Easter 2024 - In His Steps

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Psalm 118:1–2 NIV

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”

Psalm 118:14–24 NIV

14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! 16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. 18 The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

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In His Steps

The mind is an interesting instrument, and it tends to hear what it wishes to hear. Especially when it comes to scripture. We often see certain things and other things seem to slide right past us. For this reason, people can prove nearly anything they wish using scripture, by taking a verse out of the context it was written in. Allow me to give you an example.

I think most of you know that when I was a children’s pastor at College Church in Nampa, I had various interns. One was your previous pastor, Kevin though Kevin came on just shortly before I left. However, he had worked with me in ministry even before he joined the intern program.

Another of my interns is now a pastor in The Dalles and she is the one who had told me about Carlee since she had served on staff alongside Carlee’s parents in Baker City.

Becca is native Indian. A custom of her people was to design and be tattooed with a tat that represented who they believed they were created to be (i.e. some characteristic or value that they desired to represent them). When that time came for Becca, her design included a Christian cross, and it was tattooed on her ankle. When the people asked her to explain her design, it opened the door to share her personal testimony as the full design was created to represent her story of salvation. (I have an Italian bracelet that does something similar). However, Becca had no idea what this tat would cost her in church circles. She told me that she was disappointed at how many people rebuked her for having a tat and declared to do so went against scripture.

Now, maybe about this time you are thinking, I didn’t know it wasn’t biblical. Where is this elusive scripture? Well, I am going to read it to you along with some of the other scriptures that are found in context with it.

Leviticus 19:19, 26-28 NIV

19 “ ‘Keep my decrees. “ ‘Do not mate different kinds of animals. “ ‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. “ ‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material…26“ ‘Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. “ ‘Do not practice divination or seek omens. 27 “ ‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. 28“ ‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.

Now, you may be nodding your head in agreement with this assessment, but let me ask you, is there anyone here who has not cut their hair at some point or men who have never shaved the sides of their beards? Because you see, this passage calls for those things as well. When we look at these scripts in context, we find these things were to distinguish Israel from pagan practices. To do many of these things in their culture and time would have been following in the footsteps of pagan, idol worship practices.

Becca’s decision to get a tattoo was the opposite. It was to distinguish her by identifying her as a follower of Christ. It is so easy for us to overlook some things and quickly latch on to other things, usually things that match our opinion.

That is what had happened with the disciples of Jesus. They had listened to Jesus for three years but instead of asking Jesus questions about those things they didn’t understand or that went against their ideology, they latched onto the parts that fit their ideas, their hopes, their desires.

For this reason, when we come to the events of Sunday morning we find a dispirited group of people. They are moping about. They are afraid, disillusioned, frustrated and totally discombobulated on resurrection morning.

Even when they became faced with the facts, that being the women declaring the tomb empty, they just could not take it in as it was contrary to what they had chosen to believe. Instead of giving them hope, it just made them more confused. And here is where our text begins this morning, with a group of frustrated and confused disciples.

Luke 24:13–35NASB95

13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22 “But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also 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 exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

For several weeks now, we have been discussing the theme of walking in Jesus steps. The disciples had been walking alongside Jesus for three years, but they were not fully in sync with what He was doing. But by the end of resurrection day, they are finally…

I. Walking in Understanding (Luke 24)

Just like those folks who judged Becca by not taking time to understand the full passage, Jesus disciples were misunderstanding of the foundation of Jesus message. They heard what they wanted to hear; Messiah, redemption, kingdom…but they missed the in between words of rejection, suffering, and death. They were so steeped in what they had held onto for so long that they couldn’t even recognize the truth when He was staring at them right in the face.

It is a good thing that Jesus was now in His resurrected body because this was probably one of the longest days of his life, only topped by the day before and after his arrest. He had a lot of work to do on this day. The first task was that...

A. He opened the tomb. (Luke 24:1-12)

Why did He open the tomb? So they could see that it was empty because they didn’t believe it. Let’s imagine for a moment, that they did believe. Can you imagine it? They have set the table with a feast and are sitting around the table excitedly awaiting His arrival. The worst is behind them and now they are excited for all the world to experience what they have already figured out. He is the Messiah and with His death sin is defeated and, all that is left is His resurrection which would vanquish the power of death for His people. The excitement should have been palpable. You should have been able to feel the excitement building as they waited, ready to burst out in delight at His appearance. They probably still would have expected him to come through the door, so his sudden appearance in their midst would have just added to their delight. If this were the case, it would have been the responsibility of the other folks to open the tomb. Can you see it? They hear about Jesus being spotted with His followers and they run to the tomb to open it and inspect it.

