Risen
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Open our Eyes
Luke 24:13-35
Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567
The encounter with Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus reveals much truth
concerning our struggle to honour Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His subsequent
resurrection.1 We partake in communion on Easter so that we might “remember” and rejoice in
the truth that Christ’s once and for all sacrifice on the cross purchased freedom from the slavery
of sin and death to all those who believe He atoned for their sins.2 So important is communion
that it has not only been ordained or “commanded” by Christ but is to be a time of selfexamination and confession lest one be found guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the
Lord (1 Corinthians 11:26-28)! To this end one can’t help but wonder if our “new” regenerate
hearts are possibly still too skeptical of His truth and blinded by our “old self” that we are
disrespectfully coming to the Lord’s table as spiritual babies, void of power, good deeds and
barren of fruit! The following sermon is going to review the disciple’s trip to Emmaus to show
that while Christ’s grace is enough in our weakness, honoring Him on this resurrection morning
means asking Him to keep our eyes open3 to our responsibility to be living sacrifices in His
presence!
The Depths of our Gratitude
Gratitude for what Christ has done
for us on Easter cannot be truly given
until we come to understand the depths
of human depravity. The moment Adam
and Eve disobeyed God He came good on
His threat that humanity would now
taste the sting of death (Genesis 2:17).
Ever since the Fall humanity has
struggled with not only the decay and
physical death of our bodies but also the
spiritual deadness of our souls!4 When
Satan told us that our eyes would be
opened to knowing both good and evil
1
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,
1996), 612.
2
C. H. Spurgeon, “‘The Lord Is Risen Indeed,’” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 19 (London:
Passmore & Alabaster, 1873), 216.
3
Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids,
MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 845.
4
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 157.
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(Genesis 3:5) he neglected to tell us that our “spiritual taste would become perverted”5 and we
would love evil far more than good.6 Above all he neglected to tell us that we would be
enslaved by sin (2 Peter 2:19) and incapable by our own efforts of ever satisfying our innate
thirst to have a relationship with our Creator (Ephesians 2:8)! It is in our depravity and
hopelessness that Christ died for our sins so that that who believe in Him might become born
again (2 Corinthians 5:17) and adopted into God’s very own family (John 1:12, 3:16). To this
end we come to the Easter communion table with thanksgiving in our hearts for having
received the living waters and bread of life!
Easter Message to the Unbelievers
As I imagine the virtual audience before this Easter communion table, I would be remiss
to not address those of you who are not born of the water and the Spirit. There may be many
reasons why you have come to this
communion table, but it is my hope that
you have due to a thirst and hunger
present in your soul. 7 Deep inside you
yearn to escape your life of sin8 and
come to know Jesus but in hearing the
“thunder of God’s law” and judgement
you simply cannot imagine yourself
being accepted into the loving arms of a
Savior. 9 I understand your skepticism
for I was just like you before I came to
know Jesus but the moment I made
Jesus the Lord of my life the scales of
unbelief that covered my eyes10 fell off
and I came to know how foolish I was11 to be thirsty and hungry for God and yet in a sense of
unworthiness fear He would never accept me.12 It is the Spirit of God who has placed the
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 157.
6
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 157.
7
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 161.
8
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 159.
9
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 162.
10
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 162.
11
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 161.
12
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 160.
5
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yearning and desire in your heart13 because He wants you to not merely pretend to know Him
by attending this communion14 but in faith to believe that Jesus died for your sins so that you
might become born again and feel the splendor of His grace!15 If you ask Him into your heart
this very moment you WILL continue this communion service not as an attendee but as His very
own child!
Easter Message to the Believers
To those who are already born again I invite you to examine yourselves to make certain
your hearts are honoring Jesus at His table. This may seem like a strange request to ask but in
examining the story of the two disciples
on the road to Emmaus one finds even
believers struggle to honor Jesus with
pure hearts. In this story we are told of
an intense discussion between two of
Jesus’ disciples.16 While they were not
one of the eleven,17 they too had
dedicated their lives to serve their
Master. Heading home from a traumatic
weekend18 they were filled with sorrow
for in witnessing His superior knowledge
and miraculous signs, they had come to
believe Jesus to be a great prophet19 and
redeemer of Israel.20 As they saw Jesus
on the cross and buried in the tomb of
21
Joseph all hope that He had come to liberate Israel from Roman occupation dissipated.22
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 158.
14
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 163.
15
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 157.
16
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,
1996), 612.
17
Walter L. Liefeld, “Luke,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein,
vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 1051.
18
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,
1996), 612.
19
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,
1996), 613.
20
Craig A. Evans, The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew–Luke, ed. Craig A. Evans and Craig
A. Bubeck, First Edition. (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2003), 524.
21
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
1994), Lk 24:13.
22
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,
1996), 613.
13
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Despite Jesus telling them He had to suffer and die23 and despite the women’s testimony and
an empty tomb, these disciples grieved the departure of their Master and were left with
feelings of little to no hope.
Lest we think too little of these disciples and too much of ourselves do we not struggle
as well to honor Jesus with pure hearts? If we are to take Apostle Paul’s warning to heart, then
we simply must invite the Spirit to identify sin in our hearts. I would like to briefly identify five
areas in our lives that we often fall short of His glory at the communion table.
