by Dr. Gary Van De Walker

Luke 24:13-35  (New International Version)  

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

 ¹⁷He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

   They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do 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. ²⁰The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹but 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. ²²In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

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

 ²⁸As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. ²⁹But 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.

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

 ³³They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." ³⁵Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
 

     1.   The Need

Genesis 22:1-24   

You are on the road trip of life and only God can provide what you truly need.

Expecting. Its a pretty weighted word. We go through life expecting a lot of things, placing our hope in what hasn't happened yet. Christmas, wondering what I would find in the morning, expecting something grand and special, a surprise that would take me beyond my expectations. Birthdays. What was in that present on the table? Would my friends remember? Wanting a day to be perfect because I would never be five years old for again.  A wedding. I remember thinking:  How would I react when I first saw her? Would I say the vows right? Can I be everything she expected of me?  Expecting a child.  Will it be a boy or a girl?  What kind of parent will I be?  What will my child become?  Can I take care of them? 

Monica and I waited for 12 years for our first child.  We had expectations and after awhile, when no child came, we expected our lives to look like something else.  Then one day our expectations changed.  Jonathan was on the way. 

I wonder how that was for Abraham and Sarah.  We waited 12 years, they had waited almost an entire lifetime.    I can just see Abraham when Sarah told him…”you’re what?”
 

God created us to have expectations.  In a sinful world, sometimes those expectations are never met.  But this morning we are going to look as Jesus begins to meet the expectations of His disciples.  They think He’s dead.  But on the Road to Emmaus, He’s going to show them He is very much alive and through the Scriptures, He is everything they expected and more.

      1.       Get Your Kicks on Route 66                                                                                              

      2.       God expects you to see Him in the child of promise.

                                --The Child of Promise turns you into a worshipper.

                                                John 4:24

                                --The Child of Promise reveals your values.

                                                Hebrews 4:12

      3.       The Father expects you to find your provision in His Son

                                --You have to trust God to provide at the risk of losing everything

                                                Luke 18:22

--There is a great reward when you live a life of faith

                                                Matthew 13:45, 46

4.       God expects you to have hope in the ultimate stimulus package 
                                --The Gospel of Christ gives more than the gospel of government 

                                                Isaiah 9:6
                                --God desires to bless your whole world, not just your nation

                                                Haggai 2:7 

      5.       Tools for your journey:

--Let Christ bring your values to light and make you aware of your need

                -What 3 things do you value most?

                -What does these values reflect about your belief in God?

                -What do these three things reveal about your need? 

--Learn to trust God for what you need for your journey with Him

                -What do you lack for your journey right now?

                --Make a list and begin to pray for God’s provision

--Gain a vision for the need of the world               

                --Become a global Christian in your views