Emmaus ... and Beyond
Easter 2020 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Remembering Ammaus
Remembering Ammaus
When last we were together, we were eavesdropping on two rather disappointed travellers, on their way from Jerusalem to Ammaus, about 10 kilometers outside of Jerusalem.
Jesus had caught up with them, we heard, according to Luke, (Luke 24: 13-35) and had “opened their eyes” (verse 31) and they looked at each other, and could hardly contain their joy! “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the scriptures to us?”
And I asked, at the end of Easter Sunday’s sermon: “Was your heart burning, friends, as you heard the sermon?
Was your heart burning within you, when we paused in the Scriptures at the Cross, on Good Friday?
Were you there?
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord,” we sang. Well, were you?
And were you there, in faith, in God’s word … did your heart not “burn within you” when we joined the women at the grave - and found it empty?
A place to pause, perhaps
A place to pause, perhaps
Friends, imagine we could stay there at the Cross! Like we feel, don’t we, at the funeral of a loved one, wanting to stay with them for as long as possible …, for ever, if only we could?
Or imagine we could linger there at Jesus’ grave, as long as we wanted too. (A few years ago a small group of our church spent a few precious moments at one of the sites in Jerusalem, marked as Jesus burial place - Alistair, Gillian, Tony, Jan ... ) - There in that place where the angels assured the women that our Lord is indeed risen, just like the prophets had foretold!
Or, if only we could stay a while longer at that house in Ammaus, where Cleopas and his companion, would break bread with Jesus. And having seen Him break the bread, seen how their faces lit up, smiling, with that “Eureka” kind of a smile, saying: “Now we get it! Jesus is the Messiah, our long awaited Saviour! Hallelujah!”
But it turns out, Loved Ones, that ours is not the privilege, yet, to meet Jesus face to face. Oh, one day we will! But not yet!
You see, we are living, in the now, but not yet, time!
And in this time, there is work to be done!
Now, but not yet!
Now, but not yet!
What is this concept of the “now, but not yet”?
Please turn with me to Hebrews 10, as we continue our preaching series on this Letter that was written to first century Christians, who found themselves in circumstances not unlike our own.
We read from Hebrews 10: 19-25
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
As we read this passage, we find ourselves in the homes of a people with the same doubts and fears we have, if not Corona Virus, but all of the fears that this virus has so wonderfully brought home to our reluctant attention: they are afraid of persecution, the loss of job security, the evil of the world, like murder, they suffer infidelity in their relationships, jealousy, hate, deceit … and above all, living in this broken world, they are very much aware of the limited power and control we have of anything, really - because they, too, still find themselves at the open grave or the crematorium all too often!
We find ourselves in places rather hostile, we have to admit - and there is nowhere to hide, we often feel!
They are Christians, those receipients of this letter, just like us. They are, many of them, recent converts, which is not surprising, as they live withing living memory of “all that had taken place in Jerusalem in those days” (remember our Easter Sunday passage - Luke 24: 18) - And now they find themselves, uncertain, lacking confidence (which is just another word for “faith” really)!
Just like, Cleopas, on that road to Emmaus:
18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”
You see, just like Cleopas, just like the receipients of the letter of Hebrews, they, too, like many of us, are prone to doubt!
--- And death, does not help us much to make sense of “all the things that happened there in Jerusalem.” does it?
And now, it is Sunday again, one week since we met there in Ammaus, to eavesdrop, to see, and to believe … still separated, still uncertain and, we might say, “in the dark”
One week has passed ...
One week since, I pray, since “our hearts burned within us ...”
But … where are we?
We are no longer in Jerusalem! We are no longer on Golgotha, looking up to the Cross and saying, surprised, if I may say so, “truly, He was the Son of God!”; we are no longer on the road to Ammaus, or in Emmaus itself. Jesus is no longer breaking bread with us, nor the Emmaus travellers - that much we may know!
But, where are we then?
Where are you, brother? Sister? And where are your children, this Sunday one week after Easter?
Where are you in your faith journey? - Because we are on a journey, friends, and many have not yet realised we have arrived at our destination - our Now, but not yet, destination!
"Brothers and sisters" (Heb 2: 10-12) (Stay with me a while longer on our journey of faith, visiting the many places of God’s journey for mankind, as we find our roadmap in the Bible...
Come, brothers and sisters ...
(Why do I call you that?)
Because unless you understood that that is the way Jesus called us - declared us to be, brothers and sisters, and that there is a very good reason He did so, you will not understand where we are going!
We find the answer in Heb. 2:10-12.
10 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12 saying: I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.
10 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory,…
That is what He did. He brought us out of the grasp of sin and suffering, the very opposite of glory, into glory - into perfection, again, the way we wre made to be, before our rebellion!
and verse 11 expands on this: To bring us into glory, he sanctified us (sanctification is just a big word for “being made holy”)
And having been made holy, we have become one with Him - because He is Holy. To be holy, means to be without sin! And can you see how it all comes together - we have been made holy, again. - Praise be to God!
How has this been achieved? (verse 10b “through sufferings!
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord...”?
And the result?
Heb 10: 19 - we have boldness to enter the sanctuary!
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—
The result is that we have boldness, or confidence, to “enter ....
Where?
The sanctuary, that’s where!
Which brings us back to our earlier question: Where are we?
Sydney … or Sanctuary?
Sydney … or Sanctuary?
We know we are in Sydney! But, as we read God’s word, it seems the author is implying we can be at two places at the same time! We can be in Sydney - AND in the SANCTUARY!
