He Was There the Whole Time I Robert Madu I Social Dallas

Summary

Podcast Summary: Social Dallas Podcast

Episode: "He Was There the Whole Time" | Robert Madu

Date: April 6, 2026

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Main Theme & Purpose

This Resurrection Sunday (Easter) sermon, delivered by Pastor Robert Madu at Social Dallas, centers on the profound truth that Jesus is present even when we can't perceive Him. Drawing from Luke 24:13-24 and the story of the road to Emmaus, the message explores doubt, disappointment, loss of hope, and the surprising ways Christ reveals Himself. Pastor Robert masterfully weaves personal anecdotes, humor, biblical exposition, and encouragement to invite listeners—wherever they are in life—to recognize that God has never left them.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Human Perspective: Limited Self-Perception

• We are blind to our own blind spots. Pastor Robert discusses how we often can't see ourselves as others do, humorously pointing out, “You've never been married to you,” or “You've never worked for yourself.” (07:34)
• Humility is essential for transformation. Without openness to other perspectives—including God’s—we remain stuck in self-deception.

Experiencing Life as the “Other”: The Visitor’s Experiment

• Pastor Robert’s social experiment: Disguised as a 68-year-old man, he attended Social Dallas to assess how newcomers are treated. Even his own parents didn’t recognize him.
  • Notable quote: “When you're not expecting somebody to be there, you can miss them when they're right in front of you.” (10:25)

Introducing the Emmaus Story (Luke 24)

• Jesus appears incognito to two discouraged disciples walking away from Jerusalem.
• Luke’s unique lens: Unlike the other Gospels, Luke highlights Christ’s humanity, emotions, and concern for ordinary people. (13:29)

The Disciples' Disappointment & Lost Hope

• The Emmaus travelers have "lost their expectation," even though they still believe in Jesus’ existence (23:17–24:09).
  • Notable quote: "In other words, when Jesus died, their hope died." (22:49)
• Pastor Robert empathetically asks: Have you ever felt your hope die with disappointment or pain?

Jesus Appears in Unexpected Ways

• He pursues us even when we're not seeking Him.
  • Quote: “They weren't even looking for him, but he was looking for them.” (18:13)
  • Pastor Robert corrects common religious phrases: “I found God? He wasn't lost. He found you.” (19:42)
• Jesus walks alongside us in our pain and discouragement, often unnoticed.

Honest Encounter > Pretending

• Jesus approaches incognito so the disciples reveal their true emotions rather than putting on a façade.
  • Notable quote: “God cannot deal with the fake, phony plastic you … He can only deal with the real, honest, vulnerable you.” (19:40)

Jesus Confronts, Not Just Comforts

• Rather than coddling their disappointment, Jesus challenges their misunderstanding:
  • Quote: “How foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” (26:48)
  • In the Message translation: “So thick headed and slow hearted.” (27:21)
• Confrontation brings transformation. If Jesus can't challenge us, we can't change. (27:32)

The Wrong Interpretation of Events

• The problem isn't always what happens but how we interpret it—the “wrong framework” leads to disappointment instead of praise.
  • Quote: “You got the facts, but you got the wrong framework.” (28:14)

The Power of the Resurrection

• What the disciples cried about (the empty tomb), we celebrate.
  • Quote: “We shout about the fact that on the third day he got up. Can I tell you what would stop my praise … if they found the body. But since they still haven’t found the body in over 2000 years, I want to give God some praise!” (29:59)
• Pastor Robert urges: Don't leave your journey too early—wait for God to show up.

Jesus Reveals Himself through the Scriptures

• Jesus explains from Moses and all the prophets how the Scriptures point to Himself (32:50–35:16).
  • Various Old Testament examples (Passover lamb, Bronze Serpent, Isaiah 53, Joseph, ram in the thicket, manna from heaven)—all foreshadow Jesus.
  • Quote: “That was me. I was there the whole time.” (35:16)

Invitation to Deeper Relationship

• Jesus waits for an invitation to enter deeper: Though invited as a guest, He becomes the host, breaking bread—a symbol of His body (37:12–39:12).
  • Upon this act, “their eyes were opened.”
  • Hosts must invite Jesus into all of life, not just Sunday mornings.
  • Quote: “He takes the bread, he blesses it and he breaks it and then he gives it to them … and as soon as he did that, their eyes were open to see him for who he really was.” (39:12)

Restoration and Call to Return

• With new revelation, the disciples rush back to Jerusalem—returning to the place of promise and expectation.
  • Quote: “This is your Sunday to turn around and go back to the place of the promise.” (40:20)
  • Pastor Robert calls all who have lost hope or expectation to recommit and go back to places where God first spoke or moved.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On presence and expectation:
  "When you're not expecting somebody to be there, you can miss them when they're right in front of you." (10:25) – Pastor Robert

