Personal Appearance Series

PERSONAL APPEARANCE

Text: Lk. 24:35-49

Introduction

1. Illustration: It has been my great pleasure over the years to meet many of my heroes. I’ve met some famous preachers like Jim Cymbala and Alistar Begg. But my favorite of course was meeting my guitar hero Phil Keaggy. His band the Glass Harp was doing a big concert at the Akron Civic Theatre that evening. I was working at a shop called the Pipe Rack in Akron, OH, and I had just come into work. All of the sudden, the door opened and in walked Phil. Tina was standing in front of the counter with her back to the door, and I said, “Hi, Phil!” Of course, she thought it was Phil our friend from church, but when she turned around, she understood why I was grinning from ear to ear. We spent about an hour together, and I ended up selling Phil a new pipe, my claim to fame!

2. Now, imagine you are one of the Lord’s disciples, and the great teacher who you had hoped was the Messiah, who you had seen crucified, suddenly appears from nowhere. Imagine the different emotions you would experience, fear, disbelief, joy, and excitement.

3. Jesus’ appearance to them brought all those feelings, but it also brought something better. His presence brought you…

a. Encouragement

b. Teaching

c. Empowerment

4. Read Luke 24:35-49

Proposition: Spending time with Jesus everyday gives us the spiritual energy to face anything our day may throw at us.

Transition: Spending time with Jesus…

I. Encourages Us (35-43).

A. Peace Be with You

1. The news about Jesus’ resurrection was out and the two disciples that had walked and talked with him on their way to Emmaus quickly found the other disciples and shared their story with them.

2. Luke tells us, “Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.”

a. The two disciples shared their story about meeting Jesus on the road and notice that they mentioned that they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.

b. This would have been important to these disciples because of the last things that Jesus did with them before his arrest was sharing the Last Supper with them. This would have been engrained in their minds.

c. Now Luke doesn’t tell us why Jesus chose these two disciples, but it is a beautiful story of Jesus compassion and love.

d. When Jesus sees us confused and in need of encouragement, he always meets with us and gives us comfort.

3. Then, all the sudden, just as he had on the road to Emmaus, Jesus appeared. In v. 36 we read, “And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!”

a. Once again, Jesus appears out of nowhere.

b. In fact, in the Gospel of John 20:19. “That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.”

c. So, not only did he appear, but he seemingly walked through the doors even though they were locked!

d. You see, because Jesus body was both resurrected and glorified, he was able to do things that seemed impossible. His bodily limitations were now gone, and he was able to appear at will.

e. The first thing he said to them was, “peace be with you.” This was a standard way to greet someone in Hebrew. He wanted them to know that it was really him, and he didn’t want them to be afraid.

f. However, the disciples being the disciples, were still afraid and thought they were seeing a ghost. It kind of reminds me of when I was a kid watching Casper the friendly ghost.

g. But what a great way to greet them. He wished them peace and his very presence brought peace, or at least it should have.

h. Jesus had told them numerous times that he would be crucified but that he would rise again on the third day, which he did, but they still didn’t believe.

i. Instead of trusting Jesus and taking him at his word, they allowed their fear to get the best of them.

4. Then Jesus, sensing their fear and disbelief, said, ““Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.”