Don’t be Foolish when it comes to the Resurrection
Do you ever worry about being a fool? I’m not talking about just being considered a fool, but being an actual fool! I don’t know anyone who actually wants to be a fool!
Now imagine if Jesus were to call you a fool, now how would you feel?
Ouch!
There are many fools in this world. I implore you not to call anyone a fool, that’s just not nice and in the Bible it’s considered quite a sin. (Matthew 5:22)
In my opinion, anyone who does not figure out how to be saved is a fool since they will spend an eternity in hell! That is the ultimate foolishness, imo!
In this chapter, we are going to see where Jesus called His disciples foolish!
Hopefully, we can learn from this chapter so that we will not suffer this same fate and turn out to be fools! So this message is about Jesus’ Resurrection, but it’s also about not being foolish as the disciples were! So the title of this message is: Don’t be Foolish when it comes to the Resurrection!
I know these verses are sacred (as is the entire Bible), but let us look at these verses both as excitement in the resurrection, but also as they show us how we can learn from the disciples' failings and to not be foolish.
Before this chapter, of course we know that Jesus was crucified, and He was buried, and had been in the tomb for 3 days.
The disciples were discouraged. They were thinking that Jesus was the Messiah, but now they had their doubts. So much so, that they had almost given up hope!
Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt to have lost Jesus and wondering if He would come back?
The disciples appear to have made up their mind that He wouldn’t come back and that it was all a lie and they were fools for believing in Him!
Their hope was almost gone!
Luke 24
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, …
Now here’s the first problem. If the disciples were in their right mind and understood what was happening they would have gone to the tomb expecting Jesus to have been risen. For that matter they wouldn’t have even gone to the tomb, they would have just known He was risen and would be somewhere else! The fact that they went to the tomb shows their lack of understanding or even lack of faith. Of course hindsight is 20-20 and if we were in their shoes we would have probably behaved the same so you can’t blame them too harshly.
4b … behold, two men suddenly stood near them in gleaming clothing; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you seeking the living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise from the dead.”
So these ladies were sort of scolded by the angels for coming to the tomb. Why are you seeking the living among the dead! They should have known. Then they were schooled by the angels too! Remember, crucified, rise the third day. Oof!
8 And they remembered His words, 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 Now these women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe the women. 12 Nevertheless, Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and when he stooped and looked in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
So the women went back to the eleven and reported what had happened but even the eleven considered what they said as nonsense? Ugg.
Even after Peter went to the tomb himself, he had trouble “getting it” and it says he was marveling about it which seems to suggest that it didn’t immediately “click”.
The Road to Emmaus
13 And behold, on that very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia* from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they came to a stop, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You possibly the only one living near Jerusalem who does not know about the things that happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What sort of things?” And they said to Him, “Those about Jesus the Nazarene, who proved to be a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 But also some women among us left us bewildered. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24 And so some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.”
So two guys were headed to the city of Emmaus about 7 miles away and met Jesus on the way, but didn’t know it was him, and told him about the crazy events of the week. About how Jesus was crucified, and it’s the third day, but at the tomb, couldn’t find Jesus.
Did you notice how they used the past tense when they said “we were hoping that it was He”?
They still didn’t know what to make of the Women’s report - they didn’t know whether to believe it or not!
25 And then He said to them, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.
Jesus called them foolish, slow of heart to believe, for not believing in the Resurrection! Ouch!
There are many who don’t believe that the resurrection is true!
It’s quite important - it proves Jesus’ deity and power over death and hell and proves salvation!
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
You know sometimes we think if we just have enough head knowledge, then we will be wise!
However, Jesus said, slow of heart to believe! (An intellectual problem)
If you ask someone for facts and they say, “I feel it’s this way”. Those are feelings maybe even opinions and those are not facts, right?
“Feels” are “feels” (feelings) and facts are facts. Yet, what is it to believe: in heart?
If you really believe something, you act on that belief, right?
Like if you knew your house was on fire, you’d try to get out.
Or, like if you know that there was some land that had a lot of gold on it and if you just go buy that low cost field it will actually make you quite rich, you’d go buy that field, right? (as a friend says, if you can get the mineral rights to the land, that is).
There has to be some connection from head knowledge to heart knowledge.
Some say, how far is salvation, it’s about 12 inches, the distance from your head to your heart.
Just knowing how to be saved doesn’t save you, just believing there’s a God doesn’t save you (the demons believe and tremble), you have to believe & trust in Jesus for salvation to be saved and only a messiah who is God (raised from the dead) can be saved (one of the reasons why the Jehova’s Witnesses fail at salvation - they don’t believe Jesus is God).
Wouldn’t it have been great to be in on that Scripture commentary from Jesus? Wow!
28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. 29 And so they strongly urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 And it came about, when He had reclined at the table with them, that He took the bread and blessed it, and He broke it and began giving it to them. 31 And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road, and how He was recognized by them at the breaking of the bread.
Imagine after their eyes were opened how excited they must have been!
Their hope of salvation was confirmed, and proven from the Scriptures! Justified, Acquitted!
They had just seen Jesus and He was alive! It was all true! Hallelujah!
Don’t ya know, even though they had walked to Emmaus all that way 7 miles, they probably “trucked back” or “booked it back” to Jerusalem to tell the others what had happened!
Other Appearances
36 Now while they were telling these things, Jesus Himself suddenly stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened, and thought that they were looking at a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why are doubts arising in your hearts? 39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you plainly see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and astonishment, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They served Him a piece of broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it in front of them.
44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “So it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Imagine seeing Jesus in the flesh and have your salvation confirmed face to face.
Don’t be foolish and not believe in the resurrection!
How could they have not believed? It wasn’t just one or two, it was all of them failed to believe.
If you don’t believe in the resurrection, how can you be saved? That’s foolish!
The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection so how could they believe in any salvation?
So many just believe you’re here and then you die and that’s it!
Won’t that be a shocker when they stand before God in the afterlife!
He will ask, why didn’t you believe in my Son? Why didn’t you believe in His death and resurrection for your salvation?
In that moment of interrogation before the everlasting torment those people will feel awfully foolish.
Please don’t be foolish. Jesus did die on the cross and was raised from the dead as the Scriptures say! He did it to save you from a devil’s hell! Please believe and be saved today!
So many are on that fence on whether to believe it or call it foolishness.
Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Some even think they are smart because they think the Bible is a bunch of bunk. (It’s actually foolish not to believe the Bible!)
They think they have made it in this world, made success, became smart, but then they will find all of that worldly stuff is useless and foolishness when it comes to the afterlife.
1 Corinthians 1:18
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.
The resurrection is not foolishness. It’s written in real history books - even besides the Bible!
Jesus took our sins and died and was buried to pay our sin debt.
However, if death was all that happened then a plain old man has no power to save.
But, Jesus is no plain old man, he’s God and he has power over death and the grave which the resurrection proves.
Jesus will also raise to life those that have passed. The righteous to salvation and the unrighteous to eternal punishment.
Please don’t be foolish. Believe in the resurrection, not because I said so, but because it really happened and proves who Jesus is and trust that He can save you and will save you if you believe in Him.
Probably skip these last verses since they don’t really apply to the lesson:
The Ascension
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.