• On hope and pain:
  "Pain has a way of making you forget the promises of God." (23:21) – Pastor Robert

• On Jesus seeking us:
  "They weren't even looking for him, but he was looking for them." (18:13) – Pastor Robert

• On false appearances:
  "God cannot deal with the fake, phony plastic you that has pretense. He can only deal with the real, honest, vulnerable you." (19:40) – Pastor Robert

• On confrontation for transformation:
  “If he can’t confront you, you can’t be transformed. If he can’t challenge you, you can never be changed.” (27:32) – Pastor Robert

• On the resurrection as proof:
  “The resurrection is proof positive that God keeps his promises. That God cannot lie.” (15:54) – Pastor Robert

• On invitation:
  “If I’m going to come into your home, into your life, I will not force my way in. I have to be invited.” (37:14) – Pastor Robert

• On return:
  “This is your Sunday to turn around and go back to the place of the promise. Get your expectation back.” (40:20) – Pastor Robert

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening scripture and theme – [00:27–05:03]: Introduction to Luke 24, Naming the Sermon.
• Self-Limitation and Humility – [06:00–08:33]: Reflections on limited self-perception.
• Visitor in Disguise Story – [08:34–10:25]: Pastor Robert’s “undercover” visit to Social Dallas.
• Context on Luke’s Gospel – [13:29–14:52]: How Luke differs from other gospel writers.
• On the Road to Emmaus: Doubt, Disappointment – [17:07–24:32]: The emotional backdrop of the Emmaus story.
• The Unrecognized Presence of Jesus – [18:13–19:42]: Jesus seeking out the disciples.
• Jesus Confronts Disciples’ Misunderstanding – [26:48–29:32]: Challenging their interpretation, “thick headed, slow hearted.”
• Interpreting the Resurrection – [29:59–32:50]: Unpacking why the disciples missed the miracle.
• Jesus as Fulfillment of Scripture – [32:50–35:16]: The ultimate Bible study, Jesus explains the OT stories.
• Invitation & Revelation at the Table – [37:12–39:12]: The breaking of bread moment.
• Call to Return and Restoration – [40:20–45:45]: Inviting listeners to return to hope and expectation in God.

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Final Call & Prayer

• Pastor Robert closes inviting listeners to “come home”—restoring hope, expectation, and surrender to Jesus.
  • Quote: “He was there the whole time. He’s here now.” (45:45)
  • An altar call/prayer leads listeners to commit or recommit their lives to Christ, highlighting themes of surrender, new beginnings, and God’s unwavering presence.

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Conclusion

With powerful storytelling, biblical depth, and practical challenges, this sermon underscores: Even in your darkness, doubt, and disappointment, Jesus is nearer than you think. He was, and always is, “there the whole time”—calling us to believe, to hope again, and to recognize His presence on every road—especially those we walk in sorrow or confusion.

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Recommended for:
Anyone struggling with unanswered prayers, discouragement, or feeling far from God—or anyone wanting to renew their faith in the God who is both present and faithful, even when unseen.

Transcript

[Pastor Robert]

Oh, death, where is your sting?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Oh, grave, where is your victory? I want to thank him that he

[Pastor Robert]

won it all for me.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

For me, for me. It should have been me on that cross, but thank God for Jesus, he won it for me.

[Pastor Robert]

To God be the glory, the great things he's done, for the great things he will do. You sense the presence of the Lord in this place today? Remain standing. We gonna jump into the word of God. I do believe that there is a word for somebody in this house today. I don't know what you came in with, but you don't have to leave with it. There's a God who knows you, who loves you and wants to speak to you today. So go with me to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24. I want to look at verses 13 through 24. Luke 24. Start at verse number 13 and we'll land at verse 24. Typically, this is when I have us read our verse of the year, which is In Hebrews, chapter 10, verses 35 through 37. But how many know we already did that. Some of y' all were still trying to get in. It's all good. Have a word for every year. And our word this year at Social Dallas is trust that we're going to have confident, trust in the Lord. But today I want us to look at Luke 24. We'll start at verse number 13. While you're looking for Luke, how many of you again? It's your first time or your first time in a long time to social? Can I get a wave? Come on. So glad you're here. For real, for real. So glad that you're here. Verse 13 of Luke 24 says. And 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. And 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. So we got Jesus in disguise. And he asked them, what are you discussing together as you walk along? They stood still, their faces downcast. 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? Jesus asked about Jesus of Nazareth folk. I added that. But it's interesting. They're talking to Jesus about Jesus. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priest 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. 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. They weren't lying, but they did not see Jesus. This is so good. I want to put a title on this text today and just preach to you from this thought on Resurrection Sunday. He was there the whole time. He was there the whole time. I feel like my title is already preaching to somebody that feels like God left you. And you need to know he was there the whole time. Look at your neighbor. Get in their face. Get in their personal space. Get right in their face and just say, neighbor, I hope you know he was there the whole time. That was the wrong neighbor. They were stuck up. Find somebody else. Find somebody else in their pastels and just look at them. Say, other neighbor. I know after service, you might take some pictures in the blue bonnets, but

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I need you to know he was there the whole time.

