THE RESURRECTED LORD JESUS
Date: 13 April, 2017
Text: Luke 24:13-32
Title: The Resurrected Lord Jesus
Theme:
Proposition:
Rhetorical:
Introduction:
Staying at Yad Hoshmona. - Interesting property - Messianic Jewish Community - with a Biblical gardens. Two interesting points of interest nearby.
1.) The property where the house of Abinadab was located.
I Samuel 17:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
exp. I ran up that hill while I was staying at Yad Hoshmona.
2.) The road to Emmaus runs very near this property.
Emmaus was a village about 7 miles from Jerusalem.
ON THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION
That morning - THE RESURRECTED LORD JESUS is in the Garden Tomb -
That night - He appears to the disciples in a closed room where they were meeting for fear of the Jews.
During that day - we find him on this road to Emmaus which passes by Yad Hoshmona.
exp. We also traveled for a short while on the old Emmaus road and you can still see the Roman paving stones sticking up out of the gravel road. Jesus would have passed directly over that spot on the day of His resurrection.
Luke 24:
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
question: Have you ever been disappointed and felt like your faith had been shattered ?
ill. Job lost his animals, at least I've got my kids, Job lost his kids, at least I've got my health, Job lost his health....
Like Job these men were shattered. The Messiah had been killed. A week before was the triumphal entry - it all looked too good to be true! Now Jesus has been crucified and the tomb where He was buried is empty. They don't know what to make of it.
I. The Resurrected Lord Jesus knows just when to draw near.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
exp. Don't be suprised if the Lord allows a trial to be the time when you are most aware that He has drawn near.
ill. Logan was born 13 days before we left our home in Michigan to begin traveling on deputation. He has a mishapen head. After several months we realized that he had craniosynastosis. God provided incredibly for him to have surgery while we were traveling. Afterwards we got a 60,000 USD medical bill. I don't look back on those trials with heartache but with rejoicing. God gave amazing grace, guidance, peace, provision, etc. God built up incredible prayer support for our family during that time.
note: If you are an unbeliever, you won't know the joy of a trial until God draws near and you attach yourself to Him.
ill. Jesus is a good shepherd. It is his first day back among the living and he immediately is going after his flock.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
exp. These men were going the wrong direction and the Lord knew it. He went after his sheep.
app. Is the Resurrected Lord Jesus persuing you today? Have you an perception today that He has drawn near?
II. The Resurrected Lord Jesus does not establish faith in sight.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
exp. There is an act of providence taking place similar to other resurrection occurances.
1.) Mary thought he was a gardner. Joh 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
2.) Later the disciples will see a man on shore who inquires about their success in fishing.
John 21:4-5 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
exp. On both occasions there will be initial ignorance as to WHO is speaking to them. Why doesn't our Lord establish faith by sight - "Hey guys, it is me. I rose from the dead. See my hands and side."
A. Faith without sight is most precious.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
app. If you only believe what you see, you will have difficulty getting anywhere in your walk with God. He will constantly have to prove Himself to you while you continually disregard WHAT HE SAYS AS FALSE.
B. Faith is not established by sight.
Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
ill. Judas saw Lazarus (of Bethany) come out of the grave by the power of Jesus - but he didn't put his faith in Him.
app. God is giving you no favor by encouraging you to TRUST sight more than HIS WORD. He may keep your eyes closed on purpose just to keep you from being dependent upon sight.
transition: The Resurrected Lord Jesus doesn't build faith by sight, He know just when to draw near.
III. The Resurrected Lord Jesus cares about the sorrow of faulty faith.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And 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?
exp. Cleopas makes it plain that Jesus was not an unknown figure nor was his crucifiction an unknown current event.
A. Their faith was weak.
19 And 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:
1. They had seen incredible miracles.
exp. 5,000 fed with a little lads lunch; lame, blind, dumb, demon possessed - healed; water turned into wine, storms silenced, etc.
app. If faith is to be established by sight - their faith should be rock solid - but it was not - it was faulty faith.
