Bridge Church Vancouver

We are all on a journey to know and experience God.  Trying to sort out our physical life and our spiritual life so we can understand who God is and what it means to have a relationship with Him.

Two men were on this road together, talking about the spiritual buzz of the day – this Jesus.  They were sorting out the complexities of this fellow – was he a prophet? the messiah?  Was he the one to redeem Israel to it’s rightful place in world power?

These were men who ‘knew’ Jesus  ~ presumably these two were among ‘all the others’ of v 9 and later their eyes were opened when Jesus ‘broke bread and gave thanks’ indicating they were among the disciples at the last supper, not of the 12, but the next ring out.

They knew Jesus, but were kept from recognizing him it says in v 16.

In scripture often a teaching is marked by two ‘bookends’;  not recognizing and recognizing who Jesus was and what it meant to be in a relationship with Him. 

These 2 guys gave him their take on what was happening – they were ‘analyzing’ Jesus from the outside in – like 2 sports commentators sitting up high watching the favorite team loose, they were down, bemoaning the events and in the process removing themselves from the responsibilities so they can become the eyewitness experts – the analysists.  V 17-18, they were downcast, “are you the only one who dosent know what’s going on?” they were setting themselves up to tell the news to this poor ignorant person.

What news, what’s happening?  Jesus asked…

They began to recount the events with a healthy dose of personal bias –

21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

They went on to tell how some women went to the tomb, but it was empty, They amazed them, told them of angels who said he was alive, some other disciples went as saw that things were as they had been told,

There was no sense of relationship in their account – just the facts, from our unrecognizing perspective.

There are times we see things, but we don’t recognize them for what they are.  To properly recognize someone or something is to give that person value.

These guys knew Jesus, who he was; but they did not yet recognize Jesus.

Jesus longs for us to be in a relationship with him, where he calls us friends / brothers, member of his Father’s family. 

How do you KNOW you are in a relationship with God?

This is more than a philosophy to inform our lives

This is more than a feeling that makes me feel good

They heard the facts about all that had happened to Jesus, they knew enough to be able to report the news, but they didn’t know what to do with it, they didn’t know what it meant

They certainly weren’t feeling too good about this situation, with downcast faces and discouraged hearts.

Many Christians live here – they know the story – they can tell the story – but their hearts are not moved, they can say hallelujah but they don’t live hallelujah

They know they are supposed to have a relationship with God but they don’t know what it is about, but because it is important, they go through the motions and before long back away.

This is a life of Faith

Heb. 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Jesus uses this opportunity to teach his followers something about what it is to know you are in this unique relationship with the living God.

This is a life of FAITH – on-going faith – step by step journey that we are making with the:

In this passage, Jesus shows them and us what it is to be in a relationship with him.  Jesus knew he was not going to be physically with them much longer and they needed to know, we need to know, what it is to be in a relationship with Jesus, and to know that we are in one with him.

While this is a life of faith -He also gives us several evidences of this relationship in this passage.

Evidence of His Promise

Luke 24:25        He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”

He told them what was going to happen, before it happened.  All along, prophets have been telling humanity who God is and what He is doing and what it is to be in a relationship with him.

He gives us His promises that moves us above and beyond our circumstances.

John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Moving your thoughts from responding to circumstances to stepping in faith

Do you know what his promises are?  Are they guiding your life

John 16:33        “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Col. 1:11 …being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

You desire to know what He has said – Desire to be with him, to please Him – are you with Him when you are in His Word?

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Do you long to be with him?

Luke 24:28        As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.  29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

Do you hunger for His Word -

John 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

1John 5:13        I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Jesus says “remember why I came, what this is all about”  Evidence of His purpose

Luke 24:30        When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

He came to sacrifice himself to redeem us and establish a relationship between us and God.

When we are in a relationship with Jesus, what is important to him must become important to us.

Jesus called their minds back to a previous experience – only a few days earlier.  A sacred, metaphoric picture, of him giving His life as a sacrifice to establish a covenant relationship.

When he gives the bread to his followers – he is also saying “you will do the same” you will sacrifice yourselves so others can know our Father.  You will pick-up your cross daily and follow me.

This was His purpose – and to be in a relationship with Him we must participate in His purpose.

For the last 20 years – organizations have been going through an exercise to determine what their purpose was, an important exercise primarily to get all their employess on the same page, saying “if you are going to work here – this is what we are about”

He came to change us from selfish and self interested individuals to a people who bear the image of God in this world for the number of days he has give us.

Many people enter into marriage thinking I love this person and given enough time I will make them into the husband / wife I want them to be – but the point of marriage is to change you, where you wife are willing to submit to your husband in ALL things, where you husband are willing to give ALL of your self to your wife, for you to do these things – you will have to change.

This change is actually a transformation process, which is truly what this ‘journey’ is all about.

Your life is changing – Evidence of His presence

    Things are happening in your life that can only be explained by God’s presence

31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

    Your ‘want-to’s”

Luke 5:24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . .” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

    You want to be with Him

Evidence of His People

Luke 24:33        They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”  35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

You are building a relationship with other Christ followers – you are finding your place in the body

THIS IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL JOURNEY

You can not build a relationship with God apart from God’s people – the church of Jesus.

John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”