ON THE ROAD WITH JESUS CHRIST

By Pastor Sammie Mangwiro

                           On The Road With Jesus Christ (Audio (mp3) Message)

                                             

Text: Luke 24:13-35

Lord Jesus Open my eyes that I may see You

¹³ And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. ¹⁷ And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” ¹⁹ And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. ²¹ But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. ²² But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” ²⁵ And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

²⁸ And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. ³² They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” ³³ And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread,

Introduction:

• This story happens on the first day of the week, the day that the lord Jesus rose from the dead.
• I thank God that I worship a Saviour who died for my sins was buried and rose again the third day.
• It is interesting to note that the passage we are going to look at is in the middle of two episodes.
• And in all the three episodes Jesus appeared to three different groups.
• It is also interesting to note that on all the three occasions the people were eagerly searching for Jesus.
• 1st Episode: On the first day of the week Mary went to the tomb very early in the morning and found the stone rolled away, she went and told the disciples they came looked inside and went back to their homes, but she remained until Jesus appeared.
• 2nd Episode: Two men on the road to Emmaus
• They left Jerusalem and retreated to Emmaus after witnessing the horrendous execution of Jesus.
• They were broken-hearted, their hopes shattered, traumatized
• Jesus approached them and joined in their conversation
• They started their journey to Emmaus with broken hearts, but it wasn't too long before their hearts began to burn within themselves 

1 Hunger and desire for God precedes revelation (Nzara neshungu zvodiwa pakuoneswa naMwari)

Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

In all the three episodes we see evidence of hunger and desire, Mary refused to go back home without knowing where the Lord:

a.  Peter and the disciples went back to their homes even the disciple whom Jesus loved went back home but Mary waited until Jesus appeared

b.  The two men on the road to Emmaus were troubled and their conversation was about Jesus and Jesus joined them. *What is dominating your conversations these days?*

c.   When Jesus had appeared to them, they went back to Jerusalem to look for the disciples and when they found them, they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. And while they were recounting what had happened on the road Jesus appeared to them. Kuona Mwari kunotangira pashungu nenzara yekuda kumuona. Ishungu dzekuoneyi dzamuinadzo - zvamune shungu nekuona munozviona !! 

2.   Brokenness is key to Revelation

a. Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The two gentlemen were gripped by fear and hopelessness. It is clear that they were completely terrorized.

b. One distinct characteristic of distress is that it can affect our sight. People in horrible emotional struggles often experience tunnel vision. They were overwhelmed. 

c.  One of the major hindrances to receive from God is the false sense of adequacy. It’s not that God does not want to reveal himself to us or pour out His knowledge and wisdom in us, but the problem is that we are so full with other things that There is no space anything coming from Him.

d. Brokenness is a God’s pathway into your life and also your pathway into the presence of God. *Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”

3.  They gave Jesus Christ time to converse with them (Vakapa Ishe Jesus nzeve nenguwa yavo kuti ataure navo)

a. They quizzed Him…Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?* What things? 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

b.  But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.

c.  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 

d.    They gave Jesus their time and attention.

·    With the continuous noise of life bombarding us, we often find it hard to hear the voice of God. But when we pay attention and listen, we hear God speaking to us in so many ways.

·    God always speaks but does He always get our attention.

·    God will not muzzle your will so that you can listen to Him

·   Listening to God and hearing His voice is a decision that you have to make.

3              4. They invited and received Jesus into their home

a.  Verse 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So, he went in to stay with them. Verse 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. *Verse 3* And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

b. It is possible to walk the whole journey without recognizing God in your life.

c. They walked with Him, He interpreted the word to them, they felt the heat and power of the word but they did not recognize Him

d. It was after urging Him strongly to come to their home that their eyes were opened.

e. There is a level of openness and yielding to Him that will allow you to recognize His hand in your life.

f.  We cannot earn God’s grace or make it flow apart from his free gift. But we can position ourselves to go on getting should he keep giving. We can “fight to walk in the paths where he has promised his blessings”

Mira pakati pehova dzinoyerera nenyasha dzake, uye bvumidza usadzivisa kuti hova dzenyasha dzake dziyerere nepauri

 Conclusion

1.    Hunger and desire for God precedes Revelation

2.    Brokenness is key to revelation

3.    Allow God to take your time

4.    Be open to allow Jesus into the most intimate areas of your life

                                          Pastoral Blessing 

(May)the Lord Jesus dwell in your hearts through faith—that you may be rooted and grounded in love, that you may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and that you may know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, and that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.