On the Road to Emmaus

Have you ever had a dream and see it come to nothing? Did you have have a desire to complete something and it seemed to ravel and fizzle out? Have you wanted to do something great for God and the vision was there and the dreams, yet it failed to come to pass?
Have you ever been on the road to Emmaus, meaning "warm wells", and found another who reasoned with you about why the things turned out like they did? Did the broken dream bring you to a road that is cluttered with reasoning and depression? Is the road you travel much like these two men traveled when they hit their lowest point of grief and not see "their plans" come to pass?
We read about two who had an idea about what the future was to be for themselves, and were disappointed to say the least.

Luke 24:13-35.......13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." 25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.  NKJV

Jesus hearing this conversation, asks why they are having this talk and with sadness. He wondered why they grieved! Was not Jesus, now the Risen One?

They wanted to know why "this stranger" would not know about the death of Jesus! How could someone not hear all the uproar, and all the talk of the one who just died and had done so much in God's name.

Yes, these two were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. They had hoped He would usher in the Messianic kingdom......But by the third day, all seemed hopeless.

You know those "women" came and told them that His body was gone from the tomb! And so Cleopas and friend went to see for themselves, and these women were right, there was "no body" in the tomb! 

And then Jesus spoke in verse 25 .......and reminds them, "O foolish ones, slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken! 26. Ought not the Christ have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
Translation of the the word "foolish" is translated wrong. It was never meant for those who are sorrowful and suffering grief. Luke 24:25.... The word is compounded of a (NT:1), "not," and noeoo (NT:3539), which implies, besides "seeing," perception "of the mind" as consequent upon sight. It is therefore equivalent to "dull of perception." They had read what the prophets had spoken, but had failed to "perceive" its application to Christ. 

Understanding what is written in Luke 24:25.......we find that when He spoke......"O foolish",..... was an address to those slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: this O foolish is not the term of reproach denoting any kind of wickedness, but is that which is not connecting the hearing part in relation to Jesus.  Jesus was correcting them in the respect that they did not see and clearly understand that He was going to the Cross. He wanted them to see the clear evidence that they were holding onto to their own opinions and prejudices and were blinded to the truth that He would die and rise again.

Ought not the Christ, stand in fulfilling the prophecies found in Scripture? As Jesus spoke to them, we find He intimated the very truths. He unfolded the "Scriptures" again to them. From the very first of Genesis to the the last of Zechariah, we find many prophecies that were written about Jesus.

These two asked Him to abide with them for the evening. Since travel at night on that road was considered dangerous, they asked Him in to eat with them and have shelter for the night.

As the bread was broken, their eyes were opened, He spoke what He had spoken every time they took bread and broke it.

Things may not turn out like we think they should, but when we have the testimony of Jesus in our hearts then we return to the former thing. We return to His Word that gladdens our hearts, lifts our spirit man and leads us to the greatest time of our history. By faith, engage HIM, and seek the prayer time to have one heart with Him. Enter in and lodge, abide in His presence and see the grief fade away. Stop reasoning...........just continue to......................

BELIEVE!

BELIEVE HE IS YOUR SOURCE!

BELIEVE HE IS YOUR ETERNAL ANSWER!

BELIEVE HE IS FOR YOU!

When you return to do what He asked then the fire will burn brighter and stronger.Joy will flow from your innermost being and a youthful step will found to lead you to the new things in the Lord!

Rise up and go to tell others about  how Jesus rescued you from grief, from disappointment and pain. Go tell others about the answer of Life that comes in knowing Jesus and obeying His commands.

Jesus is still on the scene and is active...........always there to remind us He has the words of eternal life!

Father, thank You for Jesus, the promised One who came to set the captives free. Thank YOU for all that YOU did in getting Your Son to us for salvation. It is His shed blood that claims us for His very own. I pray for each who read this that we will ultimately move forward in the direction You have chosen for us. I pray that we would be those who "press in" to YOU and the Word. Our destiny, our history has its beginning in You. Today we thank You for Your wisdom that is not limited to a measurement in regards and restrictions of a natural world. Help us to see that we should never filter Your Word through our opinions and false beliefs. Help us Lord to know that we are to keep the Word before us and allow that Word to lead us in new paths and freshness of life.You are still in our midst when we speak out Your name, declare Your word and see Your beauty. May we not be taken in by any failures for our God will never fail. YOU are the Faithful One, the Mighty One, the everlasting Father.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us. 

Father, thank You for Your unfailing love. Your love is UNCONDITIONAL…Thank You that we might know that love and how vast it truly is……….We are thankful that we shall not perish but have everlasting life through YOUR SON JESUS , OUR SAVIOR, AND OUR REDEEMER. We are not ARE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD but we are renewed to the Word our GOD. LORD do not leave us to ourselves. WE DESIRE TO SEE YOUR MAJESTY, YOUR GOODNESS IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING in Jesus' name. Amen

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 

What about John 3:18?

Thinking of this time of year, one is drawn towards the night angels appeared to a few shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. There came this "Message from Heaven".........Luke 2:8-20......8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 

14 "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"  

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.  NKJV

Of all the passages, this one and John 3:16 always seems to come up .......that people can quote on the spot.............."For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes  in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

But of late, I am seeing those "license plates" that have John 3:18 and every time I read one passing us on the Interstate, I wonder how many really know what that verse states. It is in the same passage of scripture and is just as important as the verses above it!

