WEBVTT 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:19.820 Good morning, church. 00:00:19.899 --> 00:00:22.300 I invite you to be seated this morning. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:29.579 So I was thinking this past week about unmet expectations. 00:00:29.660 --> 00:00:39.019 And then lo and behold, uh last night I get a phone call about the sunrise service, which I was looking forward to that it had been canceled and rescheduled. 00:00:39.099 --> 00:00:41.340 A lot of other things had been going on. 00:00:41.899 --> 00:00:45.659 And my expectations for life had not been met. 00:00:45.899 --> 00:00:51.339 You know, it's the unmet expectations of life that really cause us the greatest problems. 00:00:51.500 --> 00:01:03.579 Whenever I have an opportunity to do premarital counseling with couples who are considering making that wonderful commitment uh to one another, to just do life together. 00:01:03.740 --> 00:01:07.180 Like it's such an enriching moment for me as pastor. 00:01:07.420 --> 00:01:23.579 But one of the sessions, we do three sessions, and one of the sessions that we do is a session that that deals in particular with expectations in marriage, because, and this is what I tell them that expectations before marriage become demands after marriage. 00:01:23.739 --> 00:01:25.980 Don't look at your spouse, don't do it. 00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:27.659 But you know that's true, right? 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:38.620 And that's where we really get into trouble, is where we have some expectation of how we have life mapped out or the week mapped out or our future mapped out, and it doesn't work that way. 00:01:38.939 --> 00:01:48.219 If you don't have those expectations, then well, disappointment becomes something that's not as that that's that's not as gripping. 00:01:48.620 --> 00:01:49.980 Let me give you an example of this. 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:54.459 Uh, right now, my wife uh is back in the nursery uh hanging out with the kiddos. 00:01:54.780 --> 00:02:10.300 Whenever you leave today, if you go to her and you say, Hey, I just heard that you are actually not going to go on your two-week long trip to Cancun and hang out on the beach for two weeks, she is not going to be disappointed. 00:02:10.540 --> 00:02:12.540 Do you know why she's not going to be disappointed? 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:14.459 Because she's not expecting it. 00:02:14.620 --> 00:02:23.819 And that's the that's the trick, is is if you expect it, then and then there's a letdown, then there's this frustration that occurs. 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:32.459 Like, you know, for example, for some of you, you you you've said the words like we were expecting this thing to happen. 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:37.180 We were expecting for the child to come home. 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:42.220 But we had so we had hoped that this would happen. 00:02:42.939 --> 00:02:48.220 We had hoped that the job offer would have come through. 00:02:48.540 --> 00:02:53.019 But we had hoped that the doctor's report would have been different. 00:02:53.579 --> 00:02:57.339 But we had hoped that the that the house would have been available. 00:02:57.819 --> 00:02:59.980 Or maybe it's just you individually. 00:03:00.220 --> 00:03:03.980 I don't want to miss out talking to our single people today. 00:03:04.540 --> 00:03:07.019 Maybe it's you, and you say, but I'd hoped. 00:03:07.660 --> 00:03:14.060 But I had hoped that that this opportunity for internship had occurred and and it didn't. 00:03:14.300 --> 00:03:16.860 But I had hoped that she would have said yes. 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:19.899 But I would have hoped that he would have called by now. 00:03:20.139 --> 00:03:21.740 But I would have hoped. 00:03:22.139 --> 00:03:29.740 And you begin to get the feeling that it's the unmet expectations of life that create so much strife and struggle for us. 00:03:29.980 --> 00:03:32.139 Now, you can't not have expectations. 00:03:32.300 --> 00:03:37.579 I mean, we know people who don't have expectations have their own sort of turmoil that they live in. 00:03:37.660 --> 00:03:43.660 There needs to be goals, there needs to be dreams, but they can't be our goals and they can't be our dreams. 00:03:43.899 --> 00:03:51.899 I'm 50 years old now and I've lived long enough to know that my goals and my expectations rarely get met. 00:03:52.620 --> 00:03:56.379 And I'm not the first to struggle with those things. 00:03:56.699 --> 00:04:04.860 Whenever Jesus was crucified on a cross, there were a lot of people who had unmet expectations. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:07.579 We're going to read about a few of them this morning. 00:04:07.740 --> 00:04:11.339 They thought he was going to be the king of Jerusalem. 00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:14.620 They thought he was going to liberate them from Roman oppression. 00:04:14.779 --> 00:04:21.100 They thought he was going to be the Messiah who was promised the way they expected for him to come. 00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:32.300 And yet, when Jesus meets a few of them on the road and they begin to share their story, they say, Here's what happened, but we had hoped. 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:57.100 And so if you're here this morning and that's your story, your story is that you had hoped and it didn't work out the way that you had planned, then this is in particular for you this morning, because you're going to find yourself meeting a couple of individuals whose story is like yours, but I think we can argue far worse because their expectations were not just lost or missed. 00:04:57.259 --> 00:05:02.460 They watched their dreams and expectations nailed to a cross. 00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:09.819 Look with me if you will, down to verse number 13. 00:05:09.900 --> 00:05:11.340 We're going to pick up this story here. 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:17.500 This happens the morning three days after the crucifixion. 00:05:18.780 --> 00:05:30.460 There are these rumors that the rabbi, that these disciples had followed, had been seen walking around after being crucified, and the tomb was empty. 00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:36.139 And the the message came first to women, which didn't make any sense in that culture in that day. 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:37.660 And they wanted to believe it. 00:05:37.819 --> 00:05:41.420 They wanted to believe it so badly, but they just, they're just reckoning. