April 26, 2020 Sermon - What Are You Talking About? What Things?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHAT THINGS? LUKE 24:13-19A (CEB) THE NEXT WORDS OF JESUS, PART 3 APRIL 26, 2020 THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A CROSSROADS / PERRYVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES, MO FACEBOOK LIVE SERVICE # 6

INTRO. One day a king decided to set aside a special day to honor his greatest subject. When the big day arrived, there was a large gathering in the palace courtyard. Four finalists were brought forward, and from these four, the king would select the winner. The first person was a wealthy philanthropist. The king was told that this man was highly deserving of the honor because of his humanitarian efforts, giving much of his wealth to the poor. The second person was a celebrated physician. The king was told that this doctor was highly deserving of the honor because he had rendered faithful and dedicated service to the sick for many years. The third person was a distinguished judge. The king was told that the judge was worthy because he was noted for his wisdom, his fairness, and his brilliant decisions. The fourth person presented was an elderly woman. Everyone was quite surprised to see her there, because her manner was quite humble, as was her dress. She hardly looked the part of someone who would be honored as the greatest subject in the kingdom. What chance could she possibly have, when compared to the other three, who had accomplished so much? Even so, there was something about her the look of love in her face, the understanding in her eyes, her quiet confidence. The king was intrigued, to say the least, and somewhat puzzled by this woman. He was told this: “You see the philanthropist, the doctor, and the judge? Well, she was their teacher!” That woman had no wealth, no fortune, and no title, but she had unselfishly given her life to produce great people. There is nothing more powerful or more Christlike than sacrificial love. The king could not see the value in the humble lady. He missed the significance of the teacher. Often we miss the value of those around us. I think it would surprise us to know how often we miss the presence of Christ just as Cleopas and his companion missed the significance of the stranger on the road to Emmaus. But Jesus was there. What did his words do for them and what do they do for us?

I. THE WORDS OF JESUS TRANSFORM US. Look closely at what happens to these two people as they journey from Jerusalem to their home in the city of Emmaus seven miles away. A stranger, whom we know is Jesus, joins them. He asks them what they are talking about and they stop dead in their tracks. They can hardly bring themselves to discuss it they are so saddened by the events of the last three days. Their friend, their master, their rabbi, the one they describe as a mighty prophet, has been unjustly condemned to death and violently killed on a cross. They say to the man walking with them, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place?” (18). All kinds of reports were no doubt floating around that day. They would have heard that the tomb was empty and some people saying Jesus is alive. And so Jesus begins to interpret the Old Testament and explains to them how all these things were spoken of by Moses and the Prophets. He opens the Scriptures to them. He transforms their thinking. They apparently had no idea these things were supposed to take place. They had concluded that Jesus’ mission had failed. They now understand that the last three days was the plan all along. Finally these two invite Jesus into their home. He has dinner with them. Again Jesus transformed the event. There at that ordinary dinner at the end of the day this stranger takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, gives it to them and their eyes are opened. In that moment they were transformed. There was a young boy named Walter Elias. Born in the city, his parents one day moved out to the country to become farmers. Walter had a vivid imagination and the farm was the perfect place for a young boy and a wondering mind. One day in the apple orchard he was amazed when he saw an owl sitting on a branch of one of the apple trees. He just stood there and stared at the owl. He thought about what his father had told him about owls: owls always rested during the day because they hunted throughout the night. This owl was asleep. He also thought that this owl might make a great pet. Being careful not to make any noises he stepped over sticks and leaves. The owl was in a deep sleep because it never heard Walter Elias walking toward it. Finally, standing under the owl, he reached up and grabbed the owl by the legs. Now, the events that followed are difficult to explain. Suddenly everything was utter chaos. The owl came to life. Walter’s thoughts about keeping the bird as a pet were quickly forgotten. The air filled with wings, and feathers, and screaming. In the excitement Walter held the legs tighter. And in his panic, Walter Elias, still holding on to the owl, threw it to the ground and stomped it to death. After things calmed down, Walter looked at the now dead and bloody bird and began to cry. He ran back to the farm, obtained a shovel, and buried the owl in the orchard. At night he would dream of that owl. Years passed, but he never got over what had happened that summer day. It affected him for the rest of his life. As an older man he said he never, ever killed anything again. Something significant happened after that event. Something that Walter didn’t miss. Something which transformed Walter Elias, something that redeemed him from the pit of despair, something that resurrected him, something that made Walter Elias into someone who we all have experienced in some way. You see his name changed to Walt Disney who created Mickey Mouse, Goofy and all those wonderful cartoon animals. Just as Disney was transformed by this event of one day, these two walking to Emmaus were transformed by what happened that day. 1. the words of Jesus transform us