Area 1: Skepticism, Ignorance and Doubt. In the story Jesus called the two disciples foolish
and slow of heart (verse 25) because their knowledge of God’s word had not materialized in
their lives.24 Despite having knowing the
prophetic teachings of the OT concerning
Christ being rejected, suffering and dying;
25 with worldly wisdom26 upon crucifixion
they could only see Jesus as a prophet
and common traveller.27 There are times
when modern discoveries and
philosophies28 make it difficult to
internalize29 and believe in His world to
the extent that it becomes the roadmap
to how we are living our lives (James
1:22-25). May we who seem dimly (1
30
Corinthians 13:12) always be teachable and willing to ask God to replace our doubts and
scepticism with faith and divine knowledge.
23
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
1994), Lk 24:13.
24
Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids,
MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 848.
25
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,
1996), 616.
26
C. H. Spurgeon, “‘The Lord Is Risen Indeed,’” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 19 (London:
Passmore & Alabaster, 1873), 211.
27
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 362.
28
C. H. Spurgeon, “‘The Lord Is Risen Indeed,’” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 19 (London:
Passmore & Alabaster, 1873), 214.
29
Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House,
1996), 615.
30
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 368.
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Area 2: Personal Blindness from Sin. Ever come to the communion table and feel like you are
out of fellowship with Christ?31 Often we are content to see Jesus as our priests that cleanses
us from sin32 but not so comfortable to see
Him as our judge who disciplines us.33
When any of our words, thoughts and
deeds are only “fit to make idiots laugh
and angels weep,” 34 such sin needs to be
identified and repented. Even though our
proud hearts might rebel when “our
conscious is too roughly assailed,”35 may
our prayer this morning be “search me O
God and know my heart, test me and with
the sin You find within me, forgive,
empower and teach me to never return to
the vomit of my old self that once
enslaved me!” While sinlessness is not a requirement of coming to His table, for if that were
true none of us could be here, grace is not to be used as a crutch to sin but as the means to
stop sinning!
Area 3: Lack of Spiritual Growth. Each time we come before the communion table our
spiritual maturity should have increased!
While the Lord rejoiced when “our little
faith” in Him saved us, He does not wish
we remain babies but mature by
understanding and applying “stronger and
deeper truths of His kingdom.”36 Those
whose old self has been baptized unto His
death have been freed from slavery to sin
(Romans 6:1-4)37 so that in our new self
we might be filled with the Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18) and do the will of He who
purchased us at a price (1 Corinthians
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 365.
32
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 364.
33
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 364.
34
C. H. Spurgeon, “‘The Lord Is Risen Indeed,’” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 19 (London:
Passmore & Alabaster, 1873), 213.
35
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 367.
36
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 364.
37
C. H. Spurgeon, “‘The Lord Is Risen Indeed,’” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 19 (London:
Passmore & Alabaster, 1873), 210.
31
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6:19-20). Since our spiritual growth is not the product of our effort alone but the manifestation
of grace, may our prayer be, “fill me O God with your Spirit, show me Your will and give me the
strength and courage to become more like You.”
Area 4: Lack of Fellowship with the Body of Christ. While during this Coronavirus it is not
possible to meet in person, we are sill expected to have fellowship and to build one another up
in the faith. We sometimes feel distant
from God because we are not fulfilling
our commitment to love one another.
We are to help others when their faith is
weak,38 pray for one another so that they
might be healed (James 5:16)39 and use
our spiritual gifts to build up the very
church of which Christ is the cornerstone
(Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 2:6-8).
Thankfully there is plenty of technology
today such as the telephone or web
meetings that can keep us in contact with
each other. Since we sometimes have the tendency to “shut ourselves up within ourselves”40
may our prayer be, “the love and comfort I have received from You my God may it always be
extended to others!”
Reason 5: Faith but no Action. Each time we come to the communion table we should
examine our lives to make sure our faith has been put into action. May we be just as
comfortable in proclaiming the Good News as we are in being living sacrifices of Jesus!41 May
our love never grow cold42 nor our desire to “walk with” God by serving Him in His kingdom.43
Since faith without deeds is dead (James 2:26) may we leave “the dunghills” of our carnality44
and its fleeting treasures and become mighty both in word and deed! Since complacency can
be the enemy of right living, may our prayer be, “Lord may both my words and deeds point to
the glory of God the Father in heaven!”
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 365.
39
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 365.
40
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 366.
41
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 371.
42
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 20
(London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 371.
43
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 168.
44
C. H. Spurgeon, “Eyes Opened,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 12 (London: Passmore &
Alabaster, 1866), 168.
38
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Communion of Grace – Open our Eyes
At the end of the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus it says that
despite Christ calling them foolish and slow to believe He invited them to break bread
with Him (verse 30). We come before this Easter table not as those whose words or
deeds have justified our presence but as those whose faith trembles45 and has been
weakened by our sin. Truthfully
many if not all the areas
mentioned in today’s sermon
we must claim as our own
failures and sin. Even though in
many ways we are starving and
thirsty at His table we are
assured that when we cry out
“Abba Father help me” the
Spirit leaps for joy for the Son
not only purchased our seat at
His table but also forgives and
gives us strength to walk and
dare I say run in His kingdom!
Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus may Christ open our eyes so that we might
grasp the best that we can “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”
(Ephesians 3:18)! Praise be to God that over 2,000 years ago Jesus rose from the dead
this Easter morning to offer us living waters and the bread of life!
C. H. Spurgeon, “Jesus near but Unrecognised,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit
Sermons, vol. 20 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1874), 369.
45
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