John 3:1-21

3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."  NKJV

As we make our way through this passage of scripture, we find a man of the Pharisees who is named Nicodemus. Now we know from scripture that the Pharisees had some beliefs and some were.......found........Acts 23:6-8

6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) NIV

Paul was a Pharisee and Jesus told them what was wrong with their stand of making their total devotion a rigid patriotism toward the history of Moses and that generation! The Pharisees had a faithfulness to the covenant given through Moses. Yet Jesus denounced their flaunting hypocrisy in regards to their being the "better class". He called attention to their love of preeminence and of their praying extremely long prayers in a manner of being on exhibit for others to see and to hear. Their fueled a hatred towards Jesus' teachings was evident, as was their opposing Him every opportunity they had, and the continually ill-will talk against Him.

Paul was consistently telling others of what a bondage he was held in as a rigid Pharisee. When Jesus showed up in his life, that bondage was broken, he was set free and was led under the Spirit of God being justified by faith and began his ministry to see others set free from religion!

So Nicodemus comes by night, so he is not seen by the others, and he makes his way to Jesus to ask some questions. 

"How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

 Jesus tells him that he is to be born again, not to the flesh a second time, but born into the spirit. The Holy Spirit moves as He is willed by the Father. We have no say in that! But like Jesus spoke, the spirit moves through like the wind moves and causes the leaves to move, to fall from trees, and to gather together on the ground. We hear the sound of the wind, but  the effects on the leaves is the falling from the tree, and gathering at their lowest point on the ground.

We are born again into the kingdom of God! It is one that is "supernatural" ruled by a "supernatural God"and has given to us the gift of life through His Son Jesus Christ! Jesus was telling of His being lifted up for sinners, a lifting up much like the serpent in the desert concerning Moses. Jesus was the answer to life eternal........and it came when the kingdom was set up!  His words are "spirit and life" to us who believe! Moses was the one who God sent to remind Israel of the Covenant keeping God He WAS AND IS! Ultimately when Israel was led out of  Egypt they had no law or priesthood. Through Moses, God presented them with the ten commandments, the priesthood, the Atonement, the sacrifices , the offerings and the laws that would govern the sacrifices. We understand that this Covenant did not belong to the 10 commandments. The Covenant was the reason for the law. But in all of this, this Covenant Israel could not keep. It is called the Old Covenant. Of all that had to be done to obey the Old Covenant, man failed miserably. So here we see the New Covenant come on the scene of history of Israel.

The Old Covenant was sealed with circumcision, and the New Covenant was sealed with the New Birth.

When Jesus arrived on the scene and was baptized by John the Baptist.......the kingdom was being introduced. It is the kingdom of God being set up on earth. It is God's wills and His ways being established on the earth. It was the Word of God, declaring God, truth, righteousness, justice and holiness! But all that is seen on the scene today,  makes it appear that we are very far from that way of righteousness.

All that Jesus spoke in the Gospels was for our benefit. It was given to show us what the kingdom of God looked like. There is no sickness in heaven, There is no death or tears, or lack. Heaven is peace, joy, health, strength and courage. And Jesus came to set up on earth what was in Heaven! Yes, there should be no sickness, lack, disease, tears, or pain.

God sent Jesus so the world through Jesus might be saved. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned but he who does not believe in Jesus is condemned already. The God of Love, sent the Son of His love, into this world that we could be with Him for all eternity.

That LIGHT has come into the world. And when men love darkness rather than light, it is because their deeds are evil. 

In John 3: 20.... For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."  NKJV

My prayer for all who read this and know truth, that Jesus is the LIGHT come into the world that according to John 1:1-18........that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Even as then, all things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made. He is the Light that shines in the darkness. Without Him, we have nothing! But with Him, we are the saved, the Redeemed, the Righteous, the forgiven!

As John the Baptist bore witness of that Light, we too, have seen that great "Light". He is that light that shines in our hearts......and declares God's plan to a broken and dying world.

Today I pray for eyes and ears to be open to see the Lord of glory. I pray for those who are to be saved, that they become children of God, to those who believe  in His name, not born of blood nor of the will of the flesh but of God! Even though He was sent to the nation of Israel first, but because of their refusal, this glorious Kingdom came to the gentile to any who believe in His name.

Father we pray in Jesus' name. and know You sent Your best for us. Thank You for sending Jesus and salvation. Thank YOU for love everlasting, love unconditional and never failing. Today, I stand with others knowing we will not perish but have everlasting life through Jesus, the Son of Your love. Your Love was demonstrated on the Cross, and may we be as extreme in giving You praise and much thanks for that demonstration. Today for our salvation may we give to Father, the Faithful God, the merciful God, the Living God, our love. Hallowed be Your name. May we leave yesterday behind and choose to prosper in the things of God and His kingdom. I pray that all our days be done in God in His truth, spirit and life. You are the Author of Hope and receive Your joy that is inexpressible and full or glory and peace in facing the future and adventures with YOU! Amen

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at (http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV)