Foundry Community Church
Third Sunday of Easter - Year A
  • Blessed Assurance

      • Psalm 116:1–4NIRV

      • Psalm 116:12–19NIRV

      • 1 Peter 1:17–23NIRV

  • Trust And Obey

      • Luke 24:13–35NIRV

  • Ever been somewhere and came upon a person that comes up to you and talks to you like they know you? You talk for a while and realize that they really do know you and now you feel bad because you have no idea of who they are? Happens to me every so often even now, but it happened a lot when I was at Bible School, but that is more Michelle’s fault!
    When we went to Bible School, they announced that they were doing Student Council elections. Michelle, without prior approval or consent from me, lauched a full out “vote for Joel East” campaign to get me elected which proved - to my chagrin, very successful. I became the First Year Student Council President. As such, everyone knew me, and acted like I should have known them too.
    Sometimes, we find ourselves thinking “I know this person, just can’t figure out where I know them from!” After hours of agonizing thought, then sometimes figuring out that, “Oh! that’s where I know them from!”

    Recognizing Jesus in Disguise

    Cleopas and another un-named disciple of Christ’s had this very experience. They are walking along after the Resurrection choppin’ it up about all of the events that had happened. From the context, they were not present with the women at the tomb. Also from context, neither Peter nor John nor the other disciples were with them as they walked along either. They obviously had heard about the resurrection from others, but they themselves had not witnessed firsthand any of the events.
    Luke 24:13–16 ESV
    13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
    They were simply walking along, then encountered this “stranger” among them journeying along the same road. Now, they were identified in verse 13 as “two of them…” They were counted as disciples of Jesus, just not of the twelve. Maybe, “I know the guy, but not as well as Peter and John…”
    Luke 24:17–18 ESV
    17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
    With this question, if I were Jesus, I would have had something slick to say… “My dudes, know about them? I was front and center! Didn’t you see me there?” But Jesus played along…
    Luke 24:19 ESV
    19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
    Then, they went through the whole narrative about Jesus, the religious leaders, up to the two women finding the tomb empty.
    These two travelers were more than casual observers. They were “followers of Jesus.”

    Revelation through Relationship

    You know, it isn’t hard to understand. I know a lot of people. I know who they are, what they look like, many, I know where they live and who their family members are. There is an even larger circle of people who are casual acquaintances. I’ve seen them a couple times, but don’t really know them. Maybe Cleopas and the other one with him fell somewhere in between.
    But, get what Jesus says…
    Luke 24:25–27 ESV
    25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
    He gives them the whole Biblical narrative and for some reason, they still don’t know who they are talking to!
    Luke 24:28–29 ESV
    28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
    So now, evening is coming, and Jesus is just going to go on about His business. These two, still not grasping the magnitude of what or who they are encountering, invite this “stranger” to stay with them!
    What happens next is the point God is trying to get to all of us.
    Luke 24:30–31 ESV
    30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
    There is a lot of question about Communion, why I have such a tremendously high passion for it. This sums it up!
    Every time. Every time I come to the table, and Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to us, we are standing face to face with the Risen Christ, He is revealing His true identity, His Divine Nature, He is sharing His life with us. We then, are able to gaze into His eyes and His Holiness, His Glory, His Majesty can be revealed - even just a little more.
    It is at the table of Jesus, that we are able to see Him, touch Him, KNOW HIM in all of His Glorious Power!
    Here, we can literally, “taste and see that the Lord, He is Good!”
    Realization hits! He breaks the bread and they understand who He is!
    Luke 24:32 ESV
    32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
    Man! I just knew it was Jesus all along… Yeah right. I have this desire. I hope you have it too. My desire is that I always, I mean always am walking along with Jesus ~ KNOWING exactly who He is and living in Divine fellowship with Him. I want to walk with Him, Talk with Him, Eat with Him. Be with Him, be lead by Him, have Holy Fellowship with Him. I don’t want to be “surprised” when He shows up. Nor do I wish to ever have such a weak relationship with Him that when He does show up, that I fail to recognize Him even for a second. I want to have my heart burn within me like these two disciples, but with the understanding that my Savior and Lord, was in fact, who I was in the presence of.

      • Luke 24:13–16NIRV

      • Luke 24:17–18NIRV

      • Luke 24:19NIRV

      • Luke 24:25–27NIRV

      • Luke 24:28–29NIRV

      • Luke 24:30–31NIRV

      • Luke 24:32NIRV

  • MYSTERION
  • Doxology
  • The Church's One Foundation (Aurelia)
  • Now Unto Him
Foundry Community Church
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