Final Remarks - Luke 24:36-53

Are y'all hungry today? I thought that. Hope so, let's read God's word while they were still talking about this. Jesus himself stood among them. And said to him, peace, be with you. They were startled and frightened thinking they stall ghost, he said to them. Why are you troubled? And why do doubts, rise in your mind? Look at my hands and my feet. It is, I myself, touch me and see a ghost does not have Flesh and Bones. As you see, I have we need said that she showed them his hands and feet while they still did not believe it. Because of joint amazement, he asked him, do you have anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of a piece of broiled fish, and he took it an eight and a presence. He said then this is what I told you while I was still with you, everything must be fulfilled. It is written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms and he open their minds, they could understand the scriptures he told

In his name to All Nations. Beginning at Jerusalem, your Witnesses of these things. I'm going to send you what my father has promised but stay in the city until you've been clothed with power from on high. Let them out in the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and bless them while he was blessing them. He left them and was taken up into heaven, and they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and they stayed continually at the temple. Praising God. The word of God for the people of gone. Thanks, be unto God. You may be seated.

I think no matter who you are today we can all agree on the simple basic fact that departing encounters or departures with one another and nobody wants them to be marked by bitterness. Nobody wants to say goodbye on bad terms. In a fit of rage when a fit of anger or this is true. If you you're at home and you might be just leaving the house for 30 minutes to run to Walmart. You certainly don't want to leave in an hour sour mood, right? We don't want to fit in with the rest of Walmart, right? It'll be a light in the dark. It's true. If you're on your if your week away, there's a nine-month deployment. You're about to be sent out on. You certainly don't want to leave your family on bad terms especially in the in the grandest sense of the word. When it comes to departures on your deathbed, you don't want to leave on bad terms. We all want see you later to be filled with hope, Joy love and fun. This is always possible but nonetheless describes the attitude of the desire. It's an old us. We all went to say see you later in a good way. As we conclude our time in The Gospel, According to Luke looking Jesus, his final moments before he would leave before he would return as well. What is the vibe In this passage? Are some passages of somber. The very serious, very weighty very against the crucifixion narrative is all about this, but what is the vibe In this passage? If you were going to summarize it I would say. It's overwhelmingly about. Hope it's overwhelmingly about Joy about purpose in about reassurance in the face. The disciples, what's right around the corner for them. Stated differently at the disciples about to live a very easy comfortable life. Are they about to walk on a smooth Journey? Far from it there about to walk on the hardest Road, they've ever walked up before they take that first step of discipleship, of obedience to the Lord. What does Jesus do before? He sends them out? Commissions, then send them on their way. What does Jesus do here for then? He gives them peace. Why does he do that? He gives them peace so that they might Proclaim his gospel to all people. But how are they going to do that by the power of the Holy Spirit? Is he church for you? And I today, we still serve the same Jesus, the world changes people change circumstances change, but our Lord and Saviour never changes the same Mission. The same heart that marked Jesus in the first century. Still describes him today in 2023. And if you did not catch it, when you walk away today, here's your take away or stay differently. Here's the strowman in a sentence. Our resurrected Lord Jesus gives us peace so that we might Proclaim his gospel to All Peoples and we can only do so by the power of the Holy Spirit. That's the main point. Let's pick that apart. By asking three questions. Number one, what does he give us number to? Why does he give us it then? Thirdly, how shall we then live number one, what does he give us? Describe a pretty obvious, easy answer. But let's unpack. What that means, this is from versus 36 to verse 43. At this point in the narrative, the disciples are still frazzled. The resurrection is still unfolding in real time. You're not fully at peace and not fully, figure it out, all that's going on. What's Happening next? They're still confused there, still most likely on edge due to the new sightings, right? We saw Jesus, we met him and then others that we saw the empty tomb here in those reports, they're still very much on edge and it probably still wrestling with some feelings of worry and anxiety, even depression, and despair to degree. They're still very perplexed. Rewind a little bit three days ago. What was their last encounter with Jesus like

Ask differently. Did they leave? Did they depart on good terms?

