Reading: Luke chapter 24 verse 36 to 49.
Ill:
• It was November 1942:
• Hitler's air-force had invaded and was terrifying English skies,
• Britain was feeling the dread of his enlarging shadow,
• And the country was asking the question;
"How long can they endure the unrelenting darkness of their situation?"
Winston Churchill who was the Prime Minister
• Needed to answer that question, and answer it quickly!
• What could he say to give the people hope & courage?
• On November 10th,
• He addressed a worried audience at the Lord Mayor's Day Luncheon:
• Slowly and in his own particular style,
• He spoke these immortal words:
"Now is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning".
The disciples in Luke chapter 24 also needed to hear those words:
• The dark shadows of their Lord’s death hung heavy over them;
• All hope was gone.
• They were frightened and confused.
• Their initial response to the reports and the evidence of the resurrection was disbelief.
• Now they are hiding behind locked doors,
• Grieving in the safety of their own quarters.
• Life seemed to have closed in on them;
• And it now seemed impossible for them continue in their ministry.
• Their faith had been tried and tested,
• And when all was said and done, most of them ran for the hills.
• One (their un-elected leader) had even denied ever knowing Jesus.
• Talk about defeated and down and out!
• It seemed like the end of all their hopes and dreams;
• BUT! They are about to discover “It is only the end of a brand new beginning!”
Before Jesus returned back to Heaven (Ascended – next weeks study);
• There were some final things that he wanted to do for his disciples.
• And………….he still offers to do these things for his followers today.
(1). HE TURNED THEIR PANIC INTO PEACE (vs 39-43)
Ill:
The whelk is a this little ocean creature can ruin an oyster’s day.
• The whelk has an appendage that works like an corkscrew,
• With which it can bore a small hole in the top of an oyster’s shell.
• Then through this very small hole a whelk can devour an entire oyster,
• It simply sucks it out little by little until the oyster is gone.
• The circumstances of the last week like a whelk;
• Had sucked out all hope and peace from the disciples;
• They were left hiding behind locked doors,
• Worried and panicking for there own safety.
36”While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.”
• Suddenly and un-expectantly in the room;
• Before them stands the very last person they expected to see – Jesus!
• Notice: that his presence so startled them that his first words to them were;
• “Peace, be with you.”
• Their leader who they thought was gone, dead and buried;
• Was now standing before them in perfect health!
Notice:
• In verse thirty-eight he asked them a question, “Why are you troubled?”
• The word troubled literally means “to be stirred up.”
• These disciples are now more terrified by the person in front of their eyes;
• Than they ever were by their previous circumstances.
• Because they were so stirred up and afraid;
• Jesus did two things to reassure his disciples that it was indeed Him and not a ghost.
• First, He allowed them to touch Him.
• He wanted them to understand the He was not a mere an apparition or spirit being.
• Secondly, he asked for and received something to eat.
• Everyone knows that ghost don’t eat, right?
• He wanted to assure them that he was in control;
• He was bigger than there circumstances and bigger than their problems,
Application: What was true for the disciples is also true for us today!
Ill:
• Have you ever asked someone “How are you doing?” only to have them reply,
• “All right under the circumstances?”
Quote: Someone has said,
“Circumstances are like a mattress.
If you are under either of them (circumstances/mattress) you will suffocate
But if you get on top of them, you can rest.”
Each day, each week we have a choice to make:
• We can either focus on our circumstances;
• In which case we will be constantly stirred up, worried & panicky.
• Or we can focus on Christ.
• Quote: The great old hymn of the faith says,
“Turn Your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full into His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim.
In the light of His glory and grace.”
(2). HE TURNED THEIR CONFUSION INTO CLARITY
(vs 44-47)
44“He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem”.
Question: Have you ever been confused? I mean really confused!
Answer: If your answer is yes, then welcome to the club!
Quote: Poem called “Are You at Wits End Corner?”
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Christian,
with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember at Wits End Corner
Is where God’s power is shown.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Blinded with wearying pain
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain.
Bruised through the constant suffering
Dizzy and dazed, and numb
Remember at Wits End Corner,
Is where Jesus loves to come.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Your work before you spread.
Or lying begun, unfinished
And pressing on heart and head.
Longing for strength to do it.
Stretching out trembling hands
Remember at “Wits End Corner”
The burden bearer stand.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Yearning for those you love,
Longing and praying and watching,
Pleading their cause above,
Trying to lead them to Jesus
Wondering if you’ve been true?
He whispers at “Wits End Corner”
“I’ll win them as I won you.”
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner”
Then you’re just in the very spot.
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who faileth not!
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved
But only at Wits End Corner
Is the God who is able, “proved.”
Notice in verse 44 Jesus took them to the scriptures.
“The Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
• We have divided our Bible into two parts – The Old & New Testament.
• The Jews only had the Old Testament and they divided it into three parts.
• They have the same amount of books but they are in a different order.
• e.g. Matthew chapter 23 verse 35.
"Upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed upon earth,
from righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berakiah."
• So we have divided our Bible into two parts – The Old & New Testament.
• But the Jews only had the Old Testament and they divided it into three parts.
Note:
• Jesus showed them with clarity what each section of their scriptures;
• Taught about him and about his death and his resurrection!
Quote: Who is Jesus?
• Consider the themes of the sixty-six books:
• In Genesis, He is the Creator God.