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:42.460 Could this be true? 00:05:42.540 --> 00:05:55.259 It's so outlandish to hear a story about this guy who we saw beaten, bloodied, battered, nail-pierced, out walking around, talking, talking to people. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:59.340 I mean, it would be a it'd be tough to believe. 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:01.100 And so they're wrestling with it. 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:11.500 They're on their way away from Jerusalem, they're on their way away from the epicenter of where all of this took place, and they're heading to a place called Emmaus, only seven miles away. 00:06:11.580 --> 00:06:15.420 And for that seven miles, they're racking their brain trying to figure this out. 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:17.180 Luke tells us the story. 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:33.020 He says in verse four, uh verse 13, he says that there were two of them going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking to each other about all the things that they had seen that had happened. 00:06:33.340 --> 00:06:43.420 Now, while they were talking and discussing, two in particular Greek words, they're talking, being, they're they're speaking, they're sharing their ideas. 00:06:43.740 --> 00:06:47.500 Discussing has a much more heavy weight to it. 00:06:47.660 --> 00:06:51.259 It has the idea of like arguing about things. 00:06:51.740 --> 00:06:53.340 It can't be true. 00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:54.620 It has to be true. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:56.620 They wouldn't lie to us about it. 00:06:56.860 --> 00:06:59.020 I mean, they these are sane people. 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:07.100 I mean, they're arguing, they're discussing, and they're wrangling and they're wrangling, and they're wrenching themselves, trying to figure out what God is doing in this moment. 00:07:07.340 --> 00:07:08.620 Anybody ever been there? 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:21.819 Like just trying to figure out what is God doing with this moment, they're wrestling with it, when suddenly, while they're discussing it, Jesus himself drew near and went up to them. 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:29.420 Now, if you're not familiar with the story and you were just reading it for the first time, you might think, oh, this is going to be cool. 00:07:29.580 --> 00:07:40.220 Like they're wondering about who Jesus is, and Jesus is going to walk up behind them, and he's going to have his little hood on, and he's going to reach up and pull his hood back and say, ta-da, here I am. 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:44.620 And suddenly all of the hope that they had lost would be restored. 00:07:45.259 --> 00:07:49.740 But if you know the story, you know that's not what Jesus did. 00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:56.780 Jesus allowed them to walk for a little while in their despair. 00:07:58.540 --> 00:08:00.780 That's the kind of God we serve. 00:08:01.340 --> 00:08:18.060 Who not because of his frustration or his hatred or his anger towards us, but because of his love and his mercy and the necessity of our soul, he allows us to walk a few miles longer than we would want to walk in our despair. 00:08:19.100 --> 00:08:20.620 And it's necessary. 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:25.180 Jesus is here and he doesn't reveal himself. 00:08:25.340 --> 00:08:26.379 Look at the next verse. 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:34.139 So while they were talking to and discussing Jesus, he came and walked up to them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:40.299 Now you're going to see a couple of times in this passage where things happen and they seem supernatural. 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:45.819 And I want you to know they are, they appear supernatural because they are supernatural. 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:48.059 Jesus shows up and they don't recognize him. 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:52.139 And here in a few minutes, uh, we're going to see he vanishes and then reappears later. 00:08:52.220 --> 00:08:59.580 And if you have a problem with that, then let me just tell you that the story is about a man who died and rose again. 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:03.419 And if he can die and rise again, then he can hide his image. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:07.259 If he can die and rise again, then he can vanish into thin air. 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:10.300 If he can die and rise again, then he can reappear. 00:09:10.539 --> 00:09:15.580 If he can create the universe as you and I see it today, he can do anything. 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:19.659 See, the problem that we have with miracles isn't God's problem, it's our problem. 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:27.980 It's that we are worshiping a God that we just he's not powerful enough to do the things that we want to see him do. 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:33.340 Here, Jesus is about to do a miracle. 00:09:33.820 --> 00:09:38.620 But before he does, he sets them up to receive that miracle. 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:47.100 See, the truth is, like the answers to prayer that you and I want, like we, there's a certain way that we would we would like to see them answered. 00:09:47.340 --> 00:09:51.419 But the truth is, is there's a there's another way that they they need to be answered. 00:09:51.500 --> 00:09:54.940 It's it's not just me walking up and giving you the answer, right? 00:09:55.180 --> 00:09:57.500 Or you walking up and giving me the answer. 00:09:57.659 --> 00:09:59.659 It's how we discover the truth. 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:05.259 It's the journey to learning what's real and what's not that makes all the difference in the world. 00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:07.740 For some of you, like that's the journey you're on. 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:14.220 Like you've been searching, you've been asking questions, and you're wondering why God isn't providing you the answers that you want to hear. 00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:24.940 And the truth is, the reality is, and I've learned this in my own soul, that sometimes I don't get the answers that I'm looking for because I'm not ready to even ask the right questions. