Untitled Sermon (3)

Hopelessness—Despair—Devastation:

Hopelessness—Despair

the first scene was that of a lonely walk by two people who were sad, despairing, and very preoccupied. The day is important: it was “that same day” that the women discovered the empty tomb and reported it to the disciples (the resurrection day, Easter Sunday). The news had been received with skepticism, as utter nonsense. These two, Cleopas and his companion, had either been present or else had heard the news from some other source. As they made their way to Emmaus they were sad, gripped by a spirit of despair over the Lord’s crucifixion. Their hope that Jesus was the promised Messiah had been devastated, dashed against the rocks of death. But in their despair, their thoughts were rushing wildly about, entangled, wondering about the report of the women concerning the empty tomb and the angels. What did it mean? The point to note is their emotions and thoughts, their … • sadness and despair (over the Lord’s death) • devastated hope (in believing that Jesus was not the Messiah) • rushing and entangled thoughts (over the reports of an empty tomb and angels) Thought 1. The scene is a symbol of the despair that grips so many in life. Their hopes are devastated, hopes for … • family • school • meaning and purpose • profession • acceptance In their sadness and despair, somewhere, they hear reports of the empty tomb and of the living Lord; but they do not know what the reports mean, not personally. “My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul” (Jb. 10:1). “For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed” (Ps. 31:10). “O my God, my soul is cast down within me” (Ps. 42:6). “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me” (Ps. 69:2). “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped” (Ps. 73:2). “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me” (Ps. 73:16). “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion” (Ps. 137:1). “The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me” (Is. 49:14). “Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go” (Je. 2:25). “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [dead], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Th. 4:13). “That at that time ye were without Christ … having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ep. 2:12).

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Gospel according to Luke, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 489.

Jesus Christ, Death—Misconception—Puzzlement—Questioning—Perplexity

Conviction—Conversion:

Jesus Christ, Resurrection:

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Gospel according to Luke, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 491.