Assurance: To Those Who are Slow to Believe

A Sermon on Luke 24:13-35

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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.

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.