A WALK DOWN HOPE STREET

A WALK DOWN HOPE STREET Luke 24:13-35 With grateful acknowledgement of these sources of direction and inspiration: the Holy Spirit; the Word of God; Max Lucado, He Chose the Nails; Chuck Swindoll, The Darkness and the Dawn; Michael Feazell, "He's Alive"; Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew; Frederick Buechner, The Faces of Jesus April 20, 2003 Resurrection Sunday [Additional Notes] Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introduction Have you heard about James' ossuary? Archeologists have unearthed a bone vault which has been dated back to 63 A.D. The interesting thing is that the validated inscription on the side of the box says, "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." Even many skeptics are hailing its authenticity and claiming it is the first piece of archeological evidence for the existence of Jesus. More skeptics are believing. Have you ever thought how hard it was for the disciples to believe? Did you know that just following the resurrection; the empty tomb was not enough to convince them? It required intimate, personal encounters with the resurrected Jesus. Frederick Buechner writes his reflection that the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus were, in a word, very "unglamorous". No angels in the sky, no kings from afar bearing gifts. Jesus showed up in the most ordinary circumstances-a private dinner, a woman weeping in the garden near his tomb, some fishermen at the lake, and a most remarkable encounter with two men walking down a road. Luke records the narrative of that interesting appearance for us in the 24th chapter of his gospel. At verse 13 we are introduced to two forlorn disciples who were making their way down a well-traveled road to Emmaus. An image probably leaps to mind because of the famous painting of the event. The two men are feeling quite dejected and disappointed as they walked, discussing the events surrounding the death of Jesus. Suddenly Jesus appears and begins walking with them. The weird thing is, they don't recognize Him, for whatever reason. Text -Luke 24:13-24 "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with teach other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself cam up and walked along with them, but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, 'What are you discussing together as you walk along?' The stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 'Are you the only one living in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have happened there in these days?' 'What things?' he asked. 'About Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.'" Cleopas and his friend were not exactly brimming with joy and hope today. Not like they had been the past few days, since they had come up to Jerusalem and witnessed Jesus' glorious entrance into Jerusalem. They were committed followers, almost as close to Jesus as the twelve. They had been prepared to give their lives for the cause of the Messiah. They witnessed Jesus ministering to the poor, healing the sick, and they had secretly cheered when Jesus confronted the hypocritical religious leaders. How eagerly they listened while Jesus taught them of the coming kingdom! Soon, they thought--soon the people would be free from the tyranny of Caesar's Rome, because God had given Jesus as their deliverer. Soon Palestine would be free from the pagan oppressor. They stayed up late at night excitedly talking about being part of God's messianic movement. "How privileged we are", they kept saying, "to be alive at the very time that the dreams of Israel would be realized!" But their hopes and dreams had died in a sudden, tragic turn of events three days ago. The disciples Judas proved to be a traitor; Jesus was arrested, beaten and crucified. Their deliverer was dead! They were so disheartened. The salt in the wound was that Rome won again! It was no wonder they were despondent. What could have gone wrong? Was it all a mistake? Was it just another Jewish uprising with a false messiah like all the others? Was Jesus not who He said He was? Did the devil win? Did God fail? These questions lay heavy on their hearts as they left Jerusalem to return, presumably, to their homes in Emmaus. But a stranger met them on the road and struck up a conversation. He was faintly familiar to them, but for the length of their 7-mile walk, he remained unrecognized. What these men needed in this hour was HOPE, and this stranger was bringing them hope. In fact, the resurrected Christ brought hope to the entire world that week. And He brings hope for every person in this room this morning. What would give you hope this morning? A new job? A favorable report from radiologist? A phone call from a wayward child? An easing of the depression? The two disciples on the road to Emmaus admitted their hopes were pinned on a Messiah who would deliver them from Roman occupation and be the king over a politically strong Israel. They were about to be confronted by a most important question, though. Would a Jesus who did not do for them what they wanted, but rather what they truly needed, be enough for them? The question is a fair one for us as well. Can we trust a Savior who answers our prayers, and does it His way? The disciples have just finished recounting to this stranger how they were disappointed by the death of the Messiah. We learn early in life to be disappointed by others, even close friends and family. But, to be let down by the Son of God?! "We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel." They also mentioned the rumor that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was empty on Sunday morning. Jesus had spoken clearly on a number of occasions that He must suffer and be killed, but that then He would rise on the third day. But they just didn't get it. Sometimes we are slow to learn. God's interventions are not well timed, we say, or not as we would have done it. His great purpose in all circumstances is to draw us ever closer to Himself. The vine clings to the oak during the fierce storms. If the vine is on the side opposite the wind, the great oak is its protection; if it is on the exposed side, the tempest only presses it closer to the trunk of the tree. In some of the storms of our lives, God intervenes and shelters us; while in others He allows us to be exposed, so that we will be pressed more closely to Him. Luke 24:25-35 "He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 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. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. They their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 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?'' They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.' Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread." The hope that comes from spiritual understanding When God does or allows something that seems strange to us, and we don't understand, even though we want to, He mercifully draws near to us so we can get His insight. In the darkest night, in the most hopeless of circumstances, the Lord will come alongside you with His comforting presence and His perfect wisdom. When your faith is weak and your wisdom is meager, God still loves you and He will respond to your need. These two didn't stick around Jerusalem, because they couldn't quite see what an empty grave could mean for them. Their faith was operating on a lower level, but it was faith. And God always responds to faith; He is always pleased with faith, even when it is less than the size of a tiny seed.. In fact, Hebrews 11:6 says, "…without faith it is impossible to please God." So, what does God do for those whose faith has not yet grown to the point of recognizing Him, for those who love Him but haven't yet let that love motivate them to come to Him quickly and boldly in a time of need? He comes to them! What an awesome, tender picture of His mercy, that the risen Lord would seek out these two disciples just to bring them hope! They didn't stay in Jerusalem, because Their faith was young and their understanding was incomplete, so Jesus came to them! It is the nature of God's love to seek us out. The scripture says, "…while we were still powerless Christ died for the ungodly…" (Romans 5:6) He is not a God who crosses His arms and taps His foot, and waits impatiently for sinners to finally get right and then come to Him. No, He recognizes our sinful condition has robbed us of godly desire, and He comes to us! Jesus said, "I came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10) When He arrives alongside these two they don't instantly recognize Him. It does seem to go that way, doesn't it? How many times we've prayed in a time of desperate need, and the Lord brings His answers, but at first we have a hard time recognizing His arrival. Why? He doesn't look the way we expected, the answer didn't come exactly as we wanted, and God's comfort arrives in a way that surprises us. Here in the story we see Jesus gently, but firmly rebuke the disciples for not knowing the truth about Him. They didn't understand how the prophecies were fulfilled in Him (and they should have); they didn't understand that He was to be glorified in resurrection from the dead (and they should have); they didn't know that He did not come to be a political Savior (and they should have); and they didn't understand that His kingdom was not of this world (and they should have). But He still comes to them, mercifully bringing them the hope they need. Thank God this morning that He is not so put off by our shortcomings, our numbskull misunderstandings and our puny little faith. He meets us where we are and leads us to where He wants us to be. I've known people who've responded to the gospel by saying, "I want to believe, I just can't yet." You know what I tell them? I say, "If you're serious, and you really mean that, you will seek Him with your whole heart. And if you seek Him with your whole heart, you will find Him." Do you know why we find Him when we seek Him? Because He's come looking for us! When Jesus patiently took the time with these two followers to explain from the Old Testament scriptures all about Himself, they were given hope. It was the hope that comes from understanding. Believers are called and empowered to know the Lord better and better, more and more intimately, as they grow. The Proverbs tell us to get understanding-to get it now, and to get it at all costs. It is in a deepening relationship with Christ, and digging into His Word, that we get that kind of godly wisdom that brings us hope. Exercise your faith, however small it is, and draw nearer to God in Jesus Christ, and you, too, will know that hope. The Bible says that believers "…have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…" (Hebrews 6:19) The hope that comes from the resurrection The two disciples in Luke 24 were over whelmed by hope that was restored in them through their new spiritual understanding. But even more than that they were overjoyed by the fact that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and with them. Listen, saints, the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith and the basis for all hope. They thought He was gone forever. But Jesus came back. Buddha didn't; Mohammed didn't; Confucius didn't; Houdini said he would, but he didn't; the Maharishis didn't; the Dali Lama won't; but Jesus did! And He made it a point to make personal appearances to all His disciples and five hundred others. What did His resurrection do for them? It kindled a hope in them that was unquenchable. Those ragtag, unreliable followers were turned into fearless evangelists who took the message of the resurrected Christ to the whole world. Eleven men who deserted Him when He was arrested were changed by the reality of the resurrection. They now were prepared to go to martyr's graves, testifying to their dying breath of the resurrected Christ. These witnesses were changed dramatically by the event that brought them hope. Resurrection hope changes people. The apostle John would later say, "We know Jesus is alive - we saw him with our own eyes, touched him with our hands, heard him with our own ears, we even at with Him!" (1 John 1:1-4) The Bible says Jesus rose from the dead. Hundreds, then thousands of disciples in the first century alone died bearing that truth to others. When I was a young boy, we talked a lot about whether man would ever land on the moon. We read interesting things about how there was no oxygen on the moon, how the moon had only a sixth of the gravitational pull of the earth. We read in our science books how implausible it seemed to enter and exit an atmosphere so different from the earth's. But on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the face of the moon, just like NASA told us it could be done. Since that time, I've never again said, "I wonder if man can walk on the moon." The reality has settled the issue. Jesus spent probably two hours walking with the men and teaching them. He taught them what they hadn't yet put together for themselves-that the Messiah was to be a suffering servant who would die for the sins of the world, and that whoever would believe in Him would not die forever. Then when they persuaded Him to stay with them for dinner, He revealed who He was in a most creative way. When He "took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them…their eyes were opened and they recognized him…" (verses 30-31) Maybe they'd been there when He did the very same thing before He fed the five thousand. Or maybe they had heard one of the twelve talking about the Last Supper experience; when He said that He would eat take bread and wine with them again in a new way in the kingdom. Whatever it was, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. They saw and believed something that had not seen before. The Bible teaches that the resurrection of Jesus broke the bonds of death and the grave. And since that glorious day in history, everyone who believes in Christ receives the promise of resurrection. Jesus said, "Jesus said…'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he dies, yet will he live." The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that since He died for our sins and rose from the dead, we can have the hope of resurrection and eternal life in heaven. That hope is given to all who believe in Christ, who trust in His name. To have this hope in you, the Bible says you need to receive Christ as your Savior and commit your life to Him. Jesus is the hope of the world, but He becomes your hope only when you recognize Him for who He is. That kind of revelatory moment is available to every human being who when they can have their eyes open. It's when they hear the gospel for the first or fiftieth time. It is a time of personal revelation-when Jesus and the reality of his salvation come home to you. What you do at that moment makes all the difference in eternity for you. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "…now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." Hebrews 3:7-8, "…as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…" Let this Easter Sunday be the day of your salvation. Say yes to the One who came back from