If you desire to listen to the corresponding audio sermon feel free to click here:
 RealAudio Sermons Web Page

Where is the risen Christ today?
Luke 24:13-35
April 10, 2005 (Second Sunday After Easter)
The Rev. Kong Namkung

In today’s gospel, the story of the Walk to Emmaus, is found only in the gospel of Luke.  This story is not found in Matthew, Mark or John.   Two of Jesus’ disciples were on the way to Emmaus, which is located 7 miles Northwest from Jerusalem.  While they were walking, Jesus came to them and talked them, but they did not know it was Jesus.  When Jesus and the two disciples broke the bread, they began to understand the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  When they realized it was Jesus, Jesus was gone.  In this story I want to share with you, where is the risen Christ today?

Some Christians believe that Jesus is “seated at the right hand of the Father.”

1.  Jesus is in the word.

Jesus’ disciples recognized Jesus after they had the breaking of the bread.  And their eyes were opened and they recognized him and said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while Jesus was talking to us on the road, while he opened to us scripture?”  (24:32). When Jesus explained to them the things about himself in all the scriptures, their hearts were burning.  The explanation of the scripture caused them to understand Jesus. 

The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him and without him not one thing came into being.  What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.” (John 1:1-4)

The word is Jesus Christ.  The Bible is about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament and New Testament.

Jesus taught the crowd that he is the bread of life. (John 6:35)  Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”  When Jesus said this to the crowd, they turned their back from Jesus.  So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom we can go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”  (John 6:66-69)

Some of you want to grow spiritually.  I as a spiritual leader of this church want to tell you that if you want to grow spiritually, I encourage you to read the scriptures.  If you do not read the scripture, there is no way that you can grow spiritually because the scriptures are about Jesus. The scriptures are Jesus.  Read them, think them deeply, and live in them.

The Bible says in Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it.”  I pray that all of you are blessed ones by reading, hearing, and keeping the words of Jesus. 

Christ is not only present in the word of the scriptures, but also in the spoken word through God’s servants.  Christ’ presence is his existence as proclamation.  If Christ is not in the proclamation, then the church is broken and the church cannot be a healthy church.  Then, the Church is dead. 

Wright L Moody was preaching in Philadelphia for revivals.  While he was preaching, Moody found a lady who sat the front pew and listened to his preaching very carefully.  Many times she responded to Moody with amen.  After the revival Mr. Moody went to see her and asked her, “Are you a Christian?”  I am not but I want to be a Christian.  I have been looking for Jesus whom you preached tonight for the last three years.  Tonight I found Jesus.” 

Since I came to Cornerstone, one Sunday had not been passed without the proclamation of Jesus Christ.  My job is to proclaim Jesus Christ and teach the word of God because Jesus is the word.

2. Jesus is among the community of believers

While Jesus’ disciples were talking to one another, Jesus came to them.   Jesus is coming to us when we gather together in his name.  The Bible says, “Two or three are gathered together in my name, I will be there.”  This is a great comfort and consolation for us.  No matter where we are, no matter what kind of trials and tribulations we have, Jesus promises us to be with us always.  “Behold I will be with you always.” 

Daniel and his three friends were very brave when they were thrown in fire because they believed in the presence of God.  Mary and Joseph with the little baby Jesus escaped from the sight of King Herod to Egypt.  Bu they had great faith that God was with them wherever they went.  The fearful disciples were together at the upper room but they still waited the promise of Jesus Christ, who said to them, “I will be with you always.”

1 Corinthians 12: 12- 31 speaks about the body of Christ.  All of us are members of the body of Christ.  Each of us is one body.  Jesus Christ is the head of the body.  It is impossible for a body to function without a head.  Likewise it is impossible for a head without its body.  The head needs its body and the body needs its head.

3. Jesus is in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus’ disciples did not recognize Jesus until they had the Lord’s Supper.  They were spiritually blind.  As soon as they had the breaking of the bread, their spiritual eyes were opened.  The Lord’s Supper is not from the tradition of the elders, Pharisees, scribes, or any other people, but it is from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper.  Why?  Jesus wants us to remember his death and resurrection by breaking the bread.  Whenever we break the bread, Jesus is present.  

A five year old boy stepped forward to receive the Holy communion.  When asked why he went to the Lord ’s Table, he replied, “To say Hi to Jesus.”

So I do believe that it is biblical that we have the Lord’s Supper every single Sunday. 

How big is the Lord’s Table?  How many people can come to the table?  Because Christ is the host at the Lord’s Supper, the table is bigger than any one person or any one church.  The largest church in the world is located in Seoul, Korea. It has 500,000 attendances on Sunday morning.  Do you know that the Lord’s Table is bigger than that church?   No one has a right to judge a participant and thereby exclude someone from partaking. One believer has declared, “The Lord’s table is as wide as the gates of heaven.”

Where is the risen Christ today?  Jesus Christ is in the word, he is in the community of believers, and he is the Holy Communion.  Am I qualified to meet the risen Christ?  Am I good enough to meet him and see his presence?  No.  Here is the good news.  In today’s gospel lesson, two disciples did not seek Jesus.  They did not know the risen Christ.  They went on their way to Emmaus.  They did not deserve to meet Jesus Christ.  In fact, they denied the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  But Jesus came to them and Jesus talked to them, and Jesus opened their spiritual eyes.  It is the grace of Jesus Christ.  Maybe you have not read or meditated the scriptures last week.  You might not have come to hear the word of God. You might not have had a chance to join the community of believers.  You might not have reserved to meet Jesus at all by your works.  But Jesus, who came to two disciples, comes to you right now.  He begins to talk to you and open your spiritual eyes to meet him. Accept him and believe in his resurrection.

It is our turn to live with the risen Christ.   The two disciples were on the way to Emmaus.  The road to Emmaus led them to their local area.  Where is the risen Christ today?  The risen Christ should be in your local area.  He should be in your life, your daily life.  As we believe in the risen Christ, He is with us, among us, and in us.  Even though we have struggles and difficulties, and concerns, there are no more disappointed and discouraged hearts, no more fearful and despair minds, and no more doubting and questioning, because he is risen.  Amen

Back to Sermons

Luke 24:13-35

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One 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. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but 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. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But 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.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
NIV

Back To Top

   Print This Page  | Bookmark This Site!  | Email a Friend!  |  E-Cards

Questions, suggestions and problems concerning the Cornerstone United Methodist Church Website should be directed toward the Cornerstone Webmaster at: webmaster@cornerstoneumconline.com

This Website Has Been Visited

Since Beginning Operation.
Thanks for Stopping By!