50 Days — The 7 Post-resurrection Sayings of Jesus: "What Are You so Concerned About?"

Text: Luke 24:13-35

Theme: The two disciple’s experience on the Road to Emmaus shows us how God responds when we walk with Jesus

Date: 04/22/18 File name: Post_Resurrection_02.wpd ID Number:

There are two "forty" day experiences in the life of our Lord. The first forty-day experience is seen at the beginning of his ministry and was a period of temptation. This period of testing ended in a great triumph over the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The second forty- day experience follows his greatest triumph of all— his victory over death and the grave. Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, speaks of this triumphant period: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:1–3, NIV84)

It’s this forty-day period—and the things Jesus said to his disciples—that we’re taking some time to look at. Today let us look at an incident that occurred on the first day following His resurrection. The story of what happened when He walked with two of His followers on the road to the village of Emmaus. Their experience is an illustration of what can happen when we walk with Jesus.

Visualize for a moment the scene of a bright Sunday afternoon as two men stroll along on their way home to their village. They were followers of Jesus. You can imagine their confusion as they consider the events of the past week.

The triumphant entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem stirred their hope and expectation; “This is the moment ... Jesus is going to declared himself Messiah, and the nation will rise up and follow him.”

The week was filled with miracles and the Lord’s teachings.

The joy of the week had turned to deep sorrow when Jesus announced at the Seder Feast, “One of you will betray me.” Withing hours his prediction had come true, and men who had openly pledged their dying loyalty to him, fled.

Then there were the humiliating trials before the Jewish High Council, Pilate and Herod. Peter's denial. The scourging, and the crucifixion. An eerie darkness settled over the land, and an earthquake shook the city.

Now word has spread that the body has disappeared from the tomb, and some of the women who followed Jesus are reporting that they’ve seen him. Could it be true, or is it just the wishful thinking of some hysterical women?

What are they supposed to think about these things? Just at the moment they are in deep discussion about the possible meaning of all this, they become aware of a third person who has, from their viewpoint, overtaken them and joined them on their walk. There seems to be nothing unusual about this. Such casual meetings on a walk are common place. Apparently there was nothing in His manner or opening conversation that was special. That is until this stranger asks a simple question, “What Are You so Concerned About?” Their response is akin to our adage, “Have you been living under a rock these last few days? How can you not know about what has taken place in Jerusalem?”

Their experience is an illustration of what can happen when we walk with Jesus. Let’s consider what takes place, "When We Walk With Jesus."

I. WHEN WE ARE WILLING TO WALK WITH JESUS HE WILL WALK WITH US

1. in the Bible, walking with God is one of the most theologically significant metaphors there is

a. we do not honor a dead religious hero, but worship a living Savior who walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way

ILLUS. Tim Keller, retired pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC, says, “To walk with God means to be exposed and totally accountable, to be befriended and totally loved, and to be growing and totally changed.”

2. the passage reveals Jesus’ desire to have fellowship and communion with us

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20)

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup (fellowship) with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3:20)

"God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (I Cor. 1:9)

3. as we look at these two disciples walking along before our Savior joins them, we need to be careful about criticism of them

a. even with all their doubts and fears, they were seeking the ultimate truth about the Savior and the events that have transpired

1) the verb translated discussed in vs. 15 implies a vigorous debate over what has taken place

2) they are inquiring, questioning, reasoning ... “He’s dead. No one survives a Roman crucifixion. But some of the women, and even Peter and John, acknowledge that the tomb is empty. What does it mean?”

A. THESE TWO WERE SINCERE TRUTH SEEKERS

1. they were communing and reasoning about the Savior

a. they were considering spiritual things

ILLUS. If you don’t know it ... this is why we have Sunday School and mid-week services. They are times when God’s people come together to commune and reason about the Savior, and the implication of his life on our lives.

2. God blesses sincere truth seekers

a. in defending himself to the Jewish leader, Jesus told them bluntly

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,” (John 5:39, NIV84)

b. the story of Cornelius in Acts 10 clearly illustrates the reward of sincerely seeking the truth by faith

ILLUS. Cornelius is a Roman soldier. We’re told that both he and his family are devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Then one day he has a vision; an angel of the Lord instructs him to send messengers to the city of Joppa to find a fisherman named Peter.

