leave this field blank to prove your humanity

Sermon #5773

Assurance: To Those Who are Slow to Believe

A Sermon on Luke 24:13-35

Share Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Play Sermon

Download Sermon Add to Queue Add to Playlist

Scripture

Luke 24:13-35 ESV KJV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes … That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some 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.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. (ESV)

13¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Sermon Description

This sermon speaks to those who rush to treat their own condition and problems before even knowing the cause of them. In this sermon on Luke 24:13–35 titled “Assurance: To Those Who are Slow to Believe,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones teaches that the Bible contains such answers. Listeners are encouraged to look at the two men who lacked assurance, see a picture of discouragement, and be amazed at the visible transformation that can occur. One cannot feel sad without looking sad; everything about these men revealed their sadness, but they were missing the truth. Initial human diagnosis leaves people stuck in the depths of despair and discussing the past; observe Christ’s expert analysis and illumination of reality. People are fools because they don’t know how to think in a spiritual manner. See the example of Edwards and others. Realize the story of Christ doesn’t end at His death, but continues to His resurrection. No one’s story has to end in despair. Tradition is a wonderful thing, but traditionalism paralyzes. One cannot only believe some of Scripture without taking all of it. Christ is the conqueror, but He is also the sufferer. Embrace His promises of deliverance alongside His commands of obedience. The human heart burns for God, and all need Him.

Sermon Breakdown

The sermon begins by highlighting the importance of assurance and joy in the Christian life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that Christians should attract others to faith through living assured and joyful lives.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones then introduces the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as an example of Christians lacking assurance and joy. He notes that they were sad, disappointed, and discouraged despite Jesus having risen from the dead.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the disciples proclaimed their sadness through their demeanor and conversation. They were focused on Jesus' death and unable to believe in his resurrection.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the disciples were like many modern Christians who lack assurance and are focused on the past rather than the present reality of Jesus. They were also trying in vain to understand Jesus' death through human reasoning rather than faith.
Jesus rebukes the disciples as "fools" for failing to believe all that the prophets spoke about the Messiah suffering and being glorified. Their lack of faith in the scriptures led to their lack of assurance and joy.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that the disciples, like many Jews, only believed selective parts of the scriptures that matched their preconceptions. They ignored prophecies of the Messiah's suffering and only focused on prophecies of his glory.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that many modern Christians also lack assurance because they only believe selective parts of the scriptures and Jesus' teachings that match their preconceptions. They ignore parts that do not match what they want to believe.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the disciples' hearts "burned within them" as Jesus explained the scriptures, not just when they recognized him breaking bread. Understanding the scriptures leads to assurance and joy.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that Christians today have even more reason for assurance and joy in understanding the scriptures because we have the New Testament and indwelling of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. We need not seek special revelations or visions.
Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by encouraging Christians struggling with a lack of assurance and joy to ask God to open their understanding of the scriptures through the Holy Spirit. Understanding more of Jesus through the word leads to assurance and a burning heart.

Sermon Q&A

Understanding the Road to Emmaus: Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Christian Assurance

What is the main subject of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon series?

The main subject of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon series is Christian assurance. He introduces this in the sermon saying, "My subject for these nights, as you've already heard, is to be the whole subject of assurance, Christian assurance, assurance of salvation among Christian people." He begins this series by examining the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who lacked assurance in their faith despite the resurrection having occurred.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say the two disciples on the road to Emmaus are important to study?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones says these two disciples are important to study because they represent the condition of many Christians today. He states, "Here in these two men on the road to Emmaus, we have far too perfect a depiction and delineation, I say, of many Christian people and indeed of the Christian church as a whole at this present time." He believes their sadness, doubt, and lack of assurance mirrors the state of many modern believers, which undermines the church's witness to the world.

What are the three conditions of the heart that Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies in the sermon?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies three conditions of the heart from the Emmaus road story: 1. The sad heart - "You can have a sad heart" (verse 17) 2. The slow heart - "The heart can be slow" (verse 25) 3. The burning heart - "Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (verse 32)

He presents these as a progression, with Christians needing to move from sad and slow hearts to burning hearts filled with passion and assurance.

What was the main cause of the disciples' sadness and disappointment?

The main cause of the disciples' sadness was their limited understanding of Scripture. They had believed Jesus was the Messiah who would redeem Israel politically, but His death seemed to dash those hopes. As they said, "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel." They were fixated on Christ's death and couldn't believe in His resurrection despite reports of it. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that they had selective belief - accepting the parts of Scripture about a conquering Messiah while ignoring prophecies about the Messiah's suffering and death.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones illustrate the disciples' mental state?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones illustrates the disciples' mental state with the story of a schoolmaster who had been in a submarine that sank during World War I. Though the man had obviously survived and been rescued, mentally he was still "at the bottom of the Mediterranean." He couldn't move past the trauma of the submarine sinking. Similarly, the disciples were mentally stuck at Christ's crucifixion and burial - they couldn't move forward to embrace the reality of His resurrection despite evidence of it.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by Christians being "slow of heart"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that being "slow of heart" is a spiritual lethargy or paralysis that affects many Christians. He illustrates this as the experience of finding it easy to concentrate when reading newspapers or novels but suddenly feeling tired and unable to focus when reading the Bible. Or being animated in conversation with others but finding it difficult to pray. He describes it as "a kind of paralysis with which the devil afflicts us...a dullness, a lethargy, a spiritual inability" that prevents spiritual growth and understanding.

What was Jesus' diagnosis of the disciples' problem?

Jesus diagnosed the disciples as being "fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." Their fundamental problem was selective belief - they accepted parts of Scripture they liked while ignoring other parts. They believed prophecies about the Messiah's glory but ignored prophecies about His suffering. As Lloyd-Jones puts it, "They believe part of the prophets, but not the other part. They don't like the second, so they only take what they like."

How does one obtain the "burning heart" according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the burning heart comes through understanding Christ in the Scriptures, not through mystical experiences or visions. He emphasizes that the disciples' hearts began burning "while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures" - before they even recognized Jesus. The remedy is allowing the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent as our Comforter, to illuminate Scripture for us. Lloyd-Jones states, "Simply to see the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth concerning him in the scriptures" is what transforms the heart from sad and slow to burning with passion and assurance.

What comparison does Dr. Lloyd-Jones make between contemporary Christians and the disciples?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that contemporary Christians have even more resources than the disciples did: "These men had got nothing but the Old Testament scriptures. We've got the whole of the New Testament in addition." He also emphasizes that while the disciples had Jesus physically with them explaining Scripture, we have the Holy Spirit, "the greatest expositor of the scriptures," dwelling within us. Therefore, modern Christians have even less excuse for lacking assurance and joy than the disciples did.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones relate the story of the Emmaus road to church revival?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones connects the transformation of the disciples (from sad and slow-hearted to having burning hearts) to what happens in church revival. He states, "What the church needs at the present time is to be transformed from this first condition of sadness and slowness of heart to the burning heart, to the flaming heart, to the heart that is on fire. This is the key to the understanding of the long history of the Christian church." He illustrates this with John Wesley's conversion experience, when Wesley's "heart was strangely warmed" and he was transformed from a "miserable, wretched, dejected failure" into a "flaming evangelist." Lloyd-Jones believes such transformations are "the greatest need of the Christian church at the present time."

Itinerant Preaching

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.

More Ways to Listen

Sermon App