2. They had heard incredible truth.
"mighty in deed and word before God and all the people."
ill. I love the story in God's Word where officers are sent to arrest Jesus and they return empty handed.
John 7:45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
app. We need to see the day again where God's Word is brought with such force to mankind that the evil the started out to do goes unfinished. Despite the great words and work - their faith was weak.
B. Their faith focused on humanity not deity.
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
exp. Notice even though Jesus taught about this death - they blame the chief priests and rulers of the people. They condemned him. They crucified him.
question: Can I remind us this morning that God the Father sacrificed His Son on the cross for our sin? Don't blame - Judas, Pilate, Satan, Roman Sodiers or Jewish religious leaders.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
ill. This is not a true illustration - but it illustrates a truth very well - Rotating Train Bridge - Father and Son enjoying picnic. Rush to get back for a express train full of holiday makers. Son falls into gears - Father's choice - sacrifice son - or let the train perish. Laughing crowd has no idea of what it cost them to cross the bridge.
app. If your faith is what it ought to be today -you don't see humanity crucifying Jesus - You see a loving Father putting his son to death for your sin.
C. Their faith was disappointing to them.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel:
exp. Can you hear the unbelief in their statement? How could God do this to us? We believed that this was the Messiah! Our faith was strong.... we were strong....
question: Did you know that your faith will be tested?
Jer 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
app. Have you begun to walk away because YOU REFUSED TO PASS THE TEST OF YOUR FAITH?
D. Their faith didn't know what to do with the astonishing facts.
...and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And 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.
exp. The tomb - yes it was empty - but the men didn't see (emphasis) Jesus or the angels. The women said, they said - but.....
ill. Returning from fishing without a catch and saying, "But, they say there are some big fish in there." Those listening to you can tell that you don't really believe what you have heard.
app. We know from the next verse that Jesus hears the same thing in the voice of these men. Does He hear it in your voice this morning? "God can build this church. He can provide a building and people." He can - but I don't really believe it.
transition: Faulty faith is sorrowful - the resurrected Lord Jesus cares about faulty faith, He does not establish faith by sight, He draws near at just the right time.
IV. The Resurrected Lord Jesus rebukes unbelief and establishes faith.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
exp. Jesus could have just opened his hand - instead He opened God's Word.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
ill.
the atonement in Genesis 3.
the sacrifice of Cain
the sacrificial lambs
the rock cleft in the wilderness
Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53
app. If you want to have Jesus do the same thing for you - open your Bible and let Him speak to you.Psa 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
transition: The resurrected Lord Jesus rebukes unbelief and establishes faith, He cares about faulty faith, He does not establish faith by sight, He draws near at just the right time.
V. The Resurrected Lord Jesus does not force himself on anyone.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But 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.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
exp. He didn't demand to abide with them - they had to invite Him inside and once they did they had their eyes miraculously opened as He broke bread with them.
note: How often have we repeated the verse - Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
app. Are you content to live without Jesus? He isn't going to barge in where He isn't welcome. But, if you will invite Him into your heart - He will open your eyes.
VI. The Resurrected Lord Jesus speaks to men's hearts in a way that is convincingly of Him.
32 And 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?
exp. The Word of God penetrates where nothing else is able to do so. That is why an atheist, evolutionist, spiritualist, abortionist, thief, murderer, drunkard, sexual sinner - etc. can get saved.
Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
ill. the last thing I ever wanted to do is preach - I wouldn't be here if it was for the burning heart God gave me as a teenager which took me to a point of surrender.
app. Do you know anything of a burning heart today? How long has it been since God opened His Word, spoke with you and it gave you a burning heart?
app. When these men get back to Jersusalem - hiking 7 miles to share their experience - Peter tells them that He has seen the Lord and THAT HE IS RISEN INDEED.
They too had met with the resurrected Lord.
1) He had drawn near at just the right time.
2) He didn't seek to establish their faith by sight.
3)He cared about their faulty faith.
4) He rebuked their unbelief and established their faith with his Word.
5) He didn't force Himself on them.
6) He spoke to them in a convincing way.
What do you know today of the resurrected Jesus?