Sermon Too Long? Not Really

Have you ever fussed about being in church for a couple of hours or thought the sermon lasted too long? Sure you have. I have too. Just basic complaints borne out of our flesh. There are many excuses as to why we are disgruntled, but I would like to submit the following as a reason why we give way to complaining. It is because our natural ears are open but our spiritual eyes are closed, and our hearts are cold. 

Let's take a look at what happened as Jesus joined some fellows as they walked for two to three hours down the Emmaus Road. Luke 24:13-35 says these two men were discussing the events of the past three days. They were in a quandary about what would happen now that Jesus (the one they expected to be the Messiah) was dead.  

They described Jesus in fleshly terms, based on their "head knowledge" of him. They said, he was a prophet, miracle worker, and mighty teacher  vs19. They had hoped that he would be the messiah of Israel vs 21. Yet, he was crucified, buried, and now his body was missing vs 24.

Before Jesus reveals Himself to them, He calls them fools or unwise, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken vs 25. In other words, they were depending solely upon their fleshly understanding of what had taken place. Then He proceeds to expound upon all the scriptures that were written concerning himself. 

While I know that it takes the Holy Spirit to open our spiritual understanding, it takes faith to receive and act upon that understanding. It was during this two to three hour journey, that their faith was being built. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. They could not have heard it any better than hearing the incarnate Word declare it to them directly.  

As the narrative continues, we read how they compelled Jesus to go home with them. A meal was prepared. And as Jesus broke the bread and gave it to them, their eyes were opened. Jesus vanished. They became evangelists who went back to Jerusalem proclaiming/confirming that Jesus had risen from the dead.

The preaching of the Gospel is the breaking of the Bread of Life. If we will but receive it by faith and allow our eyes to be opened; our minds will be illuminated and our hearts will be set on fire for God. Then, we will set ourselves about fulfilling the Great Commission, telling the world that Jesus saves.

Additional notes:

"burn" same Greek word as "light" a candle  in Matthew 5:15  per Strong's Concordance 

Burn- start a fire, creation of light, illuminate

Their hearts burned within them as Jesus OPENED the scriptures/WORD. Yet, they only acknowledged the "burning" after their eyes were opened.

They were walking with the living Word.... the living Word was speaking to them...sharing the written Word (John 1:1) 

In the KJV as per translation from the Greek, "opened" is the same word in vs 31 as it is in vs 32.

*Average walking speed is 2.5 to 3 mph. The distance between Jerusalem and Emmaus was approximately 7 miles.

Post resurrection times that Jesus reveals Himself around the table, breaking bread Luke 24:41-43. John 21:9-15 , Acts 1:1-9 (during 40 days prior to ascension).