50 Days — The 7 Post-resurrection Sayings of Jesus: "Peace Be With You"

The fourth post-resurrection appearance takes place late in the day on Resurrection-Sunday. Luke 24:13-33 tells the story of Jesus’ visit with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. It was an encounter the two would never forget, and would cherish for the rest of their lives. As evening approaches they’ve come to the village of Emmaus and they invite the stranger, who have been traveling with them, to stay for the evening meal. This stranger has spent the afternoon opening their minds to the Scriptures and what Moses, and the Prophets had to say about the Messiah, and how the events of the weekend all had to take place. As the stranger blesses the meal, we’re told that their eyes are opened, they realize that it is Jesus, and he suddenly disappears from their presence. Their excitement is too great to contain and they immediately rush the seven miles back to Jerusalem in the dark.

“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)

When the two Emmaus disciples burst into the room they arrive they find the place packed. The word assembled paints a picture of a closely packed crowd of people. From all over Jerusalem disciples, who have been in hiding, have made their way to a central location to excitedly talk about the reported sightings of Jesus alive. It is becoming clear to all in the community that the women were right after all. Before the two disciples from Emmaus can share their news, someone blurts out to them, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then they share their story. The evidence or a risen Savior is mounting!

It’s hard for us to grasp the atmosphere of joy and confusion that are reigning in their hearts at that moment. But then ... suddenly Jesus is there with them. His first words are Peace be with you!

“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I 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.”” (Luke 24:36–49, NIV84)

In this "upper room experience," the disciples made discoveries that made them live lives of passion, promise and purpose, as God used them to turn their world upside down, then right side up for the Savior. These discoveries are ones we need to make as we learn to live in the daily reality of the fact that our Savior is a living Savior, whose Word is true and whose works are powerful. My prayer for you and for our church is that we have a similar "upper room experience"! Like these disciples, may we discover ...

I. THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION - vs. 36-43

1. denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead has always been a major tactic employed by Satan and his minions in their assaults on God and the Scriptures

a. they understand that if Christ did not rise from the dead, neither his words nor the rest of Scriptures can be believed

b. if Christ did not rise from the dead, then the Old Testament, Jesus’ own claims, and the apostolic gospel proclamation are false, and Christianity collapses

c. the Apostle Paul understood this

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Corinthians 15:14, NIV84)

“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:16–19, NIV84)

2. 21st century modernists are not the only skeptics ... even the first disciple find resurrection a difficult truth to swallow

a. in vs. 38 Jesus acknowledges their doubts

b. vs. 41 says they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement

c. only a rapid-fir succession of demonstrations convinced them it was so

3. in the text we discover what they discovered

a. Jesus is no phantom ... this is no hallucination ... it’s not a group psychosis

b. the crucified Jesus is the risen Christ!

A. TO DENY THE RESURRECTION IS TO DECLARE GOD A LIAR

1. this is why the post-resurrection stories and sayings are so important to our faith

a. Luke, in telling the story of the early church, writes to a man named Theophilus,

“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 1:3, NIV84)

2. in Luke 24, Jesus showed Himself to be very much alive

a. as the disciples are excitedly discussing the growing eye-witness accounts of Jesus rising from the dead, he suddenly appears in their midst

b. vs. 37 tells us they were first startled, and then frightened

1) the word startled means to be so terrified that you instinctively want to flee

2) the word frightened (almost redundant here) means to be alarmed to the point of trembling

c. they are convinced that they are seeing a ghost

3. Jesus seeks to calm their hearts and openly invites them to investigate his physicality

“He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”” (Luke 24:38–39, NIV84)

a. he wasn't a ghost or figment of their imagination, but He was truly alive among them!

b. he takes it a step further and even ask them for something to eat

4. Jesus resurrection is a bodily resurrection

a. one of the persistent heresies that has plagued the church almost from the beginning is that Jesus experienced a spiritual resurrection, and not a bodily resurrection

1) this is why groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses are so dangerous ... they’ll refer to Christ’s resurrection, but they’re not no the same page of Christian orthodoxy

B. JESUS IS A SAVIOR WHO HAS CONQUERED SIN, SATAN, DEATH AND HELL

1. and because Jesus has conquered sin, Satan, dean and hell we will, too!

ILLUS. One of my favorite hymns is by British hymn writer Keith Getty. In 2002 he wrote In Christ Alone (My Hope is Found). My favorite verse is the third stanza: There in the ground His body lay; Light of the world by darkness slain. Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is min, Bought with the precious blood of Christ! Can I get an “Amen?”

2. if Easter is not true, then all things perish: body, soul, hope, ambition, love, toil; nothing matters but thrills of a temporal existence

3. but if Easter is true, then all problems are solved—the strain and sacrifice of earthly life become worthwhile, because eternal values are added

4. Like These Disciples, May We Discover May We Discover the Reality of the Resurrection

Like These Disciples, May We Discover ...

