The Compassions of Christ

State:

Road To Ammaus Last Week

This showed us Christs compassion for the disciples that were overcome with dissapointment.

This is how God responds to people who:

Fail in their faith

Stumble in disbelief

Appears to the disciples:

Luke 24:36–45 NLT

36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched. 44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Jesus was willing to help them to have faith and belief by showing them the physical reality of his body

He also ate something to further prove he was not a ghost.

Jesus did this for people who two days earlier totally deserted him, denied him and ran into hiding

How do you think Jesus reacts to your doubt and weak faith?

Do you think he is disappointed with you?

Is he angry and frustrated with you?

We need to remember how God described himself to Moses

Exodus 34:6–7 NIV

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Who or what defines God’s opinion of you?

Liz told us last week

If we go by what WE think is God’s opinion of us..it will be negative

If we reknew our mind through the washing of the word, we will not think that way.

Jesus appeared to all his disciples this time....except one.

Thomas

John 20:24–29 NLT

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Take a moment to think about how Thomas felt over those 8 days

(ask congregation to name what Thomas would have been feeling)

Have you ever felt that way?

Have you ever said I won’t believe until.....

Jesus endulged Thomas’ demand (not request) of what he required

This is the Christ we follow and the Lord we serve

Exodus 34:6–7 NLT

6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”