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:27.340 So Jesus does it for them. 00:10:27.580 --> 00:10:37.899 What we're gonna see is Jesus on the road to Emmaus is he poses three questions to these individuals to prepare them to hear the truth. 00:10:38.220 --> 00:10:45.740 And there it's a pathway that we wouldn't choose for ourselves, but it's a necessary one, and you're gonna see why here in a moment. 00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:48.060 Three questions that Jesus asks them. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:59.019 Number one, Jesus walks up beside of them, verse number 40 17, and he says, What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk? 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:00.860 Interesting, isn't it? 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:06.940 They're arguing about his crucifixion and what it meant and the potential of resurrection and what that meant. 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:10.139 And Jesus walks up and says, So what's going on? 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:11.500 What's hot today? 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:33.740 And one of the individuals looked back at him and they stand and they they look sad, which you would understand while their hopes were wrapped up in this rabbi who they thought was going to bring an end to Roman oppression and lead to Jewish flourishing and wealth and prosperity, and all the things that we want in our country, and it didn't happen. 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:34.620 They looked sad. 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:43.340 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him and said, I'm just going to paraphrase here, have you been living under a rock? 00:11:44.300 --> 00:11:52.620 Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? 00:11:53.180 --> 00:11:54.860 You didn't hear the screams? 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:57.500 You didn't hear the whips? 00:11:57.820 --> 00:12:06.300 You didn't hear the crowd chanting, crucify him, crucify him, after having shouted, crown him, Hosanna to the king? 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:08.379 Where have you been living at? 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:23.419 I do think that if this conversation happened today, well, let me just put it this way, if I were filming this movie, like if I were filming this and I was putting it putting it in contemporary terms, Calliopis would say, Have you been living under a rock? 00:12:23.580 --> 00:12:26.620 And Jesus would respond, Yes, for three days now. 00:12:28.620 --> 00:12:30.779 That's the best I got for you, folks. 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:37.899 He, yeah, I mean, he's he's he's he's he's aware of what's going on right now. 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:41.820 Any of you ever wondered if God is aware, not aware of what's going on? 00:12:42.060 --> 00:12:43.899 Does he really know what I'm facing? 00:12:44.060 --> 00:12:46.379 Does he does he really care? 00:12:47.100 --> 00:12:55.419 He's right here on the road next to them and he's asking them this piercing question as though he has no idea, but he knows everything and so much more. 00:12:55.740 --> 00:13:05.500 But then he, we're still in the second question, but he he adds to his first question, and he kind of shrugs his shoulders, I sort of imagine in my mind, and he says, What thanks? 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:08.539 Now, now, in a way, this is kind of cruel. 00:13:08.700 --> 00:13:20.460 I mean, from the outside looking in, we know, we know God has a reason for doing these things, but it's tough because what he's forcing them to do at this moment is to relive the horror. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:22.860 What thanks? 00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:29.100 So they said to him, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet. 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:37.740 Notice what he says there, was a prophet, mighty indeed and word before God and all the people. 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:48.860 Now, the the idea of was a prophet there captured my attention this week because, of course, we know, those of us who are followers of Jesus, we know that he is so much more than a prophet. 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:50.940 In fact, they would have known it too. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.379 But but what do you believe? 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:54.539 And what are you forced to reckon? 00:13:54.700 --> 00:14:03.740 What are you forced to conjecture whenever the guy who you thought was the eternal living Messiah dies on a cross in front of you? 00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:13.019 I mean, see, like for most of us, if someone came up and said, you are a prophet, you would be, it'd be elevating you to, or us, to a higher status. 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:17.180 But for Jesus, this wasn't them elevating Jesus to some high status. 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:22.860 It was them lowering their expectations of who Jesus was. 00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:26.779 He was, past hence, a prophet. 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:28.620 He couldn't be more. 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:30.860 Jerusalem has killed a lot of prophets. 00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:34.379 Jesus is just one more prophet that Jerusalem has killed. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:46.620 And then they go on to explain what had happened, how Jesus had been turned over to the chief priests, and how they had mocked him and railed him and turned him over to the Roman officials, and that they had crucified him. 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:50.060 And then here's our verse we had read just a moment ago. 00:14:50.300 --> 00:14:51.980 That's what happened. 00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:58.620 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:01.980 Now, what are they doing here in this moment? 00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:13.180 I mean, they're looking at their unmet expectations, and they're frustrated about it, and they're they're trying to figure it all out, they're trying to math it all out. 