II. THE NECESSITY OF THE CROSS - vs. 44-45

1. as he did with the two disciple on the road to Emmaus, Jesus takes time to illuminate their minds to the testimony of the Scriptures

“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:44–47, NIV84)

a. I have this mental picture of the two Emmaus disciples sitting their with broad grins on their faces as they here Jesus once again go through the Old Testament passages that speak of him

1) when Jesus got to Isaiah 53, they nudge Peter and say, “You’re gonna love this part!”

b. one of the authenticating proofs for the inspiration of the Bible are the many fulfilled prophecies which find their fulfillment in the person and life of Christ which authenticate the claims of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the only Savior of the world

1) we have an array of prophecies which extend over hundreds of years which find their complete fulfillment in the short thirty-year life span of one person— many being fulfilled in one day, the day that He died for the sins of his Elect

2. no doubt, this was part of what Jesus pointed out to His disciples

A. CHRIST HAD TO SUFFER AND DIE

“He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,” (Luke 24:46, NIV)

1. God's will is that sinners live a God-centered life and develop a character that is Christ-like

a. He wants others to look at our lives and say, "He Walks with God, for He Lives like Christ."

2. but there is a problem called sin

a. sin keeps men from walking with God and living like Christ

1) because of sin, all men are spiritually dysfunctional

2) because of sin, men cannot and will not turn to God

“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 2:14, NIV84)

b. unfortunately we live in a culture that is divided over sin and what to do about it

ILLUS. Americans tend to fall into three categories when it comes to sin, according to a 2017 survey by LifeWay Research. A third (34 percent) of Americans say they are sinners and are working on being less sinful. A quarter (28 percent) of Americans say they are sinners and rely on Jesus to overcome their sin. The remainder of Americans (38 percent) have a variety of views: One in 10 say sin doesn’t exist (10 percent), eight percent contend that they are not sinners, while 15 percent prefer not to say if they are sinners at all. 1 in 20 say they are fine with being sinners (5 percent).

c. men may be confused about their sin, but the Scriptures are not

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23, NIV84)

1) speaking of a lost humanity, the Apostle Paul describes men’s character

“They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. 1 You, therefore, have no excuse,... .” (Romans 1:29–2:1, NIV84)

4. to solve our sin problem, Jesus Christ became an atoning sacrifice

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18–19, NIV)

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, ... ” (Romans 3:23–25, NIV84)

5. to validate the Son’s redemptive work v. 46 say that Jesus will rise from the dead on the third day

a. it was not enough for Jesus to just atone for sin

1) what's the point of redemption from sin if this life is all there is?

b. God has also determined that death, which is man's greatest enemy, would lose its power over us

ILLUS. As each new year begins, new shows and magazines usually pay homage to the rich, the famous, and sometimes the notorious who died the previous year. Death is universal and democratic; everybody dies. Celebrities die—Miguel Ferrer, Mary Tyler Moore, John Hurt, Chuck Berry, Roger Moore and Jerry Lewis all died last year. Tough people die—Richard Machowicz, best known as a Navy Seal and the host of the Discovery Channel’s show “Future Weapons,” died last year. Athletic people die—Bobby Doerr, Hall of Fame second baseman for the Boston Red Sox, and Jake LaMotta, middleweight boxing champion died last year. Musical artists die—Mel Tillis, Fats Domino and Gregg Allman all died last year. Infamous people die—Hugh Hefner of Playboy empire died last year. Funny people die—Rose Marie, and Don Rickles died last year. People from all walks of life die. Their lives are remembered by some, but forgotten by most. Shakespeare said, "We occupy our brief time on life's stage and then we're gone.” Someone once said that a man’s life is made up of 20 years of his mother asking him where he is going, 40 years of his wife asking him where he has been and one hour at his funeral when everyone wonders where he is now.

6. the good news is this if you've been born again, sin and death have lost their grip on you

a. because Jesus died, sin no longer has power over you

b. because Jesus rose, death cannot hold you

7. Like These Disciples, May We Discover May We Discover the Necessity of the Cross

Like These Disciples, May We Discover ...

III. THE URGENCY OF OUR TASK - vs. 46-48

ILLUS. Billy Graham told the story that when Jesus ascended to heaven, the angels asked, "Did you accomplish your task?" "Yes. It is finished." "We have a second question," said the angels. "Has the whole world had a chance to respond to what you have done and trust you as Savior?" "No," he said, "not yet." "What is your plan?" Jesus said, "I have left 12 men and some others to take that message to the whole world." The angels looked at each another, down to the earth, then back at Jesus. "What is your Plan B?" Jesus replied, "There is no plan B."