• In Exodus, He is the Redeemer.
• In Leviticus, He is your sanctification.
• In Numbers, He is your guide.
• In Deuteronomy, He is your teacher.
• In Joshua, He is the mighty conqueror.
• In Judges, He gives victory over enemies.
• In Ruth, He is your kinsman, your lover, your redeemer.
• In I Samuel, he is the root of Jesse;
• In 2 Samuel, He is the Son of David.
• In 1 Kings and 2 Kings, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
• In 1st and 2nd Chronicles, He is your intercessor and High Priest.
• In Ezra, He is your temple, your house of worship.
• In Nehemiah, He is your mighty wall, protecting you from your enemies.
• In Esther, He stands in the gap to deliver you from your enemies.
• In Job, He is the arbitrator who not only understands your struggles, -
• but has the power to do something about them.
• In Psalms, He is your song—and your reason to sing.
• In Proverbs, He is your wisdom, helping you make sense out of life and live it successfully.
• In Ecclesiastes, He is your purpose, delivering you from vanity.
• In the Song of Solomon, He is your lover, your Rose of Sharon.
• In Isaiah, He is the mighty counselour, the prince of peace, the everlasting father,
• and more. In short, He's everything you need.
• In Jeremiah, He is your balm of Gilead, the soothing salve for your sin-sick soul.
• In Lamentations, He is the ever-faithful one upon whom you can depend.
• In Ezekiel, He is your wheel in the middle of a wheel -
• the one who assures that dry, dead bones will come alive again.
• In Daniel, He is the ancient of days,
• the everlasting God who never runs out of time.
• In Hosea, He is your faithful lover, always beckoning you to comeback—
• even when you have abandoned Him.
• In Joel, He is your refuge, keeping you safe in times of trouble.
• In Amos, He is the husbandman, the one you can depend on to stay by your side.
• In Obadiah, He is Lord of the Kingdom.
• In Jonah, He is your salvation, bringing you back within His will.
• In Micah, He is judge of the nation.
• In Nahum, He is the jealous God.
• In Habakkuk, He is the Holy One.
• In Zephaniah, He is the witness.
• In Haggai, He overthrows the enemies
• In Zechariah, He is Lord of Hosts.
• In Matthew, He is king of the Jews.
• In Mark, He is the servant.
• In Luke, He is the Son of Man, feeling what you feel.
• In John, He is the Son of God.
• In Acts, He is Savior of the world.
• In Romans, He is the righteousness of God.
• In I Corinthians, He is the rock that followed Israel.
• In II Corinthians, He the triumphant one,giving victory.
• In Galatians, He is your liberty; He sets you free.
• In Ephesians, He is head of the Church.
• In Philippians, He is your joy.
• In Colossians, He is your completeness.
• In I Thessalonians, He is your hope.
• In I Timothy, He is your faith.
• In II Timothy, He is your stability.
• In Philemon, He is your benefactor.
• In Hebrews, He is your perfection.
• In James, He is the power behind your faith.
• In I Peter, He is your example.
• In II Peter, He is your purity.
• In I John, He is your life.
• In II John, He is your pattern.
• In III John, He is your motivation.
• In Jude, He is the foundation of your faith.
• In the Revelation, He is your coming King.
• Jesus showed them with clarity what each section of their scriptures;
• Taught about him and about his death and his resurrection!
• And as he taught them - the disciples went from confusion to clarity!
• They went from doubt & insecurity to understanding and safety.
Application:
• If you and I want clarity, insight, understanding and guidance;
• Then we need to go to God’s word.
• In a constantly changing world;
• God has given us something unchanging - an anchor for the soul.
• But this is not a magic book – it is an inspired book!
• Therefore the regular reading of God’s word produces the best results!
(3). HE TURNED THEIR POINTLESSNESS INTO
PURPOSE (v. 48)
48“You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised;
but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
• The disciples were locked away behind closed doors.
• They had no motivation, no drive, no incentive, they basically had no purpose!
• And because the disciples were feeling sorry for themselves;
• All they were doing was looking inward.
• They had forgotten to look upward to God;
• And an upward look always leads to an outward look – as we are called to impact our world!
• Sadly the disciples had become so inwardly focused they had forgotten their purpose.
• But Jesus will refocus his followers in this great little verse.
What we have in verse forty-eight is Luke’s account of the great commission (ill: Mat 28:19)
• This is repeated and fulfilled in the book of Acts,
• Which is also written by Dr Luke.
Quote Acts chapter 1 verse 8 says:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Ill:
American artist James Whistler,
• Who was never known to be bashful about his talent,
• Was once told that a shipment of blank canvases he had ordered had been lost in the mail.
• When asked if the canvases were of any great value,
• Whistler remarked, “not yet, not yet.”
Jesus is able to take what to the world was a bunch of losers:
• And make something of great value out of them!
• And with these misfits he would turn the world upside down!
Application:
Quote: Robertson McQuilken in his book The Great Omission:
• "in a world in which nine out of every ten people is lost,
• Three or four have never heard the way out,
• And one of every two cannot hear,
• The church sleeps on. How come?
• Could it be we think there must be some other way?
• Or perhaps we don't really care that much'
As Christians our orders have not changed – we are called to go!
• The only reason we are hear this evening:
• Is because somebody told us the good news of the gospel.
• They shared with us that:
• Jesus body was broken and his blood was shed for your sins and mine!
