76: Risen (Luke 23:54-24:33)

Several years ago I was watching the news and heard the story of a passenger enjoying a civilian joyride with an air force pilot friend. During the flight, the civilian accidentally cut the trip short when he ejected himself from the plane after grabbing the eject lever while trying to brace himself. He was instantly blasted 320feet into the sky by the rocket-powered chair, before floating to the ground with an automatic parachute. Air Force officers quickly deployed a helicopter to retrieve the passenger.

Surprise, surprise, surprise! Have you ever been surprised in a way that changed the direction of your life? That’s what the 1st century followers of Jesus experienced when their crucified Messiah decided to pay them a visit 3 days later.

PRAY

Luke 23:54–56 (NIV)

54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

The Sabbath is Friday 6pm till Sat. 6pm. So the women had to get that taken care of BEFORE that.

So here’s a question: Why did they prepare spices and perfumes? They weren’t expecting Jesus to walk out of the tomb…”Hey Jesus, you been laying in there rotting for a few days…you could really need some smell goods.” They were NOT expecting Jesus to rise from the dead! They were expecting to put these spices & perfumes on Jesus’ DEAD body.

And so, they began the journey to the tomb…

Luke 24:1–8 (NIV)

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 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 wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

What these ladies heard from he angels became the rally cry of the early church - He has risen! Of course, today - 2000 years later - this is still the great hope to which we cling to - the foundation of our faith - He is risen!

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

the reason the 1st century disciples were willing to sacrifice their lives to share the message of Jesus.

the reason we trust WHO Jesus is and WHAT Jesus says

the reason we must take His message to others

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

Notice that there were several women who had gone to the tomb - women who were disciples of Jesus. Also notice that they spoke to the Eleven…and to all the others. There were more who had followed Jesus - as we saw last week with Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemus.

But those who weren’t at the tomb had trouble swallowing the story

11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

ANGELS speaking to people? As is true today, this wasn’t an everyday occurrence. And the BODY of the Lord Jesus - missing? What about the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb? Surely these precious ladies were overcome with grief and not thinking straight…BUT…WHAT IF?

12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Peter wasn’t sure WHAT was going on. At least he & John run to the tomb and after he sees the burial clothes, he walks away wondering to himself what had happened. Could it BE that what the women REALLY saw angels? Could it be that Jesus had really RISEN?

John’s gospel tells us how Mary Magdalene stayed at the tomb weeping…and Jesus appears to her (John 20:14–18)! The first person to SEE Jesus risen from the dead!

Luke chooses to leave this out and builds the suspense for his readers. Luke shifts his focus from the tomb just outside of Jerusalem to a village about 7 miles away.

Luke 24:13–35 (NIV)

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

I don’t have an answer for how that could be except to say that God did not want them to recognize Him…just yet.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.

How ironic is THAT? They still couldn’t understand that the Messiah DID come redeem Israel by offering Himself as their substitutionary sacrifice! They continued

And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

It's obvious that these disciples heard about what the women at the tomb had seen and heard the angels say - 'He has risen'...first He had to be crucified and on the third day be raised again (Luke 24:7). Further, Jesus had mentioned 3 days many times before His crucifixion - mentioned twice in Luke’s writing: 9:22 and 18:33.

Up to this point, Jesus has been listening - listening to their struggle of faith ‘we thought He was the One we were waiting on’. I’m guessing Jesus had had to hold back tears & smiles Jesus was close as he heard them speak of their love for Him & their disappointment over His death. The suspense builds as we think, “Jesus…why won’t you tell them….?”

When I get a really cool gift for my family, I struggle not to give it early. Why wait until the actual birthday or Christmas day? I have it…they want it…and I want them to have it now!

But Jesus shows patience before the BIG REVEAL. But finally…this ‘stranger’ begins explaining the Scriptures in the most powerful way.

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Maybe Jesus started with the promise to Abraham that through his family all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3).

Maybe Jesus pointed out how God provided a substitutionary sacrifice so that Abraham would not have to sacrifice his only son - Isaac (Gen.22).

He probably reminded them of the sacrifice of the Passover lambs, the sacrificial rituals of the Levitical priests, & Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

Then came the prophecy of the one who cried out, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me”; the pierced one who cried out from the cross ‘I’m thirsty’ while the soldiers gambled for his clothes - all prophecies found in Ps. 22.

I have no doubt that Jesus mentioned the Suffering Servant who bore the sins of Israel in Isaiah 53, including this incredible phrase:

Isaiah 53:10–11 (NIV)

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

Warren W. Wiersbe writes:

The key to understanding the Bible is to see Jesus Christ on every page.

We should be people of both the Old and New Testament - familiar with Jesus seen through all the Scriptures! That’s the way Jesus & the apostles treated the Scriptures.

When Cloepas & the other disciple heard camo-jesus, they must have wondered, “Who IS this guy!!! What knowledge of the Scriptures he has!”

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But 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. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

Maybe they had been there the day Jesus broke the bread and fed the 5000. They had likely been around Jesus during many meals as He gave the pre-meal blessing. Can you imagine hearing THAT! It was more than a ‘God is great…God is good - let’s rush through this thang.’ The prayer life of Jesus was so genuine, so sincere, that His disciples once asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray [like You do]’.

And after Jesus prayed and served them the bread…

31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.

Kent Hughes writes:

The more Jesus opened the Word, the faster their pulses raced. The stranger had established that suffering and death were not obstacles to Jesus’ being Messiah, and in fact made Jesus’ claim to be Messiah more credible and compelling. The real Messiah had to suffer! Their confusion and depression melted like frost before the sun.

And then…then they KNEW…it was Jesus! They couldn’t wait until the next day to head to Jerusalem and tell the others. Even though night travel was dangerous in those days,

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason… they made the 7 mile night hike to Jerusalem.

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

I wonder what that travel conversation was like!

There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Now Jesus had appeared to Mary, Simon Peter, & these 2 guys…it was TRUE!

He is Risen!

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

why these followers of Jesus would boldly stand and declare Jesus was the only hope for humanity.

why these folks were willing to face persecution & even death. When they die, He would raise them too!

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

why Jay Johnson’s family & friends have experienced a renewed hope & purpose after his passing.

why Fellowship invests thousands of dollars & hundreds of hours in children & teenagers.

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

why we baptize 4 students [1st service: later today] who want to obey Jesus…a picture of His DEATH, BURIAL…and RESURRECTION!

1st Service:

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason… why our students are seeking to know Jesus & show Him to others…listen to their stories from camp.

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

BIG TRUTH: He is Risen is the reason…

FEET2FAITH

This week, I want you to do one simple thing - fill in this blank.

He is Risen is the reason…I will______________He is Risen is the reason…I will______________He is Risen is the reason…I will______________He is Risen is the reason…I will______________

He is Risen is the reason…I will______________

He is Risen is the reason…I will______________

serve & share Jesus with others

read & apply the Scripture daily

forgive quickly & walk obediently

invest of my time, talents, and treasure in things that have eternal impact

turn from my sin & trust Jesus with my future.

What’s YOURS? I’m going to pray…and then I DOUBLE-DOG DARE YA to share your answer with someone before you leave.