Meanwhile, the Apostle Peter is in Joppa having a vision of his own. “He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.” (Acts 10:11–17, NIV84)

Peter travels to Caesarea to find Cornelius, hears his story and preaches the Gospel to him and his household. “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.” (Acts 10:34–44, NIV84)

1) God went to a great deal of trouble, humanly speaking, to miraculously send a devout Jewish Christian, Peter, to share the message of God on equal terms with a Gentile

c. this ground breaking and earth shaking act occurred as God's response to a sincere truth seeker

B. GOD HAS PROMISED THAT THOSE WHO SEEK HIM WILL FIND HIM

1. Jesus has promised to abundantly reward real truth seekers

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matt. 7:7-8, NIV)

a. these words are intended for all those who would walk with Jesus

b. to walk with him is to have a moment by moment awareness of his awareness of you

c. walking is the currency of intimacy in the Bible

1) you walk to talk to somebody

2) you walk to have fellowship with them

3) you walk because you’re friends

4) letters are great, e-mails are great, Skype is great but you can’t hug, you can’t embrace, you can’t kiss, you can’t taste each other’s tears, you don’t have personal presence

2. as Cleopas and his friend walk with this stranger he asks them What Are You so Concerned About?

a. their answer reveals that they have the basic story right even though they are confused about the events of that morning

“ ... “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ... we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”” (Luke 24:19–24, NIV84)

b. Jesus lovingly gives them a mild rebuke, then He patiently explains it all to them

c. notice how He introduces the truth and Himself to them

d. he begins and ends with scripture

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27, NIV84)

3. the power of the Gospel is in the word of truth found in the Scriptures

ILLUS. It must have been quite a sermon that Jesus preached to these two disciples. J. Barton Payne, a church historian and seminary professor, lists 574 verses in the Old Testament that directly refer to Messiah.

a. oh, how we need to emulate Jesus’ emphasis on the Scriptures, especially in our day when all sorts of gimmickry and methodology are being advocated and tried

4. When We Are Willing to Walk with Jesus He Will Walk with Us, and He Will Walk With Us in the Truth of the Gospel

II. WHEN WE WALK WITH JESUS, OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE UPON HIM AND HIS GOSPEL

1. it would be well to note what was not happening here

a. Cleopas and his friend were not discussing getting vengeance for a horrible and unjust murder of a holy man

b. they were not considering organizing a mob to storm the precincts of the Chief priest or Pilate to right this wrong

c. they were not discussing unjust social, religious or political conditions

d. they were not trying to foment some sort of revolution or discussing a social or revolutionary gospel

2. the focus and central message of those who walk with Jesus is succinctly summarized in verse twenty-seven

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27, NIV84)

a. several weeks ago during Easter, in hundreds of thousands of churches around the world, congregations heard what the Scriptures say about Jesus

b. sadly, in hundreds of thousands of churches around the world, congregations head little, if anything, of what the Scriptures say about Jesus

1) in the midst of all the hot cross buns, chocolate bunnies, and Easter eggs, how many heard a clear cut challenge boldly issued for people to repent of their sins and by faith be saved by a resurrected, living Savior?

3. to walk with Jesus means to hear and understand the Gospel message

ILLUS. Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician, said, “Human knowledge must be understood to be believed, but divine knowledge must be believed to be understood.”

III. WHEN WE WALK WITH JESUS, HE WILL TEACH AND GUIDE US

1. walking with God means that by the power of the Holy Spirit, because Jesus Christ is alive, you can actually have his presence

a. those who walk with Jesus have His promise of His presence in the person of the Holy Spirit

b. He is the Paraklete, the Comforter, the One who walks alongside us

c. on the night before He went to the cross our Savior spent considerable time gently explaining to His followers of the ministry of the Holy Spirit

1) in the Gospel of John (chapts. 14-16) Jesus tells us of the Spirit’s comforting ministry, of his inspirational and revelatory ministry, of his evangelistic ministry, of his teaching ministry, and of his guiding ministry

