The Burning Hearts of Unbelieving Followers
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Good Morning, this is always one of my favorite things about Easter services, gathering together to remember the miracle that happened when our Lord Jesus rose from the grave.
It is here that we are reminded that we serve a Savior that is unlike any one else. Jesus our Savior has defeated death and conquered the grave! There is no fear in death and now that he lives we too are beckoned to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit who Jesus has given us.
I want us to look this morning at the resurrection of the Lord from the viewpoint of those who were there that day. I want us to hear from the Lord, and see what the rest of the story is.
That first Easter did not end with the empty tomb, but with the Lord confronting something that we all deal with. But first let’s remember.
Alot has happened this week, Jesus has ridden in to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey to the praises of people who really dont understand who He is at all.
Jesus has been betrayed by a close friend, he has been handed over to Pilate who was pressured into crucifying Jesus, Jesus endured horrendus wounds as he was brutally executed.
As Jesus’s body was taken off the cross and he lay there dead the hopes and dreams of those who loved him died right there with Him.
Except for a few unexpected believers who went to visit the tomb that day.
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
Luke 24:8-
It’s just like the Lord to use people who were unlikely. In these days women were not the first to be considered. They wouldn’t have been the ones who God would have revealed His resurrection to.
Luke 24:1-3
Men ruled the day, but here in this account the very first to see the resurrected Lord was this group of women who had come to love on the Lord by anointing Him with burial spices.
But what they found was an empty tomb and angels giving them instructions. They ran as fast as they could back to the apostles,
Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
An idle tale they did not believe the women?
What reason would the women have to tell such a lie?
These disciples were frozen in unbelief, they could not no they would not believe this to be true. Why would I say they would not?
Because they had heard the words more than once, Jesus had explained the parables. They knew the Son of man had to be killed and then rise on the third day Jesus said it 9 different times in the gospels.
He told them and He told them and He told them. But here they sit in disbelief. Thinking the women were halucinating or lying..... they are frozen stiff with unbelief.
Except for Peter.
He just had to see for Himself, He had to, if there was a chance to redeem Himself, to make things right with the Lord He had to make it down there to see if there was a chance. He makes his way there we know that he was not alone John ran with him.
Now we see in Johns Gospel that when he got there he ran all the way in but not Peter,
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
Luke 24:
Why stooping in?
I think it is clear to see here that Peter was hesitant about going inside the tomb because even though Christ had risen from the grave Peter was afraid that he wouldnt be forgiven!
Not after all he had done, He had abandoned the Lord!
So while some disciples remained at home not believing Christ was risen, Peter stooped and looked from a distanced because he did not believe he could be forgiven. He was guilt stricken and now would have to face the Lord who was back.
So what is the point of this passage?
This passage we have heard over and over and over again?
THE RESURRECTED CHRIST CONFRONTS UNBELIEF
Notice what takes place right after this? After Jesus rose from the dead He got busy!
Peter and John are looking inside an empty tomb, while Jesus is out taking a walk.
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
Together they were discussing everything that had taken place.
Peter and John are looking inside an empty tomb, while Jesus goes for a walk.
These two disciples were walking and talking about everything that had taken place, they were talking about the crucifixion and the things that had happened to their friend Jesus.
We know they were friends of Jesus because they were called disciples.
So here we have two followers of the Lord and we dont know who they are exactly and they are talking about the events of the last 24 hours.
Then something happens....
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
Luke 24:
So they are in a deep discussion about everything that had happened and the word discussing there actually means arguing. So it is very possible these men were in some sort of heated debate.
Here comes Jesus He just steps in behind them. He begins walking with them, just listening. Not allowing them to see Him.
But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
Now we know that something prevented them from seeing Jesus, I submit to you today that the reason they could not see Jesus for who He was, was due to their unbelief.
Unbelief blinds the eyes, numbs the heart, and chills the soul.
Here these men could not see because they were blinded by unbelief. God veiled their eyes because their hearts themselves were blinded.
Now how in the wolrd do you get that Kyle?
And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.
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?”
He says where have you been man? Don’t you know what happened here in these days? Did you not see what they did to the Lord?
It’s over, they thought, He is dead.
This is why they were looking sad, everything we had placed our faith in everything we had thought would take place hasn’t happened. You know it’s funny how we begin to doubt God when He doesn’t answer the way we think He should.
Jesus pressed them further.
And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
NOTICE THE WORD HE USES
JESUS WHO WAS A PROPHET MIGHTY IN DEED AND WORD BEFORE GOD AND ALL THE PEOPLE!
They knew Jesus as Prophet but they did not know Jesus as King.
and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
Luke 24:
LOOK LOOK
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
We hoped He would save we hoped He would redeem Israel, We hoped but all hope is lost because they killed Him.
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
Could this be what these disciples were arguing over?
One might have been saying he thought what the women said was true and the other trying to talk some sense into Him right, i mean people who die dont get up and rise from the grave.
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
At this point Jesus has to speak,
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
SLOW OF HEART....
Jesus is saying why is there doubt in you? Why are you so slow to believe what I told you that I was going to rise from deathhow is it that you do not believe my word?
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
But then Jesus did something unique here.
He gives them a second chance, remember they did not believe the prophets of the OT right so Jesus breaks it down for them.
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus takes them back to the word of God and shows them how everything in the OT was talking about Him. He confronts their unbelief by showing them that He did come to redeem He did come to save but He came to save from sin, and death.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,
but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
Luke 24:
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.
While Jesus was breaking the bread with them it was like the scales of unbelief fell from their eyes and they saw who it was they were talking to.
But notice they had to invite Him in, or this event would have nevrer happened.
In our lives it is easy for us to get bogged down in life and forget that we serve a risen Savior He is in the world today and He wants to walk with us and talk with us to lead guide and direct us to give us strength, and to show us more about who He is.
There are some of you right here this morning, that even though you came out here you really didn’t expect the Lord to speak to you. It is just something you tried out or something you enjoy doing.
But I can assure you if you will begin to invite Jesus into your everyday life you will begin to see Him, You will begin to feel Him again, close as you did before.
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?”
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
Luke 24:
saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
Luke 24:
Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Do you have the scales of unbelief on your eyes this morning?
Do you long for the close relationship, where you felt the glory and the power of the Lord, invite Him closer, seek Him with wreckless abandoned.
But be careful because when you begin to approach life this way from the depths of your heart, the risen Lord changes everything.