When Is The Last Time You Saw Jesus?

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen."

Or you can watch this passage 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTb4UIbnOHE. Watch 3:57:25 to 4:00:45



      Do you know who Stan Lee is?   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Lee  . Watch the following Youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_kpIzSCYS4 . You may have watched these 14 movies and never noticed Stan Lee because you didn't know who he is or you weren't looking for him. Yet he was there.
      In this passage of scripture, Jesus walked among these two men on the road to Emmaeus and they didn't recognize Him. Before we are too hard on these guys, let me ask you a question - Did you recognize Jesus this week? He was walking with you everywhere you went yet you probably didn't notice. He was there when you were at the gym, at work, at baseball practice, at the grocery store, in your home - everywhere. Did you see Him? I don't mean literally, obviously, but did you see His hand involved in everything?
       If there was one person in the Bible that saw God everywhere it was David. I especially like the story in 2Sam. 16:5-13 of David and Shimei.

     As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. ⁶ He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. ⁷ As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! ⁸ The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”
⁹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

¹⁰ But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”

¹¹ David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. ¹² It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

¹³ So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt.

  David was being falsely accused by this man and showered with stones and dirt, yet he didn't retaliate because he said basically, "I see God's hand in this and if it isn't, then God will see it and He will feel sorry for me." Is this how we react to bad things happening to us? Or do we just "see" God when good stuff happens? I can testify that at times of real closeness to the Lord I see Him in everything. When I'm distracted from Him, I see these divine appointments as irritations or interruptions to my schedule.

     If seeing God in everything and "Practicing His Presence" is our goal in life, the question is how can we go from not being aware of Him to seeing Him? In this passage of scripture, on the road to Emmaeus, that is what happened to these disciples so maybe we can take some clues from Luke 24. I see 5 things that are hints to seeing Jesus more in our everyday walk.

     #1. Travel in pairs - vs. 13
            When Jesus sent his disciples out, he sent them in pairs. We read in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

and in Prov. 27:17 that "iron sharpens iron". Paul went out in pairs on his trips. One of the strengths of Promise Keepers was their accountability pairs where you would meet during the week and ask certain questions to ensure they were in position to see Jesus in their lives.
 

How much time did you spend in prayer this week?

Did you pray for others in this group?

Did you put yourself in an awkward situation with a woman?

At any time did you compromise your integrity?

What one sin plagued your walk with God this week?

Did you accomplish your spiritual goals this week?

Are you giving to the Lord’s work financially?

How have you demonstrated a servant’s heart?

Do you treat your peers and coworkers as people loved by God?

What significant thing did you do for your wife and/or family?

What was your biggest disappointment? How did you decide to handle it?

What was your biggest joy? Did you thank God?

What do you see as your number one need for next week?

Are you satisfied with the time you spent with the Lord this week?

Did you take time to show compassion for others in need?

Did you control your tongue?

What did you do this week to enhance your relationship with your spouse?

Did you pray and read God’s Word this week? What did you derive from this time?

In what ways have you launched out in faith since we last met?

In what ways has God blessed you this week? And what disappointments consumed your thoughts this week?

Did you look at a woman in the wrong way?

How have you been tempted this week? How did you respond?

How has your relationship with Christ been changing?

Did you worship in church this week?

Have you shared your faith this week? How?

What are you wrestling with in your thought life?

What have you done for someone else this week?

Are the “visible“ you and the “real“ you consistent in this relationship?

It is difficult to be a lone Christian. Find someone of your own sex to be accountable to. Or maybe it's your spouse. Did you know studies show that couples that pray together have less than 1 in 100 chance of getting divorced? Meet with someone early in the morning and pray with them. I bet you will see Jesus that day.

#2. Have spiritual conversations- vs. 14,15, 19-24

     What do you talk about with fellow believers? OK, March Maddness is worth discussing as are the kids, work, movies, TV, music so I'm not recommending a separation from sacred and secular or a monasterial life. However, how much time do you spend talking about what God has been teaching you this week or where you saw the Lord this week? If you want to see Jesus, your conversations should take your thoughts to Him. That is what true fellowship does.

