The Running Man

Rev Gideon Lee

Mark 14:43-52

Jesus Arrested

14:43-50pp — Mt 26:47-56; Lk 22:47-50; Jn 18:3-11

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.

51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

I'm not going to be talking about Jesus betrayal and capture. But I want to talk about this young man and what happened.

I want to share with you about a poem by Edgar Guest.

When Things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and debts are high,

And you want to Smile but have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won if he'd stuck it out,

Don't give up though the pace seems slow,

You might succeed with another blow.

Often the struggler has given up,

When he might captured the victor's cup.

And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,

How close he was to the golden crown,

Success is failure turned inside out,

The silver tint of clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,

It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

This morning I want to talk to you about the Running Man. It's not about the Korean game show but about this running man in the scripture.

At the time when Jesus needed them the most this young man ran. Sometimes difficulty have a way of affecting us. And the instinct is to run. I mean we sometimes run from danger and that is fine. Like how Joseph ran from Potiphar's wife. It was not the first time. It seems for 11 years she was pursuing Joseph. But the final straw was when no one was in the house and Potiphar's wife caught hold of him to lie with her and he ran. When faced with temptation sometimes we have to run.

But here you find there's a bit of negativity in his running. This young man fled but I don't blame him. If it's me I too may run. They have come to arrest Jesus and a man's ears were cut. If I put myself in his situation I would run.

This young man is unnamed. But scholars said he is probably none other than Mark. The author of this book. And he was a rich man because the Bible said he was wearing linen. He is well to do and not one of the 12 disciples.

This is the only time in the gospel where this incident was mentioned. He was the author of the book of Mark. Why do you think he left the last two lines in the book that spoke about his weakness or failure unless there is something to be learned from it?

He did not delete it because we can learn something from it.

It was also repeated another time.

Acts 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

Don't be confused. Because two names John and Mark was mentioned. Mark is his Jewish name.

Acts 15:38-40

38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

This time Mark fled again in the middle of a mission trip. It was enough to get Paul angry. So angry that he was in disagreement with Barnabas his partner because of Mark. If you are in Paul's shoes you'd probably be like Paul. This is not the first time Mark fled.

Looking at this person Mark we would have formed an opinion on Mark. What would your opinion be of Mark after these two verses? Irresponsible and undependable. But he is still the person that wrote the book of Mark. How can such a person be the author of a gospel.

What changed? What cause Mark to change? Someone who ran away became an author of the book of Mark. Sometimes our thinking can be formed by opinions. We can't control that. What we can control is the opinion about ourselves.

Mark could have said he is an undependable person but he changed and became an author of the book of Mark.

We call this in CSI as profiling. But our opinion of ourself is what really matters.

One day there was this minister who went to Hong Kong and he passed a tattoo shop. And he saw this design with the words called "Born to Lose". So the missionary thought who would want a tattoo like that? Curious, he went in and asked the shop owner why anyone would want a tattoo like that. And the shop keeper said in broken English, tattoo first happened in the mind then the body.

And you'd think Mark had the right thinking. And I have only 2 points in my message.

1. God has a plan for us.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

You are his handiwork and created in Christ. So your identity is in Christ. Not what people think about you. You have a purpose. That's why our tagline is blessed to be a blessing. We are created for good works. Which God has prepared in advance for us to do. We have something God has planned for us to do.

You are God's workmanship. When God looked at Mark in his helplessness, undependable person but God didn't leave him that way. He was work in progress. God didn't see what Mark is but what he can be. All of us here are work in progress. All of us are not perfect. We make mistakes. Can we all look as our brothers and sisters as not what they are now but what they can be. See their potential.

We can bring out the best in others. Most of the time we bring out the worst in one another.

God look at Mark and saw what he could be.  How do I know that?

