It's All About Jesus | Dr. Nate Millican | Graceland.Church

The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 reminds us that all of Scripture, and indeed all of life, is centered on Jesus. Just as a movie’s ending can change how we see every earlier scene, knowing the risen Christ transforms how we read the Bible and understand our own stories. The Old Testament, the Gospels, the Epistles, and Revelation all point to Jesus—He is the thread that ties the entire narrative together. When we read the Bible, we are not reading a book about ourselves, but about Him: His person, His work, His sacrifice, and His victory.

Without Jesus as our anchor, we are prone to drift—whether in our theology, our relationships, or our daily living. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were discouraged because they only believed part of what Jesus had said; they missed the resurrection. In the same way, we often trust Jesus with our eternity but not with the details of our lives—our marriages, our work, our anxieties, our relationships. Yet, the gospel is not just a ticket to heaven; it is the power and wisdom for every aspect of life.

The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories or moral lessons, but a unified story that finds its fulfillment in Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is present: the promised seed, the Passover Lamb, the High Priest, the Kinsman Redeemer, the Prince of Peace, the Good Shepherd, the King of Kings. He is the true and better Adam, Moses, Job, David, Esther, and Jonah. Every page whispers His name.

This truth calls for a response. For those who already believe, it is a call to be “all in” with Jesus—to let every part of life be shaped by Him, to gather with His people, to be reminded and refreshed in worship, and to live with courage and humility. For those who do not yet know Him, the invitation is simple: acknowledge your need, believe in His finished work, and call out to Him for salvation. All of life is for Jesus, and everything we need for life and godliness is found in Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Seeing Jesus in All of Scripture Understanding the Bible as a unified story about Jesus changes how we read every passage. The Old Testament is not just background or moral instruction; it is Christ concealed, waiting to be revealed in the person and work of Jesus. When our eyes are opened by God, we see that every book, every promise, and every prophecy finds its fulfillment in Him. [51:12]
• 2. The Danger of Partial Belief The disciples on the road to Emmaus believed some things about Jesus but not all. We often do the same—trusting Christ with our salvation but not with our daily struggles, relationships, or decisions. True faith means embracing all that Jesus has said and done, allowing His resurrection power to shape every area of our lives, not just our eternity. [49:48]
• 3. The Gospel as Heart Surgery, Not a Band-Aid Our deepest problems are not just unmet needs or difficult circumstances, but the reality of sin in our hearts. When we remove sin from our diagnosis, we remove the need for repentance and the power of the cross. The gospel offers not just surface fixes, but a new heart—an ongoing supply of grace that enables us to love and forgive as we have been loved and forgiven. [58:25]
• 4. Jesus as the True and Better Fulfillment Jesus is not just a figure in the Bible; He is the fulfillment of every story, every hope, and every longing. He is the true and better Adam, Moses, Job, David, Esther, and Jonah—succeeding where all others failed, and offering us His victory. This perspective transforms how we see both Scripture and our own lives, inviting us to find our identity and hope in Him alone. [64:02]
• 5. The Call to Courageous Response Following Jesus requires courage and humility—whether it’s stepping forward in faith for the first time or admitting as a believer that you need to be “all in” with Him. Significant change in our lives comes when we stop caring about the opinions of others and respond to God’s invitation. Every week, every day, we are called to move toward Jesus, trusting that everything we need is found in Him. [73:24]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [39:46] - Introduction: It’s All About Jesus
• [40:34] - The Sixth Sense and Seeing the End
• [42:34] - Reading the Bible with Jesus at the Center
• [43:22] - Jesus as Our Anchor
• [44:23] - Reading Luke 24:13-18
• [45:47] - Hearts Burning for Jesus
• [46:47] - The Emmaus Road: What Happened?
• [48:35] - Jesus’ Rebuke and the Necessity of Belief
• [50:12] - The Bible is About Jesus
• [51:12] - Jesus in the Old Testament
• [53:00] - Paul’s Focus: Christ and Him Crucified
• [54:36] - Trusting Jesus in All of Life
• [55:24] - The Gospel and Our Relationships
• [59:37] - The Bible’s Unified Story
• [61:02] - Jesus in Every Book of the Bible
• [64:02] - Jesus as the True and Better
• [66:16] - Everything We Need is in Jesus
• [67:28] - The Call to Be All In
• [68:17] - The ABCs of Responding to Jesus
• [71:31] - Prayer and Invitation
• [73:24] - Responding with Courage
• [74:12] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Luke 24:13-35 (ESV) —
> That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
>
> So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 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. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Observation Questions

1. What were the disciples discussing as they walked to Emmaus, and how did they feel about recent events? (Luke 24:13-17)
2. How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ sadness and confusion? What did he do to help them understand? (Luke 24:25-27)
3. According to the sermon, what was the main reason the disciples were discouraged on the road to Emmaus? [[49:48]]
4. What was the disciples’ reaction after Jesus opened the Scriptures to them and revealed himself? (Luke 24:31-32)

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the disciples failed to recognize Jesus at first, even though they had heard reports of his resurrection? What does this say about spiritual blindness or partial belief? [[49:48]]
2. The sermon says, “The Bible is not about you. The Bible is not about me. It’s about Jesus.” How does this perspective change the way someone might read the Old Testament or any part of Scripture? [[50:12]]
3. The pastor described the gospel as “heart surgery, not a band-aid.” What does this mean in the context of our struggles and relationships? [[58:25]]
4. Jesus is described as the “true and better” Adam, Moses, Job, David, Esther, and Jonah. What is the significance of seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of these Old Testament figures? [[01:04:02]]

Application Questions

1. The disciples on the road to Emmaus believed some things about Jesus but not all. In what areas of your life do you find it easy to trust Jesus, and in what areas do you struggle to believe his promises or power? [[49:48]]
2. The sermon challenged us not to treat the gospel as just a “ticket to heaven” but as the power for daily living. What is one specific area of your life (marriage, work, anxiety, relationships, etc.) where you need to invite Jesus’ wisdom and power this week? [[54:36]]
3. The pastor said, “When you remove sin, you remove the need for repentance and the power of the cross.” Are there places in your life or relationships where you tend to blame circumstances or others instead of recognizing your own sin? How can you practice repentance in those areas? [[58:25]]
4. The sermon described the Bible as a unified story that “finds its fulfillment in Christ.” How might you begin to look for Jesus in your Bible reading, even in passages that seem unrelated to him? [[51:12]]
5. The call was made to be “all in” with Jesus, letting every part of life be shaped by him. What would it look like for you to be “all in” this week? Is there a specific step of obedience, courage, or humility you sense God is asking you to take? [[01:07:28]]
6. The pastor mentioned the importance of gathering with God’s people and being reminded and refreshed in worship. How does regular worship and community help you keep Jesus at the center of your life? [[01:07:03]]
7. For those who may not yet know Jesus, the invitation was to “acknowledge your need, believe in his finished work, and call out to him for salvation.” If you have not yet taken this step, what questions or hesitations do you have? If you have, how can you share this invitation with someone else this week? [[01:08:17]]