   #3. Spend time in the scripture - vs. 27

    First of all, if you want to hear from Jesus you have to be in the Word. Get a journal, sit down in a quiet place with a cup of coffee and ask God to speak to you through His word and don't get up until you have written down what He said to you.
    And then, write down how you saw God in that passage. How did He get bigger in your eyes.
    Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 5:39 "You dilligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you might possess eternal life; (but) these are the scriptures that testify about me! Look for Jesus all over the Bible.

     #4. Pray passionate prayers - vs 29

     They urged Jesus not to leave them! What kind of prayers do we pray? Certainly not those kind. When is the last time like Moses you cried out for a glimpse of God or for His presence not to leave? Do you pant for God's presence like David in Psalms 42 and 63 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAsd7su5Rkc   (30:15-34:00)  or do you just pray for illnesses? Those are valid prayers but God wants more from you. He wants to reveal Himself and His presence to you. Just ask Him.

      #5. Discuss Him at meals - vs 30-32

     This is the practical part for families. At the supper table reflect/remember all the times you saw Jesus that day. If you don't, you will forget you ever saw Him or may overlook it. It will teach and reinforce to your kids that everyday Jesus is with them and our lives are about Him, not us. Who knows, it might keep them from taking Jesus to some places where they shouldn't go! Get spiritual heartburn!

   Don't go through life like the rest of the religious and non-religious people of the world. Moses recognized it. He said something like this in Ex.33.." the thing that distinguishes me from the rest of the people in the world is God's presence in my life. If I can't have it, I don't want to go on." How bad do you want it? It is what we are created for and you can have it - He is right next to you.

Jesus Takes His Disciples on a Short Term Mission Trip

     Short term mission trips are the rage in Christian circles. You could probably go to any evangelical church and find one to join at some point in a given year. If you read Radical by David Platt he goes so far as saying that everyone reading the book should strive to go on one during the year. What is involved in a short term mission trip? It usually is for a week or two, traveling a fair distance from home, usually to a different culture, enduring a certain degree of hardship, and sharing Christ with people. Not only does it have the potential for changing the lives of the missioned but the greatest change is often seen in the missionary. In a sense, Jesus also knew the value of these because He took His disciples on a"short term mission trip" (STMT) in Mark 4,5. If you notice, they were on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, their comfort zone, and Jesus tells them to get in the boat and sail to the east side leaving their comfort and enduring some hardship. They share with one or two people, they get saved, the  people on the east side tell them to leave and they sail back to their comfort zone. That is the Reader's Digest version , but now lets look at all the implications of this STMT and what we can learn from God's Word to apply to us today. I'd like to point out 7 principles from these chapters.

   #1. Sow (that's to plant - not a pig) (I can see where it could get confusing in this story)
          Jesus does a little pre-mission trip teaching (which BTW is a great idea) in Mark 4:26-32 where He gives 2 parables one of which all the other gospels leave out- "the parable of the growing seed". I'm sure that there are multiple interpretations for this and the following "parable of the mustard seed" but what I cant help but notice is that both emphasize seed that gets sown into good soil grows. I am by no means discounting the current Christian buzz word discipleship because I agree that is where it's at. The Great Commission confirms that. Nonetheless, I believe the Bible teaches that a true conversion will grow and persevere. We often are reticent to present the gospel and have people "pray the prayer" if there is no adequate followup. And as we come back and report the number saved, we are quick to report that such and such a church will be calling on them. Once again, I think that followup is great but don't let a lack of followup keep you from giving people the opportunity to be saved or shame you into not claiming victories in the name of Jesus. The demoniac in this story certainly had no discipleship and Jesus felt that was Ok.

    #2  Alone Time
         Mark 4:34 states that when Jesus was alone with His disciples He taught them the deeper meaning of His parables. I know a lot of Church Mission trips are about fellowship and hanging out with people you love. Maybe you are going with your spouse. Maybe you are hoping to gain a spouse. Don't miss the opportunity STMT's give you to be alone with Jesus! No TV, internet, malls, cell phones - Just Jesus. This was certainly a time when the disciples learned from Jesus. I'm always reminded of the account of Mary and Martha. Mary availed herself to alone time with Jesus, Martha didn't and she was reproved. When you strip everything away just one thing remains -Jesus. Take advantage of that. Study your Bible. Memorize it. Every spare moment. I remember one mission trip someone brought dominoes and suddenly that was the rage. Satan wants to steal your alone time. Don't let him.

