"God wants to see us as we know Him"
Message by Pastor.Moses Rajasekar
(Second Sunday,14th Aug'11)
Knowledge of Bible is important but bringing the knowledge into practice is 'more important'.
Luke 24:13 onwards talks about two disciples of Jesus Christ returning to their home town called 'Emmaus'. This incident takes place after the death of Jesus. To be particular, this incident takes place on the third day after the death of Jesus.
Luke 24:14 :- And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
Many Christians are just like these two disciples of Emmaus. That is, when times of persecution comes, they go back to their old lives, just as these disciples headed back to their home town.
There is but one thing: Even if we forget Jesus..even if we lack gratitude..Jesus never forgets us!
Luke 24:14-16:-
14And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Many times we do not realize Our dear loving Lord Jesus walking along with us in our lives. Though we do not recognize Jesus walking along with us..though our eyes are holden, He still walks with us.
Many a time, we get sad and depressed thinking God has left us to strive alone..to face the hardships alone..or sometimes we even think that Jesus has hated us and gone away. But NO! Jesus never walks away from us that easily. Though we forget Him, He never does. He cares for us more than a mother does and carries us more than a father.
What is more important in this context?
Luke 24:17-27:-
17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
As we see in the above Scripture, the disciples added Jesus in their conversation. Now all three of them are conversing together. When this happens, Jesus begins to explain to them very clearly about Christ's resurrection already mentioned in the HOLY BIBLE.
Look at verse 25 in the above passage. Jesus says, ' O fools, and slow of heart..' Yes...many times we become that ourselves. We become slow of hearts so that we would not be able to grasp and understand the will of God in us or things happening under the power of God.
We must draw Jesus in our hearts so that the slowness of heart gets away from us.
When the disciples start listening to Jesus, they knew in their heart that He was not some kind of ordinary man but was a man of great knowledge regarding the scripture (HOLY BIBLE). They had developed a kind of respect for Him.
Luke 24:28, 29:-
28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
Till now their eyes weren't opened so that they could see that it was Jesus with whom they were conversing all this time. When they reached home, they prepared bread from the flour.
Luke 24:30, 31:-
30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Read the above two verses carefully. Jesus is a guest to their home. So it must be the disciples who should break the bread! But here, they gave the bread to Jesus so that He would bless it and break it Himself. So as we see..the disciples have realized something out of 'this stranger' whom they met on their way to town.
When Jesus broke the bread, their eyes were opened. Now, look at the below verse.
Luke 24:32:-
32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together...
Summary:~
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| We are all like these 'little children' to Jesus |
- Jesus always walks with us. He is always there by our side.
- We must not forget to include Jesus in our conversation (general/ personal).
- We must listen (not hear) to what Jesus says.
- We must invite Him in our house (our lives).
- We must give Him the first priority.
God Bless You :)