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:20.539 But there is a bit of a divine passive woven into this verse. 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:28.779 Because whatever they say we had hoped, we had expected, don't miss the fact that in some sense they're turning to God and saying, Why? 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:31.180 They're blaming God for this. 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.139 Why did this happen? 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.659 Why did this good man die? 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:40.460 This is like he looks so much like the expectation that we were looking for, and yet he died. 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:50.139 We have this way of taking our problems in life and turning to God and blaming him. 00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:57.019 I mean, I would never say, Lord, I blame you for the circumstance that I'm in. 00:15:57.259 --> 00:16:01.100 I blame you for my finances, I blame you for the struggle in my relationships. 00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:03.019 Like we would never do that. 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:21.340 But whenever we look at a sovereign God and we we see him as the one who has mapped out life and existence with great care and intentionality, and then we express displeasure over the job we have, over the health we don't have, over the relationship. 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:31.659 When we express discontent, somewhere buried deep inside of that accusation is this anger and frustration towards the God who controls everything. 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:33.180 That's what's going on here. 00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:36.060 Jesus is walking them through this. 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:49.259 He's asked them this question because they need to vocalize the agony and the pain and the feelings that they're, that they have, not only about the circumstance, but about God. 00:16:50.300 --> 00:16:53.500 And so they're they're pouring this out. 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:55.340 This is what we expected, and it's not what happened. 00:16:55.419 --> 00:17:08.779 And then on top of that, there were people who are saying he's risen, that that now it's the third day since he was laid in the ground, and there are people who are saying that there's actually hope. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:16.059 One of the only things I think more frustrating than than than the absence of hope, right? 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:25.259 Than than just the feeling of, oh, this is going to fall apart, is whenever there's just a little bit of last minute hope and then it's taken away. 00:17:27.659 --> 00:17:30.299 Come on, Virginia Tech fans, you know what I'm talking about. 00:17:31.099 --> 00:17:31.979 You know what I'm saying? 00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:33.259 Like I'm a Tennessee fan. 00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:38.059 I understand what it's like to what I just wanted to feel it, Randy. 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:47.979 I just you know, you're like, oh, we oh this isn't this is never gonna happen, and then it looks like it's like it might happen, and then it doesn't. 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:51.259 Like there's that agony and the frustration. 00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:54.699 Like Jesus wants them to feel that. 00:17:55.179 --> 00:17:58.859 Do you know why Jesus is so interested in us feeling our despair? 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:02.699 It's not because he's mean or he's hateful, it's because he's honest. 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:04.779 And we live in despair. 00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:14.939 Even though you may be wealthy and prosperous and healthy and have all the things you may want in life mapped out before you, even if that's your story, you know where that road ends. 00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:21.099 And you may you may fold it up and put it in a box somewhere and close it up and say, I don't have to worry about that right now. 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:24.859 I don't, I don't have to worry about what age does to me. 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:28.059 Some of you do, you work we're worrying about it now, right? 00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:29.179 You don't have to worry about it. 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:31.339 You can put it up, but the truth is like you know it's there. 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:43.740 We live in despair, and it's so important that we feel our despair and our hopelessness because it's in that place where our expectations stop being about us, and our expectations start being placed on him. 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:47.339 And he always comes through. 00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:48.939 Question number one. 00:18:49.179 --> 00:18:51.659 Question number two, look at verse number 25. 00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:55.659 So they pour out their hearts saying, This is what we thought was going to happen. 00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:57.899 And Jesus lets them walk straight through all of that. 00:18:58.059 --> 00:19:08.379 Like, you know, when they're describing that story to Jesus, like they can still hear the whip sounds, they can still hear the moans, they can still hear the hammer hitting into the four-inch spike. 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:15.179 They can still smell the blood, like it's all right there in their face, as violent as you can imagine it could ever be. 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:35.579 And once they're there, Jesus turns to them after they pour out their hearts and he says to them the most encouraging thing possible, oh foolish ones, slow of heart and thought, again telling them the truth. 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:39.179 Oh foolish ones, don't you understand? 00:19:40.219 --> 00:19:46.859 Is this not should you not be believe all that the prophets have spoken? 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:56.779 And here's the question Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer and these things and then enter into his glory? 