My wife Cathy and I are Florida Snowbirds (yes, we’re old) from January thru March.
While we’re in Florida each winter, we’re privileged to be discipled under senior pastor Brian Zdrojowy at Awaken Church in Port Charlotte.
In his March 17 message, Pastor “B” delved into Luke 24, from verses 13 to 35. He broke the Scripture down into different parts to show us life lessons we can learn today.
In Luke 24:13-18, Jesus showed up after the Resurrection and traveled with 2 Disciples on the road to Emmaus. The funny part was: Even though they knew who he was, they didn’t recognize him:
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”They stood still, their faces downcast.
18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
Pastor B’s point 1 from the above Scripture is:
Jesus meets us WHERE we are, even when we’re UNAWARE.
From verses 19 thru 21, Jesus spoke to the 2 Disciples while they were walking, asking who this Jesus was. Imagine that: Jesus asking the Disciples about what THEY thought He was like. And, the Disciples certainly obliged:
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.
20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
21 but 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.
Point 2:
Jesus wants us to VERBALIZE our questions!
In Luke 24:25-27, we see the 2 Disciples being somewhat surprised when Jesus tells them who HE is:
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
He wasn’t happy with the fact they didn’t know Him. He again went thru the Scriptures about He got to that point in his life and ministry.
Point 3:
Rebuke doesn’t equal permanent disapproval!
In verses 28 to 31, in realizing it WAS Jesus Christ who was with them, they invited him to come to dinner, or as the Scripture calls it, “He had reclined at the table with them….” And, surprise surprise in verse 31: “And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He vanished from their sight.”
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.
29 But 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.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Point 4 of Pastor B’s sermon:
An invitation to Jesus leaves our eyes open!
In the final point of the message from Pastor B, they admitted in verses 32 thru 35 that their hearts burned within them when He spoke to them on the road. They IMMEDIATELY got up at a very late hour (it was late night) and returned to Jerusalem, found the eleven other Disciples, and were EXCITED to tell their story that He REALLY has risen:
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
Point 5 of Pastor B’s sermon:
Time with Jesus fills our hearts with PASSION! Passion keeps us “stickin’ to the Mission.”
Pastor’s question to us at the end of the message is the question we’re asking ourselves and you: Are OUR eyes “wide open” to realize that Jesus is right there with us? All we have to do is ASK for his forgiveness and for the Holy Spirit to direct our lives.
Cathy and I are thankful for Pastor B’s ministry at Awaken Church in Port Charlotte, Florida while we are Snowbirding this winter. Find out more on Pastor B’s ministry at myawaken.church.