[Pastor Robert]

If you believe God's gonna speak, give him some praise in here. Lord, have your way. Speak today. Amen. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. He was there the whole time. How y' all doing at the very top? Top, top, top, top. Y. Perhaps one of the hardest things about being human is that you don't know what it's like to be on the other side of you. In other words, one of the most challenging people to see clearly is yourself. If you don't believe it, I'll prove it right now. Right now, in this moment. I can see y'. All. You can see me, but we can't see ourselves. I mean, think about that. You have no clue what you look like right now. Come on. You ever experienced that phenomenon of going home and seeing something in your teeth and then thinking back to all the people that you talk to that day? You're like, I ain't got no friends. Didn't nobody want to tell me. Had a big piece of kale just right here because you can't see. You see the person next to you, see the person behind you, in front of you, but you can't see you. And ladies and gentlemen, that is how life works. You only ever live life from your side, from your perspective, which means people around you have perspective on you that you don't have. There are things about you you don't know. There are ways that you come across that you are unaware of. There are moments you think you're right and you're not. Not because you're a bad person, but because you never stood on the other side of you. This is why, if you're ever gonna be changed, you have to have humility and not pride. That's why you got to be careful when you make those statements and give yourself a trophy. Talking about, well, I know one thing. I'm a good husband. I'm a good wife.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

How do you know?

[Pastor Robert]

You've never been married to you. I don't know what's wrong with these kids. I know one thing. I'm a good parent. I'm a good parent.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

How do you know? You've never parented yourself.

[Pastor Robert]

I know one thing. They better be glad I showed up to this job today. I know that I'm a good employee. I'm a real good employee.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

How do you know? You have never had to work for you. And let's be honest, if some of you did, you would fire yourself. You would let yourself go. Come on, we could do this all day.

[Pastor Robert]

We could do this all day. I could say with everything that's within me, Social Dallas is an amazing church. I appreciate those few claps.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I believe that. I really do. I would go to this church if

[Pastor Robert]

I didn't pastor this church.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I think this is an amazing church. I think it should be like this every single Sunday. So come back next week. I think it's an amazing church. But the question has to be asked. How do I know?

[Pastor Robert]

I've never attended Social Dallas as a visitor. I always attended as the pastor.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

How do I know?

[Pastor Robert]

However, there was one time. There was one time I did not attend Social Dallas as the pastor of Social Dallas. I attended Social Dallas as a visitor. It was the year 2022. I will never forget it. Our church was growing and exploding, and I wanted to make sure that people were still being treated right because we did not start mega.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

All those people.

[Pastor Robert]

I hate mega churches. You should have pulled up in 2021. We were not mega. I wanted to make sure people were

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

still treating everybody right.

[Pastor Robert]

And so I said, here's what I'm going to do. I want to experience what it's like to be a visitor, to experience what you experienced today. So guess what your boy did. I called up a professional makeup artist. A professional makeup artist. And I said, hey, I need you to take your boy from 38 to 68. And I had prosthetics and everything on. It was incredible. I called a film crew to film me secretly. And y', all, I channeled my inner Eddie Murphy Andrewski and your boy pulled to Social Dallas.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

This is a true story. I pulled up to our church in

[Pastor Robert]

disguise, looking just like this right here.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

That's how I pulled up. Oh, it was amazing. It was amazing. All the way from the parking lot. They had no clue it was me. The whole time I was messing with the parking lot crew, talking about, can

[Pastor Robert]

I smoke up in here?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I mean, I fooled so many people. I went to the first time guest connect tent.

[Pastor Robert]

I wanted to see are they really nice.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I fooled so many people. There were staff members that had no clue I was asking them about me the whole time.

[Pastor Robert]

So what you think of Pastor Robert?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I fooled so many people. But here's what shocked me.

[Pastor Robert]

Not that I fooled our staff and our volunteers.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Here's what shocked me, that I fooled

[Pastor Robert]

these people right here. That's what shocked me, y'. All.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

That is my mama and my daddy, who took a picture with me and had no clue that it was me. The whole.