00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:58.699 Great question. 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.939 Because it's not the expectation. 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:04.539 The expectation is no, he's not going to suffer. 00:20:04.699 --> 00:20:06.139 He is going to enter his glory. 00:20:06.219 --> 00:20:13.659 He's going to come into Jerusalem, sit on his throne, kick out the Romans, make everything great for me and my family. 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:15.099 Like that's the expectation. 00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:16.939 That's how they read the scripture. 00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:25.500 It's kind of funny how you and I, sometimes regularly, anyways, uh, for me, like I read the scripture in a way that benefits me. 00:20:25.979 --> 00:20:38.779 Like I'll read the promises and contort them to talk about the things that I want them to talk about, but miss the other verses that talk about the way of suffering and strife and struggle, and in this world you're going to have all of that kind of stuff. 00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:41.819 They had misread the scriptures. 00:20:42.219 --> 00:20:43.419 People do this all the time. 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:52.699 They make the scriptures say what they want it to say to make them feel comfortable when they're having conversations, to make them feel comfortable whenever they're looking at their future. 00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:56.939 These folks had done no differently, but Jesus had said, this is not what's in scripture. 00:20:57.099 --> 00:20:58.139 This is exactly right. 00:20:58.299 --> 00:21:01.659 What is in scripture is suffering and glory. 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:07.740 Is it not necessary for the Christ to have suffered and then enter his glory? 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:13.419 And before they can answer, Luke summarizes, and I wish he had spent more time on this. 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:15.179 How about you, Carrie? 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:18.219 And I would have loved to have been a part of this sermon. 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:29.019 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them all the scripture and the things concerning himself. 00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:34.539 Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to tell you, if you don't hear anything else, I want you to hear this. 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:39.099 The Bible is about our redemption, but it's not about us. 00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:41.419 We are not the hero of the Bible. 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:44.619 You are not slaying giants, you aren't conquering kingdoms. 00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:49.259 Jesus does both, and we benefit from the work that he has done. 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:51.579 All of Scripture is about him. 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:56.699 I imagine in maybe, I mean, I'm sure he started in Genesis. 00:21:56.779 --> 00:22:08.699 The Bible tells us he started with Moses, which is those first five books, and in every single book, from there on, it is a story about Jesus and a presentation of who he is. 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:18.619 In Genesis, he is the seed of the woman that is promised, and he is the true Isaac whose father actually did something. 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:20.059 Sacrifice him. 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:24.059 In Exodus, he was the Passover lamb for sins. 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:27.259 In Leviticus, he was the great high priest and the sacrifice. 00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:33.979 In Numbers, he was the serpent that was lifted up, that when all people looked at him, they would be saved. 00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:37.099 In Deuteronomy, he was the prophet who was to come. 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:43.099 In Joshua, he was the great commander of the Lord's army who led them into the promised land. 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:48.539 In the book of Judges, he was the king that they had hoped for and needed, but could not find. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:58.619 In the book of Ruth, he was the kinsman redeemer who paid the price at his own sacrifice to bring us into his household. 00:22:58.859 --> 00:23:06.059 In the book of Samuel, he was the true king anointed by God in place of the one that was appointed by people. 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:14.379 In the book of Kings, he was the one who was greater than Solomon, the one who was wiser than Solomon, who could hold the kingdom together. 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:19.339 In Ezra, he was the one who rebuilt the temple. 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:29.259 In Nehemiah, he was the one who rebuilt the wall, the promised one who brought Israel back together as whole, as a as a true nation. 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:36.299 In Esther, he was the one who did, he didn't say, if I die, I die, but I'm going to go and do this thing anyways. 00:23:36.459 --> 00:23:38.219 He knew he was going to die. 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:40.699 In Isaiah, he was the suffering servant. 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:46.059 In Jeremiah, he was the promised one to weep over Israel, as he did in Lamentations. 00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:50.459 In Daniel, he was the one who comes riding on the clouds. 00:23:50.699 --> 00:24:03.659 In the book of the 12, the 12 minor prophets, he is, he is Hosea, the one who was the true husband who bought his bride out of harlotry, which is where we were. 00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:09.819 He is the true Jonah who spent three days in the belly of death and then rose again. 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:23.339 He was, he is the true Micah, the voice of Micah, who says, Shall I offer the firstborn, my firstborn for my sins, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:28.939 And yet Jesus steps forward and says, No, but I will, I will offer myself. 