From Disappointment to Divine Appointment: Finding Jesus on the Road to Emmaus

The love of God is most powerfully displayed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who died for us while we were still lost in our sins. This love is not something we could ever earn or deserve; it is a free gift, given even when we are at our worst. From the very beginning, God had a plan to rescue humanity, and the cross is the ultimate demonstration of His faithfulness and mercy. As we remember Christ’s body and blood through communion, we are reminded that our salvation is not based on our own efforts, but on the finished work of Jesus. The bread and the cup are symbols of a love that justifies us, cleanses us, and brings us into right relationship with God.

Yet, life on this broken earth is filled with disappointments. Our expectations often do not match reality, and we can find ourselves discouraged when God does not act in the way we hoped. The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus shows how disappointment can blur our vision, making it hard to recognize Jesus even when He is walking right beside us. Their hopes were shattered because they expected Jesus to overthrow Rome, but God’s plan was far greater—eternal salvation. Disappointment can reveal what is truly in our hearts, exposing the expectations we place on God that He never promised to fulfill.

In these moments, it is crucial to return to the Word of God. Scripture is the anchor that guides us through the fog of disappointment, reminding us of God’s true promises and reigniting hope within us. Fellowship with Christ—inviting Him into our private moments—brings revelation and opens our eyes to His presence and purpose. When we allow God to meet us in our disappointments, He can transform our pain into testimony. The very places of our deepest hurt can become the ground for our greatest encounters with Jesus, and our stories of disappointment can become stories of hope for others.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s love is unconditional and proactive, reaching out to us even when we are at our lowest. The cross is not a response to our worthiness, but a declaration that God’s love is greater than our sin and brokenness. We are justified not by our efforts, but by Christ’s sacrifice, and this should fill us with gratitude every time we remember Him. [02:21]
• 2. Disappointment often comes from unmet expectations—especially when we project our desires onto God rather than seeking His will. When our hopes are not fulfilled in the way we imagined, it can lead to spiritual blindness, making it difficult to see God’s presence and purpose in our lives. True faith requires us to trust God’s wisdom above our own understanding, even when His answers differ from our requests. [23:17]
• 3. The fog of disappointment can distort our perception, causing us to focus on what we have lost rather than what remains. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we may miss the reality of Christ’s nearness because we are preoccupied with our pain. It is essential to remember that God’s promises remain true, even when our circumstances are confusing or painful. [37:02]
• 4. God’s Word is the instrument panel that keeps us oriented when life feels disorienting. When disappointment threatens to sweep us away, returning to Scripture anchors us in truth and rekindles hope. The Word does not always change our situation, but it changes us—warming our hearts and restoring our faith in God’s greater plan. [49:21]
• 5. Intimacy with Christ—inviting Him into our private struggles—brings revelation and healing. Sometimes the breakthrough we need comes not in public miracles, but in quiet moments of fellowship with Jesus. When we allow Him into our disappointments, He transforms them into testimonies, using our pain as a platform for His glory and for the encouragement of others. [51:40]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:46] - The Meaning of Hosanna and Our Need for Rescue
• [01:56] - Communion: Remembering God’s Love and Sacrifice
• [04:21] - God’s Standard and Our Need for Grace
• [06:09] - The Passover Fulfilled in Christ
• [09:21] - Invitation to Salvation
• [12:48] - Reading from Luke: The Last Supper
• [15:17] - Proclamation of Identity in Christ
• [16:23] - Introduction: Dealing with Disappointment
• [19:56] - The Nature of Disappointment and Expectations
• [22:19] - The Road to Emmaus: Disciples’ Disappointment
• [29:51] - Jesus Meets Us in Our Disappointment
• [36:31] - Disappointment Can Blur Our Vision
• [40:08] - Disappointment Reveals Our Hearts
• [46:33] - God’s Word Rekindles Hope
• [50:29] - Revelation Through Fellowship with Christ
• [53:10] - From Disappointment to Testimony
• [55:07] - Jesus Turns Disappointment into Divine Appointments
• [56:27] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

Luke 24:13–35 (ESV) — > 13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
> ...
> 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 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?”
> ...
> 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Romans 5:8–9 (ESV) — > 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Observation Questions

1. In the story of the road to Emmaus, what were the disciples talking about as they walked, and how did their emotional state affect their ability to recognize Jesus? ([31:16])
2. According to Romans 5:8–9, when did Christ die for us, and what does this say about the nature of God’s love? ([02:21])
3. What did Jesus do to help the disciples on the road to Emmaus understand what had happened, and how did their understanding change? ([48:09])
4. What physical actions did Jesus take at the table that finally opened the disciples’ eyes to who he was? ([34:45])

Interpretation Questions

1. The disciples were disappointed because their expectations of Jesus didn’t match what actually happened. What does this reveal about the dangers of putting our own expectations on God? ([22:19])
2. The sermon says disappointment can blur our vision, like fog. How does disappointment make it hard to see God’s presence or purpose in our lives? ([37:02])
3. Jesus used Scripture to help the disciples see the truth. Why is returning to God’s Word so important when we are confused or discouraged? ([48:09])
4. The disciples’ eyes were opened in a moment of fellowship with Jesus. What does this suggest about the role of intimacy with Christ in finding hope and healing? ([51:40])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says God’s love is a free gift, given even when we are at our worst. Do you ever struggle to accept that God loves you unconditionally? What makes it hard to believe, and how can you remind yourself of this truth? ([02:21])
2. Think about a recent disappointment in your life. Did it reveal any expectations you had placed on God that He never promised to fulfill? How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? ([22:19])
3. When you are discouraged or confused, do you tend to withdraw from God’s Word or press in? What is one practical way you can anchor yourself in Scripture during tough times? ([49:21])
4. The disciples missed Jesus walking right beside them because they were focused on their pain. Is there an area in your life where you might be missing God’s presence because of disappointment? How can you invite Him into that place? ([37:02])
5. The sermon talks about inviting Jesus into our private struggles. What would it look like for you to have a “private moment” with Jesus this week? Is there a specific area of pain or disappointment you need to bring to Him? ([51:40])
6. Has God ever used a disappointment in your life to bring about something good or to help someone else? Would you be willing to share that story with the group? ([54:21])
7. The disciples’ testimony after meeting Jesus became a source of hope for others. How can you use your own story of disappointment and hope to encourage someone else this week? ([54:21])