Didn't Our Hearts Burn

Our Text: Luke 24:36-49

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

36As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39See 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.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate before them.

44Then 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.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And 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.”

Introduction

July 4th, 1969…an 18-year old farm hand was enjoying a picnic with his boss and his family in upstate New York. It was a picture perfect, Norman Rockwell kind of day. Blue sky with little pillows of white clouds hanging overhead, a slight breeze carrying the summer fragrances, and a chicken dinner to die for with all the conventional fixings including apple pie and ice cream spread out on a checkerboard blanket laying on a lawn of deep green freshly cut grass. Can’t you just picture it?

The oldest son of the farmer had gone off to college and had been traveling across this great country of ours. He had been to California and Florida. We chatted and then made a statement that was the beginning of life change.

But this is not the message for now…maybe later. Let me give a little background for my message today.

The Creator's mandate to His image-bearer was clear: thrive, expand, and rule over the earth. They were given dignity and purpose: live faithfully to God and spread the blessings of Eden throughout the earth. However, the kingdom faced a dire threat. The once-"very good" creation, Adam, had fallen prey to corruption as he succumbed to the lies of the evil one. Darkness and death now shrouded the earth, suggesting the adversary's triumph. Adam was expelled from the garden, severed from communion with the Creator, fear, isolation, and despair loomed large.

But God, don’t you just love the but God statements, but God would not leave His creation in darkness, He would use this attack for His glory and proclaim to all the universe, all of creation that He is God and He has all power and all authority. Though His heel would be bruised, He would crush the evil one. (Genesis chapter 3). Through the pages of the Old Testament, the prophecy of a kinsman-redeemer would be proclaimed. A savior would come and be born and free His people. But Jesus died on a cross. It seemed that the evil one had once again won.

But God… Let’s pray.

Jesus appears to His disciples after His resurrection from the dead and he reminds them once again that what is “written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

The Bible records at least 8 appearances of the resurrected Jesus to different people at various times and locations over a 40-day period before He ascended into heaven. In each of these appearances, there is a victory.

Victory over Despair - Mary was weeping at the tomb (Mark 16:9)

Victory over Death - women as they were leaving the empty tomb (Matthew 28:9-10)

Victory over Confusion - two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)

Victory over Fear - 10 disciples hiding together behind locked doors (John 20:19-25)

Victory over Doubt - all disciples, now with Thomas (John 20:26-31)

Victory over Failure - 7 disciples, including Peter, who had denied Him (John 21)

Victory over all other powers - 11 disciples on a mountain (Matthew 28:16-20)

Victory over all things - 500 of His followers at 1 time (1 Corinthians 15:6)

The world was about to be turned upside down by a few witnesses who had seen the risen Christ who was their Saviour, their Lord and their King. Truly their hearts burned.

Is there a problem?

That was then, this is now…some 2000 years later. Should our hearts also burn?

John Wesley is quoted to have said, “If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and him crucified, I would set the world on fire.”

Perhaps we have a heart problem. Jesus came with a clear message, yet many do not understand. Some because of dullness, some because of disinterest, and others because they simply did not want to know the truth. They did not want to allow anything or anyone that would upset their comfortable lifestyle. And Jesus, from the start, spoke of the problem of the heart of humanity. For instance, He said in Matthew Chapter 13:13-15.

13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14Indeed, in their case, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 15For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

We Need to Go Back to the Beginning

We need to go back a bit and remember where we started almost 2 years ago in Luke chapter 1 verse 1.

1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

I would love to do a recap of the journey we have taken listening to the message of Dr. Luke, but we would be here all day. So instead let me say that his desire was to document Christ’s life from before his birth through his ministry, death, and resurrection for generations to come. His purpose is to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ and all He “began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven” (Acts 1:1-2). This Gospel is unique in that it is a meticulous history—an “orderly account” (Luke 1:3) consistent with Luke’s medical mind—often giving details the other accounts omit. Luke’s history of the life of the Great Physician emphasizes His ministry to—and compassion for all peoples.

One’s knowledge of Christ’s ministry is directly tied to one’s personal faith. When doubt creeps into our hearts, as it inevitably does, we must turn to the Gospels and refresh our minds with the truth of Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection.

Timothy Keller writes in his book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism…

“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead. That is how the first hearers felt who heard reports of the resurrection. They knew that if it was true it meant we can’t live our lives any way we want. It also meant we don’t have to be afraid of anything, not Roman swords, not cancer, nothing. If Jesus rose from the dead, it changes everything.”

Now let’s go to the end of his Gospel and we pick up in Luke 24 where Pastor Alex left us last week. But first, do you remember the encounter thus far of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?

