Burning Hearts

Burning Hearts

(Luke 24:13-35)

Yearly Theme:  “Kindness is… Action”

Series Title:  “Suffering Servant”

April 9^th, 2023

Something to think about:

There is a legend that Satan decided to get rid of a number of his tools, so he arranged an auction… 

“There were envy, deceit, malice, sensuality, enmity, thoughtlessness, and many other tools which Satan had used successfully (priced very low).  However, there was one piece marked very high.  It was labeled Discouragement. 

“‘Why do you want so much for this tool?’ asked one bidder.  ‘This tool?’ replied the old tempter,  ‘Well, it has always been my most useful one.  You can see it has had more wear and tear than the rest.  It is used as a wedge to get into a person’s mind when all other means fail.  Practically every human being has had this tool used on them, although very few know that I’m the one welding it.' 

“As it worked out, toward the end of the auction, no one could afford the price Satan demanded for discouragement, and so he is still using it today.”

Jesus’ disciples experienced great discouragement when He was arrested and crucified.  They thought that was the end of the story; the end of the road that Jesus had led them down.  However, they neglected to remember ALL that He had told them was going to happen.  They couldn’t seem to remember that Jesus had told them that all of this was going to happen when they entered Jerusalem for the last time.  So, discouragement ruled their hearts.

Two disciples in particular, Cleopas and his wife, were on their journey back home the Sunday morning after the crucifixion of Jesus, and while on their way, another traveler happens upon their path that joins them in on their long walk home.  Let’s take a look at their story today:

Turn in your Bible to:  Luke 24:13-35

There was a burning in their hearts because deep down they knew that what “the Traveler” on the road was telling them was true.  Jesus, the risen Savior, had met Cleopas and his wife in the midst of their discouragement and revealed to them the truth of His resurrection. 

Here’s the takeaway:

Key Point:  “The truth of the resurrection of Jesus should burn in the heart of every believer.”

There are three main points that we need to explore today:

•  is the friend of  .

Luke 24:17-18 (NLT),  ¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces.  ¹⁸ Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

¹⁹ “What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said.  “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people.  ²⁰ But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him.  ²¹ We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.  This all happened three days ago.

•  is the enemy of  .

Luke 24:25-27 (NLT),  ²⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people!  You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.  ²⁶ Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”  ²⁷ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

•  brings sight to the  .

Luke 24:32-35 (NLT),  ²⁸ By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey.  Jesus acted as if he were going on, ²⁹ but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.”  So he went home with them.  ³⁰ As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it.  Then he broke it and gave it to them.  ³¹ Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.  And at that moment he disappeared!

³² They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”  ³³ And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem.  There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, ³⁴ who said, “The Lord has really risen!  He appeared to Peter.”

³⁵ Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.

Something to take home:

“Alexandyr Solzhenitsyn, the famous author and Communist dissident in the early-mid 20^th century, was a prisoner in a Soviet prison in Siberia from 1945-1953.  He became so weak and discouraged that he wished he would die.  The guards would beat, and usually kill, anyone that stopped working.  So one day he decided to stop working so that the guards would kill him.  As soon as he did, however, another Christian drew a cross where Alexander could see it.

“Alexandyr said that he was encouraged by remembering that God gives hope and courage.  He decided to continue working because of a Christian who cared too much to let him give up.”

Like Solzhenitsyn, we too can become so discouraged we want to die, but thanks be to GOD, we have a risen Savior who took our shame and discouragement and nailed it to the cross so that we can have hope and courage to press on in this life.  For Christ’s sake, and for His glory we are more than conquerors through Him who has saved us!  So if you’re discouraged today – if you’ve lost all hope – don’t give up!  Remember the road ahead may be hard, but what awaits us in the end is a reward beyond our wildest imaginations.  Jesus took our shame, sorrow, and discouragement on the cross, so that we could be free.  Today we live in the light of the cross, and most importantly, the empty tomb, with the promise of everlasting life through Christ Jesus our LORD.

Key Point:  “The truth of the resurrection of Jesus should burn in the heart of every believer.”