To
the end of the journey … and beyond!
A sunrise service on top of Cleeve Hill
A pathway to
follow. A long walk ahead. And nothing to do but talk about everything
that’s happened in the last few days.
What would it be like if Jesus entered into the conversation?
The first part of our walk
Luke That
same day two of them were walking to the village of Emmaus, about seven miles
out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things
that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and
walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.
Jesus “What’s
this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”
Luke They
just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend.
Cleopas “Are you the only one
in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”
Jesus “What
has happened?”
Cleopas “The things that
happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work
and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and
leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him.
Friend And
we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And
it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have
completely confused us.
Cleopas Early this morning
they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story
that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our
friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women
said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”
Back to that moment at the tomb …
Luke At
the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial
spices they had prepared.
Mary
Mag We found the entrance stone rolled back
from the tomb, so we walked in. But once inside, we couldn’t find the body of
the Master Jesus.
Joanna We
were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed,
two men, light cascading over them, stood there.
James’
mother We were
awestruck and bowed down in worship.
Man
1 “Why are you looking for the Living
One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up.
Man
2 Remember how he told you when you
were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed
on a cross, and in three days rise up?”
Mary
Mag Then we remembered Jesus’ words.
Lord,
I lift Your name on high,
Lord,
I love to sing Your praises,
I'm
so glad You're in my life,
I'm so glad You came
to save us.
You
came from heaven to earth
To
show the way,
From
the earth to the cross,
My
debt to pay,
From
the cross to the grave,
From
the grave to the sky,
Lord,
I lift Your name on high.
Rick Founds
CCl 3540
Joanna So
we left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest.
James’
Mary We kept telling these things to the apostles,
but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it
Mary
Mag They thought we were making it all up. But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the
tomb.
Peter I stooped to look in and saw a few grave
clothes, that’s all.
Mary
Mag He walked away puzzled, shaking his
head.
We return to continue our walk
Luke Jesus
had been listening to their story intently.
Then he spoke … and this is what he said
Jesus “So
thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the
prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah
had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”
Luke Then Jesus started at the beginning,
with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out
everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.
To the top of the hill in sight of the town
Luke They came to the edge of the
village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they
pressed him:
Cleopas “Stay and have supper
with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.”
Luke So Jesus went in with them. And this
is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he
blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed,
they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
Back and forth they
talked.
Friend “Didn’t
we feel on fire as he chatted with us on the road, as he opened up the
Scriptures for us?”
Leader This
is the Good News! The grave is empty,
Christ is risen!
Hallelujah,
Christ is risen indeed!
Leader This
is the Good News – the
light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never put it out! Christ is risen!
Hallelujah,
Christ is risen indeed!
Leader: This is the Good News –
once we were no people, now we are God’s people. Christ is risen!
Hallelujah,
Christ is risen indeed!
Led
like a lamb to the slaughter
In
silence and shame,
There
on Your back You carried a world
Of
violence and pain.
Bleeding,
dying, bleeding, dying.
You're
alive, You're alive,
You have risen, Alleluia!
And the power and the glory is
given,
Alleluia, Jesus, to You.
At
break of dawn, poor Mary,
Still
weeping she came,
When
through her grief she heard Your voice
Now
speaking her name.
Mary,
Master, Mary, Master!
Refrain
At
the right hand of the Father
Now
seated on high
You
have begun Your eternal reign
Of
justice and joy.
Glory,
glory, glory, glory.
Refrain
Graham Kendrick (born
1950) ccl 3540
Luke They didn’t waste a minute. They
were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their
friends gathered together, talking away:
Peter “It’s really happened! The Master
has been raised up—I have seen him!”
Luke Then the two went over
everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke
the bread.
While they were saying
all this, Jesus appeared to them
Jesus “Peace
be with you.”
Jesus Today
and tomorrow
All Today and tomorrow
Jesus Lo, I am with you always
All When we try to do your will
Jesus I
am with you always
All When we go where we
do not know
Jesus I
am with you always
All When we meet one we do not
recognize
Jesus I am with you always
All Where faith ends
and doubt begins
Jesus I am with you always
All Today
and Tomorrow
Today
and Tomorrow
You
are with us always
To
the end of the journey
To
the end of the world
And
beyond to eternity.
Amen.
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen
conquering Son:
Endless is the victory, thou o'er
death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom.
Let his church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.
No more we doubt thee, glorious prince of life!
Life is nought without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors,
through
thy deathless love:
Bring us safe through Jordan
Edmund
L Budry (1854-1932), tr Richard B Hoyle (1875-1939) CCL3540
A pathway to follow.
Not quite such a long walk ahead.
Let’s realise the risen Jesus is with us on the journey wherever that
journey takes us. When the going’s easy,
and when the going’s tough, let’s bring him into the conversation!
The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
The
love of God and
The
fellowship of the Holy Spirit
Be
with us all evermore, Amen.
From
Luke 24 in the Message and Stages on the Way
Wild
Goose Worship Group
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