His Name Is Jesus – Part 5
Easter - March 31, 2002
INTRODUCTION
Just about everyone I know loves a good story. Well, have I got a story for you!
To tell it best I need you to pick up a Bible and look at Luke 24. Just so happens that we have some in the racks under the pews. Page 1047. Share with your neighbor.
For the past several Sundays we have been learning about the last week of Jesus’ life. We learned that on Thursday night he and his 12 closest followers celebrated the Jewish Passover in Jerusalem. Then later that night, Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. A mob of people interrupt Jesus and arrest him. Through the night and into the early hours of the morning Jesus is given a speedy and unfair trial. He is sentenced to death by the Roman official Pontius Pilate and on Friday morning he is nailed to a cross. By noon on Friday Jesus is dead. He is buried in a tomb with a stone rolled in front of the entrance and Roman guards stationed there. But early Sunday morning some women who were followers of Jesus went to the tomb and found it empty.
Part 1
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Read v. 13-16
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.
Jesus comes up to them. You might be thinking, “Wait a minute! I thought you said Jesus was dead.” Well just hang on and see what happens.
I thought it might be fun as we listen to this story to answer some multiple choice questions. They are in your bulletin:
1. Why didn’t the two travelers recognize Jesus? (v. 16)
a) Jesus was wearing a disguise.
b) They had never stood this close to him before.
c) The late afternoon sun was glaring in their eyes.
d) A supernatural force was at work.
Best answer is d – supernatural force at work.
v. 16 – “They were kept from recognizing him.”
Another translation of the Bible called the NASB reads “their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”
Yet another translation says “their eyes were restrained.”
A supernatural force was at work – God was at work. These two travelers were in the presence of Jesus, but were none the wiser.
Makes me think…
(Application): Sometimes God is at work and we don’t even know it. Our eyes don’t recognize it at the time.
ILLUS – I met my wife Kim in 1996 when she came to do her internship at the church where I was Youth Minister. Sure, she was the cutest intern we had ever had. But little did I know what God had in store for us. God was at work and I didn’t know it.
ILLUS – That same year I received a phone call from Mark Derry who was an Elder at the Christian Church of Clarendon Hills. He said they were looking for a new Senior Minister to follow Winston Zastrow and wondered if I might send in my resume. I thought about. I prayed about it. But that was all. I figured who would want to hire a single guy in his 20’s who had only done youth work to succeed someone with nearly 50 years of preaching experience. Then Mark called back a couple of months later, and said, “Hey, we were serious when we said we wanted your resume.” God was at work, but my eyes didn’t recognize it at the time.
You have probably had some similar experiences too. Times when you could look back and say, that’s what God was doing. But you were unaware of it at the time.
It makes you think doesn’t it?
Part 2
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Where were we? Oh yes, Jesus comes up to them.
Read v. 17-19a
17He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19“What things?” he asked.
This was Sunday. Jesus had been put on the cross Friday morning. The Bible always refers to this as the third day. Friday (1), Saturday (2), Sunday (3).
The way Cleopas reacts is almost like he’s talking to someone who has been asleep for years.
Think about it like this.
You’ll never ever forget what happened on Tuesday, September 11. My guess is that the events of that morning affected you deeply for several days after. So let’s say on the third day (the 11th was Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) – on Thursday, Sept. 13 you are visiting with a friend when all of a sudden a stranger comes up to you and says, “Hey, you guys seem a little down. What’s wrong? What are talking about?” You might be strongly tempted to say, “Where in the world have you been? What do you mean what are we talking about? Are the only person alive who hasn’t heard about the things that have happened?”
“What things?”
Read v. 19-24
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
Verse 17 said that these two travelers were downcast. According to what they tell Jesus…
2. Why were the two travelers so downcast? (v. 17)
a) Another Passover had come and gone.
b) Their shoes were uncomfortable.
c) They were peeved over having their conversation interrupted.
d) Their hope was shattered.
Verse 21 says – “But we had hoped.”
Boy, you could write a thousand stories around those words, couldn’t you?
“We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” They believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but they were hoping for a political Messiah. A Messiah who would deliver their nation from the oppression of Roman rule.
And now this Messiah was dead. And so was their hope. In the matter of just a few hours on Friday, their hope was shattered.
(Application) Maybe some of your hopes have been shattered.
Maybe some of your deepest dreams have turned into nightmares.
Any of you have a marriage that shattered?
You had hoped when you said ‘til death do us part…
Anyone have a serious dating relationship come to an end?
You had hoped this person might be the one…
Know anyone that was a couple of weeks from retirement and the doctors found advanced stages of cancer? Given a year and a half to live?
We had hoped…
Maybe your adult children haven’t embraced your faith in Jesus.
We had hoped…
Maybe you showed up for work on an ordinary day – boss met you at the door – told to clean out your desk and walked to the door – went home without a job.
We had hoped this might be the job that led to financial security….
ILLUS – I can only slightly relate to the two travelers on the road. Many of you know that my sister Melody was unexpectedly diagnosed with advanced stages of lung cancer last year. Kim and I drove down to Decatur, IL for the day that she was having surgery to remove the tumor from her lung. We sat in the waiting room with our family, and the surgeon came out to see us much sooner than we thought for this kind of procedure. He had bad news. The cancer had spread. He couldn’t remove the tumor. And in the car on the road back home the conversation Kim and I had with our parents sounded a lot like this: “We had hoped….”
ILLUS -
(Hold up a light bulb)
I think hope could be represented by a light bulb.
