The Walk to Emmaus
Christ reveals Himself to us through gentle living and everyday experiences, not just in grand or spectacular events.
J.R. Miller shares the profound experience of the two friends on the road to Emmaus, emphasizing how Christ often reveals Himself in ordinary moments of life. As they shared a meal, their eyes were opened to recognize Him, illustrating that divine encounters can happen in simple, everyday experiences. Miller highlights that many seek extraordinary signs of Christ, yet He is present in acts of kindness and service to others. The sermon encourages believers to look for Christ in their daily lives and to serve those in need, as this is where they will find Him. Ultimately, it is through these acts of love that we experience joy and peace in our relationship with Christ.
Text
"When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!" Luke 24:30-31
It was a wonderful walk that the two friends took that afternoon. The Man who joined them, seemed only to be a common stranger. He had a kindly manner, and the three were soon talking familiarly. He opened to them the meaning of great Scripture words, saying many things His companions could never forget. They were so pleased with His company, that when they reached the end of their journey, they urged Him to become their guest, and he consented.
It was at their evening meal together, that the stranger revealed His identity. Perhaps, as He took the bread and was in the act of breaking it, they saw His hands with the print of the nails in them. We do not know just how it happened; we only know that it was while they were at their plain, simple evening meal--that "then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!"
It is in life's common experiences, that Christ usually reveals Himself to us. One of His disciples asked Him to show them the Father. He desired some remarkable revealing, a great glory, like the Sinai splendor. Jesus said, "Have I been with you these three years, and have you never known Me? I have been showing you the Father all the while!" He had been doing this in sweet, gentle living, in patience, in kindness, in thoughtfulness, in purity and simplicity of life. The disciples had seen all these beautiful things in their Master, day after day--but they had not dreamed that these were divine revealings, that in them He was revealing God!
It is the same now. Some people say that if Christ would work miracles, if He would do startling things, they would believe on Him. Men are looking too far away to find Christ. In his quest for the Holy Grail the knight wandered over all lands in vain, finding it at last, when he came back, by his own gate! We do not need to go far away to find opportunities to serve Christ; He is waiting continually in the poor who need us, in the sick who long for our visits, in the lonely who crave friendship, in the tempted who cry out for a hand to help them stand. In doing kindnesses to His little ones--we will show our love for Him--and He will reveal Himself to us in joy and peace.
Sermon Outline
- Christ Reveals Himself in Life's Common Experiences
- Christ's Method of Revelation
- The Need to Look for Christ in Everyday Life
- The Walk to Emmaus: A Model for Recognizing Christ
- The Stranger's Identity Revealed
- Don't Look for Miracles, Look for Opportunities to Serve
- Christ is Waiting in the Poor, Sick, Lonely, and Tempted
- In Purity and Simplicity of Life
Key Quotes
“It is in life's common experiences, that Christ usually reveals Himself to us.” — J.R. Miller
“Have I been with you these three years, and have you never known Me? I have been showing you the Father all the while!” — J.R. Miller
“We do not need to go far away to find opportunities to serve Christ; He is waiting continually in the poor who need us, in the sick who long for our visits, in the lonely who crave friendship, in the tempted who cry out for a hand to help them stand.” — J.R. Miller
Application Points
- Look for opportunities to serve Christ in everyday life, not just in grand or spectacular events.
- Christ reveals Himself to us through gentle living, patience, kindness, thoughtfulness, purity, and simplicity of life.
- Serving others is a key way to show our love for Christ and to experience His presence in our lives.