Sermon: Journeying With Jesus

Luke: 24: 13 – 35

C.S.I Church Chettikkunnu (14 April 2013)

I had a chance to hear a story like this. Stephen Mark’s grandmother prepared her Will before her death. It contained something like this “Use my money for my cremation and to clear my debts. Then, all my remaining wealth needs to be given to Stephen Mark; also, the Bible which is handed over from our parents.”  Stephen Mark became happy since he is getting some money. But he didn’t care about the Bible.

                He lived his next 30 years with great difficulties. He did not have enough food or clothes. He became very old. Then he decided go to his son’s house who was living in the neighbour village. He started pack his bag with his belongings. Then he saw that old Bible which was covered with dust.  He tried to remove that dust, accidently that Bible was opened. He surprised. There were currency notes between the pages of the Bible.

                He lived his 30 years with that Bible without knowing about hidden treasure inside it. He travelled his life journey with that hidden treasure, but as a poor man. Likewise, we can see two men travelling without knowing that Jesus is also travelling with them in Luke 24:13-35.

                Two disciples were travelling from Jerusalem to Emmaus. We can understand that Jerusalem represents the fellowship of the disciples of Jesus, since all other disciples were staying there. But Emmaus means “Hated City”. They were travelling with fearful and tired face. Jesus was also travelling with them. But they could not understand him. Even though they could not understand Jesus, they told their feelings to that stranger. They were sad since they thought Jesus is died, so there is no hope for them. Jesus started to explain and help them to understand the Old testament prophecies about Jesus. He explain how Jesus fulfilled the prophesies by resurrecting from death. They became happy. After they reached their destination. Jesus tried to pass them. But they insisted him to stay with them. Jesus agreed to their wish. He stayed with them and had a dinner. At that time Jesus revealed himself to them. Then he disappeared. They became happy and at that moment, they returned to Jerusalem.

We can study three major points from this incident.

Selecting wrong path at the time of difficulty

We can see that disciples fell in to the fear of death after the crucifixion of Jesus.  They were hiding in various places of Jerusalem. If the Roman army found them they might have killed. The situation to live was very difficult. This might be reason for them to escape from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

                They heard the news about the strange things happened on that day. Tomb was empty... News about resurrection from the angels... But, among the difficult times, they were not believed on this news. What happened then? They took wrong decision. Their selection of path was wrong to escape. Instead of staying in Jerusalem with other disciples, they travelled to Emmaus.

                We also have the same situations. We might have various difficult times in our life. Financial crisis, physical illness, family problems etc.... At that time, don’t we forget Jesus? We will look to world to get help? We will not pray to God? Likewise these disciples also never tried to take a decision with prayer. This makes them to take wrong decision to travel to Emmaus.

Jesus travels with us to help us to escape from the wrong path

In that travel to Emmaus a stranger also joining with those disciples.  That stranger understands their worries and the problems. Then he tries to console them. Disciples were worried since their hope in Jesus is failed since he died on the cross. But, the stranger explained to them why Jesus died on Cross based on the Prophesies. Also, he could give the hope of resurrection and the eternal life to the disciples. The consoling words from the stranger encouraged them to be in hope and courage.

                At the same time, the stranger calls them fools since they didn’t believe in old testament words and prophesies about Jesus. Then, he understands them that they are on the wrong path, their decisions were wrong. But they didn’t understand that the stranger is Jesus. That stranger is just a stranger for them. Jesus was travelling with them, but he is invisible to them.

                Dear friends, while we are on the difficulties, Jesus stays with us. He consoles us.  He understands us our wrong decisions. He understands us our wrong paths. He makes us to the right path. But we shall not understand that our helper is Jesus. We shall think that our friends or relatives helped us. So Jesus is just a stranger for us. But really Jesus is helping us through visible things even though he is a invisible traveller with us.

Invites Jesus to heart

Once they reached to near to village, the stranger made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him to stay with them for that night. He agreed. Because of that invitation, they could have a fellowship with the Jesus and blessings from Jesus.

                Even though we got the presence with Jesus, if we didn’t received him us our saviour, there is no use. Jesus is knocking on the doors of our hearts. We should open the doors, if we want that he should enter our hearts.

Dear friends, we shall be travelling through the right path since the time when we received our Jesus as our Saviour.  Here, the disciples returned back to Jerusalem once they received Jesus to their house. So they could travel on the right path.

Conclusion

Jesus is travelling with us. He is helping us with his presence. But we should invite him to our life. Then only we can have the fellowship with Jesus. At that time he will reveal himself to us. Jesus may help us to live in Jesus and help us travel with the presence of Christ.  Amen.