2. without His teaching and guidance we are just as spiritually blind and helpless as Cleopas and his friend

a. notice how He opened their understanding of the teachings of the Scripture and of His teaching

b. the bible tells us that men are spiritually blind and cannot understand the Word unless He opens it to them

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4, NIV84)

3. we have the more sure Word of prophecy that was given by His Spirit

a. Holy men of God were guided gently along the sea of inspiration and revelation

1) we have the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God

2) we have his assurance that it is all that is needed as a written guide for faith and practice

b. you want to know what God thinks of you? ... read the Word

c. you want to know how to have a relationship with God? ... read the Word

d. you want to know how to live in this world? ... read the Word

4. but without His spiritual discernment and guidance we are just as spiritually blind and helpless as these two

a. it is the Spirit of God, according to the Scriptures, who reveals to us the deep things of God

“but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:10–14, NIV84)

b. if we walk closely with our Lord, we can have the same sort of discernment given to us as was given to these two when He opened their spiritual understanding and comprehension of the scriptures

1) there have been times when I am convinced God gave me not only wonderfully clear insights into the scriptures but also unusual recall of scripture and other information to be used in sharing His Word

IV. WHEN WE INVITE JESUS INTO OUR LIVES, HE ABIDES WITH US

“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together” (Luke 24:28–33, NIV84)

1. the conclusion of their encounter with the risen Savior is especially inspiring

a. in your mind’s eye, try to envision what is happening here

1) Jesus is in their home and sitting down at their table for dinner

2) they’ve enjoyed an afternoon of fellowship with this “stranger” and are amazed at his understanding of the Scriptures

3) they remain unaware of who their guest is until the moment he breaks the bread, offers a blessing and passes it to them

2. by inviting Him into their home and life, they opened themselves to the tremendous blessing of not only fellowship with Him but truly knowing Him and having all their initial doubts dispelled and fears assuaged

a. the resurrected, glorified Christ wants to fellowship with those who are His own

1) He only fellowships with those who believe in Him

b. those of us who have been born from above by grace through faith have invited him into their heart and their life

c. because he is in our heart, he abides with us wherever we find ourselves— in the home, in the school, in the work place, and yes, even when we’re on Facebook

d. to abide in Him means that he sits on the throne of our life

3. the joy and peace that His presence brings is expressed in their statement: "And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"

a. when you experience the fellowship of Christ, does it make your heart burn within you?

V. WHEN WE WALK WITH JESUS, WE WILL WITNESS AND TESTIFY OF HIM

“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.” (Luke 24:33–35, NIV84)

1. there is an urgency in their lives to tell others of their experience with the risen Christ

a. they immediately rush right off to bare witness about Jesus

2. their holy boldness is a consistent characteristic of those who have really been with Jesus

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, NIV84)

We can draw some helpful general lessons from this dynamic encounter.

First, we can conclude that Christ can join us and walk with us in all the walks of our life.

Second, we can see that Christ may go unrecognized as He walks with us. Most of us go through our day with many concerns, thoughts, and agendas. We’re not conscience of the presence of Christ 24-7. That does not mean that his presence is not always with us. He blesses us whether we are aware of his presence or not. ILLUS. Joshua David Bell is an American Grammy award-winning violinist and conductor. He is considered one of the greatest violinists in the world. In 2007, he was part of an experiment that was the idea of The Washington Post newspaper. The paper asked him to play his violin incognito in a Washington D.C. subway station. Bell donned a baseball cap, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and blue jeans and played as a street performer— on a Stradivarius violin valued at $3 million. The experiment was videotaped on a hidden camera; of the 1,097 people who passed by, only seven stopped to listen to him, and only one recognized him. For his nearly 45-minute performance, Bell collected $32 from 27 passersby (excluding $20 from the passerby who recognized him). Three days before, he earned considerably more playing the same repertoire at a concert. No one recognized him, yet his music blessed many. Even when we aren’t aware of Jesus’ presence, that doesn’t mean that he’s still not right there along side of us ... blessing us.

Third, when you want to really recognize Christ in your walk you simply need to turn to His Word. The presence of the Living Word is found in the presence of the Written Word. To break open the written word is to experience the presence of Christ.