00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:32.699 God the Father says, I will offer my son for your sin. 00:24:32.939 --> 00:24:42.459 He is the true Zephaniah who says he is right, the one who is foretold he's going to come and he's going to be lowly and he's going to ride on the back of a donkey. 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:52.779 He is the true, he's the true Habakkuk, the one who says, He is the one who is coming on the clouds, and he is going to reign on high and make all things just. 00:24:52.939 --> 00:24:58.859 All throughout the Old Testament, he is the intention of what God has done there. 00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:07.259 So beginning at Moses and moving all the way through the Old Testament, Jesus says, it's it's been planned, it's been told. 00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:15.819 You know, you can be told something over and over again, and yet, yet, whenever it happens, you're still shocked by it, right? 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:20.299 Your parents tell you, if you do that, this is going to happen. 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:25.899 And then you do it, and the parents make good on their promise, and yet we act shocked. 00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:33.899 You know, we can look at the future, you know, coming, sorry, I'm just going to do it, you know, coming elections, and we can say we all know how it's going to end up. 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:39.899 50% of the people are going to say yes, and 50% of the people are going to say no, and we're all going to keep arguing about it. 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:43.179 And whenever it happens, we just continue to be frustrated. 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:45.899 We can know it's going to happen, and it still frustrates us. 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.419 They knew it was going to happen. 00:25:47.740 --> 00:26:02.059 Jesus had told them, had told them repeatedly, I am going to go to Jerusalem, be turned over to the hands of sinful men, and then after that be crucified and raised again on the third day. 00:26:02.219 --> 00:26:09.099 It was shown again over and over in the prophets how he would live, die, and rise again. 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:14.059 And yet, whenever it happens, they can't fully see what's going on. 00:26:14.459 --> 00:26:15.819 You know why that is? 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:32.379 Sometimes we have trouble accepting the promises of God and hearing the voice of God because of his hand to blind us, to cause us to wonder for a moment. 00:26:32.699 --> 00:26:35.099 So that in the darkness we grope for him. 00:26:35.979 --> 00:26:36.859 That's important. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.899 Please hear me. 00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:41.819 Because at the end of the day, you and I don't need another answer to another question. 00:26:41.979 --> 00:26:44.859 There will always be another question. 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:47.419 We don't grope in the dark for answers. 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.939 We grope in the dark for him. 00:26:49.659 --> 00:26:50.939 And this is what he wants. 00:26:51.099 --> 00:27:03.579 He wants our hearts to languish for him, to hunger for him, so that whenever we find him, we are truly and actually nourished. 00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:06.299 That's exactly what Jesus is doing here. 00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:09.099 Now, that's question number one. 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:12.859 He's asking them what to tell me, walk back through again what has happened. 00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:15.979 Question number two, is this not foretold in scripture? 00:27:16.459 --> 00:27:19.259 And then question number three comes a little bit later. 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:21.659 These two men walk with Jesus for a while. 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:29.579 He acts like he's going to just pass by and go off in another direction, but they encourage him, come back with us, eat with us. 00:27:40.379 --> 00:27:51.179 We see Jesus, he's there and he's with them at table and he's about to, he's about to dine with them, but he picks up a loaf of bread, and whenever he does, he breaks it. 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:55.500 And I kind of in my mind imagine the crumbs sort of go everywhere as they would with that kind of bread. 00:27:55.659 --> 00:28:00.939 And in that instant, suddenly their eyes are opened. 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:08.219 Just a Monday, a mundane regular event, they've seen it a thousand times. 00:28:08.459 --> 00:28:13.579 But that bread cracked in a way different from any other meal they've ever shared. 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:16.379 Some of you, like that's your story. 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:19.339 Like you've you've taken that road a hundred times. 00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:21.259 You've had this conversation a thousand times. 00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:23.819 They've invited you to come to church a dozen times. 00:28:23.979 --> 00:28:27.899 And it's like any other time, but this time maybe it's going to be different. 00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:34.939 This time, whenever the bread is broken, the the eyes begin to see because the spirit begins to move. 00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:37.099 It really is something supernatural. 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:39.659 Their eyes are open, and suddenly they see it's him. 00:28:40.219 --> 00:28:41.579 And he vanishes. 00:28:41.659 --> 00:28:43.179 Again, supernatural, but that's okay. 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:47.019 If he can rise from the dead, magic tricks are no problem for him. 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.219 He's gone. 00:28:48.379 --> 00:28:51.740 And they begin to say, What has happened here? 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:59.659 When we were at table with, or rather, they say, Was it not the case that our souls, our hearts burned as he talked with us? 