[Pastor Robert]

Now those of you are going, how in the world did they not know? Your boy's a good actor. Your boy's a good actor. But not only that, we can't separate what I did from the context and the timing in which I did it. See, I came to Social in disguise in July, and everybody's been around. Social knows in July. That's when our family takes our rest month. We take a break. I have guest speakers in July, so watch this. The cognitive category that everybody had for July is PR ain't here. He's gone. He's not here. So when you're not expecting somebody to be there, you can miss them when they're right in front of you. If you have no expectation to see them, you can be close by them and not even realize they were there the whole time. One of my favorite moments was texting our creative director in service. He's saying, service is amazing. I'm texting him back, is it? And I was there the whole time. And I'll never forget what that feeling felt like to be in our church. To be walking past people I know and love and to be close but not recognized, to be present but not be perceived, to be right in their face. And they didn't even notice it. I wonder what you're missing because you're not expecting to see it. Ladies and gentlemen, this brings me to my text today in the Gospel of Luke, chapter number 24. I have to be honest. This is one of my favorite resurrection stories in the entire Bible. You will not find this in any other gospel except for Luke's Gospel. And leave it to Uncle Luke to give us this story right, right here. Because you do know that Luke's Gospel is distinctly different from any other gospel. He gives us a different lens. All four gospel writers come together to talk about the same Jesus, but they give us a different lens. It's Matthew who lets us know this is what Christ said. He is focused on the words of Christ. It's Marky Mark that lets us know what Christ did. Mark is about that action, boss. He wants to let you know that Jesus moved immediately. He went here, immediately he went there. It is John who is focused on his deity. He wants you to know who Christ is. But Luke wants you to know what he felt. He wants you to know that your God, yes, was God, but he was also human. Not 50% God and 50% human, but 100% God and 100% humanity. He wants you to feel what he felt. So no wonder that Luke gives us details that other gospel writers don't give us. It is Luke that lets us know

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

that as he dying on the cross, as he is suffocating in his own blood, as his flesh is lacerated, he fixes himself to breathe and to say a word. And he says, father, forgive them while they're killing him.

[Pastor Robert]

It is Luke that gives us that detail.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

It is Luke that lets us know while he's dying, he speaks to a thief on a cross, meaning that even in his greatest misery, he was still doing ministry, letting the guy next to him know it's not too late. Guess what? Today you gonna be with me in parad.

[Pastor Robert]

Oh, that gave me hope right there.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

To know that it doesn't matter how

[Pastor Robert]

long it's been, God can still reach

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

you, even if it's at the last minute. Thank God for his grace.

[Pastor Robert]

It is Luke's gospel that gives us different details. And Luke lets us know in the 24th chapter as he brings his book to a climactic close, that Jesus has died and he's gotten up from the grave just like he said he would. And if it was me, as soon as I got up from the grave, y', all, I would have been gone. Oh, no, I'm just being honest with you. If I came from heaven to earth,

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

put on human skin, lived a flawless,

[Pastor Robert]

perfect, innocent life, and y' all still

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

killed me after I said it is finished. When I got up from the grave.

[Pastor Robert]

I'm gone y'. All.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I'm leaving as soon as I finish the assignment. I get up from the grave, I am going straight up to heaven, throwing

[Pastor Robert]

the deuces to all of y'. All. That is not what Jesus did. Luke lets us know that perfect 40

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

days Jesus is just walking around doing post resurrection pop up parties, just showing

[Pastor Robert]

up different places, showing up to Mary. She thought he was a gardener because you can't see some things sometimes. Until he spoke her name and said Mary and she realized it was him.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

My favorite.

[Pastor Robert]

The disciples have locked themselves in a room. They're afraid.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

They said, hold up, they killed him. We used to roll with him. We probably next lock the door. Lock the door. And right as they're in there locked

[Pastor Robert]

in all the here comes Jesus walking through the wall talking about peace be with you. Almost gave me a heart attack.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

What are you doing? This is what he did. Why is he showing up?

[Pastor Robert]

Why is he revealing himself to people?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I'll tell you why.

[Pastor Robert]

Because the resurrection is proof that Jesus said what he was going to do.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

And he did exactly what he said. Oh yes, they were going to get power in the book of Acts. But before the power, they needed the proof that he was going to get up from the grave just like he said he would. Can I tell you why I shout about the resurrection? Because the resurrection is proof positive that

[Pastor Robert]

God always keeps his promises.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

That if God said something, he's going to do it. That if God has given you a promise, how many are glad it's going to come to pass? The resurrection is proof that if God said it, that settles it. And some of y' all ought to be shouting if you've ever gotten a promise from God. Because that means even if I don't see how the promise is going to come to pass, the resurrection is proof that if he said it, he's going to do it. I wish somebody would take a praise break and thank God that he's not like us. He cannot lie. If he said he's gonna do something, please believe he's gonna do it. That's why the angel said he's not here. He is risen. Just like he.

[Pastor Robert]

Just like he said. The resurrection is proof positive that God keeps his promises. That God cannot. It doesn't matter how bad it looks, if he said it, he's going to do it. But what blows my mind is who he makes an appearance to in our text today. Why in the world is he showing up to two random disciples, y', all, who don't give us main character energy.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Come on.

