“The Equipping Factor”
Luke 24:36-49
Introduction: Asking a man or woman to go to war to fight and possibly die for a cause is one thing. Sending someone to battle with the right training or tools to defend themselves is a whole other thing.
Illustartions from the Korean War:
NO BOOT CAMP FOR THE MARINES: An estimated 8,500 Marines in the 20th century Marine Corps never went to boot camp. These were no-prior-service members of the Marine Corps Reserve who were mobilized for active duty at the beginning of the Korean War in 1950. It is almost gospel that when two Marines—active, Reserve, or veteran—meet for the first time, the question of where they went to boot camp comes up in the first 5 minutes of conversation.
NO WEAPONS---North Koreans and Chianese troops were sent without weapons
The Equipping Factor—Jesus equipped/prepared his disciples to successful take the gospel to the World after his ascension to heaven. By looking at this passage of Scripture we will see several ways how Jesus help prepare them:
1.First, Jesus equipped them by showing the physical evidence –proving he was the resurrected Lord.
2. Second, Jesus helped them remain steadfast by appealing to the truth of his CHARACTER!
3. Next Jesus is honest with about what he is calling them to!
4. Jesus prepared or equipped his disciples by letting them know that it is okay to be afraid.
5. He also equipped them by giving them the power to overcome.
1. First, Jesus equipped them by showing the physical evidence –proving he was the resurrected Lord. No matter how much Jesus’s disciples loved or liked him they would not have changed from hiding out in an upper room to be willing to die unless they were totally convinced that he was the Resurrected Messiah of the Jewish people.
A. JESUS PRESENTED HIS SCARS AS EVIDENCE
--36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look 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.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
People will give up without evidence---and his disciples were radically changed by what they saw!
ILL: Fishing for days and no one ever catches anything –eventually you will give up.
ILL: Chasing someone in a relationship and they are distant and out of touch eventually you will give up!
Ill: Searching for a lost person. –Suspend the search
Ill: All stories of triumph had little glimmers of help along the way! B-29’s flying high overhead
Reading about the POW in Japan during the War –they had little glimmers of hope along the way!
Jesus presented enough physical evidence to his disciple for them to be willing to believe and die for what they believed! We believe today based upon their inspired testimony passed down over the years. For years many have tried to prove the historical life and resurrection of Jesus by claiming to have physical in the form of relics. (University Press of Kentucky, 2007)
Every once in a while, someone comes forward saying they've discovered what can only be the nails that pinned Christ to the Cross. This is nothing new. In 1911, English liturgical scholar Herbert Thurston counted all the nails that were at that time believed to have been used to crucify Jesus. Though only three or four nails (the exact number is up for debate) were supposed to been used in Christ's crucifixion circa A.D. 30, in 1911, 30 holy nails were being venerated in treasuries across Europe.
Christ's crown
Before Jesus was crucified, the Gospels say, Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on his head in a painful mockery of his sovereignty. Many Christians believe the thorny instrument of torture still exists today, albeit in pieces scattered across Europe. One near-complete crown is housed in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The documented history of Notre Dame's Crown of Thorns goes back at least 16 centuries — an impressive provenance — but it doesn't quite trace back to A.D. 30. Furthermore, Notre Dame's crown is a circlet of brush, and is completely devoid of thorns.
Bloody bandage: A similar relic is the Sudarium of Oviedo, a blood-stained cloth that was supposedly wrapped around Christ's head when he died and which, since A.D. 718, has taken pride of place in a cathedral in Spain. Blood on the Sudarium is of type AB, common in the Middle East but not in Europe, leading many to believe it's the blood of Christ. However, according to Joe Nickell in his book "Relics of the Christ"
Biblical blanket
Perhaps the most famous religious relic in the world, the Shroud of Turin is believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus. The 14-by-4-foot linen blanket, which bears the ghostly image of a man's body, has been worshipped by millions of pilgrims in a cathedral in Turin, Italy. But scientifically speaking, the Shroud of Turin is a fake.
Source: http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/2319-jesus-christ-man-physical-evidence-hold.html
Rather than relics we can look at the reliable witness of Jesus’ life! We can trust the eyewitness records of the many books of the Bible!
2.JESUS PRESENTED HIS SCARS AS EVIDENCE AND THAN THE SCRIPTURES:
Jesus used the word “scriptures” several times!
All that the prophets, and Scripture foretold
Jesus equipped them finally by reminding them of the prophetic evidence—First, too the travelers on the road to Emmaus 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah 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.
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.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49
2. Second, Jesus equipped his disciples by appealing to the truth of his CHARACTER!
Jesus followers were willing to die for their faith because they knew that Jesus was a man of integrity! It had to be him and he had to have resurrected because he would never pull a stunt like this!
ILL: Mel Gibson played Col. Hal Moore— “Dead or alive, we will all come home together..”
Jesus is not another leader who claims he was taken out of context!
Jesus proved to all who had been with him that he was the real deal!
-He was not another money/land grabbing religious leader.
-He was not another religious leader like Joseph Smith, who was a known womanizer--He was not another power hungry, incoherent lunatic like David Koresh, and Jim Jones!