Hope is bright and promising. Full of potential. But it is also fragile.
Then something unexpected happens and hope is shattered.
(Throw bulb into bowl and shatter it)
That’s these two travelers on the road. Their hope was shattered.
Part 3
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So here’s what Jesus said to them.
Read v. 25-27
25He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
He explained what the Scriptures said about Himself!
What an experience that must have been! A Bible lesson from Jesus on Jesus. I would love to have heard it.
I would imagine he told them about:
Deuteronomy 19 – where Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up a prophet like me from among your brothers.”
Isaiah 9 – For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (v. 6)
Isaiah 53 – He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. (v. 5)
Isaiah 53 – After the suffering of his soul he will see the light of life and be satisfied. (v. 11)
Part 4
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Read v. 28-31
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Odd that Jesus would assume the role of the host when he was the guest.
A lot like the Last Supper.
Here is a question:
3. What allowed the two people to finally recognize Jesus? (v. 31)
a) Once inside the house the sun was no longer in their eyes.
b) They caught a glimpse of his nail-marked hands.
c) Jesus had a notoriously peculiar way of breaking a loaf of bread in two.
d) God opened their eyes.
Best answer is d – God opened their eyes. “Then their eyes were opened.” Then they recognized him. Then they knew Him. The same supernatural force that prevented them from recognizing Jesus opened their eyes to who this man really was.
(Application): Has God done that for you?
Has he allowed you to get a glimpse of Jesus? To see who He really is.
It can be quite powerful when it happens. It can change your life.
ILLUS – When I am preparing to baptize someone, those are some special moments as we wait. I wish you all could see the faces. People who have gotten a glimpse of Jesus. And they’ll never be the same.
Have you had any special encounters with him over the broken bread of communion? God opened their eyes when Jesus broke the bread. He does the same today for those who seek Him.
Read v. 32
32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
4. Why were the travelers’ hearts burning? (v. 32)
a) Lunch was too spicy.
b) Jesus’ words made them angry.
c) They were in a hurry and wanted to get home.
d) Jesus’ words intensely broke through to the deepest parts of their lives.
Best answer is d.
We can know Jesus through the word. Maybe you’ve had an experience where you could feel His presence burning in your heart as the Word was taught.
Part 5
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Read v. 33-35
33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
They got on that same road.
The road that had been marked by defeat. Marked by shattered hopes.
Now the road was different. The road was full of possibilities.
Hope was alive.
Same road – different destinaton
Same road – different conversation
Same road – different obersvations
Same road – different realization
5. Why did the two travelers get on the road again and return to Jerusalem? (v. 33)
a) They forgot something there.
b) To hide out and see what happened next.
c) To protest death by crucifixion.
d) To tell everybody the good news.
Hope restored. Their dream had come true.
He was alive! They went back to Jerusalem to be witnesses to the resurrection – to tell everybody the good news.
ILLUS
3 Buddies were discussing death and one asked the group: What would you like people to say about you at your funeral?
… "He was a great humanitarian, who cared about his community."
… "He was a great husband and father, who was an example for many to follow."
… "Look, he’s moving!!"
That would be something wouldn’t it?
But Jesus was moving! He was alive! And still is!
And that is our ultimate hope. Because He lives, we too shall live.
The 2001 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks will go down as that of the comeback.
So in the November 12 issue of Sports Illustrated last year (11-12-01) they ranked the 10 greatest comebacks in world history. Among those making the list:
1. Muhammad Ali, 1974. Seven years after being stripped of his title and his boxing license, the Greatest KO’s George Foreman in Zaire to win back the belt.
2. John Travolta, 1994. Defibrillates his comatose movie career by taking a star turn in Pulp Fiction.
3. Michael Jordan, 1995. Quits baseball to make first triumphant comeback.
4. Japan and Germany, 1950s. Former Axis powers rise from the ashes of World War II to become industrial superpowers.
5. Jesus Christ, 33 A.D. Defies critics and stuns the Romans with his resurrection.
It was the greatest comeback of all time. And He’s been specializing in comebacks ever since.
The same God who raised Jesus from the dead can breathe new life into any hopeless situation we face today.
Here is key: Though shattered, Jesus can bring us back together again.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All the kings horses and all the kings men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again
But the King of Kings can put your life back together again.
Crushed hopes are given new life in Jesus.
Jesus can take what seems like the most dead and hopeless situation, and make it into something new.
If the road of your life is taking you somewhere other than you had hoped to go, you can trust Jesus turn things around. If you’ll allow it, He’ll put you on the road again.
Same road – different destinaton
Same road – different conversation
Same road – different obersvations
Same road – different realization
CONCLUSION
Here is the last question:
6. What would “getting on the road again” mean for you?
a) Finding a rest stop to spiritually refuel with Jesus.
Maybe you’ve been travelling fast and furious but it’s taking a toll on you spiritual life and you’re drifting from God. Hope is not lost – Jesus wants you to be re-energized for the journey.
b) Buckle up and rely on Jesus to get you safely through a dangerous stretch of road.
Perhaps you came here today by way of the road of uncertainty. Hope is not lost for you either. Jesus is alive and you can count on Him to show up in unexpected ways.
c) Deliver the news about Jesus to someone who would benefit from hearing it.
That’s what the two travelers on the road to Emmaus did. They got back on the road to be witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Maybe that’s what God is calling you to do today too.
d) Trust Jesus with the keys of your life for the first time.
If that’s you, we offer an invitation right now.
