Word of Salvation – Vol.01 No.00 – Easter 1955
Jesus’ Glory At Emmaus
Sermon by Rev. D. C. Bouma on Luke 24:13-35
Liturgy (Order of Worship)
– Silent prayer:
“Let us bow our heads together in silent prayer”.
– Votum and Salutation:
“Our help is in the Name of the Lord who made the heaven and the earth”.
“Grace with us and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen”.
– “Let us begin our worship by singing Hymn no. 221:1,2,3”
– “Let us now make confession with our heart of our historic Christian Faith,
with the words from the Apostles Creed: I believe…..!”
– Congregational prayer: “Let us lift up our hearts together in prayer to God.”
– Reading of Scripture: John 20: 19 31
– Reception of Offerings
– Hymn of Supplication: 302:1,3,4
– Text: Luke 24: 13 – 35 & Sermon.
– Prayer of Application:
“Lord, shed thy glory abroad within us that our hearts may burn for thee
and our lives may testify to the power of God in Jesus Christ. Amen”
– Hymn of Dedication: 379:1,2,3
– Benediction: “Lift up your hearts unto the Lord, and let us ask Him
for His parting blessing:
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father
and the communion of the Holy Spirit, abide with us. Amen.”
– Doxology: 466
– – – – – – – – – – – –
Congregation, beloved of the Lord Jesus Christ:
The resurrection of Jesus from the grave on the third day is the LIFE and the GLORY of the church. After He arose, Jesus began showing His glory to His disciples. And His glory gave new life to the church. His personal presence strengthened the little band and prepared it for its great worldwide work.
I want to speak to you on:
JESUS’ GLORY AT EMMAUS, or…
THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED!
- Do you not know…?
- Did not the Christ have to…?
- Was not our heart burning…?
Jesus is the Healer of souls and the Lord of the church. Better than anyone else He knows what she needs. And He shepherds her tenderly.
Our text tells us that “two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus…!
Two of them… the name of one was Cleopas, and that’s all we know about them. Two of the followers of Jesus, unknown to us, going to a town which today is also unknown to us; but Jesus knows them and their town. It’s not too far for Jesus to walk. These unknown members of Christ’s body must also feel and see Christ’s resurrection glory and power.
The good news…. the Gospel must also burn in their hearts and pour from their lips. They must be filled with that one main message, “The Lord is risen indeed..!” Their lives must be thrilled by the personal presence of the Lord of Life Himself.
No village too small… no way too long… no people too unimportant for the Lord to visit. For they communed and questioned together about “all these things which had happened.” They were talking about the Lord and what had happened to Him.
They had followed the Master… heard His Words… seen His works….yes, they loved Him and worshipped Him… they had hoped that He was the God-sent Redeemer. But, Oh those last three days! …that CROSS!…. that red “x” crossing out all their hopes and beliefs.
The cross had frustrated their love and offended their faith!
How they were filled with sorrow and anger at the thought of it.
So deep were they in thoughts and words that they did not notice a third person who walked along with them.
The Lord of the Scriptures… He had heard the words of sorrow and disappointment… He had felt the longing of love in their hearts. Their words were hard on Jesus but their tears honoured him. And the Lord loved them.
Beloved, Jesus is there, today, where hearts long or Him. Just at the time when we are disappointed with what has happened… just at the time when it seems as though the Lord has gone right out of our lives, and we are left alone with questions and doubts and blasted hopes… .Jesus is near!
No… you don’t immediately recognize Him any more than these two men did. He will TEST us. He will try us out.
He will hear what we have to say. And, what WE have to say is often not so very nice.
“Are you a stranger? Haven’t you heard of Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people? Don’t you know that, instead of praising God for Him, the people crucified Him? Our people turned against God…! Once more in their history they killed one of His prophets. And God doesn’t speak. The prophet died… and nothing happened. Murderers rule the people. Liars and betrayers go up to the temple, sing psalms… and the prophet is in the grave. Some women we know tell the story that His body is gone from the grave, BUT HIM THEY DID NOT SEE..!”