--He was not another world philosopher that blamed the poor for the condition they were in!
--He was not another politician that promised change without giving up his own entitlements!
--He was not another religious person that suggested that someone ought to do something about this problem in the world ---he was that someone!
JESUS TALKED THE TALK AND HE WALKED THE WALK
JESUS ANSWERED THE SOMEONES!
Instead of saying ----someone ought to work with our youth! Jesus said, “let the little children come unto me!”
Instead of saying someone ought to put the High Priest in his place ---Jesus said, “you will see the son of man coming on the clouds on high!
When someone said someone ought to do something about the price gouging and circus going on at the temple!” -- Jesus showed up with a bull whip and cleaned up his Father’s house!
When someone said, “someone ought to pray about this” ---Jesus spent hours in prayer!
When someone said, look at that pitiful man sitting by the side of the road and said someone ought to help him!” Jesus touched him!
When someone ought to help that unclean woman –Jesus let power go out him when she touched him!
When someone said look at the family weeping and crying and someone should have helped him---Jesus said, “Lazarus come forth”
When someone in the crowd said, “someone ought to help that poor girl before they kill her” Jesus said, woman where are your accusers –“go and sin no more!”
When someone said, someone should have brought food for all of these people! Jesus said, “I will feed them.”
When someone said someone ought to help that poor, tormented boy living among the tombs with a legionof demons driving him mad! Jesus went into Satan's territory and spoke the word! "Come out! "
When someone said, “this world is a mess God ought to do something about.” Jesus said, “Father into thy hands I commit my Spirit!” “It is finished!”
JESUS EQUIPPED HIS DISICPLES AND HIS CHURCH THORUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS BY PROVING TO THEM THAT HE WAS good for his word! He had integrity! HE would not, lie, cheat, or steal to get ahead!
TODAY WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE KNOWING, “Jesus would not lie to us” because it was out of character!
If he said, If we come to him he will give us rest! That is what he will do!
When Jesus said, “I will never leave us or forsake us!” That is what he will do!
When said “all who believe and are baptized will be saved” that is what he meant!
Even the Roman Ruler Pilate, Pilate's wife, a Roman Centurion, And King Herod —recognized that was a man of perfect character!
They saw him pray for hours!
They saw him get upset with fake religious people!
They never saw him change his message for those who were powerful or wealthy!
In the three years of ministry his disciples saw him touch the sick lepers, heal the broken, eat with those who were dirty and unclean, never beg for money, he never charged people for his services! JESUS NEVER LIED NOR DID HE SIN! He not only did what said he would do---
3. Next, Jesus prepared his disciples by being honest with about what he is calling them to!
JESUS EQUIPPED THEM BY GIVING THEM THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR CALLING! The scars should make us shudder to think what might come into the future!
ILL: He told of the good and the bad!
Not a salesmen or recruiter who only talks about the positive aspects of a product!
Not a recruiter who only mentions the benefits.
This is precisely why Jesus exhorts his would-be followers to first count the cost. For anyone who is unprepared or unwilling to bear a cross and follow Christ, simply cannot be his disciple (Luke 14:25-33).
The violent death of Peter is foretold. ---Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
Jesus warns his followers that they will be persecuted because they are not of the world, but have been chosen out of the world, and therefore the world hates them just as it has hated Christ (John 15:18-21).
Do you remember what I told you? 'A slave is not greater than the master.' Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
4. Jesus prepared or equipped his disciples by letting them know that it is okay to be afraid. AND that their doubts and fears would not stop the Kingdom of God from going forward.
“Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”
They were afraid! You cannot lie to God!
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Jesus always knew when his disciples were afraid!
Ill: When Jesus walked on the water to his disciples they were terrified! They thought he was ghost.
When there was storm and Jesus was sleeping- his disciples were afraid.
-----In the future Jesus’ disciples would face many terrifying circumstances.
WE SHOULD BE AFRAID!
Simon Peter crucified upside down
Andrew crucified. Peter’s brother.
James Beheaded
John exiled, died of old age (brother of James)
Matthew speared to death
Bartholomew beaten then crucified. (aka Nathanael)
Philip Crucified
Thomas speared to death
Simon crucified, the zealot
James stoned to death
Thaddaeus stoned to death. (aka Judas son of James)
Judas Iscariot suicide by hanging
--> Matthias replaced Judas (Acts 1:26)
5. He also equipped them by giving them the power to overcome.
49 I 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.”
Jesus left them with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit!
---STAY OR WAIT
ILL: The waiting is hard!
We so often where is God why we are going through all of this!
Why does God not intervene. Why don’t my parents love each other.
Don’t give up on your faith too soon!
If the early Christians had not stayed in Jerusalem until The Day of Pentecost they would have missed the God’s glory being poured out!
It may take years to see God’s hand in our lives.
Conclusion: Jesus prepared his church by using people --- and second by giving the faith and hope they needed to carry out the work he had sent them to do! He is calling us to continue his work today. re you prepared/equipped?
To lead your family, to guide your kids, to stand before God?
