He's Not Done
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Intro
Intro
Hey everyone and welcome to our last traditional Thursday gathering of the year. I say that because..by way of reminder…we are meeting next week at 6:30p for our annual Christmas party.
Anyway…if I haven’t had a chance to meet you my name is Cody Rogers and I serve as the worship and college pastor here…and if you need anything while you’re here tonight, prayer, questions, concerns…just look for someone wearing a name tag and we would be happy to help you out.
So let’s get into what we are doing tonight.
Tonight…is a really cool moment in the life of our ministry. Tonight we finish our series in the Gospel of Luke. Tonight signifies the end of our third fall semester as a ministry…and I’ll tell you…it’s bittersweet for me.
Sweet because it means that the Lord has sustained us for 2.5 years now. Which is just mind blowing to me…it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long.
Tonight is also bitter…because I feel like Jesus has done so much work in us through the gospel of Luke. I mean, he’s shaped our hearts, informed our minds, led us to deeper relationship with him…and helped us to treasure his word all the more.
And tonight…marks the end. But as you’re about to see, just because it’s the end of our time in Luke…doesn’t mean it’s the end of Jesus’ work.
Because..
He’s Not Done
He’s not done with us…with this ministry....and he’s not done with his disciples. His ministry didn’t end on the cross, in fact it really was just beginning.
So let’s do this. I’ve got a lot to talk about tonight, let’s get right into the passage. Turn to Luke, chapter 24, verse 13.
As you’re turning there, let me set up for you what’s going on.
At the beginning of chapter 24…the women who were with Jesus went to his tomb…and found it empty. They go back, tell the apostles, they don’t believe the women…and Peter runs to the tomb and discovers that it is also empty. If you’ll remember from our time talking about Peter’s denials…he’s a little emotional…the last time he saw Jesus he had denied even knowing him.
So that’s whats happened, and now we are in verse 13…where two of the disciples (not one of the 12 apostles) are walking to a small town 7 miles away from Jerusalem called Emmaus.
And I’ll tell you right now…before we read this. This is hands down one of my favorite passages in all of Luke. And it’s mostly because I think Jesus is just so cool in this…and I love the dramatic irony that we know it’s Jesus…that Jesus knows what’s going on…but these disciples have to figure it out. It’s a great story…let’s get into it. I’m going to be reading the whole passage…because it’s important. So let’s do it.
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Alright…so I told you the title of this message is “He’s not done”…let’s go ahead and see why he’s not done.
He still has questions to ask.
One of the things we highlighted throughout this series was Jesus’ way of asking questions to expose the heart and reveal wrong thinking. Here’s just two examples.
3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?”
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”
So like I said, we see Jesus ask questions…even if he already knows the answer. And he asks questions to turn the focus back on the person he’s speaking to…to reveal what is going on in their own hears and minds.
We saw that he did that before his death…and here in this passage…we see that he’s not done doing just that.
So what are some of the questions that he asks?
17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
Guys…he’s asking these questions as if he doesn’t already know the answer.
But we know he knows the answer…because even before he died he was able to tell what people were thinking and prophesy about the future events to come.
So Jesus is asking these questions that he already knows the answers....which leaves us with the question…why is he doing that?
Well, he’s doing that for the same reason that he did before he died.
To expose hearts and reveal incorrect thinking.
That’s what he does to these disciples…he asks these questions because he wants to reveal that doubt that is in their heart and the lack of understanding they have about who he is. Look back at it.
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
So yes…he was a prophet…but that’s not all he was. That was just a part of who he was. So clearly, they have a lack of understanding of who he is.
Look back.
21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
This is them saying… WE HAD HOPED…as in they no longer had hope…that had given up hope. So Jesus was asking this question to not only reveal a lack of understanding who he was…but to reveal a heart of doubt within them…which clearly they had.
I love that Jesus is doing this here because it shows us…that even after the cross…he is still asking questions of his disciples to penetrate their mind and hearts...