Think about Good Friday. They did not not on the part of Jesus. Of course it's only part of the disciples. Right, because what did they do? They abandon him. They did not him, they betrayed him. That's how they left the scene. So they did not in any way, leave on good terms, very horrible, bad terms. And then as we see in the text, while they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them. Jesus miraculously appears before them and what were the first words out of his mouth, Peace be with you. Easy to run over that kind of fast and I really take note of what's going on, you just remember the last time they met each other they were with each other face-to-face. The first words out of Jesus, his mouth, our peace be with you. It doesn't look at Peter with a furrowed lip and it look at Thaddeus and bring up all the sins and to all of his mistakes and I don't do the same with Andrew and it put a guilt trip over his head or dare you betray me. You all should know better. Doesn't do any of that. Instead, he speaks a word of peace to them over to peace over them. The Prince of Peace speaks a word of Peace over his frail followers. This is a nice bookend to how the Gospel of Luke opened up, think about the Christmas account. Luke Chapter 2 in particular when Jesus was born, what did the angel say?

Glory to God in the highest and on Earth, peace to those with whom his favor rests Jesus came in peace. He came to preach peace. And now, the very ending of the book. Jesus is declaring a word of Peace over his followers. This is a beautiful Tinder demonstration of Our Saviors of our savior's love. You might be wondering what kind of pisto? Peace. Love joy. These are words that we throw around all the time in the world uses these terms, what is Jesus talking about? What is God's? We're talkin about, what I think there's two layers of Peace going on here to dimensions of it. The immediate sense Jesus is encouraging them, giving them peace through his. Physical presence has been murdered their Rudder in life if you will is gone. The disciples are. Now directionless they're hopeless. They don't know what's going on. But now Jesus is physically back and that seems to be the the point of the passage. Could you see verse 37 and following what is Jesus dress? I'm really here. I'm not a ghost. Look at my hands. Look at my feet. Give me something to eat. Right, I'm a real person. I'm physically here in front of you. He gives them peace in that sense in the immediate sense, but if you just had a knock them saw can fight with somebody with a loved one. You part ways with him and then sometime later, you reunited with each other face-to-face. Is that necessarily good news? Not necessarily simply being together again. Doesn't automatically mend. Those broken wounds that that's part of it. It's nice to see that he's back, physically, but in another deeper sense, Jesus is speaking. Peace over them in that. Hey, I'm back. I'm back to bring guilt to bring shame. I'm back and I've restored the relationship. I've come to give you peace with fellowship with me so that you can have peace. Will fellowship with God Almighty, he warmly and Tenderly Embraces them. And I'm reminded reading this. I'm reminded of Jacob. And Esau, do you remember that story that account in the Book of Genesis? Jacob, nice offices of you may not know or unfamiliar with that. Jacob and Esau twins. They were born Isaac with her father, who's Abraham, or Isaac's Father, Abraham, Abraham. Isaac, Jacob. And Esau twins brothers. Esau is an older brother, the firstborn, Jacob is the younger. And also, he was also the, the littler one he was smaller than a salt. And I don't know if we tell the whole narrative but basically Esau and Jacob were feuding with one another Jacob deceived, his father. He stole Esau's Birthright. The first born, he right? That the inheritance he stole it from, Esau tricked them to see if him and they were on the Run. They split ways. They were no longer in close connection with one another. The last time they saw each other but Esau was fuming with rage. When he heard about this. They part ways and they don't meet each other for years. If not Decades of time, had passed. But then do you know how that story kind of results? The climactic moment comes for Jacob and Esau Tomita each other face-to-face. The Providence has with orchestrating there now about to be reunited together physically, right? Face to face. Jacob was scared to death, that his brother upon seeing him would punch him in the throat. And when he approaches, Esau, he does he falls on his knees Falls before and kind of boughs and is the son of humility. You know what you saw does? Issa runs to him now, with a sword with a big bear, hug ready to embrace his brother. It's been so long brother and he warmly Embraces and peacefully and braces. Izzy church. That's a tiny little image, a tiny little foreshadowing of what Jesus would do with his followers and what Jesus does with you. And I he runs to us. I think about the Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son rather at the father running. Jesus Takes the initiative. He pursues us and he warmly receives Us in the fellowship with him. He offers us peace. Jesus does not treat us as our sins deserve, the psalm 103 verse 10 talks about As you know, that topic is very massive, right? The peace of God, sermons to be preached on that. Cuz you might be wondering, you know what, Pastor? I, I got that. Jesus came to being a peace with God, but I want some peace in my marriage or I want some peace in my house right around contacts, little kids running around all the time. Screaming. Where's the piece, huh? You tell me where the pieces? I remind you God's word. Constantly reorient us to what's most important Constantly reorient, as to its most important piece in the marriage, peace in the home. Peace with kids, peace with your boss, peace with Society. All very important things to Bible addresses in wall, but what's most important is being connected to the source of peace? Because if you do not have peace with him, you will not have peace within. If you do not have peace from the Lord, you will not have peace in your life. Any area of your life in Jesus, came to restore, the most essential thing that you and I need. So what does God give us? What does Jesus give us Church? Gives us. Peace. Number one, number two, why does he give us? Peace is 44 to 48. Why does he give us peace number two, so that we Proclaim his gospel to All Peoples. Look at verse 44 to see how we get there. Jesus said to them, this is what I told you while I was still with you, everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms, and he open their minds. So they could understand the scriptures. He told them this is what is written, the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. We'll stop there for just a moment. Take note of a few things in that Passage. Firstly, Jesus is continuing to men's their hearts, all right, I see. Jesus keys back before them face-to-face that doesn't automatically mean, they're okay. They're still all over the place right there. Still scrambled eggs, if you will. What does Jesus do? He seeks to mend their hearts to peace their hearts back together to give them Clarity? And how does Jesus do that? Or let me ask it differently. What does Jesus pointing to?

