Turn with me, if you would, back
to Luke 24. Luke 24. We just sang, Lord Jesus,
keep me near the cross. Right there is a precious fountain. Breathe. To all who desperately
need it. It's a healing stream that flows
from Calvary's mountain. Near the cross. How near? So near I'm actually
in the Christ who hung on the cross. May that be my glory forever. May that be my glory. until my raptured soul shall
find eternal rest beyond the river." Sometimes we need to
be a little more near to Him. And if you're a child of God,
you'll know what I'm talking about. Sometimes we need to be
a little nearer. Sometimes we feel our weakness. Sometimes we feel our helplessness. Sometimes we do. We enter in
to just how weak and how helpless. Sometimes the heaviness is too
heavy. This is a heavy world. This is
a heavy life. The sin, the sorrow, and it only
gets heavier. And sometimes that heaviness
is just too heavy. Sometimes a child of God cannot
put his finger on why he feels the way he does. He just knows
he needs to be nearer. Nearer, my God, to Thee. That's
what I need. Nearer, my God, to Thee. In Luke 24, two men were on the
road to Emmaus, feeling that very thing. They needed the presence of their
Lord. And in Luke 24, verse 29 says, They constrained Him, saying,
Abide with us. They constrained Him. They constrained
Him. Lord, please, please, we're begging
You. Please don't leave us. Please don't break communion
with us. We need you right now. We desperately need you. Well, my prayer is that tonight
the Lord might cause us to see what He caused them to see that
night. The very thing they had revealed
to them that night, that's what I pray the Lord will reveal to
us. And I'm going to go ahead and tell us what it is. Better
yet, I'm going to show us what it is. Turn with me over to Matthew
chapter 28. Matthew 28 verse 18 says, And
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto
me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you, and lo! I am with you always, even unto
the end of the world. Amen. He said, there will never
be a time that I'm not with you. Never. Turn over to Hebrews chapter
13. Hebrews 13 verse 5 says, Let your conversation be without
covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For he hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the
Lord is my helper. And I will not fear what man
shall do unto me." Our Lord was with those two men on the road
to Emmaus even when they had no idea that He was with them. The same thing can be said about
all of His people. All of His people. The same thing
can be said about every single one of us if we belong to Him.
There is never a moment in time when He is not with us. There's never a moment in time.
We're reminded of that. We realize that the same way
those two on the road to Emmaus were reminded of it. through
the Spirit of His Word. He reminds us and He reveals
that to us again through His Word, through the Spirit of His
Word. Go back with me to Luke 24. Let's look at the story of these
two men and then let's see if by the end of it we say the same
thing they did. Luke 24 verse 13 says, And behold, two of them went
that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem,
about three score furlongs, seven and a half miles. And they talked
together of all these things which had happened, the crucifixion,
the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Verse 15, And it came to pass, that while they communed
together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near and went with
them. Let's take notice of who drew
near first. It happens this way every time.
It happens this way every single time. The Apostle John wrote,
we love Him. We do. We love Him. but only because He first loved
us. And the truth is, we draw near
to Him. We do. But it's only because
He draws near to us first. That's the way it happens every
time. He draws near to us first, and then we feel a need to draw
to Him. If He did not draw near to us, we would continue on our
way, never feeling a need for Him. Never. Never. We would just continue on down
our path thinking everything, oh, I'm doing great. Yeah, I'm
doing fine. Never feeling that deep, deep need for the Lord. Verse 15 says, It came to pass
that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew
near and went with them. But their eyes were holden that
they should not know Him. How many times had they seen
His face? How many times had they heard
the sound of His voice? How many times had they heard
it? How sad is it that they did not recognize the fact that it
was Him? Can that not be said about every
single one of us? Every single one of us. We have
clearly, plainly seen His Word. We have clearly and plainly heard
His voice in it. We know of the sufferings, we
know of the trials that are promised to those that walk with Him.
The separation of this world. He said, I've put a difference.
The loss of this world. Our decrease in everything that
pertains to this flesh. It is going to decrease. John
said, I must decrease. But when those things happen
to us, how often are our eyes holding to the point we don't even know
it's Him? He is doing something to draw
us near. He is doing something to bring
communion back, but we don't even know it's Him. Can't even
see it's Him. Verse 15 says, It came to pass that while they
communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near and went
with them. But their eyes were holden that
they should not know Him. And He said unto them, What manner
of communications are these that you have one to another as you
walk and are sad? That's one of my favorite questions
to hear Him ask. That's one of my favorite questions. I started thinking about that.