It is Sunday, the two disciples were sad and confused. They heard that the tomb was empty and they were heading home on a seven mile hike. Can’t you see them? Questioning everything, hope gone, they could find nothing good to say. Then a stranger, we know is Jesus, walks up beside them and asks about their conservation and Cleopas responds, “‘how could you not know what has happened?” The stranger asks, “what things?”. The disciple tells of Jesus who was given over by the priests and rulers to be crucified and this morning we learned that His tomb was empty. Jesus now gently rebukes them and begins interpreting the Scriptures on all things concerning Himself. As they are traveling, it is getting late and they invited Jesus to stay with them and to share a meal. Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to them. Their eyes now opened, recognizing their risen Lord and He vanishes.

Can you imagine the look on their faces? What amazement there must have been! I am sure they looked at each other and said, “Did you see that? That was the Lord Jesus! He’s alive!” And they thought about how they felt while Jesus talked with them. They said, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?”

Now starting on verse 32 of Luke 24…

32They 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?” 33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Didn’t our hearts burn? Why did their hearts burn now and not before? What was different? Jesus took the Old Testament scriptures and He showed that they bore witness to Him. He showed them beginning with Moses and all the Prophets. We don’t know all that He shared, but I believe He started at the beginning and said “In the beginning, God created…”. He also reminds them of why they were created…(Genesis 1:26-28)

26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

You see, man was created to be an image bearer of his creator; to reflect God and all that He is. Man is the breathing statue representing the boundaries of God’s dominion and authority. In the same manner, earthly rulers set up borders, boundaries and yes even statues saying that this is how far our authority extends.

Scripture tell us that He created His people as those "whom I created for my glory" (Isaiah 43:7; Ephesians. 1:11-12). This creative choice of God is passive — we passively reflect his glory by our very existence. And there is an active component, we are also created to do his will, and thereby "do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The statues, God’s image-bearers, were being pulled down, deceived, by the serpent and we sin, we disobey and we turn our backs on God our Creator. Unless the King steps in, all is lost.

Now this is the story of the Old Testament, God will send a Redeemer who will set them free from the bondage of the evil one. He will come first as the suffering Messiah to redeem a people from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Now, the disciples just experienced it! They saw Him unjustly tried, suffer at the hands of the Roman soldiers, crucified on a cross and buried in the tomb. But now, ah, but now He is walking with them, talking with them…He is ALIVE, just as He said would happen. He has the power and the authority over death and is our redeemer.

Right away, “they got up and returned to Jerusalem” (v. 33). They’d just walked seven miles to Emmaus. Now they’ve seen the resurrected Lord and they high-step it back the seven miles to Jerusalem. They’ve got good news to tell! When they get back to Jerusalem they find “the Eleven” and others gathered in the upper room. While they were on the road to Emmaus the Lord had also appeared to Simon Peter, and he had given a report. So they shared what had happened with them also (v. 35). Witnesses are piling up.

Physical Evidence - The Same Yet Different

From our text we read Luke 24:36-42 about the eleven disciples and their encounter with the risen Lord…

36As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39See 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.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate before them.

The two disciples from Emmaus were so excited about their encounter with Jesus that they had to tell the disciples who were, according to John 20:19, “behind locked doors for fear of the Jews.” And while the words are in their mouths describing their interactions with Jesus, He’s there and He speaks to the disciples. And the very first word out of His mouth to His disciples — what do you think it would be? Remember, collectively, they have betrayed Him, denied Him, abandoned Him, and disbelieved Him. What are His words going to be? It’s, “Peace, may the favor of My Father that gives total wellbeing be upon you.”

You remember He had said to them in John 16:33

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Now He’s standing before them and He’s saying, “Peace be to you.” We see His heart as the forgiving Savior. He knows their hearts and ours. His is a heart of love and we see it on full display as He stands before the disciples. He could have said, “Told you so.” Or He could have said, “You didn’t listen to Me!” But He said, “Peace to you.”

This message extends beyond those present in the room; it offers solace to us as well. It underscores that despite knowing our flaws, He remains loving and forgiving toward us. Perhaps there's a lesson here for our interactions with others. As followers of such a merciful Savior, as disciples of a forgiving Lord, how can we harbor bitterness and withhold forgiveness from others? What He has pardoned in us surpasses what we need to forgive. Shouldn't our hearts mirror the Savior's, who spoke "Peace" to faltering, uncertain, and faithless disciples? Jesus extends peace to sinners—a comforting truth and a call for forgiven sinners to be forgiving. He taught us to pray for forgiveness in the same measure that we forgive others: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." It's no surprise that He embodied forgiveness as our Savior.