Somebody tell me. What is Jesus pointing to? Looking for 44.

The scriptures. Yes he does. This is why I told you while I was still with you with you, everything must be fulfilled that is written about me written. What is written in the scriptures are written, like a 45, the open their minds. So they could understand what the scriptures verse 46. He told him, this is what is written. Three different times in those three versus what's written. What are the scripture saying? What is written with a little reminder for you and I have it in our confusion in life. What you? And I need is to be reoriented around the true north of God's word. Do. Secondly, take note of what Jesus does with the written word. He doesn't just say, hey, go look at your Bible. You open the Bible, read it. What does he do with it? What is he more specifically? What he does? The miraculous as we see a 45, he open their minds. So they could understand the scriptures to understand what What you want them to understand in the grass. Jesus Christ is the center of the scriptures, all the things that are in the law of Moses. The prophet in the Psalms everything that is written about him. This is what he wants, his disciples grass, because it will seem just a few moments. Jesus is about to send them out to proclaim, a message for them to Proclaim that message. They have to first know that message so he's helping them to grasp the message that they will soon for claim. During Chapel time for preschool. I mean, well, Game of Throne kids at home. Occasionally, I'll hold up the Bible and I'll ask there's a, what is this, right? It's the Bible. The Holy Bible, God's word. What is this book about? Who is this book primarily about? Is it primarily about, you know, is it primarily about the world know that has Restless things? Of course, who is this book primarily about Jesus Christ? That's the simple. Real true biblical answer. Who is this book about? It's about Jesus, But the thing is think about it, an unbeliever can get that to a degree. Okay. What what I mean? Well, let's say I believe or somebody here present or somebody trying to get online that listen to the sermon. All right? And let's say they didn't they just heard me say that, right? It's all about Jesus. The Bible is all about Jesus, they take a written test. One of the questions asked, what is the Bible about an unbeliever right in the text Jesus. No, it's not too complicated to get that. So what is Jesus doing here? What is she talking about? What he's talking about opening their minds to understand the simple truth? I'll propose to you. It's not about cognition, but rather it's about submission. Jesus doesn't want people to have just big heads then when people have just facts of knowledge, he wants people to have Full Hearts so that they might follow him Faithfully. Jesus is opening their minds in a super natural way to grasp that Jesus is the center and then consequently that they would then live supernaturally and submission to him. Did you follow that? All right, it's about submission that's what he's ultimately doing. Opening their heart, helping them to be humble and sensitive to the word, but to be sensitive to Christ himself. Who give all the commands, who gets all the instructions from God's word. Three. So for the sake of submission, for the sake of obedience and you look at the text, what is it that God is calling into another words. What is the aspect of obedience is highlighted here? Is Jesus be playing, is he opening their minds so that they live pure lives with pure thoughts right here in the text is that the emphasis is obedience. That's not, that's true at this plenty of passages to talk about that but the part that Jesus is emphasizing here is obedience to the Great Commission. I'm giving you understanding, I'm giving you peace so that you'll Proclaim my gospel to All Peoples to a 47 is all about repentance for the Forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name, to All Nations. Beginning at Jerusalem,