Ah, that’s the point of all their sorrow and disappointment… and of ours… “Him they did not see..!” They don’t bother to ask, “Where is the body?” or, “Is He really alive?” They ask only: “Why doesn’t He show Himself to Israel… Why doesn’t He SHOW and ACT as the SAVIOUR? Words and visions of angels mean nothing. We need a powerful Saviour RIGHT NOW to save Israel from its bondage under Rome. We don’t want words and promises; we want ACTION.
Yes, beloved, we had hoped… and then everything went wrong…and some say that He is alive, but HIM WE DID NOT SEE. For us, words and promises are not enough.
If He lives, why doesn’t HE DO SOMETHING…!?
Do you know what Jesus says?
“Oh foolish men and slow of heart to BELIEVE!” That’s your trouble and mine from day to day. That is why we think Christ is gone. That’s why life is dull and grey… and full of sorrow and trouble. That’s why we think God doesn’t care: “We don’t take God at His Word anymore. We just don’t BELIEVE what God says!” “O foolish men!” says Jesus: You know the Word so well. Why do you not understand? O slow of heart; you love the Prophet of the Word so much. Why do you not believe what God has said about Him?
Doesn’t God’s Word from Moses right through all the prophets teach that Christ must suffer these things, and to enter into His glory?
So you want to be saved from your bondage? A bondage far worse that Rome’s? Do you want to see the GLORY of ISRAEL restored to your lives? Do you want to feel the power of God working in you and through you?
Then…. just believe…. that’s all. Just believe in the Christ who had to suffer unto death, who had to pay for your sin with His own blood… Just believe in the Christ to whom God gave all power in heaven and on earth – and in your life – because He made a perfect payment and satisfied the demands of God’s justice.
That’s the Christ of the Scriptures… the one who takes away YOUR PUNISHMENT and your CURSE and gives you NEW LIFE.
Moses told you of that, long ago. The seed of the woman must suffer to receive the glory of crushing the serpents head. Abram killed a lamb in place of His son. Israel’s worship was founded on the blood of sacrifice.
The prophets too, Isaiah, for instance, spoke of the suffering Servant of Jehovah, wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and the Psalmist writes, “All they that see me laugh me to scorn…. but when I cried unto God, He heard and delivered!”
What a sermon! And what a preacher! The living Christ preaching the Christ of the Scriptures!
Have YOU missed His GLORY, His POWER? No surprises… the Lord is doing exactly the same thing before you this morning/afternoon. In the Scriptures YOU will find Christ…
…the Christ who suffered and died to take my sin and suffering away.
…the Christ who arose the third day with power and great glory.
And their hearts burn within them. They are ashamed of their foolishness. What they thought impossible for Jesus of Nazareth, was right THERE IN GOD’S PLAN ALL THE TIME. The cross was the bridge between heaven and earth and the grave was the gateway to glory; this was “GOOD NEWS!” This was Gospel. This changed everything! Life was worth living because their Master had all power and great glory.
Of course the stranger must stop and eat with them. They would hear more from this amazing teacher. They hungered for this communion of the saints. For the sake of the Christ, their glorified Master, must this stranger stay and eat with them.
But, see, how He acts…. “As one who has authority”. As they sat at the meal table, he took bread… just like the Lord when He was yet with them. Watch how He blesses the bread. They usually ASK a blessing, but this stranger GIVES the blessing He broke the bread and gave it to them… but a GUEST doesn’t do that… only a HOST has that right!
IT IS THE LORD! And they knew Him, and He vanished from their sight.
There…. in YOUR HOME, in your HEART Christ will show Himself. He will come with His word, with His authority. He will change things. He will give you a burning heart. He will unlock your lips to speak of the good news. You will not be able to wait to tell the others that you have seen the… LORD! And while you are telling them, He Himself will stand in the midst, and you will hear His voice… His Word… saying, “Peace be unto you!”
I serve a risen Saviour,
He’s in the world today
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy….
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him,
He’s always near.
He lives! He lives!
Christ Jesus lives TODAY!
He walks with me and talks with me,
along life’s narrow way.
He lives! He lives!
Salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!
Amen.
Prayer of Application:
Lord, shed thy glory abroad within us that our hearts may burn for thee
and our lives testify to the power of God in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Footnote:
The word Emmaus is pronounced: Em may is, with emphasis on may