Place: Lurgan Baptist 4:5:2003

Reading: Luke 24: 13-35

CONSIDER HIM

5. THE UNRECOGNISED CHRIST

I heard about a lady who was coming out one of those beauty parlours, and she saw another lady standing at the door, whom she recognised. She said, “ Oh, Mary Jones, Mary what a joy to see you. Its been years since I have seen you and Mary you look so different. Why you have slimmed down and lost weight, and you have your hair a different style, and your face is made up different, why you even look taller than you used to.”

“ Well,” said the woman, “ I am not Mary Jones.”

“ Oh,” said the other lady, “ You have even changed your name.” Have you been introduced to someone lately you have not been around for a while ? You thought what he or she looked like, or at least you had a mental picture in your mind, but when you saw the person, you were completely take by surprise.

Maybe the ageing process, and other changes had taken their toll. Or as it is with me sometimes, perhaps your recollections were not as clear as they used to be. At any rate you failed to recognise the individual.

Several times after Christ’s resurrection, we are told that His own disciples did not recognise Him. Mary, you remember saw Him but she didn’t know that it was Jesus. ( Jn 20:14 ) He even talked to her, and she talked to Him, but she did not perceive who He was. The Bible even tells us that she supposed “ Him to be the gardener.” ( Jn 20:15 ) My …. was it not the same with these two on the road to Emmaus ? I mean the Risen Lord walked with them and talked with them as they made their journey. Yet the context informs us that

“ their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.” ( Lk 24:16 ) He was the same Christ they had previously known, but they did not recognise Him in His resurrection body. He was the Unrecognised Christ.

Are there not times when the Risen Lord goes unrecognised by us ? Do we not have to confess that sometimes our eyes are blinded to His person, and His presence ? Without question, He is near us, with us, around us. Yet for some reason, or another we fail to recognise Him. Look with me at these two disciples, one of whom was called Cleopas ( 24:18 ) the other possibly Mary his wife, ( Jn 19:25 ) and notice that while the Risen Lord was:

(1) UNRECOGNISED HE WAS NOT UNREAL

My …. Christ is real ! You see, thought the Lord Jesus was unrecognised by these two followers, the story does not culminate with their failures, rather we are brought face to face with Christ’s glory. You see, although He was unrecognised He was not dead. Their hopes may have appeared dead, but Christ had risen from the dead.

Their faith may have seemed dead, but He was not dead. He was very much alive. Look for example at:

(a) THE RESURRECTION EVIDENCES:

These early disciples seemed to need special evidences to reassure their faith, and these were graciously and abundantly given. One sign that strongly indicated a supernatural happening was the empty tomb itself. Did you notice what ( 24:3 ) says ? I recall the first time I visited the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, and I saw these words, “ He is not here, but is risen.” ( 24:6 ) My …. no atom of Christ’s body was left within the tomb. It was a nest forsaken. The sweet scent of the spices clung around that rock hewn burial place, but the cavern was just an echoing void. The corpse had vanished. “ He is not here for He is risen. Come see the place where the Lord lay.“ ( Matt 28:6 ) My …. we cannot visit too often that empty grave, for do you what it preaches ?

The Father was so satisfied with the work of His Son that He raised Him from the dead ! That empty grave also pledges that my loved ones who have died in Christ will rise also. (a) But what about:

(b) THE RESURRECTION ENCOUNTERS:

For at least three other encounters had taken place prior to the happenings in this chapter. Mary who came to the tomb “ when it was yet dark,” ( Jn 20:1 Mk 16:9 ) was the first to see the Risen Lord. Then, several women were privileged to see Him as they went to tell the disciples what they had witnessed at the sepulchre.

( Matt 28:9 24:22 ) Christ had also privately appeared to Simon Peter. ( Mk 16:7 24:34 1 Cor 15:5 ) So before joining these two on the road to Emmaus, the Risen Lord had already appeared to His followers. Without question He was not dead, unrecognised but not unreal.

