Luke 24:36-48
From Fear to Faith
Rev. Roy Almquist shares a peculiar story from the bloody second Battle of Bull Run in the Civil War. Captain Robert Clark and his men were surrounded by the Confederate forces but refused to surrender. In the terrible battle that ensued, Clark’s entire detachment was overrun. Listed as missing in action, Clark was presumed dead. When his family was notified, they sent a telegram asking for the return of his body. But Captain Clark was not dead. Separated from his detachment, he had hidden behind enemy lines for three days, and although wounded and hungry, Clark was able to make his way back to his headquarters in time to deal with his family’s request. With laconic humor he sent a telegram, which read: “Still have use for the body; will bring it back in person. Your loving son, Robert.” [http://wmchapel.org/2012/04/the-never-ending-easter-dinner-luke-24-36-48/]
This ironic footnote from a terrible war captures something of the astonishment, which the disciples must have felt when Jesus unexpectedly appeared before them when they thought him dead. I want to share with you three or four thoughts the story brings up for me. The first is,
1. Don’t be surprised when Jesus shows up
The disciples have no time to even process the reports of the two disciples on the Walk to Emmaus before they find the risen Jesus standing in their midst. It’s one thing to hear rumors that he is alive; it’s another thing to see him standing there in front of you.
Of course, they shouldn’t have been surprised. Jesus had been teaching them he would die and rise again. Consider Mark 8:31, which says, “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” He repeats that message again in Mark 9, and again in Mark 10. Hear the words of his critics recorded in Matthew 27:63, after Jesus’ death, “Sir,” they said to Pilot, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’” Well, it turned out he wasn’t a deceiver after all.
Does Jesus ever surprise you? He’s like that. You can be full of despair, and then all of a sudden, you feel his presence when you least expected it. You can look out the window and see a beautiful wildflower blowing gently in the wind, and it’s as if Jesus just gives you a hug and whispers hope into your ear. You can be lonely and someone calls or texts and brightens your day, and you know God cares. Jesus shows up in the least expected times, often through a friend’s touch or a sign in nature or a feeling inside that everything’s going to be ok. Don’t be surprised. God knows when you need him. Secondly,
2. Allow Jesus to address your doubts
The disciples were full of doubts, even as Jesus stood right in front of them. I think Jesus is pretty cool here. In verse 36, he shows up behind locked doors (John 20:19), and says, “Peace!” (making the peace symbol). It was a traditional greeting, “Shalom!” But now it is rich with meaning, as the Prince of Peace returns from the dead. Their first reaction is to think he’s a ghost. We might think the same. I love his compassion. He doesn’t ridicule them. He asks them about their troubled hearts and minds. And then he offers just the evidence they need. He shows them the scars in his hands and feet. Yet, even that isn’t enough. Verse 41 captures the complex emotions running through them: “While they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement...” It was too good to be true! Their joy, their amazement keeps them from fully buying that this is Jesus in the flesh. So he eats some broiled fish, to prove to them that he is not a ghost.
Jesus doesn’t mind addressing your doubts. He will provide the evidence you need right when you need it. He is the same Lord who said to Peter in the boat, “Come on out and join me on the water,” and then enabled him to do so. He is the same Christ who said to Thomas, “Put your hands in my wounds.” And he is the same Lord who whispers to us, “Come to me, you who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Be like the man who wanted healing for his son but had his doubts. Say to Jesus, “I believe; help me in my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Allow Jesus to meet you in your doubts. And, #3,
3. Allow Jesus to open your mind to scripture
Jesus took the “Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms”—in other words, the Bible of his time—and he “opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures” (verse 45). I love this phrase. It is one thing to read scripture. It is another to allow Jesus to open your mind so that you can really understand what you are reading. It reminds me of when Philip met the Ethiopian official reading from Isaiah. The official didn’t really understand what he was reading, until Philip—filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus—helped open his mind to the scriptures. The official found Jesus, and he was changed forever. It reminds me of that famous Bible teacher, Henrietta Mears, who often said, “You can find Jesus on every page of the Bible if you just look hard enough.”
You know you understand scripture when it changes you. It convicts you, it uplifts you, it assures you, it fills you, it moves you, it comforts you, it grabs you, it changes you. Whenever you read scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it and apply it. Then read, expecting to hear from God, and you will. And when you do, pray it back to him. Thank God for his word and ask for his help to keep it. Lastly,
4. Take the witness stand
Jesus concludes with an interesting observation. He reminds them that he has fulfilled the scriptures in rising from the dead. Then he talks about preaching for repentance, for change, to all nations, all people groups. And he concludes, “You are witnesses of these things” (verse 48). Shortly thereafter, he will return to heaven and send his Holy Spirit to guide them.
This verse is for us as well: “You are witnesses of these things.” What is a witness? In court, witnesses don’t have to be eloquent speakers. They don’t have to be experts. All they need to do is to share what they saw, what they experienced. They just need to convey their first-hand experience.
And that’s what Jesus calls you to do: to share what you have experienced with others. People can argue with you about what you believe about God, but they cannot argue with you about your personal experience with God. Your experience is your experience. The disciples experienced Jesus face-to-face. We experience him indirectly for now. We know when Jesus gives us hope. We know when Jesus convicts us of sin. We know when Jesus gives us purpose and meaning. We know when Jesus carries us through. We know when Jesus gives us victory. We know. And we witness. We share what we know with others.
If you listen, the Holy Spirit will show you when and where to be a witness. The Bible says, “The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say” (Luke 12:12). Your part is to be ready, to be obedient not to miss an opportunity.
I saw an example of this in our Veterans Bible study this week. We were reading Acts chapters 3 and 4. Peter and John heal a lame beggar. When a crowd gathers, Peter grabs the opportunity and tells them about Jesus. He is a witness. Well, the religious elite don’t like this so they arrest him and John. The next day they call them in before the whole high priest team and ask about the miraculous healing, “By what power or what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:7). The next verse says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them ...” He respectfully gives his witness. And he ends, in Acts 4:12, with these words: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” I love the very next verse. It says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
When is the last time someone has taken note that you have been with Jesus? You see, you don’t have to worry about what you’re going to share or when you’re going to share it. A witness just shares first-hand experience. And the way you have that first-hand experience is to spend time with Jesus. Read his word. Talk to him in prayer. Listen for his still-small voice. Don’t be surprised when he shows up. And move from fear to faith. Let us pray:
Thank you, Jesus, that you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. We see how you showed yourself to these early disciples: no longer dead, but very much alive and well, physically, in the same body, but now forever changed in resurrection. Help us to trust in you, even when we can’t see you with our eyes. Help us to have spiritual eyes to see you moving in and through our lives. Fill us with your Spirit. And use us as your witnesses, to help others come to know you as well. In your name we pray, amen.