Let's look at the subsequent verses, solid proof that He wasn't merely a spirit or a ghost but physically present among them. He displayed His hands and feet, even asking for food to emphasize His corporeal [core-pore-e-al] existence. He urged them to touch and see that He was tangible—flesh and bone. It's evident that His hands and feet bore the marks of the nails from the cross, suggesting a resemblance to His pre-death body. However, His resurrected body differed—it was incorruptible and could appear and vanish at will, as demonstrated by His entrance into a locked room where they gathered.

Jesus went further, eating fish in their presence, providing conclusive evidence of His tangible reality. This reality didn't hinge on the necessity of food for life but showcased His body's capacity to assimilate it. It's this very body that enables the anticipation of a heavenly banquet with His disciples, symbolized by partaking in the cup and bread anew in the kingdom ( Luke 22:15-18).

At this point in time, He isn't prompting them to believe in a mystical faith detached from reality. He emphatically states, "I'm real. Believe me. I have a body, I'm standing right before you—believe me!" He confirms both His physical presence & resurrection.

Initially, the disciples' reaction was one of being "startled and frightened" (verse 37). However, Jesus went deeper, addressing the root cause—their troubled and doubtful spirits (verse 38). Once they comprehended the evidence, their troubled spirits transformed into joy, and their doubt turned to sheer amazement. Their initial doubt stemmed from disbelief, while their subsequent amazement arose from overwhelming joy, akin to "I can't believe this is happening!" or "It's too good to be true!" The evidence was convincing, and they were resolutely convinced—He is ALIVE!

Eyes Opened by Scripture

Twice now, in this last chapter of Luke’s gospel, Jesus had made reference to the prophecies of the Old Testament referring to His rejection, suffering, death, and resurrection. In Luke 24:44-46 we read…

44Then 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.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

This encounter was undoubtedly the ultimate teachable moment in all history. As He ate the fish, Jesus would most likely have been seated, taking the traditional posture of a teacher, and as He gestures, his nail-pierced hands or wrists emphasized His points.

Jesus redirected His disciples back to the Word. It was crucial for them to realize that what transpired had already been foretold by Jesus and was written in the Scriptures. Understanding that what happened to Jesus wasn't an accident was pivotal for their faith. It was an integral part of God's plan, predestined and documented in His Word. For the second time in this passage, Jesus emphasized the Scriptures: "He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures," as mentioned in verse 45. He reiterated that it was written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. Similar to His teachings on the road to Emmaus, He revealed both the suffering and resurrection of the Messiah. Understanding the Messiah's purpose was essential—He came to die and to rise from the dead.

His teaching was illuminated by divine intervention: "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Despite their devoted followership, a spiritual veil had previously obscured their comprehension. There were instances where Jesus had forewarned of his death, yet their understanding was veiled, as mentioned in Luke 9:45 and Luke 18:34. However, on this particular night, those barriers were lifted as He unveiled the fullness of the Gospel—an extraordinary revelation, indeed, GOOD NEWS!

A Mandate for Missions

This is the third part of His message on that resurrection day and it is His mandate, for all those who have received the gift of adoption. Let’s read Luke 24:47-49

47and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And 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.``

They heard these words come from His mouth, yet they did not hear it with ears, but with a heart of understanding. As they listened and kept their eyes on Him, He was different. A sense of awesome power and confident authority radiated from their friend, though He was not wearing a crown or holding a scepter. No He was immense, filling the room with His presence, an air of being regal, global and yes even dangerous - He was King of all the earth, and they knew it. He had been given kingdom authority to bring forth the fullness of the Kingdom of God. He would redeem a people from every tongue, tribe, people and nation who would worship Him throughout eternity.

Jesus introduces a third crucial aspect here, leading to my final point. Highlighted in verses 46 and 47 are three fundamental teachings: firstly, that the Christ would suffer; secondly, that the Christ would rise; and thirdly, as mentioned in verse 47, "that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." Within this passage, Jesus commissions His disciples to bear witness to the nations. The subsequent verse, verse 48, states, "You are witnesses of these things." This is Luke's rendition of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28.

It's crucial to note that Luke emphasizes three teachings Jesus imparted from the Scriptures: the Christ's suffering, resurrection, and the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations in Jesus Christ. Of these teachings, the suffering and resurrection of Christ have occurred. What remains? The proclamation of forgiveness and repentance in Christ's name to the nations. Thus, Jesus instructs the disciples: "You are My witnesses." This passage is a mandate for missions. He essentially communicates, "I've been teaching you this all along. I will die, rise again, and you will traverse the nations, heralding the forgiveness of sins resulting from My death and resurrection—received through faith and repentance. Now, you will bear witness for Me."

