A SOUL SHAPED BY RESURRECTION
Cleopas and his friend trudged out of Jerusalem heading for their homes in Emmaus. As they began their 7 mile walk they didn’t say much. Each man was lost in his own thoughts trying to make sense of the bewildering events that had unfolded the week before. Like everyone else from their tiny village they had journeyed to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. They gathered to celebrate and commemorate God’s great gift of salvation. Their arrival on the Saturday before the feast had allowed them to secure lodging for the week. The city was buzzing. The streets were crowded with people. Vendors hawked goods and food. Children ran, pilgrims prayed. Jews from every corner of the region converged on Jerusalem for the Passover.
But just beneath the surface of all this revelry there was another kind of buzzing. A rumor was buzzing through the city. The itinerant preacher named Jesus from Nazareth had allegedly raised a man from the dead in the village of Bethany a few days ago. Everyone was talking about it. Everyone was looking for Jesus. Cleopas and his friend were thrilled. They were personal friends of Jesus and were among his followers.
Then the news swept through the city. Jesus is on his way. He’s coming in from Bethany. Great crowds went out the Bethany road to greet him. They carried Palm branches and shouted “Lord Save Us,” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” Jesus came riding down the Bethany road on a donkey. Hundreds lined the road as Jesus made his way into the Holy City.
That was only one week earlier. How could it have gone so bad so fast? These two men had witnessed it all and it was all spinning around in their heads as they trudged back home to Emmaus. Like many other friends of Jesus, they not only loved him affectionately as the Leader, but they saw in him the promised Messiah and expected that he might assert himself with power at the great Feast of Passover. They expected him to establish his messianic kingdom. But then all the horrifying events came in quick succession—arrested at Gethsamane, mock trial, scourging, the long bloody march to Golgotha, crucifixion, dead, buried.
There was even another rumor. Jesus’ grave was empty and angels had appeared to some women. Why did Jesus die? Why didn’t he do something? Why didn’t he stop it? He had power, why didn’t he use it to escape? Now the weirdness continues with new rumors that his body had disappeared.
These questions harassed Cleopas and his companion. Finally he broke the silence and began to try to make sense of them with his friend. As they were trying to unravel the events of the week they were joined by a stranger along the road. He began asking questions. Cleopas was annoyed. “Where has this guy been all week, the dark side of the moon? Why is he intruding on my grief and sorrow?”
Cleopas doesn’t know it, but his soul is in need of some shaping right now. It has become misshapened by his responses to the events of the preceding week. He is unaware that at this moment he is being set up. Set up by the resurrected Jesus.
How about you? Does your soul need some shaping today? Actually all of us need to be shaped by the resurrected Jesus even if we’re not aware of our need. But most of us are aware of it. That’s one of the reasons we come to church. We’re aware. Some of you only come to church on Easter. But there was a time when your life was alive with Jesus. What happened? You started off so well. Like so many of us the entanglements of this world began wrap themselves around our soul. Subtly Not all at once. Very slowly and subtly they wrapped themselves around our ankles and just slowed us down a bit. But now we only show up for church on Easter. Don’t get me wrong. I’m very glad you’re here today. I prayed for you this week. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me set you up. I asked him to set you up for an encounter with the resurrected Christ.
MY SOUL CAN BE SHAPED BY THE RESURRECTED JESUS…
1. IN THE ORDINARINESS OF WALKING/TRAVELING
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [16] but they were kept from recognizing him. Luke 24:13-16 (NIV)
• Jesus Gives Perspective When I’m Bewildered
He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. Luke 24:17 (NIV)
• Jesus Restores Hope When I’m in Despair
"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. [20] The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; [21] but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Luke 24:19-21 (NIV)
Roll Video “Three Days Later”
• Jesus Gives Clarity When I’m Confused
And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. [22] In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning [23] but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. [24] Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." Luke 24:21-24 (NIV)
Jesus listened to them patiently. When he broke in and took up his end of the conversation, he picked up the fragments of their conversation and fit them into the large and comprehensive revelation written in the Holy Scriptures. He showed them, detail by detail, how what had thrown them into bewilderment, despair and confusion made perfect sense when seen and heard as part of what God had been doing and saying all along. Holy Scripture is an orientation in largeness and coherence. Holy Scripture rescues us from out of breath stutters of distracted and amnesiac journalists who have no perspective only what is immediately in front of them at the time.
He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27 (NIV)
As Cleopas and his friend listened to Jesus expounding on the Scriptures that day, they realized they weren’t dealing with the latest religious fad but with the God’s oldest plan. They were getting the picture. Their bewilderment was placed into perspective. Their confusion took on clarity. Hope began to rise out of despair.
What a conversation!! Later they described what had happened by saying that “our hearts burned within us.”
