Sermon Tone Analysis

from Resurrection to Ascension

Intro

we talk about the crucifixion, the resurrection, but not much is usually taught about much after that

we talk about the crucifixion, the resurrection, but not much is usually taught about much after that

sometimes we forget that between the ressurection and the ascension of Jesus was a period of 50 days; 40 of which Jesus spent on earth appearing to his disciples, teaching them, preparing them.

you think about the time between passover and pentecost being 50 days; why it was called the feast of weeks; of seven days; seven times seven is 49

every good jew would be there in Jerusalem for three feasts; Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles which would be about our October;

remember the resurrection was about 3-4 days after passover ; passover was followed by the feast of unleavened bread the days between his resurection and the feast of pentecost Jesus

these are the days that we will be speaking about where Jesus trained his disciples for the greatest gospel outpouring the day of Pentecost; we know that Jesus appeared to Mary somewhere in there, that Peter went fishing somewhere in there, that Thomas doubted somewhere in there, but how does that all fit together

as we wrap our minds around the fact that Jesus rose from the grave early Sunday Morning to Jesus ascending into heaven from the Mt of Olives how does that all fit

walk us through how does that fit; as well as make some practical applications

a reason that Jesus is affirming and confirming

one of the most repetitive words in this period is the words doubt; did you know that

do you know that it is possible even for people that have seen and experienced the resurrected Christ to doubt; that gives me hope.

to know that even first century believers struggled with doubt as they did not fully understand the plan, and all that was unfolding

so lets take a look at it tonight

we are going to a number of scriptures

lets start in

I am going to give you 12 ; a good general chronology of what Jesus did

First Appearance (Mary Magdalene) John 20:11-18

what already has happened?

the women have come , they have left, they are going back to tell the disciples; the angel told them that he is risen, John and Peter have run to the grave, Mary is there, she is weeping

this is the first appearance of Jesus after he appears

the first person that sees him does not recognize him

which tells me that the resurrected body did not entirely look like the first, and understand that the last time they saw jesus he was a mess

something about how he said her name that she recognized HIm; something about the look, the word, the tone, something that resognated with her

the very first time, he appeared to anybody he appeared to Mary Magdalene

Second Appearance (The Women) Matt 28:6-10

lets now go to

lets piece this together

the same day

watch what the women do in verse 8

so now jesus has already appeared to mary magdalene at the grave, the women have gone to tell the disciples, jesus appears to them and says all hail, they come and hold him by the feet and worship him

matt

why does Jesus keep on referencing Galilee?

Remember the disciples have come down to the passover to Jerusalem like all good jews to celebrate the feast

after the feast all pilgrims go home

where are the disciples from?

all of the disciples with the exception of Judas are from Galilee

so they are going to go home, so Jesus tells them he is going to meet them back to where the ministry took place, where the majority of the miracles and teaching took place, I am going to meet you at Galilee

so two times now in the arly morning he has appeared

to mary magdalene at the grave

to the women who were on the way from the grave close to jerusalem back to where the disciples are meeting who are meeting in fear

they think hope is lost,their leader may have been a charlatan, they have been tricked, they may be fearing repurcussions against them as the spirit of the people was to kill their leader; what will they do to them?

so now Jesus appears to these women and they are excited; and he has given them more information

this all happens early Sunday Morning probably before anyone is awake

so what is the third appearance of Jesus?

look at Luk 24

Fourth Appearance (The Emmaus Disciples) :13-27

we are going to skip ahead a few hours

this is the fourth appearance; but will be the third one that we will see and we will understand why there is one in between

about 12 km; about 7 miles you could walk from Jerusalem to Emaaus; almost all downhill from Jerusalem to emmaus

who are they?

who are these disciples

a third traveler joins them; it is Jesus, jesus appears to them, they do not know yet that it is Jesus, and he is going to walk with them this entire time

how long does it take to walk 7 miles?

maybe 2-3 hours; and he is joining them on this journey and having this extended conversation with these two on this Sunday afternoon and talking with them about that has been going on

so who are these two disciples?

so who is cleopas; well he is one of the disciples of the Lord

well who is the second?

Well I believe it is Cleopas wife; her name is Mary

in the bible says there are four women standing at the foot of the cross; mary the mother of Jesus, Mary’s sister who is unnammed, and then it says Mary the wife of cleopas, and then it says Mary Magdalene; so there are four that are listed there

so I believe that this is cleopas and his wife walking home or walking to a nearby place

we know sometimes women are called disciples

but it could be someone else, but we know it is cleopas and we know cleopas’s wife was at the cross during the crucifixion just a few days before

now what does Jesus do?

Jesus teaches these two disciples on the road to Emmaus exactly what the scripture says about what would happen to the Messiah

beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded the scriptures all the things concerning himself

I would imagine that on this road to Emaaus Jesus talked about isa 40, a good time on isa 53, possibly explained psa 22, possibly psa 69.

Brusing the head of Satan in , and so what did Jesus do?

he went to the old testament; I can picture him explaining the passsover lamb in exodus, the scape goat in Leviticus, i can picture him talking about the brazen serpent in numbers, I can picture him talking about all the typology, all the ot references, all of what the bible says about the christ

in fact he said you are foolish, you should have known this, why are ye amazed, the scriptures well predicted that this would happen, why do you think you missed something, you did not miss anything if you had just paid attention to the scripture you would know

when they arrived at their home at Emmaus he made as he would go on further

bu they invited him into their home, and said no you walked with us, you taught us come in and eat with us

when jesus ate bread with them their eyes were open; and immediately they knew this was the resurrected Christ

so there is no doubt the bible states it plainly and they now knew it emphatically, that three times at least on the very first day

witnesses, and corraboration

Mary Magdalene, then the women together, then two people who have spent 2-3 hours with jesus

all independent three different sources

and now lets look at the third appearance christ had made; the fourth one that we will look at but the third one in chronology

Third Appearance (Simon Peter) Luke 24:33-34

look at again and look at verse 33

think about this they walk for about 7 miles, the whole time they are walking they are being taught, they arrive at their destination, they eat; as soon as they eat they realize this is Jesus!

so what do they do?

They leave and go back to Jerusalem, they just came from Jerusalem, so now they are going to walk up hill , so this is a long day for them

they have walked 7 miles down hill and get home; probably about mid afternoon, they now get back on the road walking uphill; but probably no doubt excited, and three hours back so they arrive probably about evening time

now when the bible says the 11 ; understand that Thomas was not there, there were ten there, but understand when the bible refers to the 11 that is what they were called or the name of their group; like they were called the 12 but now Judas is dead so they are called the 11

so what do they know, what do these disciples know now?

They have not seen the Lord

but what do they know?

they know that Mary Magdalene has seen the Lord, they know that the women have seen the Lord, they know that Peter and John have gone to the tomb and it is empty

now these two disciples arrive; Cleopas and possibly his wife and watch what they say in vs 34

luk

now how do they know that?

Jesus must have told them.

what does that mean?

Well that means Jesus must have appeared to Simon Peter before he appeared to them

so now we are beginning to get a chronology arent we

so he appeared to Mary Magdalene, he appeared to the women, he appeared to Simon Peter

now let me ask you a question; why would Jesus single out Simon to appear unto him by himself, why?