Eyes Wide Open For Easter

Open our Eyes

Luke 24:13-35

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

The encounter with Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus reveals much truth concerning our struggle to honour Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and His subsequent resurrection. We partake in communion on Easter so that we might “remember” and rejoice in the truth that Christ’s once and for all sacrifice on the cross purchased freedom from the slavery of sin and death to all those who believe He atoned for their sins. So important is communion that it has not only been ordained or “commanded” by Christ but is to be a time of self-examination and confession lest one be found guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:26-28)! To this end one can’t help but wonder if our “new” regenerate hearts are possibly still too skeptical of His truth and blinded by our “old self” that we are disrespectfully coming to the Lord’s table as spiritual babies, void of power, good deeds and barren of fruit! The following sermon is going to review the disciple’s trip to Emmaus to show that while Christ’s grace is enough in our weakness, honoring Him on this resurrection morning means asking Him to keep our eyes open to our responsibility to be living sacrifices in His presence!

The Depths of our Gratitude

Gratitude for what Christ has done for us on Easter cannot be truly given until we come to understand the depths of human depravity. The moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God He came good on His threat that humanity would now taste the sting of death (Genesis 2:17). Ever since the Fall humanity has struggled with not only the decay and physical death of our bodies but also the spiritual deadness of our souls! When Satan told us that our eyes would be opened to knowing both good and evil (Genesis 3:5) he neglected to tell us that our “spiritual taste would become perverted” and we would love evil far more than good. Above all he neglected to tell us that we would be enslaved by sin (2 Peter 2:19) and incapable by our own efforts of ever satisfying our innate thirst to have a relationship with our Creator (Ephesians 2:8)! It is in our depravity and hopelessness that Christ died for our sins so that that who believe in Him might become born again (2 Corinthians 5:17) and adopted into God’s very own family (John 1:12, 3:16). To this end we come to the Easter communion table with thanksgiving in our hearts for having received the living waters and bread of life!

Easter Message to the Unbelievers

As I imagine the virtual audience before this Easter communion table, I would be remiss to not address those of you who are not born of the water and the Spirit. There may be many reasons why you have come to this communion table, but it is my hope that you have due to a thirst and hunger present in your soul. Deep inside you yearn to escape your life of sin and come to know Jesus but in hearing the “thunder of God’s law” and judgement you simply cannot imagine yourself being accepted into the loving arms of a Savior. I understand your skepticism for I was just like you before I came to know Jesus but the moment I made Jesus the Lord of my life the scales of unbelief that covered my eyes fell off and I came to know how foolish I was to be thirsty and hungry for God and yet in a sense of unworthiness fear He would never accept me. It is the Spirit of God who has placed the yearning and desire in your heart because He wants you to not merely pretend to know Him by attending this communion but in faith to believe that Jesus died for your sins so that you might become born again and feel the splendor of His grace! If you ask Him into your heart this very moment you WILL continue this communion service not as an attendee but as His very own child!

Easter Message to the Believers

To those who are already born again I invite you to examine yourselves to make certain your hearts are honoring Jesus at His table. This may seem like a strange request to ask but in examining the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus one finds even believers struggle to honor Jesus with pure hearts. In this story we are told of an intense discussion between two of Jesus’ disciples. While they were not one of the eleven, they too had dedicated their lives to serve their Master. Heading home from a traumatic weekend they were filled with sorrow for in witnessing His superior knowledge and miraculous signs, they had come to believe Jesus to be a great prophet and redeemer of Israel. As they saw Jesus on the cross and buried in the tomb of Joseph all hope that He had come to liberate Israel from Roman occupation dissipated. Despite Jesus telling them He had to suffer and die and despite the women’s testimony and an empty tomb, these disciples grieved the departure of their Master and were left with feelings of little to no hope.