Finding Hope: The Journey with Jesus

The journey to finding hope again begins with Jesus drawing near to us, even in our moments of doubt and confusion. He comes alongside us, listens to our stories, and understands our disappointments. The couple on the road to Emmaus had been let down by their religious leaders and confused by the reports of Jesus’ resurrection. They struggled to make sense of what had happened, much like we do when faced with life's challenges. Yet, Jesus was present with them, guiding them back to hope. [00:03:14]

Jesus identifies the problem within us, which is often our slowness of heart to believe. He challenges us to recognize that while external circumstances may contribute to our loss of hope, there is also an internal struggle that we must confront. Accepting this diagnosis is crucial for our spiritual growth and renewal of hope. [00:13:27]

Focusing on Jesus is essential. As He opened the scriptures to the couple, their hearts began to burn with renewed faith. The scriptures reveal the necessity of Jesus’ suffering and glory, showing that hope is not lost in suffering but is often birthed through it. By focusing on Jesus and His promises, we find the foundation for our hope. [00:17:24]

Finally, Jesus provokes a decision. He acts as if He will go further, prompting the couple to invite Him to stay. This decision to invite Jesus into our lives is pivotal. When we ask Him to stay, He reveals Himself to us, and our eyes are opened to His presence and power. [00:19:33]

The story of the couple on the road to Emmaus reminds us that Jesus is nearer than we realize. By inviting Him into our lives, we can find hope again, even when we have been let down, confused, or struggled to make sense of what has happened. [00:21:51]

Jesus himself Drew near, so a stranger joins them on their Journey they don't realize that it is Jesus he's just a stranger to them. He asks them now what are you talking about what's this conversation that's going on between you, and when the stranger asks this of them, the couple just stop right there in the road in their tracks They Stood Still looking sad. [00:04:25]

Jesus draws near to people who have been let down by their own religious leaders. The stranger you see asks them what they are talking about and they say Well they're talking about Jesus and then they say and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. Our chief priests and rulers, our leaders, have led us down. [00:06:07]

Jesus draws near to people who struggle with what has happened. This couple knew of course that Jesus was a prophet Mighty indeed and in word. He could still a storm, he could heal the sick, he could raise the Dead, so why then would he have allowed his own crucifixion? See behind this loss of Hope there was a painful question why did Jesus allow this to happen? [00:11:04]

Jesus identifies the problem: "foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." Now these words come as a real shock and a surprise in the story. I mean Jesus has been drawing out the reason for their sadness he's been listening as they tell him the whole story of why it is that they have lost hope. [00:12:21]

Jesus focuses attention on himself, beginning with Moses and all the prophets he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Now I think every preacher wishes that he could hear how Jesus opened up the scriptures concerning himself what passages did he point to what did he say about them of course we're not told but we are told the main point that Jesus proved from the Old Testament scriptures. [00:15:45]

Jesus provokes a decision: so they drew near to the Village to which they were going, he acted as if he were going further, but they urged him strongly saying stay with us, but it is toward the evening and the day is now far spent, so he went in to stay with them. So now they arrive at Emmaus which presumably was home for this couple. [00:19:33]

Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight and 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. So now they've asked Jesus to stay they bring Jesus into their home they prepare a meal for this stranger they still don't know who he is and Jesus Takes the bread in his hands and as he breaks it their eyes were opened and they recognized him. [00:21:51]