5 Resurrection Truths

Luke 24:13-53

Luke 24: 13-53

Introduction

Welcome to this Lord's Day gathering of Hope Bible Fellowship. I am so glad that you decided to join us today. Of all the places in the world you could be right now, you decided to come and worship our risen Lord. I'm joyful to see you today.

Today we are going to look at the appearance of the risen Christ to a couple of His followers. This story is amazing. It’s one of my favorite accounts in scripture. I realize I said we were going to be taking a step out of our Luke series where we were in Luke chapter 12, I ended up back in Luke just farther ahead in the story for Easter. Next week we will dive back into chapter 12.

But this morning we are going to look at this appearance of Jesus to these two guys on the road to Emmaus that contains some comedic irony. Inside the passage and the following verses we are going to explore five truths about the resurrection of Jesus Christ that affect everything about life and faith.

The first truth this morning is this:

I. The Resurrection is Crucial. (v. 27)

Emmaus was a town about seven miles northwest of Jerusalem. These two are on their way there discussing the things that had happened in Jerusalem over the past few days. They’re approached by a man who walks along with them. It’s Jesus but the Lord keeps them from recognizing Him. He asks about the conversation they are having. It stops them in their tracks (it says they stood still) and they are sad.

Luke 24:18 “Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?””

They had to be wondering how could he have been where they had been and not known what was going on?

Jesus asks about the things they are referencing and they go on to tell Him all about Himself. I love this. Jesus has just experienced all of these things and they are recounting it to Him without knowing it is the Lord they are speaking to. This really is an incredible story. I love how it shows us maybe a different facet of the character of the Lord than we are used to seeing.

Cleopas explains about Jesus death at the hands of the Jewish leaders, the report of the women about the tomb being empty, having also been confirmed by others, and the report of the angels visiting the women.

Upon hearing this, Jesus rebukes them for being slow to believe all of the prophecies about the Messiah and how He had fulfilled them.

Luke 24:25–26“And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?””

They had the information but they did not rightly see that the prophecies applied to Jesus. So Jesus explains it to them.

Luke 24:27 “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Understand: This would have been the Old Testament. It is the Bible they had. The New Testament was only just happening in real time. Jesus was sharing about Himself, sharing the message of the Gospel from the Old Testament.

The Law and the Prophets: (in brief)

The sacrificial system of something dying for sins.

Passover Festival which was the very festival they were celebrating during Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. It’s why many were in the city to begin with.

The plague of the first born - blood over the door.

Why do you think years ago they always used to show the old 10 Commandments movie with Charlton Heston on tv every year around Easter. Because whether or not they know it, they are pointing to Christ as our redeemer, our ultimate and final passover lamb. His death on the cross in our place, for our sin was the final sacrifice ever needed for sin. It was sufficient to atone for our sin.

His death and resurrection were necessary to make us right with God and necessary to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Messiah, the one coming to free the people from their sin. It was crucial.

A second truth about the resurrection is that it’s concrete. It really happened.

II. The Resurrection is Concrete.

It’s concrete, it’s real. This is a historical event that took place in time.

The crucifixion itself is a confirmed historical fact. You can go back in ancient history and find that a man named Jesus was crucified by the Romans.

Roman historian, Tacitus mentions the founder of the Christian movement being executed by Pontius Pilate during Tiberius’ reign.

Jewish historian, Josephus, calls Jesus a wise man who performed surprising deeds and was sent to the cross by Pilate.

Today, how do we make sure we know something actually happened. Well, you either find camera footage, (no cameras back then) or you find eye witnesses.

In a court of law, if you can produce an eye witness you’re in good shape. Do you remember back in the good old days of local news when there’d be a tornado or some crime that was committed and they would always find the guy who had the least grasp of the English language and fewest teeth but had been in close proximity. You’d have a guy out there on his porch saying something like, “Yeah, I heard three of four gun shots and some screaming. He was always quiet and kept to himself, a real good neighbor.” Or, “that twister came right through the field over there and took out all those trailers while I was standing under my carport.” Now those witnesses might not be so reliable. But if you can find someone who saw the crime in person you’ve got a good shot at proving your case. I know these are comical examples but the point remains.

We have several records, including this one of people who saw Jesus alive post- resurrection. The question is whether we will believe the witnesses.

So we have a crucial, concrete resurrection. And the resurrection of Jesus is the clincher of victory over sin. It’s proof.

III. The Resurrection is the Clincher. (v. 30-32)

Luke 24:30–32 “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They 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?””

When the disciples recognize Jesus, His teachings are confirmed.

He had taught them how all of the Law and Prophets point to Him as Messiah and with His resurrection being predicted and fulfilled before their eyes, it proved that He was truly who He said He was.

Tim Keller, in his book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, writes,

“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.”

The resurrection is the clincher. It’s proof that this is real. It’s proof that God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as once and for all payment for our sin. It’s proof that we also will be resurrected. Quite simply: the resurrection changes EVERYTHING. And that is the fourth truth for this morning.

