Sermon: April 22, 2012

 “Scripture Open with Burning Hearts”

Scripture: Psalm 4 read responsively and Luke 24: 13-35

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ April 22, 2012

Unity Presbyterian Church ~ Terre Haute, Indiana

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE

Psalm 4 read responsively
There is certainly nothing wrong with fondly remembering the past or planning for the future. But if we only play a game of “what was?” or “what could be?” when will we focus on “what is” in our life?  Psalm 4 plants us in the spiritual present. We might not have everything we want, but God gives us all we need for now and that is more than enough.

¹Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

²How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah
³But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
⁴When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah
⁵Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.
⁶There are many who say, “O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
⁷You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.
⁸I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Luke 24: 13-35
Here at the end of Luke's Gospel there occurs the story of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. Again we find Jesus eating with outcasts, but this time the outcasts are two of his disciples who have abandoned the journey of faith and left Jerusalem and their fellow believers.  To them everything has been lost and they might as well go home.  In their doubt and discouragement Jesus comes to teach them and eat with them one more time, but the real feast is of scripture laid out by the Word made flesh.

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over 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 took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed 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 they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

SERMON

Jesus taught or preached in a variety of formats.  He told stories or used examples of life around him.  Though he mentions scripture, his main focus is the coming of the Kingdom of God through his ministry.  Here with these disciples his focus becomes scripture’s revelatory nature to speak to the times they were living and through their witness to us to speak to our times.

Most Sundays I get to talk to our daughter, Esther.  We usually cover the gamut of health, family connections, religion, politics and new readings.  It is just such an intimate conversation that Jesus has with these wandering disciples on the road to Emmaus.  Jesus is always willing to listen to where we are.  Before encouraging us to stretch ourselves to a new place, Jesus wants to know where we are now and in the process we too release where we are.  Jesus can see that these disciples are sad and discouraged and listening to their story of loss is where he begins.  There is a profound irony when they ask him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He knew pretty well what had happened “in these days.”  Still he asks, "What things?" Thus he encourages them to reveal their hearts. We need to understand Jesus’ message for our lives but he also longs for us to tell him what is in our hearts.  It is in the sharing that we draw close to him.  Like a call from family far away it ever so briefly makes us feel close.

Now the scripture tells us what these men know about Jesus: that besides his name and where he was from, they confess that he was a Prophet “mighty in deed and word before God.”  Here they reveal their expectations that Jesus was more than just a Rabbi, teacher, healer.  They had hoped he was the long awaited Messiah sent by God to redeem Israel.  Even though they have heard the reports that he has risen from the dead, there is an inconsolable loss in their hearts which comes from seeing their beloved leader being crucified. Such a terrible loss can seem insurmountable. Like these disciples, we too hope that Jesus will make a difference in our lives and our world. These disciples had a hope, but death had crushed their hope so that even the Good News of the resurrection did not revive it.   The report of the women and other disciples meant little to them, because they had not seen him.  Like with Thomas, Jesus wants to know from them what He wants to know from us: can we believe without seeing with our own eyes?  In response to their doubt Jesus teaches them from their scripture why the Messiah had to suffer.

We often think the main obstacles to belief are in the head, but they are actually in the heart. Jesus says they were foolish, and “slow of heart to believe.” The text reads “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.”  This is where their hearts begin to burn with faith once again.  What texts would Jesus have used?

I am pretty sure he would of used Isaiah 53:3-5:

He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

This passage was written over six-hundred years before the birth of Jesus.   It is amazing how many similarities to Jesus’ own suffering was the suffering servant of God found in the Prophet Isaiah’s witness.

When they reach Emmaus, Jesus seems to plan to leave them but now they want to learn more.  Often once we begin our study of scripture we can never get enough of it.  Still these disciples did not recognize Jesus, so he stays and eats with them.  Finally in the breaking of the bread their eyes are opened and they recognize him.  Sometime Jesus is right in front of us and yet we cannot seem him. We need to study scripture even when we are less than inspired; even when our hearts do not burn with a passionate faith; even when our sorrows and suffering cloud our vision of the promise in Jesus. Pray that God would open your eyes to see Jesus as He is, with you all the time; in the reading of the Word; in the breaking of the bread; in the fellowship of other believers Jesus is our companion on the journey. Amen.