And we can gather from our text that this Sanctuary, is not some Historical concept. It exists, possibly even now!
How can we know?
Well, verse 20 says that it was “He who “inaugurated” the sanctuary! So, it exists!
And we even have a description of this sanctuary!
And how it is that we have gained entry - the key, so to speak!
Heb 10: 20
20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—
Our Sanctuary is a new and living way - through the curtain!
Here is how it works!
Having faith in Jesus, new found faith, as we looked up to the Cross, saw Jesus die there, only to be raised again on the third day, according to many eye witness acounts and historical proofs; we may know that we are safe from death, for He has died -the curtain was tore - and now, in faith we are of the same holy flesh of Jesus; who made us in His image from the beginning to be holy (Jesus Himself calls us His brothers and sisters). And although for a while we were un-holy, He has made us holy again by paying our debt of death, through suffering the punishment we deserved.
And the curtain through which we enter - is Jesus:
Just as the curtain tore, to allow entrance into the Holiest of Holy places (the Sanctuary), so Jesus’ body was “torn” on the Cross! (v20: … that is, through his flesh).
Are you tired yet?
Please stay with me on this journey a while longer, Loved Ones ...
A map of where we’ve been ...
A map of where we’ve been ...
Let’s retrace our steps over this past week:-
In a sense, we started in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden, in the beginning of time, when God made us, and He made us Holy, and we were in His presence, a Sanctuary, no less! We were in His presence and we were Holy, else we could not have been in His presence! Only the pure can live in the presence of God!
Then we travelled to Egypt, where we met Joseph, and His scheming brothers, and Jacob … and we saw Israel suffering because of the brokenness of this world, and we read of famine, and drought, and jealousy, and of family members longing to be together … \
Yet, for a while … we come to realise, Egypt was for Israel a sanctuary against the famine.
We come to see how God had a plan to unite His chosen people, His family, and how it was that plan that had seen Joseph suffer many pains, and longing ...
But, clearly, God had not forgotten either Joseph nor any of His people
And we remember Joseph coming to see this, to believe this, when he declares to his brothers: “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good!”
Egypt, where we come across Moses - and God’s plan to set His people on a journey - out of the land of slavery, towards the promised land!
And we got to learn how God would set a system of sacrifice / a sacrificial system / which would be the pointing to a supreme sacrifice of blood, for the complete salvation of His people, His family. And a lamb was to be that sacrifice! (The passover lamb)
And we saw God give Israel a law, which would reflect His holiness - the ten commandments, received ther at another stop-over in Israel, Mount Sinai ((And if the world was not such a broken place, we would still be able to visit there without fear even today).
And there at the foot of the mountain, we learnt of another sacrifice that God would command, a goat, a scape-goat, no less, which would be banished to that uninhabitable place, that place of darkness so dense you could touch it!
And all the while, as God’s people travel - they long to be back in His Sanctuary, again!
Are you starting to see the final destination, yet, brothers and sisters?
Brothers … and sisters ...
The journey to the final destination, you see, has already come to an end!
Yes, now, but not yet, completely!
Even now, we have been made holy, and so ...
we may have a Holy boldness ... to enter, (10:19)
And even now we may enter … the sanctuary (19 b) (the holiest of holy places - God's throne room (entering, by means of "the blood of Jesus" who ministers there for us. You see! He went before us, to prepare for us a dwelling place which has been registerd in our names!
(Heb 8: 1-2) Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,h 2 a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle, that was set up by the Lord and not man.
This is a sanctuary like none other! It is completely safe! No famine there, nor war, nor hate - and no death or dying!
And it is ours, now, as I will show in a moment … but not yet! That happens only when “the day which is approaching, (verse 25) arrives!
Now!
How?
Verse 23: Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since He who has promised, is faithful!
What did he promise? “I will be with you for all eternity!” that’s what!
And He is faithful!
How?
See Him there on the Cross!
(Were you there, brother, sister, when they crucified my Lord?)
Now!
But … How?
By sitting at the Lord’s table, doing so remembering all these things that have taken place, as we will do (DV) on that first Sunday we are allowed to return to Church !
But … How?
Verse 22: with a true heart
Heb 10:22
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
But … How?
Hebrews 10: 23
23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.
But, How?
By caring for one another, looking out for one another … loving each other ...
heb 10:24
24 And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works,
(pause)
How?
Heb 10: 25
25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
so, How?
As church! In the confidence that God ahs called us to be His holy people, has sanctified us and is sanctifying us, even now, and until that day
when we will meet in the Holiest of Holy places - the inner sanctuary of God - safe, in the presence of our Lord - again!
Isn’t meeting together that which families do?
In a recent Covid-19 survey, people were asked what made them most anxious:
And the overwhelming response was that they wanted to be with family again, together with loved ones!
You see, that is what a family does! The family of Jesus, His brothers and sisters, no less!
We meet together, as brothers and sisters - together with our Older Brother, Jesus, who declared us to be holy, because He made us holy, by His blood!
That is what the Church, is! The family of God, called from the beginning of time to be His family!
And we are together in that way, brothers and sisters, even now! Can you see it now? Together, in the blood of Christ, poured out for you and for me!
Even now, but not yet as wonderfully, perfectly it will be, on the day Jesus comes to welcome us home!
Can you see the day approaching?
And in the meantime, Are you ready to continue the journey?
Till we meet again, brothers, sisters!
Amen!