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Losing Hope
It is terrible to lose hope.
Author Hal Lindsey is quoted as saying… Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air…but only for one second without hope.
We are living in a time where many are losing hope.
Rise of sickness and a loss of hope.
Rise of depression and a loss of hope.
Rise of suicide and a loss of hope.
Today I want to talk to you about 2 disciples who lost hope.
Luke 24:13-17 (NIV)
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
Luke 24:18-21 (NIV)
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?” “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. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 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.
Luke 24:22-26 (NIV)
In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
Luke 24:27-31 (NIV)
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 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. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Luke 24:32-34 (NIV)
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?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen…
We had hoped… are there 3 sadder words in the Bible?
Luke 24:21 (NIV) 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.
Losing Hope
Right in the middle of the resurrection story… the most hope filled story ever… there is a story of 2 disciples who completely lost hope.
They said “We had hoped that he (Jesus) was going to redeem Israel…”
At one time we had hope… now we have lost hope because Jesus, the one who gave us hope is gone.
When you lose the source of your hope, you lose your hope.
Are you losing hope? What is the source of your hope and how have you lost it? What have you lost?
- I know some of you are really struggling with this covid19 quarantine…
- Maybe you lost your job or hours at your job and you have less money coming in… Was your job your source of hope?
- It could be that your health is suffering or you are very fearful about this virus… Is your health your source of hope?
- You could be feeling isolated and lonely, cut off from relationships… was this the source of your hope?
These 2 disciples were walking away from Jerusalem… They had lost all hope.
But Jesus is our living Hope
Living Hope
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Through the resurrection of Jesus we have a living hope.
So as these 2 disciples are walking on the road Emmaus, who should walk up behind them and listen to them speaking? Jesus Christ the Living Hope!
I want you to understand the mindset/perception of these disciples and the reality.
Perception & Reality
The Perception was that He was dead and in a tomb…
The Reality was Jesus was alive…
The Perception was that He was gone forever…
The Reality was that Jesus was right beside them…
The Perception was that Jesus was wrong because He died…
The Reality was that everything Jesus said was true! He was the Messiah, the one who would redeem Israel…
The Perception was that we were cowards and we failed him and we are full of shame…
The Reality was that Jesus loved them and was seeking them out… even though they failed God’s love for them would NEVER FAIL! They were forgiven! He had plans for their lives!
Perception can rob you of the reality.
Perception can cloud your vision…
You can be walking right beside a resurrected Jesus, and your perception can hide that reality and steal your hope.
The Reality is.. Jesus is alive!
Your provider is alive
Your protector is alive
Your peace is alive
Your healer is alive
Your future is alive
Your deliverance is alive
Your redeemer is alive
Your forgiveness is alive
Your promise is alive
Your defender is alive
Do not let your perception rob you of the reality!
Hope is present, but we need hope to be revealed. We need a revelation.
Hope Revealed
Jesus had spent much of his resurrection day with these 2 disciples. He had walked with them, talked with them, expounded scripture to them, he had arrived at a destination with them and stayed with them, and now He is at a table with them… and all this time they don’t see hope.
Luke 24:30-31 (NIV) When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Their eyes were opened and they recognized… I believe they saw more than what their physical eyes could see. I believe they received a Spiritual revelation. I believe they had a God moment.
I have gone through struggles. I have gone through times where I lost hope… But Jesus revealed himself to me… and then I recognize that He had been with me the whole time…
Are you walking from Jerusalem today? Is there heartache and failure behind you. Is their disappointment and hurt behind you… Stop for a moment and allow God to open your eyes and reveal to you the reality. Jesus is with you.
I want to remind you…
When you lose the source of your hope, you lose your hope.
But we have a living hope.
Living Hope
Jesus is the living hope. If you hope in him you will never lose your hope because you can’t lose him…
You can’t lose Jesus to death, hell, or the grave…
What can separate you from His love…
He says I am with you always…
1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
If your hope is in Jesus it is a living hope. It can never spoil or perish or fade.
Have you ever allowed all your hope to be placed in Jesus?