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:01.899 And they look back, please hear me. 00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:08.299 In this moment, they look back over the journey to Emmaus, the last seven miles they had just walked. 00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:14.699 And while they were walking, they they could not come to terms with the fact that Jesus was walking with them. 00:29:14.859 --> 00:29:22.619 But here in this place, paused, quiet, they're able to look back and see he was there every single step. 00:29:23.419 --> 00:29:24.859 And that's good news, ain't it? 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:37.819 I mean, when you're in the valley of darkness, whenever you're in the weeds, and because like we've all been there, you don't realize, like it's impossible sometimes for you to hear his voice and understand who he is. 00:29:38.219 --> 00:29:46.779 But when you get to the other end and you get a little bit out of the valley, you get a little bit out of the weeds, you look back and you realize you never walked alone. 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:54.539 Now, up to this moment, they've been walking away from Jerusalem, but here they turn around and they start walking back, apparently, is the thing. 00:29:54.699 --> 00:29:56.859 They're going back and they're going to find the disciples. 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:59.339 Well, there's a whole sermon there somewhere, isn't there? 00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:02.059 I mean, sometimes you just got to turn around and head back. 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:02.539 Right? 00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:15.019 You've been walking for a while and you don't intend to take all the time to do so, but but you look around and you find out that you've been, you've wandered way off past, way off point, and it's time now to turn around and come back. 00:30:15.099 --> 00:30:17.259 And the scripture indicates that they do. 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:21.819 So they come back and they tell the disciples what were what had gone on. 00:30:21.979 --> 00:30:24.859 And we're about to enter our third question here, but here's the setup. 00:30:24.939 --> 00:30:26.539 Look at verse number 30. 00:30:26.939 --> 00:30:32.779 When he was at table with them, he took the bread, and we just talked about that, and their eyes were suddenly open, verse 38. 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:45.819 And he said to them, now, collectively gathered together as a group, with not just those two individuals, but also with the eleven, he says to them, Why are you troubled? 00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:49.500 And why do doubts arise within you? 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:51.099 Pretty good question, isn't it? 00:30:52.219 --> 00:31:11.579 I mean, after all, if you if you saw your rabbi being beaten and mocked and maligned and cut and pierced and crucified and nailed to a cross, I mean that's about the that's about the worst thing that could ever happen to you as a follower. 00:31:11.659 --> 00:31:18.459 Like you there, there's there's nothing worse than that that's going to happen to the person that you're following. 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:20.059 That's as bad as it gets. 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:28.539 And now here this individual stands before you, and what hope, what hope could that bring? 00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:41.659 I mean, if the if the father has in has for us done away with the greatest enemy we have ever faced, is there anything he cannot do for us? 00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:45.179 And the answer is no. 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:55.500 If he can make dead men live, if he can bring back to life someone who died, especially the way this man died, there is nothing he cannot do. 00:31:55.659 --> 00:31:58.059 So this is a valid question Jesus is asking them. 00:31:58.299 --> 00:32:03.419 Why is it the case that you are downcast and and and destroyed? 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:08.059 Why are you troubled and why do doubts continue to arise in your hearts? 00:32:08.219 --> 00:32:11.259 Can I just pause for a second and ask you that question? 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:30.299 What is it about the stuff that we face in life that causes us to be so consumed with the sorrows and frustrations and fears of this world that we forget that one that God made this man live again? 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:33.659 That this God man came back to life. 00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:45.339 It's that that is the reason why, ladies and gentlemen, that the resurrection meant so much to the early church because everything hinged on it. 00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:50.139 See, it was necessary for Christ to die, as he just pointed out here. 00:32:50.379 --> 00:32:54.699 It was necessary for him to die, for our sins to suffer. 00:32:54.779 --> 00:33:05.419 It was necessary for God to allow that moment whenever the wrath of man was poured out on God so that you and I could see exactly what was in his heart. 00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:11.979 The crucifixion was the worst form of execution ever dreamed up by the Romans, and perhaps in human history. 00:33:12.139 --> 00:33:20.699 And it was a perfect moment for God to say, humanity, this is what you really are, this is what you would do to God given the opportunity. 00:33:20.939 --> 00:33:33.099 But at that exact moment, whenever we were pouring our wrath out on him, he was pouring his wrath out on sin and providing an opportunity for you and I to be saved. 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:41.740 That is a huge liberating truth that once we understand that, man, all other problems kind of fall by the wayside. 00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:47.419 Let me ask you, as we're about to close here, three questions. 00:33:48.219 --> 00:33:53.740 They are the questions that Jesus asked, and then we're going to attack on one more for just good measure. 00:33:54.219 --> 00:33:57.179 What is the conversation that you are having right now? 00:33:58.379 --> 00:33:59.500 What is it that you're facing? 00:33:59.579 --> 00:34:10.139 And like you're you're discussing, and maybe even with someone else, you're disputing in your mind what's going on and what does it mean, and and and you're grappling for another answer to another question. 