I wonder this …. do you not recognise His presence ? Do you not see Christ in your circumstances ? Does your prayer life seem dead ? Does your service seem lifeless ? Does your hopes and dreams seem shattered ?

Listen again, “ He is not here, but is Risen.” Hallelujah, He is alive for evermore ! (1)

(2) UNRECOGNISED HE WAS NOT UNCONCERNED

You see, while these two disciples did not recognise Him, He recognised them, and would not forsake them in their hour of perplexity. He was there walking down the road with them. Isn’t that so true to life ? Sometimes we think that the Lord is a thousand miles away. We can’t seem to see Him, or worship Him, or experience Him ! But all the while, He is walking down the road of life with us. For did you notice the Risen Lord:

(a) DRAWS NEAR TO THEM:

" Jesus Himself .... them," ( 24:15 ) Now that is lovely in English, but in Greek its far more beautiful. The tense here is in the imperfect. Its the tense of going on and on and on and on. Literally, while they were communing together, and while they were reasoning Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. You see, they were so absorbed in their conversation that He was walking with them before they knew it. They did not hear His footfall. They did no notice that someone was walking by their side. The Risen Lord was there and He was going with them before they knew that anyone had joined them. Has that not been your experience ? Has the Risen Lord not intruded into your difficult

moments ? Into you dark problems ? Into your depressing circumstances ? (a) Can you see these 2 disciples ?

1. EMOTIONALLY THEY WERE DISTRESSED:

The word for " sad," in ( 24:17 ) means " dreary," its the downcast look of settled grief. Its the look on the face of a person who says, " I'll never smile again."

( Matt 6:16 ) This word has in it the aspect of sullenness, sourness. My .... they had lost their best friend and He had died in the cruellest possible way, no wonder their hearts were distressed and their faces sad.

" But Jesus .... them," He still does, doesn't He ? Could it be that these two are a picture of you ? Have you lost a best friend ? Are you passing through trial, sorrow, bewilderment, disappointment ? Do you feel so utterly alone ? Do you feel as though no one cares ? Listen, Christ cares ! Indeed Jesus Himself will go with you, for has He not promised, " I will never .... thee."

( Heb 13:5-6 ) In a moment of testing Martin Luther needed spiritual strength. Sitting fearfully, in gloomy contemplation, he began to trace with his fingers on the table the words " vivit, vivit." His despair was dispelled and his flagging spirit revived by the message, " He lives, He lives." Indeed Christ is Alive, and He wants to go with you in your hour of emotional distress ! 1.

2. POLITICALLY THEY WERE DISILLUSIONED;

Look at ( 24:21 ) In other words, the situation was now hopeless ! He should have redeemed Israel. Of course that was precisely the reason for Christ's death on the cross. He was redeeming men. But they were thinking of a different kind of redemption. Christ was redeeming men from sin, but they were thinking of deliverance from Rome. They wanted to throw off the Roman yoke, but their hopes had been destroyed by the crucifixion of Christ ! (2) My .... do you feel the same way ? Are you anxious about current events, locally, nationally, internationally ? Are you fearful concerning our land ?
Its present and future ? Whatever happens, " Jesus Himself will draw near and go with us," 1. 2.

3. SPIRITUALLY THEY WERE DISORIENTATED

They were confused for did you notice their

conversation in ( 24:22-24 ) You see, they did not know what had happened, but " Jesus Himself drew near and went with them." I'm sure the godly Samuel Rutherford did not expect events to turn out the way they did in his life. He was put in prison persecuted for his faith but even in that prison cell, " Jesus Himself drew near."

