April 6, 2008
Rev. Terry D. Campbell

Going Down Disappointment Road
Luke 24:13-35

“Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "’Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?’

¹⁹’What things?’ he asked.

‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²²In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.’

²⁵He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. ²⁹But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³²They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’

³³They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ ³⁵Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”

We, Christians, are Easter people—people of the resurrection life, joy and power.  But from time to time we allow ourselves to get overcome by problems, hard times, broken dreams, crushed hopes and find ourselves going down the road of disappointment and discouragement.  What are we to do?  How can we get back on the road to life, joy and power?  Remember:

I.  Disappointment can get us to look away from Jesus. (vs. 16-17)

Despite the fact that it was still Easter DAY, these two disciples from the town of Emmaus were downcast!  They didn’t believe Jesus’ promises and those of the Scriptures. (vs. 17b)  The adventure with Jesus had offered them much promise and excitement, but Jesus was captured and killed and it was over.  Now it was back to the old grind.  There was nothing more to do.  They walked along downcast.

Also notice that as they walked along, Jesus was there with them, but they didn’t recognize Him because of their disappointment.  They were so focused on their problems instead of what the Lord had said that they did not recognize Jesus in their midst. 

This IS possible!  In 1981 we were in the process of building a new church building at North Salem UMC in Brown County and we were doing it ourselves, using volunteer labor.  It was great fun, but long and tiring hours.  One day, I was passing through the old building, the phone rang—we had no secretary—so I answered it.  The woman on the other end just started talking.  Without her identifying herself, how could I know who she was.  I let her talk for a while, being polite and finally had to ask, “Maam, who is this?”  She said “Pam” and went on talking.  Well, that didn’t ring any bells.  And after a while longer, I finally had to ask her, “I’m sorry Maam.  Pam who?”  And she responded, “Pam your wife!”  I’ve never forgotten the time I did not recognize my own wife’s voice on phone.  The problem was I was busy thinking of other things—she was out of context and so I didn’t recognize her.

That was part of the problem with these two on the way to Emmaus.  They were so concentrated on their disappointment and pain that they didn’t recognize Jesus when He did come to them.  We never want to minimize someone’s pain or discount people’s troubles, but we need to ask ourselves, “What am I looking at here—my problems, or my Lord?  Am I trying to deal with this alone, or am I letting Jesus help me carry this load?”

II.  The risen Jesus is for us, not just others in the past.

Vs. 15-As they discussed their discouragement, They kicked around how others had talked about Jesus being alive but they hadn’t experienced it.  Even though Jesus was already with them, they were so focused on their problem and their pain that they failed to expect Him to be with them.  Jesus had said, “After three days I will rise again.”  And earlier He had promised, Matthew 18:20-“’For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.’”

These two focused on what had always been and their disappointment about Jesus being killed. 

We, too, read about other Christians who have risked their lives to turn the world upside down bringing the Good News of Jesus’ kingdom; or how Jesus changed the life of an alcoholic who, setting him free and healing his family; the workaholic becomes able to stop slavery to the “schedule” and see the needs of others; the executive who hears God’s message and dares to live with ethics as more important than ladder climbing; the uptight worrier who, through Christ’s presence, can go on and do what is right while still being worried; or Christians trying to bless the world by helping people in Africa with aids or starving children in India.  Jesus is not just for past times—or —stories of others who experienced Him.  He is for us, too!

We, too read about other Christians who have risked their lives to turn the world upside down bringing the Good News of Jesus’ kingdom; or of how Jesus changed the life of an alcoholic, setting him free and healing his family; or about Christians trying to changed world by helping people in Africa with aids or starving children in India; or ??? and an eternity with God.  Jesus is not just for past times—or —not just in stories of others who experienced resurrection events.  He is for us, too!

Galatians 2:20-“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 (MsgB)-“Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

III.  Realize who Jesus is in your life, and your peace will return.

³⁰When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³²They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’

When they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, He disappeared. But though Jesus disappeared—they were not disappointed anymore.  They were excited to personally know Jesus is alive and has conquered death—just like He said He would!

They had a new excitement because they had a new hope and discouragement took a back seat!  They now had their own story to tell.  It was 6.8 miles back to Jerusalem, but they went to tell what had just happened to them.  They went with new life, new excitement, new strength. Their lives had new meaning and they would even be will to de for Christ in the future because they had experienced the risen Christ.

Disappointments often stop us from trying to do things.  Excitement and hope motivate us to action.

What will you do now?

By faith, sense Jesus’ presence with as you receive the broken bread and the shared cup.

Remember He promised to never leave you alone.  Be encouraged and filled with God’s joy and strength in His presence!

What are you now encouraged to attempt in His name?  What part of God’s kingdom of Good are you ready to move forward to establish in His living name?

Easter people, meet Him in the sharing of this holy meal!  Amen.