Christmas On The Road – Part 2

Hey podcast listeners. Thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. And right now your generous gift will have twice the impact thanks to the Proclaim the Gospel matching challenge active right now through December 31st. To give a special year-end gift, go to ptv.org slash podcast and click the donate button or follow the link in our show notes. Now here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. This is Robert Jeffress. In response to the horrific attack on Israel, I've written a brand new book called Are We Litting in the End Times?

Go to ptv.org to order your copy. Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress. You know, most people think that the Christmas story took place some 2000 years ago.

But in fact, it began thousands of years before Jesus was even born. Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress uncovers the origins of the Christmas story in the countless prophecies recorded throughout the Old Testament. Now here's our Bible teacher to introduce today's message.

Dr. Jeffress? Thanks, David. Christmas is definitely in the air. With only days remaining, most of us are getting ready for the parties and celebrations.

And I know you're busy. And I'm glad you took time to join us for today's edition of Pathway to Victory. Christmas 2023 will forever be remembered as the season when Israel was viciously attacked by terrorists. It's one more reminder that our enemy seeks to destroy us. This battle is fought not only in the Middle East, but in many ways in our own country. Think back on 2023. America has endured deep political division on Capitol Hill.

Our cities are wracked by grab-and-go crimes. And it seems like the tension is mounting as we enter a new election cycle. Well, even in these dark and foreboding days, I've never been more excited about shining the light of biblical truth. For Christians, this is a dynamic time to shine the light of God's glory in the dark recesses of our world. And so today, I've come to you boldly to enlist your partnership. Your generous gift to Pathway to Victory will be used to pierce the darkness with the light of God's Word. By now, I hope you've heard about the matching challenge, because there's never been a better time to leverage your gift. Every dollar you give will be doubled until we reach the cap amount of $500,000.

You can give right now by going to ptv.org. When you do, be sure to request the exclusive 2024 Pathway to Victory daily devotional. It comes with my thanks for your confidence in Pathway to Victory and your investment in this ministry. We'll say more about this leather-bound book later. But right now, let's continue our study in Luke's Gospel.

I titled today's message, Christmas on the Road. If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to the Gospel of Luke, and I want you to turn to chapter 24. Luke chapter 24. This story takes place late on a Sunday afternoon, but it wasn't just any Sunday afternoon. It was the Sunday of Christ's resurrection. And there were two travelers, two disciples of Christ, who were on their way from Jerusalem back to their hometown called Emmaus.

That's the background for what takes place here. Now look at verse 13 of Luke 24. And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were conversing with each other about all of the things that had taken place.

What things? About the one they had been following, Jesus. About how he was unfairly arrested, went through the six mock trials, how he was crucified, and then laid to rest in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. And so Jesus said to them, what are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?

And they stood still, looking sad. And one of them named Cleophas answered and said to him, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days? And he said to them, what things? And they said to him, the thing about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priest and our rulers delivered him up to the sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all of this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us when they were at the tomb early in the morning.