[Pastor Robert]

These two disciples are not a part of the intimate 12. Come on. We don't even get one of their names. The other dude's name is Cleopas. Any Cleopuses today?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Cleo?

[Pastor Robert]

No. You don't even name anybody Cleopas.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

These aren't.

[Pastor Robert]

These aren't famous disciples. And yet Jesus takes time to make an appearance to them. Make an appearance of two disciples. Watch this. Who are going in the wrong direction. They're leaving where the promise was. They watched him die on the cross. They said, it is over, y'. All. We thought he was going to do what he said he was going to do. We may as well go home. They're going in the wrong direction. They are sad. They are discouraged and despondent. And all of a sudden, Jesus shows up to them. They're not famous.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

He shows up to ordinary people.

[Pastor Robert]

What is he letting us know?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

He's letting us know who he shows up for that.

[Pastor Robert]

You ain't got to be famous for him to show up to you.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

He will show up to ordinary people in an ordinary moment on an ordinary road. I love it. I love it because watch this.

[Pastor Robert]

They weren't even looking for him, but he was looking for them. They just walking, talking about what happened. Can you believe it? No, I cannot believe it. I knew Judas was a sellout. I knew it the first day when I saw him. Yeah, well, the women said he rose. But, you know, they be making up stories. They be lying.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

They don't even realize they're just talking. In fact, the Greek suggests they're so deep in the conversation, they don't even realize that Jesus is walking with them. Walking with him. They had no clue he found them.

[Pastor Robert]

They didn't find him. Oh, I want to thank God for a savior that even when you're not looking for him, he's looking for you. Oh, that messed up some of the church people. Because the church people were like, no, you need to seek God. You need to seek God.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Draw nigh, they go.

[Pastor Robert]

King James, draw nigh unto him, and he will draw nigh unto you. Yeah, I know that that's true.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

But I. I want to thank God for the moments I was going the wrong direction. I was depressed. I wasn't even looking for him. But I'm thankful to God that He'll invite himself on the journey sometimes. I'm thankful I could be going in the complete opposite direction. And that his love will find a way to reach me. Yes, you ought to seek Jesus. But I want to thank God that he'll seek me, that he'll find me out. What a wonderful Savior, that even when

[Pastor Robert]

you're walking in the wrong direction, he'll come find you. He'll come find you. That's all we need to take some out of vocabulary.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I found God.

[Pastor Robert]

He wasn't lost. You didn't find him. He found you. He found these two, and he's walking with them. And all of a sudden I think they realize, are we being followed? I love it because he disguised himself. He didn't put on, like, makeup like I did, but. But I think he did it for the same reason. He didn't want to deal with the phony them. He wanted to deal with the real them. See, if he shows up as the Messiah says, here I am, and he's glowing, they would have said Yeshua, and they would have not been honest about the condition they were in. And God cannot deal with the fake, phony plastic you that has pretense. He can only deal with the real, honest, vulnerable you. So look at what he does. He pulls up on him in disguise and says, what y' all talking about? The One who knows Earth. I asking them, what are y' all talking about In. Now, allow me to use my exegetical imagination, because I can see it. I can see they really didn't want him in the conversation at first. You've been there before. You ever been having a conversation and you see somebody all in your conversation and they not taking the clues like we talking. I'm thinking, this is what's happening. Especially because of the way Cleopas responds. He goes, what are y' all discussing? And Cleopas goes, are you the only one in Jerusalem that doesn't know what's happened these days? You weren't there when it was dark for three hours and there was an earthquake. Are you the only one? You're the only one that doesn't know what was happening the whole time. And Jesus goes, what things? What things? What happened? Look at them playing, wanting them to be honest about where they are, what things? So they start talking to Jesus about Jesus. They say, well, since you don't know, Jesus was a man who was powerful in word. And indeed Jesus is like, word. He's like, yeah. They then go on to say, but the governors and our leaders crucified him. And then they say something that let us know where they are. They say, and we hoped. We had hoped that he was going to redeem Israel. Did you hear it? Sometimes it takes a while to let a person talk, to get to the bottom of really bothering them. And in one statement, they let us know where they are. They said, we had hoped that he was the one that was going to redeem Israel.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

We had hope.

[Pastor Robert]

In other words, when Jesus died, their hope died. You ever been there before where you had hoped God was going to do something? They had an expectation that he was going to show up in a certain way. And all of a sudden, when they

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

saw him die on that cross, when

[Pastor Robert]

they saw him placed in the tomb, all of a sudden their hope died.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

They didn't stop having faith in him.

