ENCOUNTERING JESUS ALONG LIFES ROAD

Today I want to preach a message which I have entitled ENCOUNTERING JESUS ALONG LIFES ROAD. That Jesus meets us in our life as we journey through in our life. And many of us here, we were not saved. We didnt know who Jesus is. May be we were from other religion. As Christians we were just going through the motions and just do the religious things. But how many knows that there is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. May be we can be good people but we need a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. How many knows that Jesus had come in your life once and you have accepted him and he is with you today. As we lead our life we go through many things. And many times in life we want to be sensational. We want to think like if I live for god and I pray then my prayer needs to be fulfilled. We dont want to live an ordinary life. If we see the problem of people in world somehow we think that it will not happen to us. It should not happen to us. Because you are a Christian.

But let me tell you, that most of the things we learn in life are from ordinary things. Many times we fail to recognize gods work because of the problems we go through. Life is not always fantastic. It is ordinary, many times painful. Many big people, even those whom you adore when you see them. People worship this man and they think these are great people. If you will read their lives story then you will get to know that they were common people. They were in their own thoughts and wanted to do well. We need to come out of sensational thinking and we need to learn what life is teaching. We have story here about two men walking away from Jerusalem. They are on the roads to Emmaus. On that way they have a chatting, dissolution, lost the focus. They lost faith that every thing they believe because of sudden event that occur in their life. Lets read from Luke 24:13-35 13 And, behold, two of them went that
same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?18 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?19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;23 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.24 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.25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.29 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.30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to

them.31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.32 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?33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

We have here very powerful event occurring after the Jesus raised from the dead. We see that there are two men here Cleopas and another one name was not mentioned in the bible they are on the way to their village which is Emmaus. 1. First thing I want to talk about that Back ground of the story Jesus was on earth three and half year and he was ministering. He had gone to villages and may part of Israel. He had preached the kingdom of god. He had told people to follow him that under him the kingdom comes. But many people had this false hope of like in the 21st verse disciples were thinking that Jesus will redeem Israel. Though it is right but it has some spiritual meaning. They have missed the point. They thought that Jesus with his power, with his miracle he will bring down the whole Roman Empire down. And they were thinking that Israel is going to come back to the own glory that was in the days of King David and Solomon. But it is not happened. Jesus Christ had to die a horrible, shameful death on the cross. They lost hope now. These two disciples we do not know who they are? But they can be the two disciples from seventy disciples of Jesus. These two young men might be like us having a hope for gods kingdom. Many of you today you got saved and you want to do something for god. And then we are in the church we are trying to help and want to do something. But things dont work out the way that we want. Then we think oh these people are not living for god the way they said. They dont love. Things not working properly. I dont know Jesus is working or not. I will go back from where I came.

Now this is the problem today, it was the problem even then. They were discussing on the way. The Greek word that is given here homileo suzeteo which means they were talking and discussing. They were so much discomforted. The real meaning should be like they talking and disputing themselves. Because they were done so much for Jesus Christ. They had lot of hope for Jesus Christ. They had thought that this is how Jesus should do it. He was doing exactly the way we thought, but suddenly there is some change. Jesus entered the gate and they were singing hosanna hosanna. Suddenly Jesus goes to Gethsemane and he is praying that he is going to die. And we saw how he went to gabbattha where he was tortured. Then they took him to Golgotha. There they put him on the cross. A very horrible death. A death given to worst criminals. Jesus could not save himself. People called him that he is master, some called him great man. Roman Empire was afraid of him. And everybody was worried about Jesus. But when he died, everybody lost the focus. This is what can happen to us if we have physical perspective when we follow Jesus. That we think if I am following god then these is the things should happen to me. Many times I would like to tell you that it will not happen. Life is full of surprise. Life is not going to round and round. Life is going like a square. It means you can go all the way straight but you need to turn. Standing in the straight line you dont know what is there after turn. Then you are turning and again there is turn. You are not expecting this because we are human beings. We have a way of thinking. We think because of living for god, because I am praying. That god should do it, but let me tell you god is in to his plan. God is not interested in your plan. You want to buy a house which is near to church. You want a job which will between 9.00 to 5.00 and you need enough money so that you can come to church. Thats your plan. But god is not in to your plan. Off course god has big plan and plan is that he is here to save mankind. He had loved this

world so he is going to save people. And god says that you be my servant and go preach the gospel. Are you ready to do?. If you loosed your plan and feel like you decided things didnt work out properly. Will you still hold on to the plan?. And will try to think what god wants to do.

2. Second thing I want to talk about that The questions asked and answered Here is Cleopas and another disciple they both were walking towards their village. They were going along way which seven miles. They were walking and Jesus was going along with them. Jesus is doing for his plan. He wants to meet them because they have lost the focus. They were going away from Jerusalem to their own place. Jerusalem was the plan where god wants to keep them. But they have lost the plan. Things did not worked out as they want. Jesus wants them to stay in Jerusalem but they were running way from god. They were going back to their own plan. Thinking my parents will laugh at me. I left every thing and went behind Jesus but he died. Bible tells us when Jesus died Peter, Andrew, John were all gone to fishing. They thought oh! We wasted our life for three years Are you thinking today like that? That you came behind Jesus and put all things behind. And today you are lost. Let me tell you in walking behind Jesus Christ, where ever you are in life? Whatever you are? You have reached in better place. You dont know how worse you could as a sinner. You had no hope. You were completely lost. God loved this world so he gave his son Jesus. If you are coming to this church then you are coming for Jesus. Im not the leader. Im not having mega brain. Im not that. Dont put hopes on me that I will have all the answers to your problem. Off course god has put me above you to take the mind of god and counsel you. But you need to look for Jesus. You need to