This is what he asked him. Why are you so sad? Why are you
so sad? Every time my heart hears him
ask that question, when I hear that question in his voice, I
ask myself the same thing. Why are you so sad? Why are you so sad? What do you
have to be sad about? All of the debt of your sin is
paid. It's all paid. You've been set free from the
bondage and the curse of the law. Completely set free. Everything
that God demands of you, Christ has provided for you. Really,
why are you sad? We get in these moments and Buddy,
we're blind to the facts, aren't we? Why are you sad? David asked
himself the same question. Look with me at Psalm 42. Psalm 42, verse 1, he said, As
the heart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after
thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for
the living God. When shall I come and appear
before God? My tears have been my meat day
and night while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me. For
I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house
of God with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude
that kept holy day. Why art thou cast down, O my
soul? And why art thou disquieted in
me? Hope thou in God. For I shall
yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." He's saying,
I know that in just a moment I'm going to be praising Him
for His help to me. Verse 6, Oh my God, my soul is
cast down within me. Therefore will I remember Thee
from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from the hill
Miser. Deep calleth unto deep at the
noise of thy waterspouts, all thy waves and thy billows are
gone over me, yet the Lord will command His lovingkindness in
the daytime. And in the night His song shall
be with me in my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say
unto God, My Rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in
my bones, mine enemies reproach me while they say daily unto
me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my
soul? And why art thou disquieted within
me? Hope thou in God. For I shall
yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance and my God."
I am going to praise Him. That's what he said, I know I
will. I know I will. I know that the end of this is
going to be so good. I know it is. Charles Spurgeon said concerning
this, why go I mourning? Why are you so sad? He said,
Canst thou answer this, believer? Canst thou find any reason why
thou art so often mourning instead of rejoicing? How true is that? So often mourning instead of
rejoicing. He said, why yield to gloomy
anticipations? Oh, this is going to be bad.
I know this is going to be bad. This is my expected anticipation.
I just know it's going to be bad. That's me. And that's you. This thing is
just looking bad. He said, why yield to gloomy
anticipations? Who told thee that night would
never end in day? Who told thee that the sea of
circumstance would ebb out till there should be nothing left
but long leagues of the mud of horrible poverty? Who told thee
that the winter of thy discontent would proceed from frost to frost,
from snow and ice and hail to deeper snow and yet more heavy
tempest of despair? Knowest thou not that day follows
night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed
to winter? Hope thou then, hope thou ever,
for God fails thee not. Dost thou not know that thy God
loves thee in the midst of all this? Mountains, when in darkness
hidden, are as real as in day. And God's love is as true to
thee now as it was in thy brightest moments. No father chastens always. Thy Lord hates the rod as much
as thou dost. He only cares to use it for that
reason which should make thee willing to receive it, namely
that it works thy lasting good. That's the only reason he's chastening. Thou shalt yet climb Jacob's
ladder with the angels. and behold Him who sits at the
top of it, thy covenant God. Thou shalt yet amidst the splendors
of eternity forget the trials of time, or only remember them
to bless the God who led thee through them and wrought thy
lasting good by them. Come, sing in the midst of tribulation,
rejoice even while passing through the furnace, Make the wilderness
to blossom like the rose. Cause the desert to ring with
thine exalting joys, for these light afflictions will soon be
over. And then forever with the Lord,
thy bliss shall never wane. It'll never diminish. You know
what that makes me ask myself? Why are you so sad? Why are you
so sad? Go with me back to Luke 24. Verse 17, And He said unto them, What manner
of communications are these, that you have one to another
as you walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name
was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger
in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to
pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things?
And they said unto him concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was
a prophet mighty indeed in word before God and all the people,
and how the chief priest and our rulers delivered him to be
condemned to death and have crucified him. Now, Cleopas was a believer. But because he didn't have the
benefit of the written Word, like we have in front of us right
now, there were some details about this that he didn't fully
understand. The chief priest did not deliver him and condemn
him. Turn with me over to John 19. John 19 verse 10, Then Pilate said unto our Lord,
Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have
power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus
answered, thou couldest have no power at all against me, except
it were given thee from above. What he's saying is, you are
only doing what my Father is allowing you to do. In John 10,
he said, no man takes my life from me. I will lay it down of
myself. I will give up my own ghost.
