A Study of the Book of Luke
Sermon # 70
“Final Instructions”
Luke 24:36-53
It was an almost impossible situation that the eleven remaining disciples (after Judas’ death) faced as they met in private to discuss the plan for their next move. They were frightened and confused. Their initial response to the reports and the evidence of the resurrection was disbelief. Now they are hiding behind locked doors, grieving in the safety of their own quarters. Life seemed to have closed in on them and it now seemed impossible for them continue the ministry that they had when Jesus was with them.
Their faith had been tried and tested, and when all was said and done, most of them ran for the hills. One had even denied ever knowing him. Talk about defeated. We find this morning that they are still in disbelief. They were overwhelmed, just like some of you are today. And before he returned to his rightful place in Heaven there were final things he wanted to do for his disciples. He still offers to do these for his followers today.
FIRST, HE TURNED THEIR PANIC INTO PEACE (vv. 39-43)
But into this scene walks the very last person they expected to see, Jesus. In fact his presence so startled them that his first words to them were “Peace, be with you.” Their leader who they thought was gone, now stood before them. His presence brought forgiveness for the past, joy for the present and hope for the future.
People everywhere search for those things that bring peace. Some search for it through artificial means like drugs and alcohol; some through temporary thrills like sex or some other temporary fix; and some try to find it through use of psychics or New Age mediation. Sooner or later, usually sooner, each of these prove inadequate and spiritually bankrupt. When this happens the seeker is left even more troubled and less peaceful than before. So where can true peace be found?
In verse thirty-six we find, “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." (37) But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. (38) And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? (39) Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (40) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. (41) But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" (42) So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. (43) And He took it and ate in their presence.”
Jesus first words to this group of bewildered and fearful disciples were, “Peace be with you.” In the original Greek it is simply two words. Here in the south we would render it, “Peace y’all” Then in verse thirty-eight he asked them a question, “Why are you troubled?” The word troubled literally means “to be stirred up.” Because they were so stirred up and afraid Jesus did two things to reassure his disciples that it was indeed Him and not a ghost.
First, He allowed them to touch Him. He wanted them to understand the He not mere an apparition.
Secondly, he asked for and received something to eat. Everyone knows that ghost don’t eat, right?
Have you ever asked someone “How are you doing?” only to have them reply, “All right under the circumstances?” Someone has said, “Circumstances are like a mattress. If you are under either of them you will suffocate but if you get on top of it, you can rest.” We have a choice to make we can either focus on our circumstances in which case we will be constantly stirred up or we can focus on Christ. The great old hymn of the faith says,
“Turn Your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full into His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim.
In the light of His glory and grace.” [Praise: Our Songs and Hymns. (Grand Rapids: Singspiration Music, 1979) p. 284.]
WILL YOU ALLOW HIM TO TURN YOUR PANIC INTO PEACE?
SECONDLY, HE TURNED THEIR CONFUSION INTO CLARITY (vv. 44-48)
“Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." (45) And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (46) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things.”
Often as Jesus taught the disciples they did not truly understand one example is in Luke 9:45 where we read, “But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.” Later in Luke 18:34 when Jesus had explained what was going to happen to Him to His disciples we read, “But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.” But this was no longer true now they understood really for the first time.
Have you ever been confused? I mean really confused! You may be like the university student I heard of . “A university student was seen with a large “K” printed on his T-shirt. When someone asked him what the “K” stood for, he said, “Confused.” “But,” the questioner replied, “you don’t spell “confused” with a “K.” The student answered, “You don’t know how confused I am.” [Source unknown -www.bible.org/illus/c/c-121.htm]
Let me share with you a poem that I really like called “Are You at Wits End Corner?”
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you, And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you, And you in the battle alone?
Remember at Wits End Corner Is where God’s power is shown.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Blinded with wearying pain
Feeling you cannot endure it, You cannot bear the strain.
Bruised through the constant suffering Dizzy and dazed, and numb
Remember at Wits End Corner, Is where Jesus loves to come.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Your work before you spread.
Or lying begun, unfinished And pressing on heart and head.
Longing for strength to do it. Stretching out trembling hands
Remember at “Wits End Corner” The burden bearer stand.
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Yearning for those you love,
Longing and praying and watching, Pleading their cause above,
Trying to lead them to Jesus Wondering if you’ve been true?
He whispers at “Wits End Corner” “I’ll win them as I won you.”
Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Then you’re just in the very spot.
To learn the wondrous resources Of Him who faileth not!
No doubt to a brighter pathway Your footsteps will soon be moved
But only at Wits End Corner Is the God who is able, “proved.” [Source unknown - www.bible.org/illus/c/c-121.htm]
WILL YOU ALLOW HIM TO TURN YOUR CONFUSION INTO CLARITY? .