Their hearts have been set ablaze. Yet their King has said, wait. The promise of the Father will be sent - you mean there is more! The promise found in Ezekiel 36 (also in Jeremiah 32) is also going to happen.

Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name… And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.

The church age is about to be birthed. The space in time between and already and not yet. While the war over the kingdom has been won, there are still some battles to fight. The enemy is going around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8-10). Focus on Christ who establishes you. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Each of the Gospels, as well as the Book of Acts, includes a direct expression of Christ commissioning His people to fulfill His mission in the world. The expressions in Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts together show a clear mandate to complete world evangelization. The commissioning in the Gospel of John is different as it focuses on the way that Jesus now sends us in the same way that He was sent by the Father.

Luke 24:46-49 what Scripture promises will take place among all nations. His followers are to be witnesses who will proclaim a pardon for sin to all the nations.

Acts 1:8 is more of a promise than a command, that the disciples would become His witnesses. But it nevertheless carries the mandate to live out the full intent of Christ that they would be His witnesses in every part of the world.

Mark 16:15-16 is a direct imperative to communicate the gospel to every person in every place. The outcome is either belief & salvation or disbelief & eternal loss.

John 20:21 does not contain a direct command concerning the nations. In the context of these words, however, Jesus imparts the Spirit of God and declares that the disciples are sent in the same way and purpose for which He was sent.

Matthew 28:18-20, commonly known as “the Great Commission,” contains the clearest expression of Christ’s mandate to complete world evangelization.

We have been given a mandate or an official order or commissioning to accomplish a task and it gives the authority and responsibility to pursue those endeavors by our King. It has been expressed in all of the Gospels as one of His last speeches before His ascension. This might mean it is important.

To be a Christian is to be a Kingdom person and Christ Himself is the eternal King over His kingdom. He “has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father” (Rev 1:6). You are invited into a partnership with Christ the King. In this partnership, you will become involved in His mission to reconcile a lost world to God. To be related to Christ is to be on mission with Him. You cannot be in relationship with Jesus and not be on mission. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). Jesus was on mission with the Father, and He calls every one of His followers to join Him in that relationship of love, power and purpose. Never get over how amazing this really is. Nothing could be more precious than to follow God on mission in the same way that Jesus did.

Author J. Randolph Taylor puts it this way:

“Christ is alive, and, because he is, so are we. These witnesses to the resurrection were absolutely convinced that life is an exciting gift of relationship with him and that death is no break in that bond. That is very different from the popular attitude that life is misery and that death, rather illogically, is an even greater disaster. . . . We are given by God’s grace the biggest news in the whole world. For if Jesus rose again from the dead, that is the most important thing that has ever happened.”

As the worship team comes forward and in closing.

So remember where we started-that 18-year old farm hand? I was that farm hand. Remember the setting: July 4th, picture perfect day. He said, ”I have been to California and to Florida, it is light there and very dark here.” What? The sun is shining, I mean it is bright here. My mind was closed to what he was saying, but it was a statement that I would ponder over for the next couple of years until God took me to California and I met Him. Now I understand.

We have almost finished this amazing Gospel penned by Luke under the authority and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So what is our take away?

There seems to be a pattern that forms from the 2 encounters we have looked at

Failure to recognize Jesus as the resurrected Messiah

Rebuke by Jesus for not believing the Scriptures

Fellowship with Jesus in a personal and intimate manner

Interpretation of the Scriptures opening our hearts & minds to see His glory

Rejoicing & worshiping Christ with hearts overflowing/burning - need to share.

His message to His disciples - tell the story of hope to all peoples:

that He would suffer and die,

that He would rise from the grave, and

that He would be proclaimed around the world.

He is not asking us to do it in our power, but in His power w/hearts burning in worship.

So this morning, there are 3 groups of people in our midst.

Those who have not accepted by faith this amazing Savior.

For you it is a manner of turning from “it is all about me, to it is all about Him”. According to the Scripture, God’s words to us, “if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-11)

Those who have but the flame is nearly out.

He is calling you back Himself to be Lord of your life. “The Lord is my light and my salvation…” (Psalm 27:1)

Those who have hearts burning. You are that light on the hill that shines brightly, be a reflector of the most High God!

Closing Prayer. May your heart burn within you. And you live to tell from the wonders and the glory of his name. May God grant into every one of us. Let us be burning hot reflecting His glory.