believe him faithfully. Even when dont worked out the way you wanted. Here is Jesus asking what you are talking about. And disciples are responding that you are the only person in Jerusalem who doesnt know that what happened. The problem with disciples that they had wrong perspective. See you and I can come to Jesus but we can have a wrong perspective. There are people who believe Jesus and there are world who believes Jesus. There is a movie called Passion of Christ which is a mega hit of world. Millions and millions of people watched this movie. They believe that story is true but they dont have the perspective. They are not living for god. There are three things that we find that these disciples were wrong. One is that they did not have that spiritual maturity or the dimension. They were looking at Jesus death as a historical event. They were thinking yeah people do good things and they die. So Jesus was not the messiah so he had to die. This is the Human understanding. Because they had their own agenda. They had their own plan. They were thinking that one day Jesus will become king so Ill be big. That was wrong with them. Let god has his own agenda. We will just follow. We are servant. We are stewards. Let us wait on god. And thirdly they did not know that Jesus is raised from the dead. There was marry Magdalene and marry the mother of Jesus tells that Jesus body was not in the tomb. But they dont believe it. Three and half they were with Jesus and he told them what will happen. But still they did not believe it. They could not come to believe this. It is wrong perspective. Because if they would have believed that Jesus will rise from the dead then they would not walking away from god. Instead of they would be walking towards Jerusalem to see Jesus Christ living. Now this is how many times we do. We walk away from god because things didnt go as we wanted. Oh! I thought Jesus will do a powerful miracle. Disciples saw Jesus crucification and burial of Jesus. They thought it is natural to death and lost the hope on Jesus. Thats why Jesus gets

angry here and it says O fools, and slows of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. The problem of people is that they know everything but they dont believe it. The disciples were known what will happen after crucification but they did not believe it. When we outreach on the streets and tell the people that Jesus is the only way to god. They know that but they dont believe. And when you dont believe what is been said then you will not able to see the plan of god. Jesus was saying that, was it necessary for Christ to suffer this pain and enter in to glory? The problem with disciples that they were confused with their expectation. And that will remove from the focus of god. When you come to church with your expectation you are selfish. It will make you blind to gods plan. And you will get dissolution. You cant see gods purpose. Thats Jesus had to review them again. He had to make them sit down. And explained ever things. 3. Finally we see the Dinner that is taking place Now here disciples are asking to Jesus to have dinner as the day was going to end. Can you imagine they were talking with Jesus? They were seeing his face but still could not find that it. They had to go through all the chatting with Jesus and then they find that it was Jesus Christ. The word in Greek is ophthalmos dianoigo epiginosko which means their eyes were opened. And then recognized that it was Jesus. They were showed the plan of god. Then they understand where they lacked. They I say recognized which means they understood that Jesus was the messiah, the son of god who will die and rise up. Even today the problem of world is this. They can celebrate Christmas or Good Friday and Easter. Which means they believe all those things? But when they had to believe. They need to understand we are sinners. We need a sacrifice. Someone had to die on the cross. And that someone should be without sin. And that is Jesus Christ. This is what happened for me. As long as this doesnt

happen, their eyes cannot be open. Thats why we have a job here as a church. That we need to tell the people that why we are doing? What we are doing? And once they understood Jesus will enter in the life. Aphantos is the word Jesus opened their eyes ad he became invisible. Now when you have the clear understanding that what god want to go with you? Why you are here? Why those things were wrong but happened to you? Let me tell you that you need to pack you bag again and go back to Jerusalem. You need to come back to god. Thats why we come to altar. See! You and I, we are in the journey that we are pilgrims. We are people moving for Jesus. And as you try to live for god on this earth. You are going to have problem. Time to time we are going to loose heart. Because all those we expected did not happen. It becomes a trail. But remember every trail is an opportunity. These are opportunity to see those what god wants you to see. Those trails will make you understand that Ok! Why are things like this? You and I need to allow god to see the things properly. For that we need to invite Jesus Christ. When I am talking inviting Jesus Christ you need to leave all the sin and follow Jesus Christ. All those hidden sin which we do when no body seeing. You need to leave all those sin and come to god. Seek god and wait for god. Believe god as if mankind believes god then nothing can stop those things what god can do. People dont want to wait for god. All they want it now. But there is gods time. Let us wait on god. This church has a future but its gods future. Its on gods timing. Men and women will rise up and go out from here to run churches. As a fellowship we believe in planting churches. Let us not hurry up. Its not like that every body is doing so we also need to do. God is trying to teach you something. Yes! We are going to plant churches. But let this not be our plan. Let that gods plan. And to fulfill, we need money. We need strong families in the church. We need young men, young disciples. We need people with more money who will put more money than their offering and tithes

in the church. Because this is our where god brought us and he will lead us. God has a future for all of us. But let not be your plan. Leave those things to god. We need to get our eyes open. And if we dont do that then we will loose heart. And we will leave our place where god has kept us and will go towards our selfishness. If god opens or eyes then instead of running we will run towards him. Amen.