II. THE WORDS OF JESUS CONVICT US. The two disciples, when they had realized who Jesus was and were amazed at the great news, said: “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures to us?” (32). They had realized what all of the Old Testament prophecies were about and that they were wrong in thinking that Jesus was dead and that all hope was gone. That is what conviction is all about, understanding that we are wrong about something and believe it enough to change us. The two disciples could have said, well so what Jesus is back from the dead but he is still not going to wipe out the Romans. Instead, they believed enough in the fact that Jesus had risen and that he died for a reason, and that he was the only one who could save them from something far worse than oppression from a government but from eternal destruction from the enemy of their souls. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, started out as an Anglican priest who was a very good man, but he came to the point when he also had a burning heart, because he was convicted that he was loved by God for who he really was. And this conviction totally changed his life. He was supposed to have been “asked by a fellow minister how to gain an audience. He replied, ‘If the preacher will burn, others will come to see the fire’” (heraldofhiscoming. com/Past%20Issues/2006/March/wanted_a_burning_heart.htm). Have you been convicted of your need to repent and follow Jesus? Have you been convicted that you can turn from sin and follow Jesus? Has the resurrection of Jesus made any difference in my life and your life? Are we convicted that Jesus is our master and that we should live accordingly? Like the heart of Wesley, may our hearts burn with conviction too. 1. the words of Jesus transform us - 2. the words of Jesus convict us

III. THE WORDS OF JESUS EMPOWER US. What Jesus said empowered these two people and immediately made them witnesses. Here is what verse 33 says: “They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem.” If we have been transformed and have been convicted of our need for Jesus and have responded and found his saving grace, there is no reason that we should keep it to ourselves! They had already walked one way to Emmaus, a trip of about seven miles and two hours or more, but once they met with the risen Lord, they got up and went back to Jerusalem to tell the others. It was dark - in verse 29, they said, “It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over” - and they were ready to eat and hunker down for the night. They didn’t really feel like walking any more. But they got up and they walked the seven miles again, about the distance from downtown Perryville to the turnoff on the other side of Brewer on to M to get to I-55, just so they could tell the other disciples. They were witnesses, and witnesses give their testimony! What happens when you have good news to share? Carol and I moved to Arkansas in 1999, and just a few months after moving there, I won the most stuff I had ever won in my life, before or since! No, Ed McMahon and the Prize Patrol did not come knocking on our door, but it was pretty good. I was in Walmart one day and they had one of those drawings where you write your name and phone number on a piece of paper and drop it in a box. I spent five seconds filling out the paper, put it in the box and forgot about it. A couple of weeks later, Josh, the manager of Walmart and a good guy, called me. I had won! What had I won? I didn’t pay too much attention to what the prizes were when I entered the contest, to be honest. I won a nice gas grill. I won a fishing rod and a tackle box and a boat cushion. I won a $250 Walmart gift card! It was great. For the next several weeks, I bragged on my winnings to everyone I knew. If there had been Facebook back then, I would have thrown some pictures on there. I had good news to share. If we are disciples of Jesus, we have the greatest of news! The resurrection has transformed our lives. It has convicted us. The words of the risen Christ confirm that for us, and we need to go out and tell others. And we do that by living our lives so that people can see we’re different. And those apostles of the early church that we read about in the Book of Acts let their light shine for Jesus in a way that shames me when I compare how they lived for Christ with how I live for Christ. The empowered witness of Stephen in Acts 7 is only one example. Hauled in before the Sanhedrin, he defended himself against the charge of blasphemy with a compelling speech. Then he brought them to Jesus and let them know how they had betrayed him. They dragged him outside and stoned him, but the Bible says that Stephen, “full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God” (55). One of the bystanders was Saul (8:1), who we now know as the great apostle Paul. Paul never got away from what the witness of Stephen that day, and what a powerful witness Paul was for Christ. the words of Jesus: 1. transform us - 2. convict us - 3. empower us

CON. I have heard that good attorneys never ask questions they do not know the answers to. Jesus was acting like a good attorney on the road to Emmaus. He knew what they were talking about. He had the answers to all of their questions. He was a very expert witness about himself! As you hear the words of Jesus and are challenged by what he has to say, will you let his words transform you, and convict you, and empower you to go out and live the life you were made to live, for him and for eternity? Do that, and your life, like those who walked the road to Emmaus with Jesus, will never be the same! AMEN.