what what does that mean that that means that his shed blood is washed away your sins that that means that his shed blood has appease the wrath of God against you, that his shed blood has reconciled you to a holy God that his shed blood has redeemed you from the slave market civilian folks. What did Jesus do for you. He died on the cross.

We love the cross don't we. We love the cross. I think the old hymn says it best saw chairs the old rugged Cross to my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged Cross and exchanges some day program. We love the crucifixion. We love the the old rugged Cross but let me tell you something. The crucifixion.

Without the resurrection is not worth half a hallelujah only tell you why the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 15 verse 17 that if Christ be not risen, then our faith is futile and we are steel in our sins. So what should an encounter with the living Christ do for us. I think Luke chapter 24 I gives us some great insight that we know very little about the two disciples from Emmaus. We know that one's name was Clea plus were not given the other name. There are many scholars who believe that the other disciple could very have well been Mrs. Clea plus that she could have been his wife. They do live in the in the same home. It seems like so that very well is a possibility.

Listen. These two were not apostles. They were not part of the circle of the disciples, but they knew the disciples and they love the disciples, and when they found out that Jesus had resurrected and I saw him resurrected. They went running back to Jerusalem just as fast as they could. They knew exactly where the apostles were as they were highly nigh out scared to death and they shared with them that Jesus Christ is alive and that they had seen him firsthand.

Now think is good to know that they were not apostles. They were not professional clergy.

They were just regular guys like us and folks if if talk in encounter with the living Christ to transform them than in encounter with the living Christ can transform us a couple things I want to share with you today.

First, almost to look at their spiritual condition looking in verses 15 through 17. 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're holding with each other as you walk in. They stood steel looking sad. These men have lost hope. Just a few months before this, they had great hope. Jesus was doing unbelievable things. He was healing the sick. He was feeding the hungry, he was casting out demons. He was preaching with power like nobody had ever preached before and it was an amazing glorious thing that Jesus was doing and even the fact of the crucifixion did not Dan dampen their hope, because Jesus had said that destroy this temple talking about his body and he said I will raise it up again in three days, but now there were already rumors that the soldiers that were guarding the tune said that they had fallen asleep and that while they were asleep, the disciples came and stole away the body, don't you picture these two are walking to the on the road to Emmaus and they are discouraged and they are down and they are sorrowful there talking about what is happened to Jesus and all of a sudden a man walks up to them. I don't recognizing that man is Jesus that man is Jesus folks. These two disciples were children of the Lord and they were sorrowful and they were hurting and they were broken. And guess what Jesus showed up. There happened to you get up to a time in your life when your hearts just broken you don't know where to go. You don't know what to do. You feel like your whole life is falling apart in Jesus just shows up I will know about you but I love it when that happens, share something here with you from verse 16's. Another interesting verse to me because we are told that when Jesus walked up to them. They they did not recognize him because their eyes were strained and they did not know him. How many people in our world today are are so spiritually blind if they have lately idea that God has to work on their timetable so they have the idea will follow by God when I want to, I'll repeat it when I feel like it.

I will surrender to the Lord when I get that inclination. How damaging that is how many times I've heard people say, well, you know, I know that I need Christ.

I know these the only hope I got things I want to first before coming to Christ of God's got sins I want to enjoy. I've got wild oats that I want to so I'll come to Jesus later. I'll repeat it later when when it's right for me. We take something that is dangerous thinking because if you're thinking that way then you have this idea that that you can control the conviction that takes place in your heart and you can't that's the Lord's dealing, and if the Lord doesn't do that, you can rest assured of this is not gonna happen. We take something else you need to know if you're going to make it tomorrow. Proverbs chapter 27 verse one says buzz not myself up tomorrow. For thou knowest not. What a day shall bring forth notice in verse 16 that Jesus takes the mission Clea person the other disciples are not running around out there looking for the resurrected Christ is the resurrected Christ that came looking for them.