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:12.380 What are you really wrestling over? 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:14.940 Who are you really blaming for it? 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:19.820 Question number two, isn't it necessary that suffering will come? 00:34:20.139 --> 00:34:35.420 I mean, after all, Jesus promised that that if that we're not greater than our master, if we as if he as a master suffered and experienced sorrow, how much more will we who follow him experience sorrow and suffering? 00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:46.460 The promise that the same person who promised, Come to me, all you who are who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:34:46.620 --> 00:34:53.500 My yoke is easy and my burden is light, is the same one who also promised, in this world, you will have trouble. 00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:55.740 Which brings me to the third question. 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:57.420 Why are we troubled? 00:34:57.660 --> 00:34:59.340 Why are our doubts rise? 00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:00.700 Why do they rise up within us? 00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:04.700 And the truth is, it is because of our unmet expectations. 00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:15.579 My expectation to build my kingdom and to do the thing my way, to have my kind of life and my kind of joy, to do it my way. 00:35:15.660 --> 00:35:17.099 I want to be my own God. 00:35:17.260 --> 00:35:19.340 I'm just like Eve in the garden. 00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:21.099 I'm going to set up my kingdom. 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:23.180 It's that unmet expectation. 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:24.940 You see, the truth is, please hear me. 00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:27.820 If you don't hear anything else, come back in for this. 00:35:28.059 --> 00:35:39.980 See, my greatest frustrations in life is b they exist because I've created this image of God and this image of Jesus that He's here to serve me and how He's going to do it. 00:35:40.220 --> 00:35:44.460 And I'm here to tell you that image is not as valuable as the true thing. 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:55.019 I I honestly I try not to incorporate grandchild illustrations in every single sermon. 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.820 I'm working. 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:57.820 I'm like I'm not used to one in weeks. 00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:59.579 Okay, so just get ready for it. 00:36:00.140 --> 00:36:03.180 The other day I was uh a couple of weeks ago on Fridays. 00:36:03.260 --> 00:36:11.500 I have I have Deaton all day long, and and and and he was sitting there and and and and uh we were watching we were watching TV. 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:26.780 Uh I turn on Southeast Christian Church, um, their their their services and and and we listened to it together and and and I think he's like I the other day I saw him, he he was raising his fist up high, and I'm like, get it boy, like get it done. 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:37.660 You know, so we were laying there and there was a there was service that was on on the TV in front of us, and and uh and he was laying there and he he fell asleep because everyone falls asleep during sermons, it's okay. 00:36:38.780 --> 00:36:56.300 And he um he was there and I and I reached down, I grabbed my camera, and and because he was so sweet, and I know one day he's not gonna be, and I took a picture of him and and and just laying there, and I just looked at that picture and I thought to myself, this is just wonderful. 00:36:56.460 --> 00:37:11.660 I mean, just wow, the opportunity to have this kid so close to us and and to hold him and to help him take his first steps and to be there whenever all his parents are so great to include us in everything, and and and like such a great experience. 00:37:11.820 --> 00:37:15.180 And I promise you, I think God leaned down and said, Yeah, it's great, right? 00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:16.140 I'm like, Yeah, it's great. 00:37:16.220 --> 00:37:20.140 He said, I don't recall for you, I don't recall you asking for that. 00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:23.180 And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. 00:37:23.740 --> 00:37:27.500 No, I'm way too dumb to ask for that. 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:33.260 Like, I'm asking for possessions and I'm asking for ease of life and I'm asking for security. 00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:37.579 And right there in front of me, holding that child was like the most wonderful thing. 00:37:37.740 --> 00:37:41.740 And I'm just like, I I I never would have thought to ask for that. 00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:48.460 Can I just tell you that what God brings you are things that you would never ask for, but they are the most wonderful things. 00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:55.579 And at times, yeah, it takes you to distress and and sorrows, and Jesus will walk, he'll let you walk seven miles. 00:37:55.820 --> 00:38:08.059 Jesus will let you walk 14 miles, he'll let you walk 1,400 miles, he'll walk as far with you as he needs to walk for you and I to learn the lessons that we need to learn to develop a callus or two on our feet and realize we need to stop walking. 00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:15.500 He'll do that because he loves us and he will give us a thing that we would never have asked for, but we so desperately need. 00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:19.740 We try to set up this image of God, this image of Jesus that we want. 00:38:19.900 --> 00:38:20.860 Can I just invite you? 00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:35.260 Can I just ask you, are you willing to trade, to let go of the Jesus that you had hoped for in exchange for the one that rose from the dead? 00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:40.140 He's worth so much more. 00:38:41.660 --> 00:38:47.260 Yeah, there's a lot he could have done and some prayers that you would have loved to have answered. 00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:50.780 But if he didn't answer them, there's a reason why. 00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:53.340