What does this mean for you? It means that he is still asking you questions. He’s still speaking to you. He’s still revealing doubts in your heart and lack of understanding in your mind..
How does he do that? Through his church, through his people, through his word, through his spirit...
So what is Jesus asking you? What has he been asking you lately? If you don’t know…ask him to reveal what he’s been asking you!
Take advantage of the fact that you have a savior who is willing to do this…to expose the things that are amiss in your heart and mind...
And praise God that you have a savior who will patiently teach you the answer to those questions…and that brings us to our second point.
He still has things to teach.
Jesus is not done. He has things to teach these disciples. So what does he teach them? Let’s look back at the passage.
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
So what did he teach them?
He taught them who scripture said he was. These verses are another reason why this passage is one of my favorites in all of Luke. Because Jesus is like…here, let’s walk, let’s talk…and let me literally just do a bible study with you.
And you know…they didn’t have bibles back then. They didn’t have individual copies of scripture. So you can imagine Jesus is walking down the road with them…for seven miles....and he like “do you remember when Isaiah talked about a root of Jesse, that would be born in bethlehem…yeah that was me. I was born in bethlehem.
Or…do you remember in
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
Yeah…that was literally me three days ago. That was literally what happened to me on the cross.
Hey, you know when the people of israel were dying and moses took a bronze snake and hung it on a pole and they looked at it and were healed and saved…that represented me.
Hey, you know the lambs that moses was commanded to sacrifice on behalf of the sin of God’s people…that was me.”
So…can you imagine what it was like for them to have all the dots connected for you?
Except…Jesus wasn’t saying that was him yet. That’s the beauty…that comes later.
So what is the point of all this?
Jesus wants them to be taught who he has, and what God commands, through his word. He wants to use God’s word to eliminate their doubt…and impact their heart. And we know that he did impact their heart with God’s word…because they say it.
32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
So…Jesus isn’t done because he still has questions to ask…he still has lessons to teach (like the lessons of what scripture reveals about him)…and finally.
He still has lives to save.
So on top of asking them questions, and teaching them lessons…why is Christ there? Why is he walking with them besides to begin laying a foundation of the church?
He’s there…because he still has lives to save…and that’s exactly what he does. Look at it.
30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
So Jesus hid himself from the, until he asked them the questions he desired....and taught about how scripture revealed him…and then…and then, he opens their eyes to fully see and believe in him.
And how does he do it?
Through the symbol of the breaking of bread.
Which, if you’re new to church…the breaking of bread represents the last supper…which is when Christ says that the broken bread represents his broken body.
So somehow…the way Christ broke the bread…revealed to them, that he was talking about himself…that he was the bread that was broken…and that he was the one who died for them.
And it says in the text that they came to know him. They. came. to. know. him.
To see him for who he truly was. To see him for what he had done. To see him as the risen lord, their savior, their Christ, their redeemer.
Is this not a beautiful representation of salvation?
Is this not a beautiful representation that first our heart and doubt must be exposed for what it is....and then scripture (whether read or preached) needs to tell us about who Christ is…and then, we need to fully recognize Christ for what he did for us in order to be saved.
You can’t get a stronger representation for that.
And what does this show us? This shows us that Christ wasn’t done at the cross. Yes, the work of atonement was finished…our salvation was won…but there is still kingdom work to be done on this earth until he returns again.
So…Christ after the cross was not done. I think we’ve seen that in this passage so the final question remains...
What’s our application to this? What should our response be? Why is it important for us to know this?
Well, I’d like to show you by pointing you to the final words that Christ gives his disciples. It’s ironic that we are going to end the gospel of luke in the gospel of Matthew…but yet, it’s poetic. Because the gospel of Luke allows us to understand this much deeper.
This is our application point.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
I told you, here is our application point…and it’s actually points…three of them.
Christ wasn’t finished…there was work still be done…and he gave that work for us to do.
We still have questions to ask.
We still have things to teach.
We still have lives to save.
This is what our college ministry is built upon...