You realize that's the way it always is. Romans chapter 3 verse 10. The apostle Paul said there is none that seeks after God, no, not one. And that's always the truth and that doesn't discourage me. Instead, it gives me hope that that means that no one is so blind that's so deaf, so sinful so spiritually dead that God can't quicken them in a split second change their heart draw them to Christ and save them for all of eternity. I don't know about you but that speaks volumes to me because I have loved ones that don't know Jesus, I have loved ones that I care about so much and I want to see them come to know the Lord and I talked to them about the Lord and and about their salvation and it is like talking to a brick wall. You talk to them about eternity you talk to them about the final judgment you talk to them about the second coming. You talk to them about what it's like to have fellowship with Christ and it's like a fantasy to them and I wanted you sometime to shake the missing what's wrong with you. Why don't you get it or you just ignorant and the problem is not ignorance at all. The problem is spiritual blindness. And yet it gives me hope because I know that which I can't do for them.

God can that God can reach down in the heart and do that work that I can't do that God can bring conviction that God can bring things into their life is going to show them who Jesus is and how desperately they they need the Savior folks God can do in a split second.

What you and I can't do in a million years. If you have a children or grandchildren that are unsaved, then stick with me just a minute.

I want you to know that as a minister of the gospel.

I can promise you this with no reservation. There is hope in Jesus Christ. Listen to what Charles Spurgeon said about this hundred 50 years ago. He said oh I love God, shells and wheels.

There is nothing comparable to them let a man say, shall what is it good for I will says Manley never performs shale, says Haley breaks his promise that it is never so with God.

Shales if he says Shalit shall be when he says will, it will be now. You said here. Many shall come.

The devil says they shall not come, but they shall come you yourself say we won't come. God says you shall come.

Yes, there are some here who are laughing at salvation who can stop it Christ and market the gospel.au some of you shall come yet what you say, can God make me become a Christian. I tell you yes for herein rest the power of the gospel does not ask your consent, but he gets it. It does not say will you have it, but it makes you will and in the day of God's power. Jesus Christ through stand on this platform tonight. What would many people do with him. If he were to come and say, here I am. I love you. You will be saved by may not want to do. You would consent it were left up your own wheel.

He himself said no man can come to me except the father sent me draws him we won't that here we have it they shall come, they shall come, you may laugh, you may despise us but Jesus Christ shall not die for nothing. If some of you rejecting there some that will not. If there are some that are not saved. Other shall be try shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days in the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands they shall come, and not in heaven or on earth nor inhale and stop them from coming.

A man man. Secondly, not only with her eyes blinded, but their joy had dissipated her 17 he said to them, what is this conversation that you're holding with each other as you walk in.

They stood steel look and said these two disciples knew Jesus and one thing that they loved about Jesus. Was this every time right they were rounding.

There was great joy Jesus could be preaching a very convicting sermon that would convict them and how can that be joyous, but it was joyous because it brought them to repentance. And when they repent repented. The joy came that that didn't happen when they listen to the preaching of the Pharisees that the Pharisees preached in an all he felt was condemnation. I didn't feel any hope at all. They they want to throw in the towel just give up and quit when Jesus preached there was hope in Jesus preached that they realize that they could be forgiven. They realized that that the take had a new power to fight, see, and they realize that Jesus could do within them what they could never do in them sales.

They realize that that Jesus could change their life but they were not feeling overwhelmed joys of walking down that road together. In fact what they were stealing was great great sorrow. Jesus had died. They were afraid that was it like that takes us to the third thing I see about their spiritual condition is that was that they were dull of heart, Jesus begin to question them about their conversation and I shared with him the story of Christ and they said we were hoping that this Jesus was the Messiah that he was the son of God, that he was the one who we we were expecting to come. That's what we wanted within the Jewish religious leaders gave Jesus over to the Roman soldiers and the Roman authorities getting nailed to the cross, he was crucified and he died say said the gene Jesus had prophesied that on the third day he would race the race of the dead and this morning.

Some of the of the women went to the tomb and they saw the stone rolled away from the tomb and they saw a vision of angels.

The Angels told him that Jesus had risen from the dead within dejection like say, but Jesus met him.

They did not see listen to how Jesus responded to them in verse 25 and he said to them all foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Jesus calls them slow of heart, spiritually dull, why were they spiritually dull.

