Secretly Jesus

Jesus was falsely condemned, betrayed by the kiss of a friend, sentenced by a corrupt government and the cries of the people for his death… the same people who had welcomed him as a King the Sunday before. He was hung on a cross between two thieves, one who mocked him, one who recognized him as Savior and Lord and said “Remember me, Jesus, when you come into your Kingdom.”

At the appointed hour, Jesus said “It is Finished” and willingly gave up his life for the forgiveness of your sins and mine.

He was buried in a tomb nearby, one belonging to a rich man, Joseph of Arimithea, his tomb guarded by Roman soldiers that it should be impossible for his followers to steal his body. There he lay for three days… and some women who loved him, ones who had followed him from Galilee, they rested on the Sabbath and then came at dawn Sunday morning…

to find Jesus had already risen. They ran to the other disciples to tell them, and Peter and John raced to the tomb. (John won). They looked inside and wondered… and maybe John believed a bit… but they did not yet understand… and most still questioned.

Perhaps afraid to believe.

Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13–35 (ESV)

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.

How???

Did Jesus look different? Did he disguise himself with a fake moustache? Or was this simply supernatural?

In fact, this is a common thread in the resurrection stories. People meeting Jesus and not recognizing him at first. We don’t know who these disciples are. They aren’t of the 11, but they are close enough that they know just where to find them. So they knew Jesus. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene… and Mary doesn’t recognize him right away until it is revealed to her. We’ll see that again.

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.”

They don’t know what to believe? Is he alive? Is he Risen? Is that too much too hope for? Note, they don’t say anything like “I believe”… just “we are amazed at the crazy women.”

And there is Jesus in front of them… and they don’t see him.

The road to Emmaus is seven miles, mostly downhill. So they are walking for at least an hour… and then at least a bit of dinner. That whole time, he’s just “some guy” they met on the road. Though someone with strange and supernatural insight into the Scripture:

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.

Their eyes “were opened.” That’s passive. They didn’t do it… God did it. Jesus did it. And then “poof” he vanished. Because he’d already taught them and revealed to them everything needed even before he opened their eyes to who He was and is.

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.

And they still don’t all believe...

Jesus in the Upper Room

Luke 24:36–49 (ESV)

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

You hear that?? They still don’t believe, they still don’t understand!

Jesus is standing, literally, right before them and they can’t see it. They can’t believe it. They don’t trust the witness of their eyes, their ears to hear his voice. They come up with another explanation.

It is doubt in their heart.

And Jesus chases it out.

38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

They STILL disbelieve. It is joy, like “I’ll be too happy, too excited, if that’s true… so it isn’t even safe for me to believe it!”

“I’ll be too disappointed if that isn’t real, so I can’t.”

It is “joyous disbelief”… but it is still disbelief.

And Jesus chases their doubt away.

42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything 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,

Then they saw. Then they believed. And not just one but all. And not just Jesus they saw, He opened their minds to all the Scriptures. To understand that this was all on purpose, this was all God’s plan, and how every book and chapter of Scripture and every moment of history pointed to it.

46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all 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 stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

And he sends them out on Mission. And he sends us out on that same Mission.

See and Believe the Risen Jesus

Maybe some of you are doubter, this morning.

If the disciples who walked and talked with Jesus face to face for years can be face to face with Jesus and not know it…

I know that you can go to church for years or even decades and be holding on to doubt. I have dear friends who hold on to doubt.

Maybe because it all sounds to good to be true. “Joyously disbelieving.” “Lord, I want to believe, help my unbelief.”

Maybe you’re a Thomas:

Thomas wasn’t in the room when Jesus showed up. He couldn’t bring himself to believe, it’s why we call him “doubting Thomas.” And then Jesus shows up and lets him touch his scars.

Jesus answered him:

John 20:27 ESV

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Thomas realizes what a fool he’s been.

John 20:28–29 ESV

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus is gracious to reveal himself as Thomas needed… but Thomas was a fool not to believe the testimony of his brothers. He was a fool not to listen to what his heart and spirit must have wanted to believe. So afraid of being disappointed that him missed out on the risen Jesus for even a day, for even an hour...

Blessed are those who believe, indeed. For the Spirit of God descends on them in power, and over the course of following they can receive all the proof one could possibly want that He is Risen… but why wait for it.

Why invent explanation after explanation. Surely the disciples could have convinced themselves the touch of their hands was delusion as well, the fish disappearing as Jesus ate as a figment of imagination or clever trick. A body double, a secret twin, a thousand explanations to fool their hearts and deceive themselves.

There is evidence aplenty of the Risen Jesus, but you can talk yourself out of it. Even if he were to stand before you, you could talk yourself out of it.

But your heart knows. Your soul knows. And maybe Jesus is opening your eyes right now to see His face, to know His presence, to feel His Spirit here among us.

The blinders fall off and you know. Do not disbelieve, but believe.

Our Lord has RISEN from the dead, and he is alive!

Remember me, Lord.

Believe and do not disbelieve. Do not fool yourself, do not rob yourself of life and life abundant. Not even for another minute.

He’s Alive

Jesus is “sending the promise of [the] Father upon you.” The good new of salvation. The good new of Jesus Resurrection. The good news of life and hope eternal.

And as you walk with someone for hours… or days… or years, perhaps pointing again and again to who Jesus is and how the Bible prophesied his coming, and how the world changed only because He rose from the dead… they may not see right away.

You bear the promise and point to Jesus.

And let Jesus open their eyes and show himself… and chase the doubt away. You don’t have to do that… you just have to be faithful to witness as and where He has called you.

When you enter a room, it may be filled with doubters. That’s okay, Jesus is there too.

He may choose to show his scars, he may choose to eat the fish, he may choose not to reveal himself in that moment.

But you bear the promise of the Father. You are already clothed with power from on high, filled with the Holy Spirit… and you change the atmostphere when you walk in the room. Jesus will reveal himself and chase the doubt away.

I pray for my friends and my family that they put their faith in Jesus today, now… because they are missing out on grace and sweetness and joy and forgiveness and LOVE and LIFE abundant.

But one day… every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Our Risen King has the Victory.

May He show himself to you this morning.

May He show himself through us all always.

And May He be glorified in the HIGHEST!

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