Writing to one of his congregation he ended one of his letters like this, " Jesus Christ came into my prison cell last night and every stone in it glowed like a ruby." Are you emotionally distressed ? Have your hopes been shattered ? Have events turned out the very opposite to the way you thought ? Listen, " Jesus Himself will draw near and go with you." Yes, on the road (a) but He:

(b) DRAWS OUT FROM THEM:

He asks them a question, " What manner of communications are these .... " ( 24:17 ) Now He did not ask the question because He did not know, rather He wanted to draw them out. You see, having drawn near to them, He now draws out from them. The Living Lord made them talk. He made them unburden the whole thing. My .... is it not amazing how it lightens the burden when we tell the Lord about it. Do you recall what happened after John the Baptist was beheaded ? We're told " the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus and told Him." ( Mk 6:30 ) " A little talk with Jesus makes it right all right." Well, it marvellously helps doesn't it ? My .... we're so good at unburdening our hearts to others, but the Lord would have us bring to Him our grief’s, burdens, disappointments and frustrations ? Is that what you do ?

Is that what you're doing ? Tell it to Jesus ! Do you bring your difficulties to the Lord Jesus ? ( Mk 6:35 ) Do you bring your needs to the Lord Jesus ?

( Mk 10:51 ) What about your failures ? ( Mk 9:29 ) Your disappointments ? ( Lk 24:18 )What about you bereavements ? ( Jn 11:21 ) Your victories ? ( Lk 9:38 ) How the Saviour delights to have us come to Him and tell Him everything that is on our hearts ! (1) (2)

(3) UNRECOGNISED HE WAS NOT UNINSTRUCTIVE

Isn’t it interesting that Christ is not found here visiting joyful and victorious believers on Hallelujah Road ? Rather He is seen, joining Himself to two discouraged, disheartened, defeated souls on the Emmaus Road. Sometimes in our lowest hours of doubt, fear, shortcomings, and questions the best of Christians may forsake us, but thank God, He Whose “ grace is sufficient,” cares for us, and He comes to make Himself known. How precious that our Risen Redeemer took time to minister to two individuals. How did He do it ?

By directing their minds to the Word of God. A simple lesson, yes, but surely a needed one. My .... when we have problems where do we turn to ? Do we turn to the Word of God ? Do we say, " what saith the Scriptures," on this matter ? Is the Word of God our constant

guide ? ( Ps 119:105 ) I'm convinced if we knew the Word of God better we would have fewer problems ! Now notice what Christ does here.

(a) HE UNFOLDS THE SCRIPTURES:

How does Christ bring them into a new appreciation of Himself ? " And beginning at Moses .... Himself,"

( 24:27 ) Do you see here, The Greatest Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ, The Greatest Textbook, the Bible, God’s inspired Word, The Greatest Theme, “ the things concerning Himself,” that is the passages in Scripture which referred to Himself. Beginning at ( Gen 3:15 ) with the seed of the woman, going on to Mount Moriah in Abraham's day, with the offering up of Isaac

( Gen 22:1 ) In Exodus He would be perceived as the Passover Lamb ( Exod 12:5 ) In Leviticus He would be perceived as the Scapegoat ( Lev 16:8 ) In Numbers he is the Rock in the wilderness ( Num 20:11 ) In Joshua He is the Captain of the Lord's Host. In the psalms and the prophets we are told of His suffering: death and resurrection. I wonder what the Risen Lord said about

" Behold a virgin shall conceive," ( Is 7:14 ) What did He say about " the Son given," ( Is 9:6 ) I wonder what He said about ( Is 53 ) ? What a Bible reading .... on into Jeremiah: into Ezekiel, and then right through the Minor Prophets. " The things concerning Himself .... " I wonder did Christ conclude in Malachi " And the Son of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings."

( Mal 4:2 ) What a Bible reading ? Can you imagine it ?

Can you picture it ? The incarnate Word interpreted the Inspired Word in the greatest Bible study of all time. On the Emmaus road, the living Word brought the written Word to life. Beyond the sacred page they met the Lord. No wonder their hearts burned within them as He talked with them by the way. Could it be that you've come into this ..... despondent, distressed, downcast, disillusioned. Then fix your eyes on Jesus ! " Turn your eyes on Jesus .... grace." My .... its when get our eyes on Christ that our hearts are warmed, our souls are stirred, our minds are enlightened, and our lips are moved ! (a) Then:

(b) HE UPBRAIDS THE SAINTS:

He called them " fools," ( 24:25 ) " slow at the uptake,"

that is exactly it ! You see, they had read what the prophets had spoken, they were Bible readers these two but they failed to recognise that the prophecies applied to Christ. They had read their Bible without understanding and so the Risen Christ gently rebukes them, " Slow to believe after ALL that the prophets have spoken." ( Moffatt ) My .... is this not our

problem ? " Slow to believe after ALL that the Word of God has said ?" Do we not fail to take God at His

Word ? To rest on His promises ? The result ? Bewilderment ! Disappointment ! Disillusionment !