[Pastor Robert]

They believed he lived. But what died in them, it was their expectation. Ooh. You know, pain has a way of doing that. Pain has a way of making you forget everything that God promised. Because remember, he told them, I'm going to get up from the grave. It was not a secret. He let them know. But pain has a way of making you forget the promises of God. Sometimes the disappointment in your life makes you feel like your hope has been extinguished. And I'm wondering if there's anybody on this Resurrection Sunday that is saying, I had. You got faith in him.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I believe he's real.

[Pastor Robert]

But you don't have expectation. And I can tell you've lost your expectation when you're headed to Emmaus. Emmaus is away from Jerusalem. It's in the other direction. Emmaus is when you reach the place in your life where you say, okay, God, I tried.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I had hope, but now my hope is gone.

[Pastor Robert]

So, you know what? I'm done.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I'm going back home. Have you ever been on a trip

[Pastor Robert]

to Emmaus where you said, God, I tried, but what else is there for me to do? Some of you tried church.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I tried, Lord, I told you I

[Pastor Robert]

was gonna go at the beginning of the year. But see them church people, you know how they are. So you know what? Forget it. I'll pull up on Easter Sunday. That's it. Have you ever had your expectation extinguished? And now you're on your way to Emmaus because you're saying, God, I had hoped you were going to heal my mom, but you didn't. So I'm going to go to Emmaus.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I still believe that you're real. I just don't believe you can do

[Pastor Robert]

anything in my life.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I still believe that you real. I haven't lost my faith in you, but I have lost my expectation that

[Pastor Robert]

you want to move in my life. I wonder who here today is on your way to Emmaus and not even realizing that God is still with you. They had no clue he was still there and they're going in the wrong direction. And I want to help somebody today that's on your way to Emmaus and let you know he still loves you and he still cares and he can be close and you don't even know it. He was there the whole time.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

So they say, oh, we had hoped

[Pastor Robert]

he was going to redeem Israel.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Now this is the part where I

[Pastor Robert]

thought Jesus was going to go, oh, you had hope. Well, guess what? Get your hopes up.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

It's me. I was tricking you. It's me.

[Pastor Robert]

That's not what he does. Jesus goes further to make a crazy statement. You got to put yourself in the shoes of the text. They're already losing their hope. They have lost their hope. They are sad. They're walking with a stranger. They don't even know what he's doing. And as they're walking with him, all of a sudden they get honest about where they are. I've lost my hope.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

And do you know what Jesus said to them?

[Pastor Robert]

It's going to make some of y' all leave the church today. I'm going to put it on screen. Look at what he says to people

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

who've lost their hope. 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

[Pastor Robert]

these things and then enter his glory?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

What kind of Jesus gets up from the grave and starts rebuking people who are already sad? How foolish you are.

[Pastor Robert]

Yo, I like this version. I like the message translation. He said it like this. He says,

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

so thick headed and slow hearted.

[Pastor Robert]

See, y' all don't like that Jesus right there. Y' all don't like that Jesus right there. You don't like the Jesus that will confront you.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Yeah, you want the Jesus that will cuddle you. And that's why some of us never get changed. Because if he can't confront you, you can't be transformed. If he can't challenge you, you can never be changed. I'm scared of you. If Jesus only tells you to do the things that you want to do and tells you to do things that you like, you might not be following Jesus. You probably just following you. But we serve a resurrected king that will say, what's wrong with you? Thick headed, slow hearted, big headed, slow hearted.

[Pastor Robert]

Oh, that should be bars in a song. Thick headed, slow hearted Jesus, let me tell you about it.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Thick headed, slow hearted. Some of y' all would have been offended. Right there. He's going, did you not understand that? I told you I was going to have to go through this. You thick headed, slow hearted. He's not insulting them, but here's what he is doing. He is confronting, confronting their interpretation of what happened. He said, you got the wrong interpretation of what happened. You were expecting me to overthrow the Roman government. You were expecting me to redeem you the way you saw me redeeming you by getting Rome out of the government and putting you on a throne. But I came to destroy something bigger than that. I came to defeat something bigger than that. I came to defeat sin, death, hell and the grave. You got the wrong interpretation of what happened. Because if you really knew what happened, you wouldn't be sad, you would be giving God praise. I wonder if there's somebody in here that has the wrong interpretation of what's happened. You got the facts, but you got the wrong framework. If they knew, if they knew what really happened, they would have been shouting, I'll prove it in the text. They go on to say the thing that we shout about. They sad about what we shout about.

[Pastor Robert]

They said, we had thought he was going to be the one that was going to redeem Israel. But the only problem is it's the third day and the women went to the tomb and there was nobody.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

And some other people went and they

[Pastor Robert]

corroborated the women's story, so nobody was there. See what.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

That's what we shout about. We shout about the fact that on the third day he got up. We shout about the fact there was nobody. Can I tell you what would stop my praise on this Easter is if they found the body. But since they still haven't found the body in over 2000 years, I want to give God some praise. I want to thank God that he did what he said and got up from the grave. I want to praise them for defeating death. Somebody ought to give them some praise if you're thankful that they still ain't found the body. What you crying about? You're supposed to be shouting, it's the third day. I don't know why they didn't book the Airbnb just one more day. You left too early. That's your problem. And I came to tell somebody in here you left too early. If you would have stayed one more day, you would have.