Just an ordinary walk. Just routine drive time. But when the resurrected Jesus is along things can happen. Some of you are in desperate need of perspective. That’s what Jesus does. Some of you need a dose of clarity. That’s what Jesus does. Some of you require a rebirth of hope. Jesus hands it out in bushels.
VisionCasting Next week’s sermon series.
Then they walked on into the village of Emmaus—their destination. Cleopas and his friend have just engaged in a two hour conversation with the resurrected Jesus, but they still don’t recognize him. They press him to stay with them for supper.
2. IN THE ROUTINE OF MEALS
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. [29] But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. Luke 24:28-29
The three of them sat down at the supper table, and that’s where it happened.
Put yourself at that table in the place of Cleopas. This is your home. You’ve been away for several days in Jerusalem for Passover—this great Hebrew feast of salvation, with all the energy and drama attending it. You’ve been doing this every year since you were a little kid. The place and ritual are thick with memories and stories and songs.
Then, incredibly, the holy week is suddenly desecrated by the murderous execution of your friend, your leader. The anguish and confusion. Then you meet this man who has managed to make sense of it all as you walked along the road. For two or three hours, you’ve listened to him take the chaos of the last few days and like God himself in the book of Genesis, he speaks order into the mess. You’ve never heard the words of Scripture spoken so personally before. You never knew that your own experiences, especially experiences as tumultuous and disorienting and inexplicable as this week, were part of a larger story.
Now as you sit down to supper you’re actually feeling calm. You’re almost at peace. You left Jerusalem three hours ago whipsawed by emotions. And now, thanks to this stranger, you’re feeling normal again.
It’s late in the day and time for supper. You’ve been away from home for a week. There nothing there to eat. Passing a bakery stall you buy a loaf of bread and invite the stranger in for supper. After some coaxing, he agrees. You retrieve a bottle of wine. The three of you sit down to a simple supper of bread and wine. The stranger then makes a move that takes you back momentarily. There is something vaguely familiar in his mannerisms. He takes up the loaf and blesses it. The guest has now become the host. After blessing the bread, he breaks it and gives it to you. Then it dawns on you. You recognize your friend, your leader. It’s Jesus and he is very much alive.
This meal is all very routine, mundane, ordinary. Just like the walk from Jerusalem—very routine, mundane, ordinary—but ripe with resurrection power shaping human souls. That’s what I want to communicate to you today.
There is nothing more normal and ordinary and everyday than eating a meal or traveling from one town to another. In our culture, we typically eat three times a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We eat meals because we have to. We need nutritional food in order to continue to function biologically. Our bodies require a regular intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins and liquid.
But we also eat because we like it. Eating gives us pleasure. My wife is cooking a special Easter meal for us this year. Turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli casserole green beans and secret dessert which has not yet been revealed. That meal is a work of art!!
Most meals that we eat aren’t so elaborate. Meeting a friend for lunch over a bowl of soup and a sandwich mingles conversation and calories in a delightful way for most of us.
I enjoy Monday evenings with my Lifegroup. The first item on the agenda is a meal together. Relationships are born at that meal. Even when we don’t know it, even when we’re ignorant of it the resurrected Jesus is there at the table with us shaping our souls.
Let’s read how Cleopas and his friend recognized the resurrected Jesus at their little meal.
• Jesus Takes What I Give Him
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. Luke 24:30-31 (NIV)
I went back and looked at some other places where Jesus hosted meals. These recognized him because he seemed to do the same thing at each meal.
• Jesus Blesses What I Give Him
And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
• Jesus Breaks What I Give Him
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. Matthew 15:36 (NIV)
• Jesus Gives Back
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Matthew 26:26 (NIV)
Video Set up: I recently watched a movie based on the true story of William Wilburforce who was member of the British Parliament in 18th centuy. Wilburforce dedicated his life and political influence to one great cause—the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. His have placed him at odds with some of most powerful men of his day including the king. In this scene he visits an old friend named John who was a former slave trader. John has repented of his sins and become a Christian minister also zealous to end slavery. John goes blind writing his memoirs—a horrific first-hand account of the British slave trade. Wilburforce is to publish John’s work to expose the inhuman practices of slave trading.
Roll Video “Amazing Grace”
You probably don’t know much about John. You may be interested to know that John’s last name is Newton. Most people have never heard of John Newton but everyone knows the song he wrote. This slave trader who gave Christ his life, Jesus blessed it, broke it and gave it back to him. This slave trader who went blind writing an expose to end the trafficking of human beings. Everyone knows the song he wrote…Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.
Just yesterday I met with a man who expressed a desire to give his life to Jesus. While choking back tears, he exclaimed “But I’ve done some wicked things.” Just like John Newton this man gave himself to Jesus. Jesus blessed him. Jesus broke him. Jesus gave him back a life worth living. “I am a great sinner, but Christ is a greater savior!” How about you?
