Sermon April 6, 2008 - Road to Emmaus
Pastor Wesley Howell

The Gospel is the dramatic account of the walk to Emmaus and Christ being revealed to his disheartened followers. You can easily imagine walking along with them. Walking with Jesus but we didn’t know it. They DON’T know it while he’s with them….only afterward.

Paul says that we see "in a mirror dimly," "through a glass darkly" (I Cor 13:12, NRSV). One day we shall see, we shall be "face-to-face," we shall know and be known. One day. But not yet…groaning….yearning…wishing.

And the whole creation groans "with eager longing" (Rom 8:19) for freedom from our "bondage to decay" (8:21). Let’s think about that "eager longing" that Paul speaks about in Romans. But right now…we’re here. In between time.

We're after Easter. On the first Easter evening, two disciples journeyed toward a little village alone. Unknown disciples to an unknown place. They figured it must be the end of the journey with Jesus - Jesus had been dead and buried for three days. Then, to their surprise, they look up and Christ walks with them. BUT let’s not hurry it. We like to think that they see Jesus and recognize him…but they don’t. What Jesus gives them is…HOPE. It’s what we often get.

Our God is persistent, and determined to have us. Even in our lostness, when we’re running away, running to “who knows where.”

Last week we heard about Thomas. We miss a little something in this text that I want to go back to…because it connects.

Somehow we’ve worked ourselves into thinking it’s an all or nothing thing, this belief. We’re so wigged out about the two opposites. Either you believe or you don’t. One way or the other. We set up the story that way…the disciples believe…Thomas doubts. Blessed are those…a beatitude here.

Blessed are those who COME TO BELIEVE is how it’s translated. In Greek it’s the same word as the name for the first book of the Bible. Genesis: A beginning: A birthing: A growing. I believe even now, even in this sermon, in this service, here at this church, as you go forth in your daily life, he’s walking through the door, picking the lock…he’ll find a way to get you … faith is growing…it’s being born.

It’s in the Grace of the growing that we can help out. Like any relationship it’s a two way street and we can help it.

Why do you think we’ve been doing NCD? It’s NOT just a program, a recipe, add a cup of this, two tablespoons of this a presto…great church.

Everything we’ve been doing is to help you, each one of you …to have your hearts burn within you as you walk with God. Like any relationship we can slip, get complacent. The word is intentional.

 Prayer, in whatever form it takes, at its core is an intentional move by you to open your heart and your life up to God. “When I pray I can feel it. I feel warm…I feel loved.”

 Bible reading, not as facts and figures, dates and rules, but that as you read the words you hear and feel God speaking to you. Letting his word change your life, even in small ways, it’s with you. Changes how you see…how you act.

 In our community, when two or three are gathered. Going to visit someone, giving someone a call, just to say “Hi! Thinking of you”. To care…to know there’s someone who’s there. Who cares? It’s the same feeling isn’t it? The feeling of God.

When we connect it’s like a slow burning fire. We want CEDAR…light a match and whoop. Glorious! Bright! Exciting! For some people it works like that…great! But isn’t it beautiful that God thought of others in here. But more like a peat fire. Deep. Glowing…lasting a long time.

But it’s all about stepping outside the locked doors… walk with Christ, have your vision slowly clear. Grow in faith. Feel your heart burn within you. Even if it’s just a warm glowing…and stepping into life.