One commentator, he said that that verse right there a 47 it's the turning point in Luke acts, the Luke acts narrative because the book of Acts the ex it's usually called the acts according to the apostles or the Acts of the Apostles, I think it's more proper to say. It's the acts of the Holy Spirit through the apostles, but nonetheless, that's Luke part 2, and they saying they say that verse 47 is the hinge. It's the, the turning point of the narrative because it's all about Jesus who he is, when he proclaimed what he did on the cross. B. Resurrection, verse 47, and following it's about proclaiming that message to the world. And that's certainly the case for you. And I and it's harkensback, are we doing a little review today, Luke 4:43 Jesus had just begun his public Ministry. He been performing some Miracles, he was in a little town called capernum in the people there, they wanted Jesus to stay longer. He done some Miracles, get healed, some in-laws, you healed, some children, and what not? And use, can you stick around a little longer? I've got a cousin who's going to be coming in from town, in a couple days and I'd love for you to just do something for You know what Jesus said to that crowd? Luke 4, verse 43, I must proclaim, the good news of the kingdom of God other towns also, because that is why I was sent, Jesus came to heal. Absolutely. But in a deeper way he came to Proclaim to announce the kingdom of God Has Come This takes us back to the simple question. Why does God give you peace? Why does he give you peace? The big question, right? There's several dimensions of what that means, how you can answer that. But from the text, why does God give you peace? Why does he open your mind about the scriptures? So you can sit at home and be content with yourself. No. So that we'll go out and Proclaim it so that will go out and share it. You may have heard it said like this before. We are not cul-de-sacs of his grace. We are rather highways of God's grace meant to transport the gospel, all across the globe to use the verbiage of Jesus. He doesn't give us light to put under a basket in the hide, but he gives us light. He opens our minds, he gives us life in a heart. So that his light might shine through our lives and so that others might see him and come to follow him. Stated income quick little card Hallmark card quote, He blesses us so that we can bless others. That's the entire thrust of scripture. God, blesses us that we might give and share with others. This is not only apply to the pastor. Hey sometimes I think it's easy to read this and we thank, you know what? Yeah, I like peace from God. I like having a deeper knowledge of the Bible but then as soon as I were to mention evangelism for the Great Commission, that's not for me. I don't have that gift of evangelism. I'm shy. I'm introverted, I don't know what to say. We'll get a few of those excuses in just a moment, right? But we don't think that applies to me, that's only for the password for the missionaries show me where that is in the Bible and then we can talk about that. You won't find it there. It's for everybody. If you're a Christian, that you're alive, if you're breathing this applies to you, What role do you have in that? How are you engaging in that work? Church. Why does he give us peace? Number two,

To Proclaim his gospel to All Peoples. And finally, how do we do this? How shall we then live versus 49 to 53? We can only do it by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, it's no question that the Great Commission is hard. It's very, very hard.

There's many challenges that we face. I saw I looked up, I just Google. Why do we not share the gospel or why do Christians not share the gospel to see you? What does the Google search search show? Few reasons, certainly you identify with some of them Fear. fear of different reasons, fear, I don't know what to say, if your on my defense, somebody a lack of opportunity. I feel unequipped. Frankly necessary one. I just frankly I don't have an interest to. I don't really have a desire to I'm too busy to shy. I'm introverted, I don't want to be rejected, it's hard to bring this kind of stuff up with people. I don't want to be pushy, I don't want to offend people. God's word challenges us on each of those things. If you zoom out even more, when you consider the cross cultural context of what Jesus is talking about, right? Begin in Jerusalem, begin at home, begin with your own families. Spread it to the nation's. You think about cross-cultural missions, that's extremely hard to do to learn the language, to learn their Customs, to learn their thought process. Their categories of thinking being obedient is extremely hard. Amen to that one. Right, it's very hard to do. And frankly, I'll go to step further. It's impossible to do. It is the true Mission Impossible. Jesus knows this, he's fully aware, he knows all things. So then, why does he give us this command?