2 Timothy 4:9-11

9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

Is this the same Mark that we are talking about? Yes. A change happened. Now he is useful to the ministry. Paul is at his end already and he knew when he wrote this letter. Now Mark was useful. From someone who is undependable to someone useful. Paul could have chosen anyone but he chose Mark.

God can change you from a running Mark to the author of the book of Mark. How was you before you came to the Lord? We were wretched. But God saw the potential in you. He loved you so much he didn't want you to stay in the state you were in.

Parents, you want the best for your children right? Look at them with potential. I have to remind myself too. I have 4 of them. They are like a tag team. They can drive you up the wall. It is at this time that I ask God to show me the potential in my children. Work in their lives to change them. God has a plan for everyone of you. And his plan is to bless you.

Often times we are our worst enemy. We often discourage ourselves. My first point is that God has a plan for you and your identity is in Christ. I thank God he is not finish with me yet. That he did not see me in my worthless state and left me like that.

2. You and I are made in the image of God.

We are his handiwork made in his image. It is not just a literal image because God is spirit so we have the capabilities to have the character of God. As mentioned in Genesis. God's product is always good. Every creation God made he said it is good.

Psalms 8:4-6

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their feet:

This tells us who we are. We are crowned with honour and glory. We are made to rule. Evolution tells us that we are somehow one step slightly above apes. But the Bible tells me we are just one step below heavenly beings.

Whatever you are in, don't run. Don't give up.

There was a story of a pastor at an evangelistic meeting. At the end he was tired after preaching his heart out. He gave the altar call but because he was so tired he sat at the stage to catch his breath.

As he was doing that, he saw someone walked from the back to the front. He said before he could see him he could smell him. He has been living in the streets and he hasn't bathed. You know what I'm talking about. The pastor got up and went to the man. The smell was so bad he had to turn to his side to get his breath. And he asked him what is he doing? But in his mind the pastor was trying to get rid of him.

He put his hand on his pocket and gave to this man some money so he could get a meal. It's like how when you are eating and a beggar came and you give money so they'd go away.

The man pushed the hand away and said he don't want the money. He said I want the Jesus that you are preaching about. And the pastor broke down and cried. He almost sold this soul for a couple of dollars. We look at someone and we make an opinion. I hope we see people as people and not trees.

The pastor felt so bad he took him in, showered him and sent him to a rehab centre and gave him a church job. He ask the man one day to give a testimony. And the pastor heard him and said this man is a Preacher. So sent him to Bible school and today he is an ordained minister in a church.

When I told my school friends that I am a pastor they couldn't believe it because I was a….

God can take and change you but we need to put ourselves in the hands of God. Like Moses. Don't sell yourself short and give up. God can do it before, he can do it now, and he can do it again.

If you are suffering low self esteem or not feeling well I want to pray with you. That God has not given up on us. God has a plan for you even if you cannot see it now. His plan is never to destroy you but to mould you and if you allow it, you will see his handiwork.

Lukewarm Christianity

Bro Vive Supramaniam

This message has been in my heart for quite some time. I hope you understand that this is not a message of rebuke but a message of hope in the risen Lord.

Zakir Naik has been using scriptures wrongly and we Christians are not defending ourselves using scriptures. It's not the fault of Zakir Naik but rather Christians not giving an answer.

I saw this piece of note in my jacket and I realised it's a note given to me at a religious dialogue. I can say that these people knows our word of God and often quote them, though wrongly.

I think the church needs to be ready as the times are getting more evil and if we are not ready we cannot give an answer to the world's problems.

I want to speak of Revelations chapter 3. But chapter 2 and 3 talked about actual churches during AD96.

These letters were written to those churches to address issues at that time but we also believe that it's a prophetic message to the churches down the ages.

1. Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) - the church that had forsaken its first love
2. Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) - the church that would suffer persecution
3. Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) - the church that needed to repent of allowing false teachers
4. Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) - the church that had a false prophetess
5. Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) - the church that had fallen asleep and yet called itself awake
6. Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) - the church that had endured patiently
7. Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) - the church that was lukewarm and insipid (to God)

This morning we want to look at the church of Laodicea the lukewarm church.