[Pastor Robert]

Oh, I gotta hurry. Y' all gotta get to brunch. They. They sad about what they supposed to be shouting about. See, it's the third day and there was no body. And so watch what he does. They've got a thick head, slow heart. The problem is not what you're going through, it's your interpretation of what you're going through, it's how you're interpreting what you're going through. But look at our Savior who will not leave us stuck in our thick headedness or slow heartedness. Look at what he does next. The Bible says that Jesus, Jesus begins to preach to them and explain the scriptures to them starting with Moses and the prophets as they're walking a seven mile journey, Jesus starts preaching to them and explaining the scriptures to them and letting them know that they were about him. Okay, all right. There are a lot of moments in the Bible that I wish I could have been there. A whole like I wish I could have been there when the children of Israel got to the Red Sea and Pharaoh was behind them and the Red Sea was in front of them. I wish I could have been there when Moses chest out and all of a sudden they walked through on dragon. I wish I could have been, I wish I could have been there when all of a sudden they got the fish and the five loaves and they be handing it out and you watching that thing get down, down to the last bit and somebody who looks real, real hungry is going, I'm hungry, you better have enough for me. And as you reach down knowing there's nothing there, all of a sudden some more fish and branch.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I wish, I wish I could have

[Pastor Robert]

been there when Jesus is four days late and he goes to Lazarus Tomb and preaches a three point sermon and

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

says lazarus come forth and a dead man comes out. I wish I could have been. But of all those moments, I wish I could have been there. Walking on the road to Emmaus, living, listening to Jesus, the greatest preacher to ever preach, preach about himself. Oh, I wish I could get this sermon on Spotify, on itunes. Can you imagine of all the preachers that are preaching around the world today, how many know they ain't got nothing on Jesus? The greatest orator, the greatest preacher, understand we just have a word. He was the Word. I wish I could have been walking there. Listen to Jesus preach. Jesus, listen to the Word, talk about the word. Can you imagine? He went all the way to Moses and the prophets and just started explaining.

[Pastor Robert]

Oh that was me. That was me too.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I wonder where he started. Did he start with the Passover lamb in Exodus 12 and say, you know that lamb that they took, that innocent lamb and you would shed the blood of that lamb and put it on a wooden doorpost so that the death angel would pass on over. Guess what? That lamb, that was me. I wonder if he went into the wilderness and said, you remember when Moses lifted up that bronze serpent after they had been bitten by the serpents, and everybody that looked at the serpent that was lifted up all of a sudden got healed. Guess what? That was me. That's why I had to be lifted up. I wonder if he went to Isaiah 53 and said, I'm the one that was wounded for your transgressions, bruised for your iniquities. I wonder if he went over to Genesis 22 and said, Remember that time when Abraham was taking Isaac only son and was about to sacrifice him, but all of a sudden there was a ram in the thinking, guess what? I am that ram. I'm the one that was the substitutionary death for you. I wonder if he went to Joseph's story and said, remember how Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers? They sold him out, but all of a sudden he went from a pit to a palace to redeem the very ones that sold him into slavery. Guess what? That was me. That's why I'm not mad at Judas. He had to it. Nobody took my life. I laid it down. I was there.

[Pastor Robert]

Oh, Remember when that bread started coming down from heaven and sustained them in the wilderness? That was me. I was there the whole time. And for two hours. I did the math. Seven miles, about two hour walk. He starts revealing every moment in scripture, Scripture that they had but didn't know. It was him. The whole time, walking with him, discouraged and despondent, not knowing he's there the whole time. And I'm just wondering if the disciples didn't see it.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I'm just wondering if my own mama

[Pastor Robert]

and daddy didn't know that was me. I wonder if he's with you and you don't even realize it. Oh, I wonder even in your pain, you don't even realize he's been with you. He was there the whole time. He's preaching so good. They get all the way to the house. And I love this part because Jesus, he's such an active. He acted like he was gonna keep walking just to see. He acted like he was gonna keep walking. And he said, oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, no, come, come in the house and stay for a little bit.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

Which blew my mind.

[Pastor Robert]

Cause I'm like, wait a minute, you interrupted the walk. You didn't ask no questions. Then why not just invite yourself over?