Does Sheamus to always hold over. So you'll never live up to this. Is that why he gives us this command? No, he gives us the impossible. So that what I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. He calls us to do the impossible so that he can do the work through us so that he can do the work through Broken Vessels. This is the promise. He makes a 48, your Witnesses of these things. I'm going to send you what my father has promised the stay in the city until you've been clothed with power from on high. That's what Acts chapter 2 is x /, 2 is a fruition. The Fulfillment of Jesus has promised. Our prophecy. There is an Acts chapter to you fast forward. A little bit again, in the story. God's people. Some of them are gathered and what happens the spirit of God descend upon them in power in Fire. And they go out and proclaim the gospel to many cultures, many different languages. They need the spirit of God, Is one of the newer songs Go lyrics from it says the Church of Christ was born in the spirit, lit the flame. Now this gospel truth of all shall not need shall not faint. I don't ever heard that phrase God will never give you more than you can handle.

God will never give you more than you can handle. I simply not true. That is not in the Bible, that's not a Bible verse. And it's not true, because the reality is for Christian, I can't say all the time. God gives us so much more than we can do so much more than we can do, why? So, that will fall to our knees. So that will look up to him and say, Lord, I need you give me the wisdom, give me the strength, give me the love, give me the patient's. Give me the grace. Give me what I need to be obedient to your word. I need you. Contact Jay the context of parenting, right, insanely hard. He doesn't want us to do it by ourselves. He wants us to rely upon the power of the spirit. And you know what? Jesus said, in John 14, It in 15, in that whole upper room discourse, right? Jesus. This was the last meal. The Last Supper, the last moments of Peace relative peace before the chaos of the crucifixion of Jesus is encouraging them, even there. It's interesting. Jesus said, peace my peace. I leave with you. My peace. I give to you. So again he's giving them peace, but then also he practically says it's pretty good Advantage. It's to your benefit that I'm leaving. Because I'm going to send my spirit who's going to live inside of you. And I have one book at home. It's called Jesus continued by J D, greear, Pastor, North Carolina Title, very intriguing. Jesus continued... Why? The spirit inside you is better than Jesus beside you. And it's true because that's what Jesus literally said. It's better that the spirit is here, it's better than I'm gone because the spirit can be with us everywhere. Part of your heavenly homework if you want, read, John 14. Who is the spear? What is he do it? So I can do another sermon series right there. Brothers and sisters, I simply say this. You and I need the spirit of God. We need the spirit of God. Find out. If you don't know, I grew up in a Pentecostal charismatic background. And though, I may not agree with a lot of specifics, expressions of how that may be manifested. The one thing I do appreciate that is been impressed upon. My heart is a simple fact that those people knows, can they at least acknowledge the spirits real? They know what is a travesty that there's some churches that never mention him, but never pay homage to him, but never seek him to never pray for his strength because he is the third person of the Trinity. Okay? We cannot leave this Christian Life without him. You cannot do it. We need him. We need to acknowledge Him. We need to be aware that he is with us. We need to be submissive to him. Right, we need to rely upon the spirit of God.

Brothers and sisters. This is The Gospel According to Luke. And this is not the end of the story. As you know, it continues in the book of Acts in. If you want to know what happens after Axwell. Look around you right now. This is a continuation of that story that Jesus first begin. Let's you, and I in 2023 as you and I walk on this road of discipleship, as we not follow in the footsteps of our Saviour as we now seek to be obedient to his command. I remind you what we just looked at our resurrected Lord gives us peace so that we might Proclaim his gospel to All Peoples and we can only do that by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is The Gospel According to Luke.

Church, WIll you pray with me? And then let's close with the doxology.

My father, may your kingdom come? Jesus, maybe the light in your love. The Holy Spirit, please help us to stand on the truth of your word and help us to speak it all your power. The name of Jesus. We pray. Amen.