Revelation 3:14-21

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

To give you a little bit of background to the Laodicea church, it's a wealthy industrial city. Along the trade route. It's wealth is grown from a textile industry and also famous for a medical facility to cure ear and eye diseases. Because it's famous for these, it's also known as a centre of banking trading in gold. It's a wealthy church. It was destroyed by an earthquake and they restored the city by itself. Laodicea arose from its ruins from its own wealth of resources.

But it had one problem. They have a lack of natural water supply. So they get it from 2 nearby town.  So they built ducts to get water. One from hot springs and cold water from the other town. But by the time the water came, they became lukewarm and had sediments in the water. With the minerals it became hard water.

Jesus was using the day to day metaphor to teach the Laodiceans.

Let's look at the opening of the scripture.

Revelation 3:14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

The opening greetings often address the churches' need. Jesus identified himself as the beginning, the present and the future. And God knows them exactly. He's an all knowing God.

Revelation 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

Psalm 139: 1 You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

God knows all our deeds individually and as a church.

Jesus then began to address the issues. In Laodicea there was nothing good to say about this church unlike the other churches.

Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Jesus said they were not hot or cold. To understand this we have to understand the significance of hot springs and cold springs. Hot spring water brings healing. We know it's impact in terms of healing.

Cold water brings refreshments.  Especially during this hot spell. Hot water brings therapeutic healing. So the Laodiceans understands these metaphor.

The problem why it became lukewarm is because of the distance from the source and the recipient. Distance makes us lukewarm. Distance from the source makes us lukewarm. Makes us ineffective. Distance from God will make us lukewarm. That's why we need to be close to God always.

We cannot stay at a distance. If we do we will become lukewarm and become ineffective.

Webster dictionary have a word Laodiceans that means being indifferent. A state of complacency or apathy. Maybe because we are so self satisfied and have everything. They're rich.

So how do we describe a lukewarm church today?

We come every week to church, shake people's hand, go for lunch and go home unchanged. We just go through the motions. Not concerned about the gospel or to pray for the sick. The church is supposed to bring refreshment and healing to the people. So are we lukewarm today?

Jesus said what he'll do. He'll spit you out of the mouth. That does not mean you'll lose your salvation but that word spit means to vomit you out.

So if the church of Christ become so indifferent and of no benefit to the kingdom the Bible said he'll vomit us out. Everybody looks so serious.

The second thing is in verse 17.

Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

You think or say, who was that? The Laodiceans. There's a big difference between how we view ourselves and how Jesus view us. They were so caught up with their wealth that they were not aware of their spiritual state. They didn't know how bad their spiritual conditions was.

They may think they have the best of everything. All the wealth. But Jesus said they were poor, wretched and naked.

Wretched was a word Jesus use. They were miserable. Jesus said they are pitiful. Their bodies are full but their souls are starving. A materialistic world view makes us blind to spiritual values.

That's why God's estimation of us is different from our estimation of ourselves. God is expecting more of our lives. If a letter goes to you for a board member position, don't reject. We waste a letterhead, and an envelope. But more than that we waste our potential to be of use by God.

I thank God for TOP because it gave us a place to serve. I remember the first day in church, 2006, and Kuna and Cheng took us out for lunch. Maple Gold. I remember. My pulpit ministry improved because of TOP. It was a very difficult decision for us when I got the letter to go to Bangkok. This house is a house where God has moulded me. God has a potential for all of us. Don't say no when someone reach out to you to serve. Don't say cannot because God is the one that enables. Don't say you have no time, because all of us have no time.

We cannot just remain where we are.

When Jesus addressed the issue of the church he also provided the solution. A solution to a church who felt they are so self sufficient. It leads to self reliance and often a selfish attitude.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Jesus say I advise you. If Jesus gives an advise, isn't it wisdom to follow? Jesus says he gives refined gold, speaking about faith. And white clothes, fine linen that God will give to us to hide our nakedness. Including salves for our eyes to remove our spiritual blindness.