My .... the Lord has promised He will keep you from falling ( Jude 24 ) yet are you slow to believe ? The Lord has promised that He will supply all your need, yet are you slow to believe ? The Lord has promised that He will never leave thee nor forsake thee, yet are you slow to believe ? The Lord has promised that His cause will triumph ? Yet are we slow to believe ? My …. do you need to take time with The Greatest Textbook, allowing the Greatest Teacher to instruct you “ in …. the things concerning Himself.” (1) (2) (3)

(4) UNRECOGNISED HE WAS NOT UNLOVED

Look they are home now. " He made .... " ( 24:28 ) But they constrained, pressed Him, " abide with us," how much Christ loves to be entreated and implored by His people. ( Lk 18:1 ) He never turns away when He is invited, for we read " And He went in." Its a happy home that recognises Christ as the Lord of the table and remembers He is always there. Wouldn't our conversation at the meal table be different if we remember Christ is always there ? Now do you see what happened ?

(a) THEIR VISION WAS RESTORED:

" And it came to pass .... " ( 24:30-31 ) Later on we are told that " He was known of them in the breaking of bread." ( 24:35 ) Was it the way Christ broke the bread and gave it to them that made them recognise Him ? Or was it the sight we expect to have in glory, the sight of those " nail scarred hands," ( Jn 20:25 ) Whatever,

" they knew him," the “ Unrecognised Christ,” was recognised, and the scales were removed from their eyes. My …. what or who has blurred your vision of the Saviour ? Once you could testify, “ I have set the Lord always before me.” ( Ps 16:8 ) but not now, does your vision need to be restored ? (a)

(b) THEIR LOVE WAS REKINDLED:

" Did not our heart burn within us … the scriptures.“

( 24:32 ) My …. broken hearts had given way to burning hearts ! (b) Have you ever watched a young couple in love ? How they talk to each other, hold hands, how their eyes meet. My …. they are lost in each other. Do you remember the love you felt for the Saviour when you first came to know Him ? Personal. Excited. Adventuresome. That was then, what about now ? Does your heart still go out to Him ? Do you grieve that you do not love Him more ? (a) (b)

spiritual presence ! (a) (b)

(c) THEIR SERVICE WAS REVIVED:

Look they are off ! ( 24:33-35 ) That very hour they are off to tell the others ! My …. they have tramped 7 miles out of Jerusalem, they are dead weary with all their travel and excitement. But they must go back for they have a message to proclaim: a fact to declare: a victory to share .... Christ is Risen ! You see, they declared what they had come to know ! Let me challenge you, is this what you're doing ? They went sent 7 miles out of their way to share the Easter Evangel. Have you ever gone 7 yards out of your way to tell folk that today there is a Living Saviour, tomorrow He's coming back to judge !

When we got married, we lived on a second farm that Catherine’s parents had bought outside Randalstown. These were the days were the troubles were rife and the terrorists were burning sheds and outbuildings not far from were we lived. This large farmhouse was surrounded by tree’s and bushes and could be quite eerie in the dark nights of winter. One night I hid in the bushes waiting for Catherine to come home. When I jumped out she was terrified ! The truth is I had been there all the time, but she did not recognise I was there.

My …. you may not recognise the Lord Jesus at this moment, but He is right there with you. No, He is not planning to scare you, but in His own time, in His own way He will make Himself known to you ! The result ?

The Risen Lord will become more clear, more dear, and more near than ever before !