The Emmaus Way
Sermon Review
07 April 2002
(Luke 24:13-53 )Introduction:
Easter - an amazing period in the history of the world. Jesus Christ, crucified on a Friday afternoon, only to rise from the dead on Sunday morning. A resurrection that astounded even those who should have expected it. The 24th. chapter of Luke shows us astonishment amongst a group of ladies confronted by Angels at the empty tomb; disbelief amongst his disciples, close and otherwise; and rampant confusion changing to growing conviction in light of compelling appearances put in by Christ to Cleopas and his fellow disciple on the Road to Emmaus, to Peter, to the 11 disciples and those closeted with them. The other Gospels tell us that Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples after his resurrection, appearing to many others, and then ascended back to heaven as Luke reports, promising power through the Holy Spirit who came 10 days later. The time would come when the fact of a resurrected Christ would seem a natural and normal part of the lives and thinking of each of those disciples. Belief that he was with them always through the presence of the Holy Spirit would be taken for granted, and living as if this was true would become second nature.
For them, the Emmaus Walk - ie. Discovering the reality of Jesus Resurrection for themselves, would become the Emmaus Way - ie. A way of life that shows they believed in a resurrected and personal Saviour in their choices, behaviour, thinking, conversation, and desires. At this point in time though they were still very much on an Emmaus Walk - coming to grips with the fact that Jesus was indeed alive and the Saviour that they both needed and had longingly waited for. Jesus had yet to call them on from the Emmaus Walk to the Emmaus Way.
Emmaus Walk:
At some point in life, all people have to negotiate an Emmaus Walk if they want to become a Christian. I am not talking about the "Emmaus Walk" Movement that many in our church have benefited from. I am thinking more generally of the path which people have to tread to come to believe in the reality of a living Jesus in order to be saved. It is a path littered with things like personal reflection, investigation, discussion, faith and discovery, conviction of sin and need, all of which lead to an understanding of the Christian Gospel, and culminates in taking Christ as ones own personal Lord and Saviour.
All who have become Christians have had to take an Emmaus Walk of some description themselves. Perhaps you are travelling towards Emmaus at this moment? Perhaps you have not travelled all of the way? Perhaps you are still thinking, listening, weighing up the pro's and con's, deciding if you are ready to believe that Jesus is alive, and not ready just yet to take the step of faith and believe and commit yourself to him? I can only encourage you to keep walking towards Emmaus. Many here this morning however have ventured towards Emmaus and, discovering the reality of Jesus, have given their lives to him and found forgiveness and eternal life for themselves. Many I hope have also continued on into the Emmaus Way of life. You see, Jesus constantly calls people to not only discover the reality of Himself as personal Saviour, but then to live life with an awareness that he is their constant companion. He calls people on from their Emmaus Walk to the Emmaus Way - a way of life that will show in daily choices, behaviour, desires, and general lifestyle, a belief in Jesus constant companionship.
The Emmaus Way:
If we are on the Emmaus Way, therefore, it will be clear in the choices we make and the way we handle our problems, temptations, and relationships. This is why it is good to occasionally evaluate our lives and the choices we are currently making for it is easy to step off the path. As there has been no Easter Camp for the young people this year, I would like to take a moment to especially ask the young people here today to think about their lives and the choices they are currently making. Unfortunately, as the up and coming generation, you are going to be faced with constantly broadening sets of issues to make choices about eg. euthanasia, cloning, genetically modified foods, refugees, stem cell research etc. But even now I am sure you will find yourselves having to make choices about:
Drugs - to use or not to use; to sell or not to sell.
Alcohol - to drink or not to drink, or how much to drink, when, where, and with whom.
Smoking - to try or not to try it; to ignore health advice or heed it.
Peer concerns - whom to impress, which crowd to fit into and the lengths to which you will go to do so; what type of language you will use from slang to swearing; your clothes, hair style, whether to wear rings in ear, nose, mouth, and other sundry parts, or tatoos etc.; or how you will approach your education, or
Parents - with regard to what degree you will obey them, or disobey them, what you want to imitate from your Parent/s example, and what you want to throw out; what standards you will use with regard to TV., movies, reading etc. And increasingly
Relationships - the pressure is on to choose whether to have serious relationships while still quite young, or just have plenty of good friendships; to give into the current views of sexual liberation and sleep around, or remain a virgin; and ultimately whether to live together or actually marry.
