Full Sermon The Risen Jesus Brings Us Joy based on Luke 24:36-49

Third Sunday of Easter

Sermon Text: Luke 24:36-49

Sermon Theme: The Risen Jesus Brings Us Joy

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

I. Not too joyful Easter morning. The disciples of Jesus were not very joyful on the day Jesus was raised from the dead. The women were not very joyful as they went to the tomb on the day Jesus was raised from the dead. They were not thinking that Jesus would be alive again. They were prepared to give Jesus a more proper burial. At the tomb the women were told by an angel that Jesus was raised and they told other disciples of Jesus. Those other disciples were not convinced.

II. Fear today. One of the big enemies of joy is fear. Fear is all around us. People fear death. People fear illness. People fear other people. People fear losing their money. People fear losing their home. People fear speaking in public in front of a group of other people. People fear heights.

III. Cleopas on road to Emmaus earlier. A little earlier in Luke 24 Cleopas and another person were walking to Emmaus outside of Jerusalem. They were sad because Jesus had died and they were talking about the report of the women who had gone to the tomb earlier that morning. Jesus started to walk and talk with them, but they did not recognized Him. Then He talked with them about the things the Old Testament of the Bible had said about Him. Their hearts were burning within them. They did not recognize Jesus until He broke bread with them and then He disappeared. Those two people returned to Jerusalem and told the disciples of Jesus that Jesus had revealed Himself to them in the breaking of the bread.

IV. Jesus appeared and Luke 24:37-40. As they were telling the disciples what had taken place, then Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace to you.” Luke 24:37-40 tells us, “But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 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.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.”

Instead of believing that Jesus was alive, they were frightened and had their doubts. They thought they were seeing some kind of spirit. They were not convinced that Jesus was standing before them in real flesh and blood. Jesus showed them His hands and feet. Jesus invited them to touch Him.

V. We might think we would have believed. We might think to ourselves that we would have believed Jesus had arisen right away. We might think that we would have believed what the women told the disciples about the empty tomb. We might think we would have recognized Jesus right away if we had heard the report of the two people on the road to Emmaus. We have the advantage of knowing how the account of how the risen Jesus appeared to people played out.

VI. Disbelieved for joy. Even as Jesus showed them His hands and His feet they disbelieved for joy. They thought that this was too good to be true. They were amazed that Jesus was standing right in front of them. They were unable to believe Jesus had arisen as He said He would.

VII. One step farther and Luke 24:44-47. Jesus went one step farther. Luke 24:44-47 states, “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.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’”

The disciples of Jesus could not believe their eyes. Jesus reminded them of the things written about Him in the Old Testament of the Bible. He referred to the Old Testament as “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms.” Jesus then opened their minds to understand that Jesus had to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures had said.

VIII. On our own we can’t believe, so Jesus opens our eyes too. The same thing is true for people today. On our own we cannot believe in Jesus. On our own we cannot understand what the Bible teaches us about the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. On our own we are lost in our sins and wrongs and unbelief. Jesus opens our minds to understand what the Bible tells us about Jesus and His saving work in our behalf. Jesus opens our minds, so that we have joy. Jesus opens our minds, so that we have peace. Jesus opens our minds, so that we have confident hope in His promises.

IX. Still today we want others to be rescued from their fears and worries. We want to tell others about the importance of repenting in sadness over our sins and wrongs. We want to tell others to ask the Lord to forgive our sins and wrongs. We want to tell others that Jesus died and arose for them, too. We want to tell others about the joy we have in trusting in Jesus no matter how difficult life becomes. We want to tell others about the great gift of saving faith in Jesus.

X. The risen Jesus brings us J O Y. The risen Jesus brings us joy. You have maybe heard one way to define the word “joy” as Jesus, Others, and Yourself. When Jesus is first in our lives than we can have joy. When Jesus and others are first in our lives we can have joy. When we our last in importance we can have joy. That is not always easy to do though. You have maybe visited someone in the hospital who was going through a tough time. That person was upbeat even in a time of pain. That person was more interested in how you were doing than in how that person was doing. After you left that hospital room you were feeling more joy than you were before the visit. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Joy is something that keeps us going even in the hard times of life. Joy comes from faith in Jesus. Joy comes from being concerned about others. Joy comes to us each morning as we thank God for another day and ask Him to help us put Jesus and others before ourselves each day. The risen Jesus gives us joy to share with others. At the heart of that joy is the forgiveness of sins and wrongs in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.