Listen carefully because they did not believe all that the prophets have spoken. Are you slow of heart do you make bad decisions you spiritually dull the circumstances in life, set you back you say yeah, but what do I do. Here's what you do saturate your heart with the word of God study, read it, memorize it, meditate on it, love it, share it, just rejoice in it, and what happens.

The Holy Spirit of God will illuminate the word of God in you and make that word live Jesus call the disciple slow of heart, spiritually dull because they trusted what they were seeing with their physical eyes instead of what was revealed to them in the word of God, like the second thing I want to point at is the S antichrist deal with them how Jesus correct their misconceptions heavily bring back their joy. Hannity open their blind eyes look at verse 25 through 27 and he said to them of foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all 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 them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself is what Jesus did, he expounded to them. The Scripture word expounded or interpreted here in the ESV that most of you have of that word is the Greek word DI Manolo and is the word that we get hermeneutics from and and that's the the old word that means the process of interpretation of Scripture verse 26 Jesus said, was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory. This was the era of the Jews from day one they were looking for a political leader they they were looking for a military conqueror is what they were looking for and so they took all the prophecies about the second coming of Christ and tried to make them fit in to the first coming of Christ Jesus correct this Scripture says he took the Scriptures starting at Moses, which means the book of Genesis and going all the way through the prophets. That means all the way through the Old Testament to Malachi, and what did he do with them. He showed them that the word of God in its entirety is pointing us to Jesus books the purpose of the word of God is the same purpose of the Holy Spirit and that is to show us who Jesus is. Everything the Bible says about history is true.

This book is not primarily a history book everything that this Bible says about science is true, but this book is not primarily a science book everything this book says about anthropology is true with this book is not primarily an anthropology book everything that this book says about morals and ethics is true, but this book is not primarily a guide to morality. But this book is a Jesus book the whole book has been written to point us to Jesus. Jesus said, search the Scriptures for they testify of me to put yourself in the shoes of these two disciples man. I would've loved to been there. Jesus is expanding the Scripture. He goes all the way back to Genesis.

Hey tells them about Adam and Eve and their sin. Their fall many tales and have God took two animals, helpless animals, and he killed them and their blood was shed, and then he made them coats of skin to cover over their nakedness and to to show them forgiveness and he says the blood that those animal shed was a picture of what Jesus would do on the cross and then he tells them about the day of atonement. He said all on one day a year, the high priest would go out. He would kill the goat you take the goat's blood put it in a base new go to the temple. He would walk into the first room called the holy place anyone walk back behind the veil to the second room called the holy of holies in that second room there was a Ark of the covenant and on the top of the ark of the covenant is a mercy seat and then the priest would reach down in without branch of hyssop into that blood. And then he would take that blood and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. When that happened, the Shekinah glory of God. A bright shining glory cloud would come and hover between the wings of the cherubim to show Israel that he had forgiven their sins for that year.

Jesus was saying that the blood that was shed alone own the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant was a picture of the blood that Jesus would shed on the cross of Calvary. He told them about the Passover season. He told them that Jesus himself was the Passover lamb anyone back to Isaiah 53 said you were nobody's talking about is in Isaiah 53 this is this is what is said about Jesus.

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.

Put yourself in the story Jesus himself is opening the Scriptures to them. He is showing himself to them in the Scriptures themselves and as he's doing that.

The Scripture says that there heart within them burned within them the majesty Jesus just look and strike their faces to guys across was not a mistake. The cross was not something that happened that was not supposed to happen the cross was not up monkeywrench that the Roman authorities through into God's plan.

The cross was God's plan from before the foundation of the earth. Jesus Christ is the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the earth. What was Jesus doing to begin with, open their eyes.

He preached to them the cross. Paul Seddon in first Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18 for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness but into us who are being saved it is the power of God. James Boyce died of liver cancer back in 1999. He was the pastor of 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for over 30 years on that February 1999. He was a keynote speaker at the John Piper pastors conference. Cindy and I had the privilege of being there increase of four times in the fourth and last time he preached he was coming to an end of his message body riddled with cancer and he's even know what yet. I remember him looking out over a thousand pastors and reported to us and he said guys preached Jesus preach Jesus preach Jesus and the cross. I will never forget that what you listen to George Morrison's comments on this passage George Morrison was a Scottish pastor that lived back in 1800s. He said the SU and I've been having. Listen to some saintly preacher drawing out the inner meaning of God's word as we did so.

