Knox, Port Carling & Zion, Torrance Presbyterian Charge

Sunday April 26, 2020

Message:

Reverend Glynis Faith

Luke 24  (NIV)

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 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. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on 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.

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

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.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

I was going to begin a sermon series this week exploring Jesus in the Old Testament. That has been delayed one week, because the sessions of Knox and Zion have decided to try offering our worship services via YouTube. I look forward to seeing how we can use this format to share the Word of God in the World. Emailed copies of the sermon will continue to be sent out each Sunday, but you will notice the words of the hymns will be added to your sermon to give you the opportunity to reflect on the words of the hymns. Announcements will also be included in your weekly sermon.

In light of this change, it made sense to wait and begin a new sermon series with our new format. Interestingly, when I looked at the scripture passages suggested for this week, I found the ‘Road to Emmaus’ a perfect lead up to the upcoming sermon series, “Jesus in the Old Testament.”

When we think about the Bible we often separate it into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament section of our Bibles is often kept closed, as we shake our heads at stories of talking donkeys and whales that spit out prophets with bad attitudes. The idea of animal sacrifice is unappealing to us, and the Levitical Laws seem a little over the top, unless, of course, you are in the middle of a pandemic being urged to wash excessively and distance yourselves.

There are approximately 500 years between the last written book of the Old Testament and the first written one of the New Testament, and Jesus is at the heart of all Scripture. Jesus is present and active “in the beginning,” and remains present and active throughout. From the Suffering Servant to the Righteous Redeemer, the pattern of Jesus our Lord is etched into the Old Testament stories.

Consider the flood and the ark, the Passover and the journey through the Red Sea, times of war and times of peace, the wilderness journey and the Promised Land, temple sacrifices offering cleansing and blessing, the blood of martyred prophets and their fulfilled prophecies in the arrival of a newborn baby, Jesus, fully human – fully divine.

When we do not open our Old Testaments we miss out on much of the story of Jesus, who is the revelation of God’s great love mercy and grace – the very Word of God drawing us back into the eternal relationship we were created to participate in.

So, before we begin our journey back into the Old Testament, let’s walk with two men travelling the road to Emmaus and then peak in on Jesus’ disciples, whose interactions with the risen Jesus reveal why we must go back to the old to fully understand the new.

Cleopas and his unnamed travelling companion are walking along the road to Emmaus. The text tells us their faces are downcast, so they are sad about something. The text also tells us why they are sad – they are mourning the death of Jesus, who they considered to be a prophet of God.

For Cleopas and his friend, Jesus was another great prophet martyred to maintain the current status quo. Nothing new to them – the Scriptures are filled with historical accounts of martyred prophets. What was new to them was they knew Jesus personally. He was a kind and loving individual who taught with authority and integrity. They knew this prophet, and they had hoped He would lead them – perhaps save them!

It is important to consider for a moment what their understanding of the Scriptures were. For people in the time of Jesus, the Scriptures referred only to the Old Testment, what they often referred to as the books of Moses and the Prophets. The books of Moses are the first 5 books of the Old Testament – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (also known as the Pentateuch) The books of the Prophets would include both the major and minor prophets who foretold the coming of God’s anointed one.

For the people of God, learning these books was priority. These books formed the basis of their history and sociology. These books taught them who they were, where they came from and where they were going. These books gave them hope, even when things looked less than hopeful under the governing power of the Roman Empire. Scripture had promised a Messiah, and many had hoped Jesus was the long awaited Saviour.

In the years following the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the people would better understand Jesus to be the long awaited Messiah spoken of by the prophets, but at this moment in time, Cleopas and his friend are broken hearted and mourning the loss of yet another great prophet.

I like Jesus’ response to them when they explain why they are downhearted, “²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”

        How foolish indeed. Easy for me to say, as I have the whole picture, but I do wonder why they were filled fully with grief instead of, perhaps, eager anticipation. They have told Jesus that the women went to the tomb and heard from angels that Jesus was alive. Two disciples went to confirm the women’s story. They confirm that Jesus’ body was not there, but they did not see Jesus.

