Jesus Unwrapped

The theme of this morning’s message: through the resurrection, Jesus who was veiled in flesh is revealed to be the mighty God and Savior who was promised in the Old Testament and who gives the promised Holy Spirit to everyone who comes to him in faith.

When Jesus was born...

he was wrapped in strips of cloth. He was presented with gold and frankincense and myrrh. At his death he was wrapped in a linen shroud and 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. After his resurrection, Peter arrived at the tomb and found the linen cloths by themselves.

In Luke 9:28-36 something amazing happens

Luke 9:28–36 ESV

28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

v29 - His clothing became dazzling white

After the resurrection we meet Jesus again.

Luke 24:13–49 ESV

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 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. 18 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?” 19 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, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 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. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 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. 24 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.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 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. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 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?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

After his resurrection Jesus is dressed and on the road to Emmaus.

In the Book of Luke we see some wonderful symbolism

- in his enfleshment, putting on the earthly garments of humanity.

Then at his transfiguration we see his deity that is veiled by his humanity.

Then we see the leaving behind of his veiled humanity at his resurrection. His earthly incarnation is left behind and he is now the post resurrection Son of God and Son of Man completely God, completely man but now revealed to be true and living Messiah.

But in verses 13-30 he veils himself again.

But then he does something special: he unveils himself not with clothing but with the word of God

Jesus is the Royal Messiah, the rejected prophet, the Servant of the Lord from Isaiah, he is the Lord and the unique Son of God, and most important he is God with us, the promised deliverer who is able to forgive sin and give new life.

And there is something else about Jesus: He is the light of the world who gives sight to the blind.

Notice that hey do not know that it is Jesus until vs 31

Luke 24:31 ESV

And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

Luke 24:44 ESV

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Luke 24:45 ESV

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Jesus opens our minds. He who was clothed in strips of cloth, he who was wrapped in the veil of death. He who now lives clothed with glory in his resurrected body is able to pour into us all of the fullness of the Spirit.

And how is this giving of the Spirit described?

Do you see it?

Luke 24:49 ESV

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

You are not clothed with the earthly rags of your own goodness or your own strength. you are clothed with power from on high.