We Had Hoped

“We Had Hoped”

April 12, 2009

Introduction

We’ve titled our thoughts: “We had hoped.” What a sad thought to think of losing hope. We’ve taken the thought from the story recorded for us by Luke in (Luke 24:13-21 NKJV) "Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. {14} And they talked together of all these things which had happened. {15} So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. {16} But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. {17} And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" {18} Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" {19} And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, {20} "and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. {21} "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel."

Body

I. So what is the story?

A. They were hoping for a redeemer.

1. They wanted One Who would redeem them from Roman and all their enemies.

2. They had been waiting for a long time.

3. They were probably confused as to what he would be like when He came.

B. They are extremely discouraged because things have not “turned out right.”

II. They are too discouraged to believe the reports they have heard.

(Luke 24:21-24 NKJV) ""But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. {22} "Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. {23} "When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. {24} "And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.""

A. They heard of the empty tomb, but did not believe because they had not seen.

B. Jesus begins to explain the scriptures to them.

(Luke 24:25-27 NKJV) Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! {26} "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" {27} And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

1. Part of their despair was because they did not know or understand the scriptures that were being fulfilled in front of their very eyes.

2. We need to understand that we need to know the scriptures also, so that we might understand things that are to happen before the Lord returns to earth.

III. Now the crucial moment. He is about to go on!

(Luke 24:28-29 NKJV) Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. {29} But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.

A. Jesus never forces Himself upon anyone.

B. The crucial point was that they constrained Him.

C. And now He is gone.

(Luke 24:30-31 NKJV) Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. {31} Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

D. What now?

(Luke 24:32 NKJV) And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

1. Remember, it’s late and you are tired.

2. You were very discouraged.

3. But things have dramatically changed!

IV. Now there is hope!

A. It’s time to act!

1. Now there is a reason for living.

2. Now there is a reason to go on.

3. Everything has suddenly changed, even though Jesus is now gone.

4. It is seven miles to Jerusalem, so what do you do?

(Luke 24:33-35 NKJV) So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, {34} saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" {35} And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

B. Jesus appears.

(Luke 24:36-39 NKJV) Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." {37} But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

1. But their doubts continue.

(Luke 24:38 NKJV) And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

2. He gives them reason to believe.

(Luke 24:39 NKJV) "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

V. It was mission accomplished!

A. He is our hope!

B. He is the resurrection

(John 11:25 NKJV) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

Conclusion

He’s coming back! Are you ready?

What is the gospel?

(1 Cor 15:1-4 NKJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, {2} by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. {3} For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Christ was the hope of the ages: Now we need to believe on Him and accept what He has done that we might live in hope now, and through out eternity.

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