1. the task that laid before the disciples is daunting—they were to be his ambassadors in a hostile, unbelieving world

“He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:46–48, NIV84)

a. think about what Jesus is saying to them

b. the preaching of the Gospel was to begin in the very city, and among the very people who had crucified Jesus just three days ago!

2. what an unlikely group of people Jesus has just commissioned to spread the Good News

a. a few fisherman, a tax collector, a onetime zealot—followers mostly from Galilee, a despised part of the country where the rural accent could be cut with a knife

b. there was not a scholar among them, not even a trained rabbi

c. this collection of nobodies was to preach in defiance of the Sanhedrin and in the face of the intellectual Greeks and the all-powerful Romans

ILLUS. Josh McDowell, a Christian apologist, writes, “We must ask ourselves: What caused them to go everywhere telling the message of the risen Christ? As a reward for their efforts, those early Christians were beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the lions, tortured and crucified. Every conceivable method was used to stop them from talking. Yet, they laid down their lives as the ultimate proof of their complete confidence in the truth of their message."

3. although Luke is concluding his Gospel, the real story is just beginning

a. Jesus reveals God’s A Plan, and there is no “Plan B”

b. ahead is the disciples’ empowerment through the giving of the Holy Spirit

c. beyond that is the mission to proclaim to the world what they have experienced and understood

1) the disciples will be called to preach

2) their message is a call to repentance

3) what is offered is forgiveness of sins

4) the authority for it all resides in Jesus’ name

5) the message is for all nations

d. at the end of forty days training camp will be over and a long season of ministry lies ahead

4. Like These Disciples, May We Discover May We Discover the Urgency of our Task

Like These Disciples, May We Discover May We Discover ...

IV. THE SOURCE OF OUR POWER - v. 49

“I 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.”” (Luke 24:49, NIV84)

1. when Jesus tells them that they must preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem they must have contemplated this assignment with stunned disbelief

a. but Jesus is not done

2. Jesus will supply the means by which we can fulfill our mission as the people of God

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses ..." - Acts 1:8 (NLT)

a. the Second person of the Godhead was going home to heaven, but the third person of the Godhead was coming to take his place

b. Jesus had no intention of leaving it up to his disciples to formulate the plan and carry it out by their own power

c. the church’s task will be difficult; special ability will be needed to accomplish it

1) mere human ability will not surface ... special ability will be needed to accomplish it

2) the Holy Spirit would come to enlighten them and enable them

3) that’s still how it works

ILLUS. For about as long as I’ve been pastor here, our teenagers have been going on mission trips—and I mean mission trips with the emphasis on mission. These have not been mission camps where they go and have a good time playing games, swimming and learning about missions. These have been out-in-the-community-getting-your-hands-dirty-helping-people mission trips. Three years ago while on their way home from a mission trip to Indianapolis several of our youth (to this day I don’t know who) said, “Why can’t we do this in Osage County?”

3) that, folks, was the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit!

4) then, through this congregation’s commitment to that vision, and this congregation’s financial gifts, we were enabled to, by the Spirit, to minister to four families

3. Like These Disciples, May We Discover May We Discover the Source of Our Power

Like These Disciples, May We Discover May We Discover

V. THE BRIGHTNESS OF OUR FUTURE - vs. 50-53

“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:50–53, NIV84)

“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”” (Acts 1:10–11, NIV84)

ILLUS. Every year the country of Morocco celebrates The Feast of the Ascension. But it’s not what you think. It’s a feast celebrating the anniversary of the ascension of their king to the throne. Moroccan cities and villages all prepare each year for this celebration. Flags are flown in businesses and homes. Lighted pictures of the king appear along the streets. Strings of lights crisscross main streets in the cities and villages. Lighted crowns are in evidence on top of buildings and along the streets. Parades are held throughout the country with fireworks lighting the night sky in the evening. The king goes to only one city; no one knowing which one it might be. So all the cities prepare. They don't want to be embarrassed should he visit them.

1. our King is coming

a. we know to be true just as certainly as we know the resurrection to be a fact

b. we don't know when, but we are told to be ready for His return

c. we do not want to be embarrassed when He returns

Let me sum up this mornings message and put into perspective for you.

You need the presence of Jesus Christ in your life. That presence is made possible because God came in the flesh to this world. That incarnation would culminate in the most significant event in world history – the resurrection of Christ from the grave. This living Savior, wants to come into your life if you will let him. The presence of Christ begins when you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. The faith that Christ asks you to put in him is not a blind faith, but a faith that knows the truth as revealed in God's word.

God has developed a program through which men can come to know Him through Christ. He invites you to be a part of that program.

Do you need power for daily living? The resurrection of our Lord has made possible the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit in your life.