The incredible journey - from dark to light

Luke shares a story that we all should seek to see repeated in our own life. 

Beginning with salvation into spiritual 

maturity - really knowing Him is a Journey. Let's discover what these two men discovered!

Luke 24:13-48

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was  about seven miles from Jerusalem.  And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 

Our journey needs to include discussion of Truth. This requires deliberate thought. It will not take place on it's own. Our discussion should include the Scriptures and other godly individuals.

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and  began  traveling with them.  But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.  And He said to them,  "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?"  And they stood still, looking sad.  One  of them,  named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"  And He said to them,  "What things?" 

God will not always reveal what He is looking for. He desires to make us face what we believe and why. This is how He develops integrity in our Faith. Jesus knows what's in our heart, but He wants us to know also!

And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,  and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.  But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.  But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning,  and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also 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 exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see." 

We need to remember that many times in our journey we may have SOME of the Truth, however, if it is not the WHOLE Truth, it is NOT the Truth! Many believe we need to live righteous to please God...there is truth there...but THE Truth is that first we must understand on our own we will never please God, and only after we have admitted that we are lost and need a Savior will we then receive the Power from Him to live righteous!

And He said to them,  "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!   Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"    Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.  

This is one of the greatest foundations of our journey! We are not tossed about by the "flavor of the week"! Our journey is guided by the Scriptures...objective not subjective! The Word states what it states! We either accept it or reject it...there is no third option!  Even Christ limited Himself to the standard of the Scriptures. This is what makes our journey so safe. We are not at the mercy of the latest fade or the most popular "prophet" at the moment. Our journey is guided by the Scriptures, which are written down for all to see.

And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther.  But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is  getting  toward evening, and the day is now nearly over."

This is where we see the greatest portion of our participation in the Journey. We need to sense the urgency of keeping Christ close to us!

So He went in to stay with them.  When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it  to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.  They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" 

The most exciting part of our journey is when our Lord engages us and we sense His presence! What an appropriate description it is to call it “burning” in our heart! Whether it be when we entered into a relationship with Him and received salvation or as we mature and experience His presence and guidance in our life on a daily basis.

And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon."  They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be to you."    But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.  And He said to them,  "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?    See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."    And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.  While they still could not believe it  because of their joy and amazement, He said to them,  "Have you anything here to eat?"  They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate  it  before them.  Now He said to them,  "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."  Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them,  "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,  and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.    You are witnesses of these things.

The last two aspects of our journey are what solidifies why we continue on the journey. First, we have the joy of sharing our experience with those that we care for and watch them join in the joy of the journey. Second, we have the promise of continued illumination form our Lord and the great Hope that one day we will be face to face with Him forever!