Our hearts burned within us and we saw what had never what we had never seen before.

And if that be so with an airing sinful minister. I want you to try to think what it must've been when the risen son of God handle the Scripture, and show these to the meaning of it all. One of the surest signs that Christ is near is when he makes the Bible live again is a living Christ who makes a living Scripture. And when he's going to reveal himself to us passages that we have known since we were children begin wants to live and burn within us. They drew near the village they got near the home of Cleophas clip was beg Jesus to come in and Jesus did so some point B as he broke bread with in verse 30 says when he was at the table with them. He took the bread blasted broke it and gave it to them so pointlessly as he revealed himself to them.

Verse 31. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight, their eyes were opened in the breaking of the bread there. It clip. This is Halsey's a guy that owns Ohio sees these owner they are and yet Jesus becomes a host.

Jesus stands at the table there sitting down, he takes the life of Brenda's handy breaks it and as he's breaking that bread to give to them. They recognized him. They recognized him in the breaking of the bread and what is that folks is to picture the Lord's supper was the Lord's supper all about the Lord's supper is a picture of the gospel, the breaking of his body. The shedding of his blood. They the fellowship with him in communion with him himself.

The promise of the second coming of Christ.

The call of holiness on our lives is what it's all about. They recognized him in the breaking of the bread that means to me that something very special about the Lord's supper. We don't believe in transubstantiation. That's a false doctrine of the Catholics. I believe that you take the bread and you eat it, and it literally becomes the body of Jesus down inside of you are, you drink the wine and it literally becomes the. The blood of Jesus inside of your Bible doesn't teach that we don't believe that we don't believe that you can partake of the Lord supper that saves you.

We don't believe that the Bible doesn't teach that. What do we believe we believe that when we partake of the Lord's supper that we meet with Jesus in a very special way that we recognize him in the breaking of the bread please, these two men or two disciples from Emmaus saw Jesus and they recognize that it was him and immediately Jesus just disappeared and he left now they took off. At that point in time they ran all the way back to Jerusalem just a little bit got a few hours before this, they had had made their way up the Emmaus Road to Emmaus. We tell you they were sad they were.

They were depressed. They were plotting and slow as not the way it is on their way back to me less about a 10K race.

They broke speed records get back. I couldn't wait. They knew exactly where the disciples were the disciples were hard now because they were scared to death and they went right to their hiding place and they said guys we saw the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is alive that truth is the truth that separates us from every other religion on close with the biblical illustration before Jesus was crucified. Jesus was beaten soldiers bleeding in the face until he was beaten beyond recognition couldn't see who he was.

I took a crown of thorns they crushed it down is braille. One soldier taught him to whipping post. He took a cat of nine tails will quit that branched out into nine pieces of leather with metal pieces of metal intertwined in those pieces of whether he knew how to snap his wrist just perfectly suits that where it would dig into his flesh and he snapped his wrist and in his flesh was just pulled off the bone. Jesus bled extensively. They are so much so that when he tried to carry the cross to Golgotha that he was too weak and he fail under the weight of the cross.

One of the soldiers saw what was going on so we can allow the Essen. He grabbed the man and pulled him and told him to carry the cross.

Who was that man will Mark chapter 15 verse 21 says this and they compel the passerby's time in the seer in the who is coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus to carry his cross.

Simon was a Ceridian is also a Jewish proselyte.

He was also a black man. Many of the much of the population of seer, and they were black acts chapter 13 verse one there is like a reference. They are to a man named Simon Niger. Most Bible scholars believe that Simon Niger was actually Simon seer knee and they believe in, in the Scripture, the word Niger they are is very important because it means that one of darkened skin. He was there in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and all the sudden he sees all these people gathered any runs over there to see what's going on Jesus is just fallen under the cross and the Roman soldier reaches over and grabs him by the tunic and pulls them over and says you carry the cross and this was not he when asking them to do what he was commanding him to do it and the end that you read the Scripture here and in the Greek you can feel the resistance that Simon is feeling toward this Caesar light a minute. That's not why I'm here. I'm not here to to carry the process of criminal. I'm here to worship Jehovah America to celebrate in the Passover celebration. Look at that cross dirty.

