What do we do with this Gospel? (Luke, Part 14)
Luke 24:13-53
Introduction / Recap
- Last week, we discussed the most pivotal event in the Christian faith
-- The proof that our future is assured because our Savior, Jesus, is alive
-- It is why we celebrate Easter – it’s why we rejoice (He gives hope for a future)
- RE: Either Jesus is who He said He is – or He is a liar … He cannot be both
-- This one truth is what we unpacked, and what must be settled forever
- This brings us to today, where we will conclude our study in the Gospel of Luke
-- My hope for today is we will leave here with three challenges for living
-- Prayerfully, these will not be difficult to apply or remember
-- Ask for your prayers as I walk through this for our benefit and His glory
- Read Luke 24:13-53 / Pray
- TR: Let’s unpack our first life application take-away from this gospel …
Point 1 – Jesus is involved in our lives
- The day is important, it’s the same day as the resurrection (v13)
-- These two men were making their way to Emmaus
-- Note their state of mind: gripped with fear; surrounded by despair
-- Why? Jesus was dead, the man they followed and loved
- Many feel this same way today – sad for things out of their control
-- Family, school, profession, acceptance, death, even the meaning of life
- As they walked, they sought to understand Jesus’ death / disappearance (v15)
-- See this: They were seeking the truth, knowledge, & meaning of the events
-- APP: Take note of what happened: Christ drew near to them!
-- Matthew 7:7-8, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
- Although, in this instance He was hidden from being recognized (v16)
-- As this mystery man inquired of them, Cleopas talked about three topics: (v19)
• Jesus was a great prophet, a mighty teacher
• The religious rulers of the day crucified Him
• And they trusted (and hoped) that He was the Messiah
- They also knew from His teaching something would happen on Day 3
-- But, to them, that was something other than what occurred
-- Perhaps they were expecting some great victory to happen …
- The problem with these two is they are exactly like the world today
-- They had head knowledge, but no faith; they were short-sighted & unbelieving
-- They knew the story, but lacked the belief that it would take place
-- Whether stuck in legalism, or spiritual blindness … they just missed it
- BIG APP: What we’ve got to do is connect the dots:
• Jesus said He would be crucified
• Jesus said He would rise on the third day
• The tomb where they left Him was now empty
- So, they are faced with the same challenge we are faced with today:
-- If Jesus is no longer in the tomb, then we have to admit it and deal with it
-- We have to accept that He is who He said He is … and either confess/deny
-- CH: Mankind has a real problem with this because we like our sin
- Know this: Jesus is the one we will all answer to …
-- Phil 2:9-11, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ? see purpose
- Take note of how Jesus deals with their unbelief (v25)
• Rebukes them for being dull and slow to believe (GR: anoetoi; foolish)
• He shares that the death and resurrection were NECESSARY
-- This is a critical piece: In order to be redeemed the Messiah had to die
-- It’s why Jesus takes them through the scriptures, to connect the dots
- It’s no different than we are called to do today: to know and teach
-- Personal: It is what I’m called to do on Sunday … but …
-- APP: It is what you are called to do the other days of the week
-- That is how we make disciples … we pass on the knowledge we have
- TR: Confidently, we must know that Jesus is involved in our lives
-- Even in our unbelief and uncertainty, He provides clarity (like these men)
-- Therefore, we are called to share Him (and what happened) with others
-- Our second life application is …
Point 2 – Jesus always offers peace and assurance
- As they were ending their journey, they desired to hear more (v29)
-- Take note: We see that scripture describes that He “acted”
-- The implication here is that Jesus did some kind of head-fake; pretend
- Fact: Jesus never pretends, He would have continued on
-- He is not going to force Himself on anyone, hence, the invitation
-- These men had a desire to hear more, a pull to know more
- So, when Jesus comes in and sits with them, He is then revealed
-- Now, this is always what amazes me – how God hid Him from them
-- But don’t miss this: they had to invite Him in, first
-- They had to welcome Him (meal is perfect way to do that)
- Once they were together, their conviction drew them to recognize Him
-- RE: Jesus never forces Himself on anyone, He must be invited
-- Rev 3:20, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
- Now, get this … once they knew, they had to come to terms with it! (v32)
• Didn’t our hearts burn …? (that is the conviction, drawing in)
• Ran back to Jerusalem to tell the others (must testify to who He is)
-- Joining the disciples, they listen to Simon testify, followed by them
-- Their testimony is simple: “The Lord has really risen!!”
-- See this: It’s not complicated or intricate, just the facts …
- Now, look at this next sentence (read v36) …
-- Pay attention to greeting - “Peace be with you” – it’s His first words to them
-- They heard the stories, their hearts were stirred, and Jesus comforts them
-- John 14:27, “I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
-- I don’t know about you - I’d rather have peace than chaos: Jesus gives that
- The disciples would’ve been startled, or scared at His appearing
-- Don’t skip over the fact that He just appears (He is omnipresent)
-- Was this a ghost? Is it His Spirit that has appeared to them? A vision?
- No, Jesus demonstrates that He is who He said He is, for their benefit
-- Even going as far as to eat a piece of fish (ghosts cannot eat, btw)
-- Truly, Jesus says I am who I said I am … you can trust in Me
- TR: THIS is the peace and assurance that we all need:
-- Jesus is who He said He is, and it’s why they were given courage
-- What about you? Do you need more proof that He is alive?
-- Have you asked Him? Gone to Him and sought out His wisdom/counsel?
-- Let’s look at our final life application for today …
Point 3 – Jesus’ message is consistent
- Jesus reminds them that everything He said would happen, did take place
-- Even more, He tells them again of the events (v44-47)
- It’s what Jesus has always done: tell the story for their (or our) benefit
-- He already knew it, already knew His purpose for coming
-- His ministry/mission was not done out of spiritual blindness
-- Nor was He willing to just go along to get along – He knew the purpose
-- And in His knowledge, we are fortunate enough to see the story
- In the Greek, the word choice He uses is dei – meaning death was necessary
-- In application, His death was an imperative for us to be redeemed
-- His death was the fulfillment of salvation of mankind; to pay for sin
-- Matthew 5:18, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.”
- In His teaching, He even breaks down the OT into three parts (v44)
-- The Law, the prophets, and the Psalms … everything told about a Messiah
-- Everything in the OT points to a Messiah coming to rescue humanity
-- This is where we get our foundation from, and why we can settle:
-- Jesus is either who He said He is, or He is a liar … He cannot be both
- What He teaches them is for their benefit, not His own – He equips them
-- Why? The NT mission to be proclaimed was three-fold:
1. Christ must suffer and arise
2. Repentance and forgiveness must be preached
3. The Holy Spirit’s power will be given to accomplish the mission
- Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
TODAY’S CHALLENGE
- The believer, US, is to be equipped and ready to proclaim the good news
-- The good news that Jesus is alive, and He brings peace to all
-- It is why we come to this place, to study and worship – to be equipped
-- THEN, to be ready to go outside this place and share the truth
- One critical verse to see, v48 … Jesus tells them (and us) who they are
-- Jesus said, “YOU are witnesses of all these things”
-- Probably the most personal charge of this entire Gospel
- You have seen what has happened, you have experienced it in your life
-- You know what you know – now go and tell others who don’t
- For April 24, 2022, it is where we find ourselves: What will you do?
- Thank you for sharing this journey with me these past 14 weeks
- Pray