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Jesus reproves and disciplines us.

Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Jesus is knocking at the door of the believers heart. Often misquoted verse for salvation. An artists who painted this was asked why is there no doorknob in the painting and he said it's because Jesus never intrude into your life. You need to open your heart.

God is knocking at the believers' heart. Will you open? Jesus wants to come into our lives and to have fellowship with us. He don't like the distance. Will you allow him to come in? Are you shutting him our because of the business in your life? Or you're so self sufficient?

If you do he may ask you to do things you don't like. How long will you keep your door shut from Jesus?

Revelation 3:21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Jesus will honour our faithfulness. Ministry leaders, if you feel tired, don't give up or be dismayed. Continue to serve and press in and be an overcomer. He is with you.

A response is needed. Because he is knocking at the door of our heart.

Revelation 3:22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Be fully committed to Christ and stand firm for him. Be passionate about his cause.

This is not a message of hopelessness but a message of hope. God wants us to response to him as he knocks at the heart of our life.

Disappointments

Rev Gideon Lee

Last week we had 4 candidates for water baptism. So we'd like to recognise them by giving them their certificates and a voucher to a Christian book store.

Last week we did on Resurrection Sunday and many things happened after that. Jesus did many things to show that he is alive.

Luke 24:13-33

The Road to Emmaus

13 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. 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.”

25 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.

The Disciples' Eyes Opened

28 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.

30 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.

32 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?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

This it is the same day, Resurrection Sunday and these disciples which was not part of the main group made their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

Jesus appeared to these two disciples while they were on their way. It was as they talked and discussed these things. They were debating about the things that has happened. They were trying to make sense of what had just happened on Resurrection Sunday and Good Friday. Not just casual conversations.

Somehow Jesus decided to keep his identity from them at the beginning. He thought it was beneficial if he kept his identity from these two.

Jesus was leading them in his conversation with them. He was aware of what happened but he purposely kept his identity from them. There is a reason for this as we'll see later on.

The disciples told him what happened and the grammar was all in the past. He was a prophet. He was crucified. We had hope. They did not place any of their hope on what had happened Sunday morning. It has not become a reality for them yet. They were not sure if Jesus was alive.

They heard what the women testified but they were not convinced. I said last week if we wanted more credibility he would have used more reputable men to be witnesses. Women and children at that time were not given prominence.

This morning I want to talk about what discouragement can do to us. What it can to us as Christians. I think all of us have experienced disappointments before. We need to see the picture that is unfolding before us.

For these two disciples you can imagine what is going through in their hearts. They say their Saviour was crucified on Friday. He was tortured. I explained how cruel the crucifixion was. He also experienced betrayal from one of his own disciples. He was betrayed with a kiss by Judas. The disciples saw all this happened.

And now on a Sunday morning they heard that Jesus' body has disappeared. They were not sure. After all these that had happened, they decided to go home. Some of his disciples went back to their old profession. Like fishing. Of these two disciples, only one was named.

Of the four gospels it was only recorded in the book for Luke. These two were not mentioned anywhere else. They were going to Emmaus. It means obscure. They were leaving from Jerusalem, a place of promise. They were walking from a place of promise to obscurity. That's what happens when you are discouraged. You walk away from God's promise. And walk into our own pity party.

We rather walk away from God's promise to obscurity. I can understand why but that's what discouragement does to us. For some reason Jesus decided not to reveal himself to them. Their eyes were restrained.

They have forgotten the truth of God's words. They forgot that Jesus said he will rise again. They have lost all hope and thought someone has taken his body. They forgot that he will rise again.

We have to decide once and for all. That when we walk through the waters, he will be with you.