It's covered with blood. I don't want to carry that cross. This is not right. He has no choice in the matter takes the cross of Jesus back he puts it up on his shoulder. He carries the cross to Golgotha.

I have to believe that is close were stained with the blood of Jesus. I have to believe that his beard was probably matted with the blood of Jesus. They get to Golgotha and I wonder if Jesus did not look over at him and say thank you. I wonder if he didn't look into the eyes of Jesus and see perfect innocence and perfect love.

Well, he took Jesus, they threw them down on the old rugged splintering cross took huge spy iron spikes. They nailed his hands and think of the cross.

They took a rope tied around the top of that cross. I pulled it up into the air it failed and the whole jar and all Jesus bones out of joint.

Jesus is hanging from the cross.

He looks down at these people who are marketing spit known in cursing and laughing, adding they looks up in heaven says father forgive them. They know not what they do 12 o'clock noon. Three hours later, something strange happened. Darkness covered over the land of darkness, it was so deep that she could feel it and it stayed dark like that for three hours until until 3 o'clock when Jesus died right before Jesus died, he cried out, and he said it is finished. Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. Simon was there from seer in the in Jerusalem for the Passover. So guess what he still there on Sunday and when Sunday rolled around.

All of a sudden he's herein. All of this conversation.

All of these rumors that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Let me ask you something you think the resurrection of Jesus Christ meant something to Simon seer in the brothers and sisters, you better believe it. It changed his life forever.

That's very interesting.

Mark in Mark's gospel is the only one that mentions the two sons of Simon of seer in a ruthless and Alexander the other gospel writers don't even mention them at all and marked is the one who wrote his gospel primarily to the Roman people now when Paul was in Rome he wrote made a statement about one of Simon's children and about his mother or Simon's wife Cynthia's dream, Rufus, chosen in the Lord. Also, his mother is been a mother to me as well. James voice said after the Passover Simon went back home to seer knee and he said there is no doubt at all that he went back the message. That message was the gospel.

He shared how he carried the cross he shared out the blood of Christ not only stained his body but washed away his stain of sin he shared with them about what Jesus had done. How would resurrected from the dead and his children and his wife came to know Christ, probably as a result of this testimony, James voice said this. It was man from Cyprus and seer in Asia came to Antioch and first preach the gospel to the Gentile world was Simon, one of the men from seer knee was Rufus with him turned to Ephesus. Iraq is instigated by people who serve Diana of the Ephesians and the crowd would have killed Paul if they could have gotten to him who stands out to look that mob in the face. A man name Alexander is this the other brother facing things out with Paul and asked for their mother. Surely she and some hour of need. Must've brought up all the help in the comfort in the love which his own family refused him when he became a Christian.

The man he carried the Lord scrolls was so wild, the resurrection that he was never the same again. If you encountered the risen Christ as he change your life. Have you surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The day is coming when we will all stand before Christ at the final judgment in the helmet you got in your bank account is not in a matter how many cars you got your garage is not a matter sizing her house is not in a matter what's going matter is this, have you surrendered your heart. Jesus, you loving with all your heart, if not one this product heavily father my last illustration today was illustration about Simon is seer knee, his sons and his wife were so close to Paul that Paul called him his family and our culture in America today. There is a constant push to end racial prejudice and well there should be four it's a sin against humanity and Cecile against God.

The cultures message method of fighting prejudice is whiteness and critical race theory of the last several years.

Those worldly methodologies have created nothing but division misunderstanding and anger. The world's way never works.

Simon of seer knee and his wife and kids were a black family. They turn the world upside down with the gospel and Paul embrace them, not just his friends but his family, Lord, is there an answer for racial prejudice and bigotry. Yes, the answer is Jesus.

Jesus knocks down the wall between Jew and Gentile between black and why every division.

Father, help us as Christians to show the world the cure for racism that cures Jesus Christ our resurrected Lord, don't let us binder the cultures fail and solutions that help us to embrace our Savior and watch prejudice melt into oblivion forts and the precious holy name of Jesus that we pray. Amen