Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Sunday,
October 28, 2017
HEB 12:1-3, Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
You call them a Flock, a Herd or a Mob
Perhaps one of the most important characters in the Bible. Not because of what he did or said, but because of what the Lord said to him.
The Lord cannot be unfair, unjust, it would be unjust for anyone who has believed in the Lord to lose that salvation.
The Lord is on the Cross, it was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
LUK 24, On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they (Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James) came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
LUK 8:1-3, Jesus began going around from one city to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God.
The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses:
Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza (whod-za) Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
LUK 24:3, they found the stone rolled away, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord.
While they were perplexed about this, behold,
The reason it was opened was not to let the Lord out, He could have just gone through the stone at the entrance.
But it was removed by the angels to allow people to see He was no longer there.
Vs 5-7, Why do you seek the living One among the dead?
He is not here, but He has risen.
Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?"
Vs 12, Peter got up and ran to the tomb; looks in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
LUK 24:18, 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?”
LUK 24:21, 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.
LUK 24:25, And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”
Beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
LUK 24:28, And they approached the village where they were going, 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. 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.
LUK 24:31, Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
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?”
And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon that is Peter.”
“Have you anything here to eat?”
They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them.
EXO 32:28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
ACT 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Perhaps the road to Emmaus is a road that must be walked, in one sense or another by everyone who would become a better servant of our Lord.
If you are ever are on that road, that is where the Lord will meet you. It might be rather dramatic or not. It might be in a hospital room, or in your garden, or on a horse on the way to Damascus.
Their walk had started out in excitement, on fire for the cause, it would go through the stage of disbelief, sadness, and frustration, it would get to a point where they had given up.
However, it ended in joy, excitement, love, and true devotion and understanding.
PHI 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So, after His appearance to Mary Magdalene in the garden early in the morning, Jesus next appeared (not counting a private, unrecorded appearance to Peter) to a man and his wife, Cleopas and Mary, and another man and one would assume his wife as well.
At this point Cleopas and Mary have not yet believed, and they were going home. It was all over. The dream was dead, and they were sad.
The first part of opening their understanding takes place as they reflected on what Christ had said to them. “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us along the way, and while He opened the Scriptures?”
The second part of opening their understanding.
Jesus had taught them on the way. And then, as He sat with them and broke bread with them in their home, “their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.”
The third opening found at the very end of the story after Cleopas and Mary had returned to Jerusalem and had told the other disciples of Christ’s appearance to them.
As they were speaking, Jesus appeared again in their midst and then “opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures”.
When Jesus opened the Scriptures we are told that their hearts burned within them. They were saying, “Isn’t this exciting? Isn’t it thrilling?”