Isaiah 43:2-3

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

We have to decide once and for all if he had risen. If Jesus has risen there is no reason for us to walk away from his promise. No matter what we feel and our circumstances are. His promise is yea and yes. Let's decide once and for all if he has risen or not.

You have to know that he is the God that when you pass through the waters he will be with you.

Why, because I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel.

I don't know what you are going through. What disappointment or struggles that you are going through. Don't walk away from his promises. We have started a new series in our cell group. Please find a cell to attend. We are studying on the life of Joseph. He went from one disappointment to another. But in the end he was an overcomer.

Last week we studied how he overcome betrayal.

Discouragement and frustration can make us live in the past. I am not saying we cannot remember the past. What I mean is that sometimes we relive all the disappointments we went through. So we tend to relive what has happened.

Luke 24:17-21

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 the only one visiting Jerusalem who does 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.

They were all talking about the past. That's what happens when we become disappointed. Our hope should be on the future. The past should be a springboard for us to spring into the future. It must not hold you. Don't put your hope in the past. These two were talking all in the past tense. I like what Jesus did by asking them what happened. Don't Jesus know what happened? He knows because it happened to him.

I want you to know Jesus knows what happened to you. Yet Jesus ask what happened? That's what I do in counselling. I let them tell me what happened. By talking they begin to understanding what has happened to them. Sometimes the best counselling is to lend them your ear.

Jesus has a plan. He wasn't asking just for fun. As he asked them he brought them to a place of understanding  and finally he revealed himself to them.

And also I want you to know whatever you went through, Jesus is walking with you. These two were not prominent disciples. One of them were not even named. Think about it. I think at the moment of their disappointment and discouragement, the king of Kings and Lord of Lords saw it fit to walk with them. Jesus decided to walk with them. Jesus saw their hurt and their  pain.

Whatever you are going through, God is concerned and is willing to walk with you. That is the message of the resurrection. Death and grave could not hold him back. His desire is for you to know him.

Don't walk away from God's promise. Don't hold to the past. And remember whatever you are going through God is walking with us.

Sometimes discouragement and frustration can cause us to feel that God is not with us. We feel that he is so far away from us. We have all experienced this on our walk with God. We feel that God is not around. And we ask God where are you?

I sometimes say if you cannot feel God's hand trust his heart. Trust that God knows best. Trust that he loves you. That he will not leave you or forsake you. He works everything for good. We sometimes think God is not there.

Luke 24:25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

He was not rebuking them but he was challenging them. He was now focused on the present.

Jesus then shared from the beginning from Genesis. Then to Isaiah as the suffering servant. Then to Zechariah as the pierced man.

Imagine you are walking seven miles. How long will that take? Can someone tell me? I would say maybe about 3 or 4 hours. The time they arrived it was already evening. They started out in the afternoon. As they were walking Jesus walked alongside them. They did not recognise Jesus then they tell Jesus their problems. And Jesus shared the greatest sermon ever.

As they arrived, Jesus pretended that he was going further. But they told Jesus to stay with them as it was late. Only at breaking bread did they recognise him. Sometimes we got short of the miracle because we didn't go the second mile. The disciples said his sharing burned within their heart. They wanted to hear more and they wanted more of Jesus. That was one reason they asked Jesus to stay with them.

When they finally knew it was Jesus, the Bible said they rose up and went back to Jerusalem. Another 7 miles. There must be something great for me to walk 7 miles! In the dark. They went back with the sole purpose of telling the disciples what has happened.

Jesus is alive and these disciples did not keep the good news to themselves. Sometimes discouragement causes us to walk away from his promises and causes us to live in the past. And that we forget he is with us. Get back to him. Get an encounter with the living God.

I pray as TOP we will continue to move forward. In cell on the life of Joseph the one word that keeps coming back is that God was with him.

Tabernacle of Praise, hello. Are you all still awake? Sometimes I wish I was like Jesus where you say pastor don't go yet. We want to hear more. Tabernacle of Praise, God is with us. Amen.