THIRD, HE TURNED THEIR POINTLESSNESS INTO PURPOSE (v. 48) "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
The problem then, as it is today, is that the
disciples had become so inwardly focused they had
forgotten their purpose.
What we have in verse forty-eight is Luke’s account of the great commission. This is repeated and fulfilled in the book of Acts, which is also written by Luke. Acts 1:8 says “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
The great purpose of the church has not changed the carrying forth of the message of repentance. Forgiveness is possible to all that come to God in repentance. No matter what you have done or where you have been God is ready to receive back.
The problem is that, “most believers view evangelism as an activity either for superstar Christian’s who are outgoing, articulate and equipped (like the pastoral staff) or for pushy, overbearing, out-of–touch types who force the Gospel on everyone they meet (like some people they’ve encountered on street corners), Either way, they’re sure it’s not for them.” [Mark Mittelberg. “Evangelism: When It Doesn’t Add Up.” Outreach Magazine. Sept/Oct 2003 p. 12
A young, ambitious pastor was called to
serve in a certain church. He was warned by his predecessor that this congregation was "dead".. It was not even worth trying to save it. But this pastor accepted the call because he believed with God’s guidance he could bring life to that church.
He was an optimist and he worked hard, visiting the members, preaching his best sermons enthusiastically, he tried to develop an outreach or lay visiting program so that visits might be done in the homes of the active, the inactive and new people moving into town. The harder he tried, the more he knew that his predecessor was right, this was one seriously dead church. It was a shrine for the frozen chosen. A mausoleum of faith. There was just nothing there. The spark for ministry, the excitement sharing the gospel was just not there. So one Sunday he made a startling announcement to the few who were gathered for worship. He said, "In as much as you are a dead congregation, unresponsive to resuscitative efforts, unresponsive to any effort of pumping life into the workings of the congregation, in as much as the vital signs of the congregation are dead, I will conduct a funeral for this ’dead ’church next Sunday morning at 10:00 am." The members, at least the few who were there, buzzed with excitement following the service. One said, "What’s he trying to pull anyway?" Another said, "I don’t understand?"
The pastor and his announcement of a funeral for the church was the main talk of the tiny rural town during that week. The phone lines were hot with talk, the coffee shop was filled with men talking about what they expected next Sunday.Sunday arrived, and as the people gathered, there was an open coffin in the front of the church. As the 10:00 approached, the pastor looked out and saw that every pew plus some chairs were filled for this funeral service. He began the funeral service by reading scripture, he shared prayer, he even gave a very sad sermon on the demise of this over 100 year old church and congregation. After he finished his sermon, he did something which again startled the membership. He asked the members to please rise and pass slowly by the open coffin to pay their last respects to this now dead church. Row by row, the people rose and walked past the coffin. And, each of them got the same sheepish, startled look as. They scurried quickly away from it. The coffin was empty except for a mirror. As each person peered into the coffin to view the deceased each looked upon his or her own face.” [John Nadasi. “What Does Dead Church Look Like?” Luke 24:36-48. www.sermoncentral ]
I don’t want to be a part of a dead church do
you? WILL YOU ALLOW HIM TO TURN YOUR POINTLESSNESS INTO PURPOSE?
FOURTH, HE TURNED THEIR WORRY INTO WORSHIP (vv. 50-53)
“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. (51) Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.” (52) And they worshiped Him, and returned
to Jerusalem with great joy, (53) and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.”
The sight of Jesus returning to glory in heaven called for a response of worship from those who stood watching. Verse fifty-two says they “returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” There was no more fear only faith, no more confusion only clarity, no more pointlessness only purpose.
They were changed. “Formerly the disciples were fearful, in hiding. Now they openly, boldly, assembled in the temple. Before they were filled with sorrow and perplexity; now they were praising and blessing God.” Before they were filled with doubts; now they were filled with faith and hope.” [The Complete Biblical Library. The New Testament Study Bible: Luke. (Springfield, Missouri, 1986) p. 725]
Is there joy in your life today? Are have you lost the joy of your salvation? Are there people or circumstances in your life that have robbed you of your joy? Jesus is able to do the same thing for you that he did for his disciples. He can turn your sadness into joy if you will allow Him to turn your worry into worship. WILL YOU ALLOW HIM TO TURN YOUR WORRY INTO WORSHIP?
I think it fitting that we close this series in Luke with a word on Worship as next Sunday we begin a three week series on Worship.
Conclusion
His offer stands today.
He will turn your panic into peace!
He will turn your confusion into clarity.
He will turn your pointlessness into purpose.
He will turn your worry into worship.
If you will allow him too?