IV. The Resurrection Changes Everything. (v. 33-35)

Changed the world, a new religion

Changed the disciples' direction in life

Even changed these Emmaus road dudes’ traveling plans

Brings life where there is death.

I once heard someone say, “Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive.”

This is what the power of the Gospel does. It takes us who were dead in our sins, slaves to our sin nature, incapable for saving ourselves from the wrath of a Holy God and through the death of Christ and his resurrection, sets us free from our sin, forgives us completely, makes us holy, set apart for service to God, and imputes to us the very righteousness of Christ.

It promises new life here and life to come in eternity with Jesus. This is GOOD NEWS!

It’s life giving. It’s purpose giving.

V. The Resurrection Commissions. (v.36-53)

Our two Emmaus road travelers get back to Jerusalem and the disciples are gathered together and they testify to what they had seen and heard from Jesus. We see that at some point according to v. 34, Jesus had appeared to Peter. This particular appearance isn’t laid out for us in the gospels but gets a mention in I Corinthians chapter 15 by Paul.

After they hear of this, they then share about their experience having Jesus with them on the road.

Jesus appears among them and they are scared. He tries to calm their fears by saying, “Peace to you!” He goes further to calm them by telling them they can touch His physical body so they know they aren’t just seeing a spirit. He’s flesh and blood in front of them. And He gives them yet a third assurance of the reality of what they are seeing by eating some fish in front of them. I love what Andreas Köstenberger and Justin Taylor say about this:

“This last proof finally convinces them, since ghosts were generally viewed to be incapable of eating solid food.”

I just find that so funny and nonchalant.

In Luke’s account, he has combined and compressed things Jesus said over the next forty days into this section.

Verses 44 through 49 seem to happen toward the end of the forty days of his appearances and prior to his ascension to heaven.

The risen Christ gives His followers a mission. He commissions them to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He says they are witnesses of these things. And as eyewitnesses the disciples would be trusted with guarding and proclaiming the message of the gospel.

But Jesus doesn’t just give them a mission and then take off. He promises a helper. He will send them the Holy Spirit to enable and empower the proclamation of the gospel.

Gives us a Helper for the Mission:

Luke 24:49 “And 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.””

The promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

OT promise about the Spirit’s coming - fulfilled at Pentecost when the Spirit came to indwell the believers

All of those today who have trusted Christ have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Convicting us of sin

Guiding us

Helping us understand the Word of God

Helping us in holy living - applying the Word of God

Sent the Spirit to them and sends them out to the lost in the world.

This message should compel us to share this life-giving good news with a world of people who have NO hope without Jesus. There is no other way! There is no plan b. Jesus is the only way by which we can have peace with God, be adopted into the family of God, and experience glorious salvation from the wrath that we so richly deserve.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are also sent to share this Good News everywhere we go.

— Notice something: When Jesus was arrested, his disciples fled and deserted Him. Then when we get to the book of Acts and beyond, they are not just willing to face suffering but they do suffer and even die for the sake of His kingdom. What changed? Seeing a risen Lord! The resurrection changes EVERYTHING.

If Jesus is alive, we can give our whole life for Him. And even if it means we die in service to our King, we live.

Conclusion:

The Resurrection is Crucial.

The Resurrection is Concrete.

The Resurrection is the Clincher.

The Resurrection Changes Everything.

The Resurrection Commissions.

Friends: Jesus IS alive!

All other religious leaders are bones in a grave.

Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father. One day, He will return. He will make all things new. All wrongs will be made right. And we who believe on, trust in Him will get to spend eternity with Him.

This should give us deep joy.

This should give us deep urgency to spread this message to the world around us.

This should compel us to live lives that matter for His glory. Many of us get so caught up in stuff that doesn't really matter for eternity. Ask yourself this question about everything you get worked up about, "in light of eternity, does it really matter." Live for those things that matter.

The resurrection also demands something of us. The resurrection demands a response from us.

Not to respond is to respond. What will you do with Jesus? What will Jesus do with you?

Will you believe and trust your whole life and eternity to Him as your only hope before a holy God?

Or will you walk out the door to another day in uncertainty. Please don’t. Please repent of your sin and believe this good news that Jesus died in your place, for your sin, and raised from the dead by the power of God, to the glory of God!

Will you submit to the only true King who died in your place and rose from the dead? Will you give your life over to His way of life?

If you have questions or want to know more about Jesus, I’d love to talk with you. Ask someone today about how you can know Jesus.

To those who have trusted in Jesus alone for salvation and are part of the church universal:

Church - Let's commit to live for what matters and make disciples with urgency and passion because the KING IS ALIVE.

Let us never tire of gathering each week and thanking God and celebrating that everyday: JESUS IS ALIVE! HE IS RISEN!!! Hallelujah!

Let's pray.