However, that is not what happened. Instead, Jesus’ followers were sitting around like gloomy gus’s and tempers are flaring rather easily from the ill tension. The women arrive at the tomb and are reprimanded.

“Why do you look? Don’t you remember what he said?”

I can visualize the angel’s conversation after the women left. “Well that wasn’t the crowd I expected. I thought it would be the other guys who put him here that would come looking as they wouldn’t know any better.”

If that were not enough, the women get home only to be put down by the men who blow them off as delusional.

I must tell you that if anyone challenges me on scripture, I think we find a typical male/female interaction here in verse 11.

Luke 24:11NIV

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

What do you say, “been there, done that?” I know there are some that may take offense to my stating that, but it really is a very realistic event.

Sadly enough, Jesus’ tomb was opened so that his followers would believe.

But Jesus wasn’t done yet. Now...

B. He opens their eyes . (Luke 24:13-35)

I love this passage about the men on the road to Emmaus. It really shows Jesus has a sense of humor. Can’t you just picture it? Two men walking along. Jewish men which means they are more animated than some. Arms are waving and gesturing with frustration as they discuss all that has taken place. Then up walks Jesus and says, “What’s up guys?” Can you imagine them stopping and looking at him with this most incredulous look. “What’s up guys?! Have you not heard. Surely everyone has heard, and you ask what is up? We are discussing all the things that have taken place in Jerusalem the past three days.” To which Jesus responds, “What things?” Can’t you just imagine Jesus trying to keep a straight face here? After all, he was the one who experienced it all firsthand. Now he is waiting on them to tell him what has happened!

Well, they took the bait. They began their gesticulating all over again, probably with greater animation than before for the sake of this stranger who seems so ignorant of what has occurred.

Then the crux of the misunderstanding comes spilling out. “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Messiah…redemption…kingdom. That is what they retained. That is what they had grasped onto. It is so insidiously deep that they couldn’t even understand the truth when the women returned sharing the tomb was empty.

So, Jesus begins again going all the way back to Moses’ writings (probably beginning with Genesis 3;15 and moving to the “I Am” confrontation at the burning bush), and all the symbolism of the Tabernacle (Ah-Ha! Now you know why I wanted you to do the Tabernacle study in Sunday school. It connects right here!).

Jesus moves from there to the prophets.

Micah 5:2NIV

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Isaiah 9:6NIV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Hosea 11:1NIV

1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Zechariah 9:9NIV

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Psalm 41:9NIV

9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

Isaiah 52:13–14NIV

13 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—

Psalm 16:10NIV

10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

Psalm 110:1NIV

1 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

These are just a few of what Jesus would have shared. There are over 300 throughout the Old Testament regarding the coming Messiah, his birth, death, and resurrection. I am sure Jesus did not give all 300 in that moment but probably directed them to a few as I have done. He would have included his own teachings on the subject which were later recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Well, they must have been about to burst. They had not heard anyone so able to communicate like this since Jesus. Now this man is opening scripture in the same way but now they are understanding. They are making the full connection of what He is saying. The tomb is empty, and this stranger is explaining why, and their eyes are finally opened to the truth. It was not the redemption of the nation of Israel but redemption of people from sin. The Messiah did not come to reinstate the kingdom of Israel on earth, but to open the kingdom of God for humankind. They do not want this man to leave as His teaching is bringing hungry, hurting hearts, to open to hope once again.

Yet again, I must believe that it was with great amusement that Jesus accepts their invitation to eat, but before waiting for them to open the meal as would be the custom since Jesus is the guest, Jesus takes the bread, breaks it and distributes it realizing in so doing, they will recognize Him. And as quickly as they realize it, he is gone. No wonder they did not wait until morning to return but instead they set out facing the dangers of night travel. What they now understood was too important and too exciting to sit on.

Now, it is time for Jesus to take things a step further and we see that...

C. He opens their minds . Luke 24:36-46

Even with all of this, they are still slow to believe. They have arrived back in Jerusalem. They quickly announce they have seen Jesus, and they are told, “Yes, so did Peter!” As they are sharing their experiences, Jesus appears yet again in their midst. They are still not used to this form of arrival by Jesus, and it is a bit disconcerting. They begin to think he is a ghost. They begin to doubt what they were just declaring. Maybe they are wrong. Maybe this isn’t really Jesus but his ghost, to which Jesus quickly assures them He is not a ghost, and he extends his hands and feet for them to see and feel beyond doubt. These are not scars, but holes in His hands and feet.

