What Do We Do With This Gospel? (Luke, Part 14) Series

What do we do with this Gospel? (Luke, Part 14)

Luke 24:13-53

Introduction / Recap

- Last week, we discussed the most pivotal event in the Christian faith

-- The proof that our future is assured because our Savior, Jesus, is alive

-- It is why we celebrate Easter – it’s why we rejoice (He gives hope for a future)

- RE: Either Jesus is who He said He is – or He is a liar … He cannot be both

-- This one truth is what we unpacked, and what must be settled forever

- This brings us to today, where we will conclude our study in the Gospel of Luke

-- My hope for today is we will leave here with three challenges for living

-- Prayerfully, these will not be difficult to apply or remember

-- Ask for your prayers as I walk through this for our benefit and His glory

- Read Luke 24:13-53 / Pray

- TR: Let’s unpack our first life application take-away from this gospel …

Point 1 – Jesus is involved in our lives

- The day is important, it’s the same day as the resurrection (v13)

-- These two men were making their way to Emmaus

-- Note their state of mind: gripped with fear; surrounded by despair

-- Why? Jesus was dead, the man they followed and loved

- Many feel this same way today – sad for things out of their control

-- Family, school, profession, acceptance, death, even the meaning of life

- As they walked, they sought to understand Jesus’ death / disappearance (v15)

-- See this: They were seeking the truth, knowledge, & meaning of the events

-- APP: Take note of what happened: Christ drew near to them!

-- Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

- Although, in this instance He was hidden from being recognized (v16)

-- As this mystery man inquired of them, Cleopas talked about three topics: (v19)

• Jesus was a great prophet, a mighty teacher

• The religious rulers of the day crucified Him

• And they trusted (and hoped) that He was the Messiah

- They also knew from His teaching something would happen on Day 3

-- But, to them, that was something other than what occurred

-- Perhaps they were expecting some great victory to happen …

- The problem with these two is they are exactly like the world today

-- They had head knowledge, but no faith; they were short-sighted & unbelieving

-- They knew the story, but lacked the belief that it would take place

-- Whether stuck in legalism, or spiritual blindness … they just missed it

- BIG APP: What we’ve got to do is connect the dots:

• Jesus said He would be crucified

• Jesus said He would rise on the third day

• The tomb where they left Him was now empty

- So, they are faced with the same challenge we are faced with today:

-- If Jesus is no longer in the tomb, then we have to admit it and deal with it

-- We have to accept that He is who He said He is … and either confess/deny

-- CH: Mankind has a real problem with this because we like our sin

- Know this: Jesus is the one we will all answer to …

-- Phil 2:9-11, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ? see purpose

- Take note of how Jesus deals with their unbelief (v25)

• Rebukes them for being dull and slow to believe (GR: anoetoi; foolish)

• He shares that the death and resurrection were NECESSARY

-- This is a critical piece: In order to be redeemed the Messiah had to die

-- It’s why Jesus takes them through the scriptures, to connect the dots

- It’s no different than we are called to do today: to know and teach

-- Personal: It is what I’m called to do on Sunday … but …

-- APP: It is what you are called to do the other days of the week

-- That is how we make disciples … we pass on the knowledge we have

- TR: Confidently, we must know that Jesus is involved in our lives