Sadly, at this time in history the women’s story would need to be confirmed by the men. Not sad for the women, because they knew what they saw and heard, but sad for the men, because they would only believe if it was confirmed by others or witnessed themselves. I wonder if that lack of faith was why they did not recognize Jesus in their midst and why they remained downhearted instead of filled with eager anticipation and hope.

But that is okay, Jesus knows our human failings and lack of faith, so,

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

        They obviously enjoyed Jesus’ company, asking Him to continue further along their journey with them. They may not have cognitively realized Jesus was with them, but something drew them to them, as they would later say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?,” but it would take the fellowship in breaking bread for them to finally realize the presence of Jesus. I wonder what it takes for us to fully realize the presence of Christ with us!

Our story takes an interesting turn, as Jesus suddenly “disappears from their sight.” We could get into a lengthy debate about whether Jesus vanished or simply got up and left to continue on His journey, but what is important is how Cleopas and his companion react. They acknowledge how their hearts had been ignited by Christ’s presence and His revelation of Scripture, even though they had not yet realized it was Jesus who was present and revealing.

So, they do what we are all called to do, they join the other disciples in fellowship and share what has been revealed to them by Jesus. As they are sharing the Good News with the disciples, Jesus presents himself. Again, they do not recognize Him, so Jesus tells them to take a closer look.

Look past your fears and all your preconceived ideas of how things should be. Look at the Truth being revealed to you. Look at the spike holes in my hands and my feet and the hole in my side where they pierced my body – see the scars borne for you. Touch me, and realize I am risen in flesh and bone. Watch as I eat, as I feed this body, which was broken for you. Listen once again as I open your minds to what has been written about me in the Laws of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Look, listen, know that I am your Saviour and go into the world to bear witness to my life, death and resurrection.

        Over the course of several hours Cleopas and his friend would understand Jesus in the Old Testament in a way that would transform their lives and give them a place of witness in the New Testament. Their place in Luke’s Gospel serves as a reminder to us that Jesus is present and revealed to us when we open Scriptures (both Old and New), when we join together in fellowship (in person and virtual), in the breaking of bread (sharing in communion), and through the witnesses of those who have experienced the life-giving life-changing presence of Christ (sharing our personal testimony).

Friends, I look forward to exploring Jesus in the Old Testament with you as we open the Scriptures, share fellowship, celebrate the sacraments, and share our experiences of Christ’s presence in our lives.

“Peace be with you.”

Please join me in prayer:

Creator God we praise you for the gift and revelation of Jesus.

Jesus, our Redeemer, we thank you for your sacrifice upon the Cross.

Ever present Holy Spirit of God, you continue to enable us to see, hear and know the presence of Christ in Scripture, through our worship and fellowship, in the gifts of the sacraments and through the witness of Your children.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit we thank you and we praise you.

Lord, may we be encouraged and excited to dust off our Old Testaments and seek Your words of truth, love, mercy and grace. Ignite our hearts as we eagerly seek to know You better.

Forgive us our trespasses, debts and sins we pray. Open our eyes to see our sins, open our hearts to seek mercy and open our ears to hear Your words of love and forgiveness.

Compassionate God, we pray for people all around the world being affected by Covis-19.

Lord, we pray:

Healing for the sick – calm amidst the chaos – comfort for those suffering loss – peace for those who are anxious and fearful – safety for the vulnerable – companionship for those who are alone – and strength for those who are exhausted and stretched beyond their capabilities. We lift an added prayer of comfort for the elderly in long-term care homes, asking You to wrap them firmly in your comforting presence, assuring them they are not alone and that they are deeply and dearly loved and appreciated.

Creator, you spoke order into chaos, and we pray now that you will bring order and peace into the chaos of the killings in Nova Scotia. Give words of wisdom and comfort to the clergy leading the people through this senseless event. Grant the families and communities affected peace and reassurance that this is not Your will. May level heads prevail as law enforcement continue to sort details and seek answers.

Creating, Redeeming and Sustaining Lord, we place our prayers at Your throne, trusting in your faithfulness to Your children. Amen