This was important, not just for themselves but for us today. They were hands-on witnesses who recorded for all peoples a record that Jesus was resurrected. To take it a step further, he eats with them. Everyone knows ghosts don’t eat! Right? Have you ever doubted that? :-)

Then once again, Jesus begins to take them through the writings of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms to all the various prophecies written there. He also reminded them of things he had shared with them during those three years together. He had never hidden the fact that He would have to die. He had been very open about this coming event. However, we can be blind to spiritual truth so Jesus, who has taken back His divine nature, opens their minds.

Luke 24:45NIV

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Today, we have this same kind of assistance. It comes through the Holy Spirit. When we receive Christ as our Savior and even more, when we mature enough to fully surrender to His Spirit, we gain understanding by the Holy Spirit’s opening of our minds to see and understand the spiritual nature of the Word.

Have you ever had one of those times when you were not quite sure you understood a passage but later you go back and all the sudden it seems fully comprehensible. That is what I am talking about. However, that kind of understanding does not come without the Holy Spirit. That is why someone who has not accepted Jesus as Lord may find the Bible confusing. They do not have the Spirit to help them just yet. However, if the desire is there, the Spirit can help them to see. Their earnest desire to understand, opens the door for the Spirit to work in their lives. However, the fullness of His work is unleashed when we fully accept Jesus as our Savior.

Here is the long and short of what he revealed.

Luke 24:46–49NIV

46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Which brings us to our last point.

D. He opened their lips . (Luke 24:47-53)

His Spirit gave them the boldness to witness about his death, resurrection, and the redemption from sin. They finally understood that it was not an earthly kingdom He spoke of but the kingdom of God. Their fear had now turned to excitement.

When Luke wrote his gospel, he very efficiently demonstrated the effects of the resurrection for people with two occurrences. He opens his gospel with one and closes with the other. Both occurrences take place at the temple. In Luke 1, Zechariah is at the temple and doubts God, so God shuts up his mouth until the naming of his firstborn son, John the Baptist. However, in the final chapter we find that Jesus’ followers are at the temple praising God. No more fear or doubt, just glorious excitement.

Luke 24:53NIV

53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

If you have ever experienced a revival, you will know that people are reluctant to leave the place. When God’s presence is so keenly experienced, you do not want it to stop. They turned from being gloomy gusses to excited masses. They now understood that God had been in their midst. He promised His Spirit would now come and live in them. He also promised that the true kingdom to desire and seek, is the kingdom of God and the time will come, when that kingdom will be on earth.

Conclusion

As Joel wraps up his writings. He too, has had a glimpse of what this kingdom on earth will be like.

Joel 3:17–21NIV

17 “Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. 18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the valley of acacias. 19 But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood. 20 Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. 21 Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not.” The Lorddwells in Zion!

The redemption of Israel will come. It just wasn’t time yet. The Messiah had to accomplish the victory over sin first. Then and only then, can God’s full kingdom be found on earth. In that day, there will be a great reversal. Israel will be the lead nation. Christians will be by her side. The land of Israel will become like Eden. It will be a site to behold with the fountain of life flowing from the temple of God on the temple mount.

This is what we celebrate on Easter. The soon coming king Jesus. Of course, for those of us who have received Jesus, we will experience heaven first. For those who live through the tribulation, they will experience this kingdom of God on earth first. Let me tell you, it is not anything anyone wants to miss!

When you read God’s word, make sure you take it all in. Do not skip any of it. Ask for God’s Spirit to open your eyes and your mind to recognize all of what is there. And when you do, you will find you cannot help but have lips that open to share what you see. It makes me think of the movie National Treasure when they pulled out those funky looking glasses. As they changed the lenses, they saw different things, but when the lenses were in the right place, they saw the whole thing. You want to see the “whole” thing of scripture because when you do, you will never fear any struggle on earth again. You begin to understand why earthly justice is perverted. Why the ways of men seem to fail and cause heartache. Why wars continue and peace fails. But you also gain hope that all of this is temporary and one day soon, we will see the king and all things will be put right. Man will never be able to mess it up again.

If you are here this morning and all of this is new to you. Please do not hesitate to ask me questions. I want you to have your questions answered. I want you to see through the darkness of this world, to the light of God’s world which He offers to everyone willing to accept.

Prayer

Father,

Help us to have inquiring minds. Minds like Cleopas and his companion who were eager to hear from Jesus and understand. Some dark things had occurred in their time. Things they didn’t understand and brought great grief. However, you brought answers and in one day, they moved from distress to exhilaration. Things seem dark in our world right now as well, however, with understanding comes peace and hope and our world needs that peace and hope right now Father. May your Spirit work in us to make us Your mouthpiece to the lost in this world. Those living in the dark with a sense of fear and no hope. May we bring them the message of hope and truth.

In Jesus name I pray, amen.

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