Well, it’s another Easter Sunday. This one Sunday of the year has come to be associated with people dressing up in extra nice clothes, egg hunts, family gatherings, and time off from work. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a Sunday in which we celebrate in a special way, the historical fact of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead.
But the resurrection of Christ from the dead should do more than impact our lives once a year. As Christians, we don’t celebrate our Lord’s resurrection once a year; but every Sunday of the year! We do so because we need to be inspired, reminded, and motivated to let the truth of His resurrection impact us every day of our lives.
It’s what the resurrection did for the disciples. An good example of the transforming power of the resurrection is what happened with two disciples on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:13-35). Though they’re called disciples, there were not from the group of the most intimate followers of Christ—the twelve—who’re referred to now as the eleven (verse 33) because Judas had already hung himself after betraying Jesus. This was a title for the group, not the number of the group, for as we find out, Thomas wasn’t with the group on this occasion we’re looking at today.
The two disciples on the Emmaus road had, as a result of our Lord’s crucifixion, fallen into despair. They’d forgotten the words of Jesus, that He’d be crucified, buried, and raised to life on the third day. And they’d also forgotten the works of Jesus - unstopping ears of the deaf, opening eyes of the blind, causing lame to walk, and raising dead to life, each time proving He had the power to do what He’d promised, being raised from the dead.
The fact they had forgotten these two things, led to the irony of giving into despair over death in the presence of the One who had overcome death for them. Jesus had joined them for the journey, yet they didn’t recognize Him.
But when they realized the risen Christ was with them, they turned from despair to delight, from forgetting Christ’s words to faith in His Word, from forgetting Christ’s works to faith in His working, and were filled with passion, promise, and purpose. God wants the resurrection of our Lord and His presence with us to make a similar difference in us. These two disciples returned to Jerusalem and told the Eleven all about what they had experienced. It is here that we come to today’s passage.
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In this “upper room experience,” the disciples made discoveries that made them live lives of passion, promise and purpose, as God used them to turn their world upside down, then right side up for the Savior.
“The most telling testimony of all must be the lives of those early Christians. We must ask ourselves: What caused them to go everywhere telling the message of the risen Christ? As a reward for their efforts, those early Christians were beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the lions, tortured and crucified. Every conceivable method was used to stop them from talking. Yet, they laid down their lives as the ultimate proof of their complete confidence in the truth of their message.” - Josh McDowell
These discoveries are ones we need to make as we learn to live in the daily reality of the fact that our Savior is a living Savior, whose Word is true and whose works are powerful. Oh, may we have a similar “upper room experience”! Like these disciples, may we discover . . .
1. The reality of the resurrection - vs. 36-43
Jesus showed He wasn’t a ghost or figment of their imagination, but He was truly alive among them! A Savior who had once for all conquered sin, Satan, death and hell. And it’s on the basis of His authority they were sent out and we also are sent out to live life on mission for Christ.
“Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” - Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB)
The resurrection is also the basis of His promise to never abandon us.
“If Easter is not true, then all things perish: body, soul, hope, ambition, love, toil; nothing matters but thrills of a temporal existence. But if Easter is true, then all problems are solved. The strain and sacrifice of earthly life become worthwhile, because eternal values are added.” - Anonymous
Paul expressed it this way:
“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” - 1 Corinthians 15:14 (NIV)
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” - 1 Corinthians 15:17 (NIV)
“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead . . .” - 1 Corinthians 15:19-20a (NIV)
2. The necessity of the cross - vs. 44-45
We’re told the risen Lord illuminated the Eleven’s understanding of Scripture as He had for the two on the Emmaus road. He revealed to them the necessity of the cross; how His coming to die for the sins of the world had been prophesied from the very beginning. The first prophecy ever given by God to man tells of the necessity of the cross.
“And I will put enmity (open hostility) between you and the woman, and between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, and you shall [only] bruise His heel.” - Genesis 3:15 (Amplified)
J. Hampton Keathley says: One of the authenticating proofs for the inspiration of the Bible, which at the same time authenticate the claims of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the only Savior of the world, are the many fulfilled prophecies which find their fulfillment in the person and life of Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. We have in the Holy Scripture, an array of prophecies which extend over hundreds of years and yet find their complete fulfillment in the short thirty-year life span of one person, Jesus of Nazareth, many being fulfilled in one day, the day that He died for the sins of the world.
No doubt, this was part of what Jesus pointed out to His disciples. So they would understand the significance of the cross.
“He who could do all things, came to do what we could not; So we who deserved condemnation, might be accepted, without blemish or spot.”
3. The urgency of our task - vs. 46-48
An old story says that when Jesus ascended to heaven, the angels asked, “Did you accomplish your task?” “Yes. It is finished.” “We have a second question,” said the angels. “Has the whole world had a chance to respond to what you have done and trust you as Savior?” “No,” he said, “not yet.” “What is your plan?” Jesus said, “I have left 12 men and some others to take that message to the whole world.” The angels looked at each another, down to the earth, then back at Jesus. “What is your Plan B?” Jesus replied, “There is no plan B.”
4. The source of our power - v. 49
The means whereby we can fulfill our mission as the people of god is by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses . . .” - Acts 1:8 (NLT)
A child in science class was asked to fill an eight ounce glass with water. The teacher then poured four ounces of sand into the glass. Of course, half of the water ran over the sides and was lost. What was being taught was the Law of Displacement, that two substances cannot occupy the same space at the same time.
The same is true of us, spiritually. If the Savior’s first in our life, the Spirit can empower us to live lives of power, promise and purpose. But if self is first, sin leads us to lives of weakness, worry and wandering.
5. The brightness of our future - vs. 50-53
“As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” - Acts 1:10-11 (NLT)
The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated in Morocco each year. The people celebrate the anniversary of the ascension of their king to the throne. Moroccan cities and villages all prepare each year for this celebration. Flags are placed in prominent places in businesses and homes. Lighted pictures of the king appear along the streets. Strings of lights crisscross main streets in the cities and villages. Lighted crowns are in evidence on top of buildings and along the streets. The entrance to main streets have special lighted effects covering- large arches. Palm fronds also cover the arches to complement the lights. The king goes but to one city; nevertheless all the cities prepare. They don’t want to be embarrassed should he visit them.
Our King is coming. We know to be true just as certainly as we know the resurrection to be a fact. We don’t know when, but we are told to be ready for His return. For we do not want to be embarrassed when He returns.
“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” - Luke 19:13 (KJV)