Look over at Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2 verse 22 says,
You men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs,
which God did by Him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also
know, Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge
of God, you have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and
slain." He said everything you did was according to the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God. God delivered him to it. Verse 36 says, Therefore let
all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made
that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ. God made Him to be the Savior
of His people. God made Him the sacrifice for
sin. But in the moment, Cleopas and
that other disciple can't see this. They can't see it. They cannot hear His voice. Their
eyes and their ears are holding from Him. Go back over to Luke
24. Verse 18 says, "...one of them,
whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only
a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which
are come to pass there in these days? And He said unto them,
What things? And they said unto Him concerning
Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet, mighty indeed in word
before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and
our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and have crucified
Him. But we trusted that it had been
He which should have redeemed Israel. And beside all this,
today is the third day since these things were done. Yea,
and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which
were early at the sepulchre. And when they found not His body,
they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels,
which said that He was alive. And certain of them which were
with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so, as the
women had said, but Him they saw not." Verse 25 says, "...then
He said, Undo them." They said, this is our plight.
This is our sorrow. And then he said unto them, things
are about to change. Their mourning, their sorrow
is about to be turned to laughter. The morning's here. Weeping may
have endured for a night, but the morning's here. Verse 25,
then He said unto them, O fools and slow of heart to believe
all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ to have suffered
these things and to enter in to His glory? Just look at what
Christ has done for you. God foreordained him to be the
Messiah. God determined for him to be
delivered for the sin of his people. Ought not Christ to have
suffered these things? God said, behold, my servant,
he shall not fail. Ought not Christ to have suffered
for these things? He entered into a covenant with
His Father concerning these things. He made a promise before the
throne of God. When He could swear by no greater,
He swore by Himself. Ought not Christ to have suffered
these things? And to enter into His glory. Moses asked the Lord, show me
Your glory. What is Your glory? He said,
I'll have mercy. Shouldn't He enter into His glory?
Should He not be high and lifted up? Should He not receive a name
that is above every name? Should He not reign as the King
of kings and Lord of lords forever? This is the glory of the gospel.
This is the hope of earth and joy of heaven. I love that song.
Hope of earth and joy of heaven. This is what the Scripture is
all about. Verse 25, He said unto them, O fools and slow of
heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not
Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His
glory? And beginning at Moses, and all
the prophets He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the
things concerning Himself." You think about this. The preaching
of the Word of God is the power of God unto salvation. He did
not start revealing things that had not already been written.
He opened the Scripture and He did the same thing we're doing
right now. Beginning at Moses, all the prophets
He told him what the Word said, and then he said, that lamb was
Christ. And then he told him what the
Word said, and he said, that ark was Christ. And then he told
him what the Word said, and he said, that rock was Christ. That
tabernacle was Christ. That prophet was Christ. That
priest was Christ. That king was Christ. Verse 27 says, Beginning at Moses
and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures
the things concerning Himself. And they drew nigh unto the village
whither they went, and He made as though He would have gone
further. But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us, for
it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went
in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat
at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and break, and
gave to them." He observed the Lord's table with them. He took bread, and he blessed
it, and he break it, and he gave it to them. He said, take, eat,
this is my body, which is broken for you. This do in remembrance
of me." Verse 31 says, and their eyes were opened and they knew
Him. This is life eternal that we
might know Him. Their eyes were opened and they
knew Him and He vanished out of their sight. Did He leave
them? Verse 36 says, As they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood
in the midst, and He said, Peace be unto you. He said, I'll never
leave you. Even when He departed to go back
to His Father, He said, I'm with you always. I'm with you always. Verse 31, Their eyes were opened,
and they knew Him, and He vanished out of their sight. And they
said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while
He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the
Scriptures? And can't we say the same thing? Has His Word to us not lifted
our spirits? Don't we say that continually? We come in just so down and just
so And then we get His Word, and all of a sudden, all of our
sorrow, bondage, and night, we come out of that into His freedom,
gladness, and light. We're about to sing, out of our
sickness, into His health. Out of our want, into His wealth. Out of our sin, into His self. Does not our heart burn within
us? Verse 33, I'm going to close by reading the end of this chapter,
verse 33. the same hour, and returned to
Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that
were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared
to Simon. And they told what things were
done in the way, and how he was known of them, and breaking of
bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst
of them, and said, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified
and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
And he said unto them, Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts
arise in your heart? Behold, my hands and my feet,
that it is I myself. Handle me, and see, for a spirit
hath not flesh and bones, as you see me have. And when he
had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while
they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them,
Have you any meat? Can you imagine them at that
moment? They just, they believed not for joy. Verse 42, And they
gave him a piece of broiled fish and of an honeycomb, and he took
it and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These
are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law
of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning
me. Then opened he their understanding
that they might understand the Scriptures. and said unto them,
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer
and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his name among
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and you are witnesses of these
things. And behold, I send the promise of my father upon you,
but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power
from on high. And he led them out as far as
to Bethany and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. He was
praying on their behalf. And it came to pass, while He
blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up into heaven,
and they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and
were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. And that's exactly what we're
still doing. How wonderful. Let's all stand together.