A lot of these choices us older folk had to make also, but the pressure is now more constant, increasingly earlier in life, and exert more pressure to make dangerous and unwise decisions that will ultimately hurt you and take you away from the Emmaus Way and the Christian Faith.
Unfortunately, it seems to me that over time it is becoming more and more acceptable for someone who says they know Christ to be unconcerned about swearing and smoking, as if they are irrelevant. It seems to have become okay to drink a little too much too often, be sexually active, perhaps even live in defacto relationships. Whereas, being reliable, or respectful to others, or being patient and concerned about others that are not in your group, is seen as uncool! Too often those who are out partying and doing their own thing are viewed as heroes, instead of unwise and heading for trouble in their lives. God calls people to be holy Heb.12:14; 1Thess.4:3-8; Col.3:8-10. The message to all of us, both young and old is that 'holiness' involves making many wise healthy choices that will benefit yourself, others, and the Kingdom of God in the long run. Jesus promises an 'abundant life' John.10:10. This cannot be experienced without shaping your life as he wants. The world often offers fairy tales - live as we prescribe and you will find happiness and fulfillment. Be careful, there are a lot of sad tales of Christians who have decided to do their own thing and have regretted it 1Tim.6:9,10. There are a lot of Grizzlies in the woods!
(Story: Briefing a group of walkers in a national park, a ranger warned them, 'It is possible that we will encounter a grizzly bear. However, as grizzlies usually avoid contact with humans, I suggest you attach small bells to your backpacks to signal your approach and give the bears time to retreat. If you do see any grizzly bear droppings, leave the area at once.' One walker asked, 'But how will we know if they are bear droppings?' 'Easy,' said the ranger. 'Grizzly bear droppings are full of small bells.')
Moving from the Emmaus Walk to the Emmaus Way:
The two disciples walking from Emmaus were not able to recognise Jesus when he came amongst them. Why not? Was he significantly different? Were they so preoccupied with their own disappointment, or still overwhelmed by the recent events? Perhaps they were reeling from the reports that the women had brought to them from the empty tomb? Maybe they were revelling in the opportunity to bring this 'stranger' up to date with the latest stunning turn of events in Jerusalem? Or talking about these things meant that they did not have to make any decision about them? Well whatever we might think, Jesus puts another spin on it. He says that they were foolish and reluctant to believe what the Scriptures said about his death and resurrection! V25,26. I am sure that we would claim undue pressure from our peers, or our society around us, or how we are wired up, or our circumstances, and all manner of things. However I suspect the rationalisations, the excuses, the 'worthy' reasons that stop us from moving from the 'walk' to the 'way', or staying in the way, would be viewed in the same light by Jesus.
Conclusion:
Jesus is the unseen guest with all those who come to him. He is with us as we make our choices, whether we choose to accept that or not. How are the choices you are currently making stack up? Are there some critical areas of your life that you studiously avoid thinking of the fact that Jesus is your constant companion? Perhaps you have veered off the path and are heading away from Emmaus? Perhaps there are some issues you need to make right with God? Why not set the record straight today? Your Emmaus Walk is incomplete if it never ends in the Emmaus way of living. Jesus is alive - it is a most incredible thing. Equally as incredible is living life as if this were true for you - it is the only life worth living. Don't fall for the Fairy Tales that the world spins on its wheel of deception. In reality, Fairy Tales have a way of ending with unwanted twists eg. Talking frog and the old man.
(Frog Story: While an old man was rowing a boat on a lake, a frog swam up to him and yelled, 'I'm really a beautiful princess. Kiss me and we'll live happily ever after.' The man put the frog in his pocket and rowed on. The frog called out again, 'Hey, I really am a gorgeous princess. Kiss me and we'll live happily ever after.' Still the man said nothing. The frog was getting angry at being ignored. 'Why don't you dill me?' it wailed. 'I told you I'm really a beautiful princess.' 'Listen, lady,' the man replied. 'I'm 90 years old. At this point in my life I'd rather have a talking frog.')
There is nothing like being comfortable with God's attitude towards the choices we make and the life we live as they are a precursor to experiencing the abundant life he promised!
Blessings