     #3" Falling into place"
           There is a tendency to think that if we are doing something for the Kingdom of God, like something as noble as a STMT, everything should just fall into place and go smoothly. The money should come flowing in, the passports will all arrive in time, no luggage will be confiscated,the flights won't be delayed, noone will get Montezuma's revenge - and then we know God is really "in this". Look what happened here - they almost drowned on their way there and when they got there a couple of crazy people came running down the hill after them, and the people quickly asked them to leave. I wonder if Jonah thought," how convenient, a ship to Tarshish leaving now and I have just the right amount of money." Be sensitive to the Lord's leading. Yes He may be closing a door on you till a later date but also don't discount the possibility of opposition by Satan who knows you are on the way.

      #4. A Bigger God
         Mission trips, like nothing else, have the ability to give us a new revelation of God, and isn't this what life is all about anyway? There were two major God "explosions" in this passage - Nature took orders from Jesus and so did demons. Both of these displays of the glory of God blew peoples' minds. How do we know? "They were afraid" (4:41, 5:15). If Jesus is "cool" or "all-right" or your BFF, or homeboy, or the key to a good life, Heaven, etc. you really haven't met Him. Jesus doesn't allow a Ho-hum response. When we meet him , like we can anywhere-but especially on mission trips, our response should be nothing less than a Keanu Reeve's "Whoa!" We should enter into what R.C. Sproul or Francis Chan more recently talk about a terror of the Holy. A new found respect awe and love and a new level of trust and obedience resulting from that. God will show himself on STMT's in ways He doesn't in your comfort zone so be looking.

     #5. Saves people from the power of Satan
        The thief comes to steal kill and destroy and we see it clearly in the demoniac. He cut himself, cried out all night long, and his mind was crazed, and we see it dramatically in how the pigs behave once they are possessed - they kill themselves. This is where we go on mission trips - we battle not against flesh and blood but powers and principalities. Quite often this distinction is clearer on STMTs. Here, in our cultured areas where everyone is comfortable, Satan works in more subtle ways. He works behind the scenes making us so enamored with the status quo so that when something real , supernatural, life changing comes around, we say, "Please leave, We don't want you here Jesus." This is just as much Satan but more what one sees at home than on mission trips. Prayer is of utmost importance along with humility as we go into these areas to take on the powers of darkness because we have no more chance against Satan than the sons of Sceva

     #6. Cost -effectiveness
        A mission trip may not make good financial sense. For example, for the amount of money it may cost me to take my family to Kenya and see sick people for 2 weeks I could probably help put a local Christian Kenyan through medical school and serve Christ for life. OK, first of all, if we are honest, we could probably live so minimallistically here that we save enough money to do both. However, God is the source of all our means and wealth. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. We can't be like Judas and say this perfume should have been sold and given to the poor. God doesn't work that way. The benefits of a STMT can't be quantified. And don't feel bad if you went on the trip where only one got saved - like Jesus' trip. It will still be more than worth it!

     #7. Missionary everywhere
        As Jesus left, the newfound believer wanted to go with Him and Jesus basically said, "No, you are to be a home missionary. You speak the language, they know you, they can see a change. You can reach these people, we couldn't." When I came back from my first few STMTs, the biggest change in my life was I started sharing the gospel at home with my patients. I thought, "I go overseas to share the gospel in a language I can't speak and I don't do it at home? That's crazy!" And that is just how I would open the discussion with my patients and living in the Bible Belt most appreciated it. If you carry an evangecube or gospel beads with you over there, do it overhere. If you do puppet shows or backyard Bible clubs over there do it over here. Otherwise it is somewhat hypocritical

     Please, please please... Go on a short term mission trip. It will change your life and many others!!!