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I mean, why you got manners now,

[Pastor Robert]

Jesus, you already interrupted the rock. Why not you just invite yourself over? He said, no, no, no, no, this is different. Because if I'm going to come into your home, into your life. I will not force my way in. I have to be invited. So I just wanted to see if you want me to stay. He could have left, they could have let him keep walking. And they would have missed out on the revelation and the power of a savior that wants to come sit at the table with you. I wonder if the reason some of us miss out on the revelation of who Jesus is is because we have relegated him to Sunday morning. Or just once a year when you serve a savior that wants to come in the house and sit at the table with you. He just wanted to see you. Gonna invite me? Oh, you invite me. Okay. Okay. He comes in the house, he's invited as a guest, but he starts acting like a host. You might invite him in as a guest, but he won't be a guest. He's going to be the host. Cuz it's the host job to take the bread and to divide it. But look at him. Invited as a guest, but becomes the host. And he takes the bread and he blesses it and he breaks it and then he gives it to him. He takes the bread, he blesses it and then he breaks it and then he gives it to them. And as soon as he did that, their eyes were open to see him for who he really was. I don't know what they had a flashback to. I don't know if they had had a flashback to hearing of what happened in the upper room when he took the bread and he blessed it and he broke it and he gave it to his disciples and said, this is my body that is broken for you.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I don't know if they had a

[Pastor Robert]

flashback to that day. They were out on the hillside and they had run out of food and he took the bread and he blessed it and he broke it and he handed to them. I don't know if their eyes were opened. Because when he took the bread, he blessed it and he broke it. As he began to give to him, they caught a glimpse of the scars on his wrist and got a revelation. He did what he said he was going to do, that he defeated death, hell and the grave. And the moment they got the revelation, he disappeared. And they got up and said, hold up, we gotta go back to Jerusalem. I know we came all the way to Emmaus because we thought it was over. But now that I've seen him and now that he's spoken the word to me, did not our hearts burn on the inside of us while he was talking? I gotta make the journey back. I thought it was just gonna be

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

a seven mile trip. I. I didn't know it was going

[Pastor Robert]

to be a round trip.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I got to go back to Jerusalem and I came to preach on Resurrection Sunday to somebody that's lost your hope, that's lost your expectation. God told me to tell you this is your Sunday to turn around and go back to the place of the promise. Go back to the place where he spoke to you. Go back to the youth that used to worship when you were in kids church and used to say, I love you, Jesus. Go back, go back.

[Pastor Robert]

Get your expectation back. This is a savior that wants to be intimately involved in your life. It's time for you to go back. Because he was there the whole time. I'm gonna ask everybody that can. Would you stand to your feet please? Nobody moves and honor this moment. I'm going to ask that heads be bowed and eyes be closed. Can't nobody move. Because I'm believing that today somebody is going to turn around and come back home. Home. We say it all the time here at Social Dallas. You can always come home. God is not mad at you. He's in love with you. This text proves that he can be close and you don't even recognize it. He can be by your side and you can be unaware. And I felt like somebody came in today saying, God, where were you? Where were you when my childhood was falling apart? Where were you when my father walked out on us? Where were you during the abuse? Where were you? And hear me, he was there the whole time. He didn't cause it. But we serve a God that can use every single thing for his glory. And if you don't believe it, look at the cross. The only reason we call it Good Friday is because what he did on Sunday, something that looked like it was defeated was actually victory. And his victory is your victory. So with heads bowed, eyes closed, today, if you'd be so honest to say, hey, pr, this word is for me. And today I need to respond by giving him my life. I need to respond by surrendering all that I am to him. As heads are bowed, eyes are closed. If that's you today, would you just lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I could see it to say, today's the day I'm giving Him my life. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jesus. I see hands going up all over this place today, even at the top. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. He was there the whole time. He's here now. And he wants you to respond to him. Anybody else just lift it up saying, today's the day I need to give him my life. Head still bound, eyes still closed. If you're here today and you say, hey, I've put my faith in Jesus, but I'm still on my way to Emmaus. I've got faith in him, but I've stopped having expectancy and hope that he can move in my life. God wants to restore your hope today to believe that he is willing and able to move in your life. Death does not have the final say. He is the resurrection. If you're here today and say, I need to get my hope back up, would you lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I can see it today? Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, God. I want to lead us in this prayer. We're all going to say it, but especially those of you who were responded that first time saying, I need to give Jesus my life. Would you say this from your heart? Say, jesus, let's lift up our hands just as a sign of surrender. Say, jesus, I need you. Lord, I know I cannot do life without you. Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to pay the price for my sin. Jesus, I believe that you're the son of God. You lived the life that I was supposed to live. You died the death that I was supposed to die. You took my place. So today my response is to surrender. Forgive me of my sins, making me brand new.

[Co-Pastor or Worship Leader]

I'm coming back home.

[Pastor Robert]

I'm walking with you. Thank you for being there the whole time. In Jesus name, Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Come on. If you meant what you prayed, would you give God praise today? Oh, come on, you can do better than that. Can you give King Jesus just the best praise that you got.