Risen Indeed!

Like to invite you now to join me in the scriptures will be in Luke chapter 24 this morning Luke's gospel and chapter 24.

After we graduated from seminary in Tacoma Washington many years ago. We were invited to do an apprenticeship with one of my mentors in Iowa City, Iowa. We're basically newlyweds and so everything we owned fit into our beat-up old Dodge van and a tent trailer, which was horribly overloaded. We started out from Tacoma. We broke down in Montana with a burned-out clutch. We made it almost to Three Forks Montana another set of mountains. And again, we broke down and lost several days and most of our savings. We finally got back on the road to turn me to travel through the night to make up some time about the middle of the night. We're somewhere south of Billings Montana on I-90 when a tire the van blew out the van was packed with all our stuff. So planning tools with a challenge. I finally located the ratchet wrench and started losing the nuts on the wheel only have the wrench break. Then my flashlight started to flicker out sort of completing the dark hopeless picture. I started thinking we're going to spend the night on the road again, and then a moment later a large pickup truck and trailer pulled up behind us in a couple of big Burly guys came up and I thought you guys while they came up approached and took a look went back to their truck and came back with a heavy jacket and big lights and tool boxes. And before I could say a word they had the van jacked up and they were changing tires. Just like a NASCAR pit crew was almost dead flashlight. Just watching all this amazing stuff go on. Well in no time the tire was changed and they were gone as quick as they'd appeared. And all I could do is say thank you as they got back on the road. And so did we now the stranger said they were from Pennsylvania but to this day, I think they came from farther away than that. I think they were angels too bad just gave us a little Grace at night and helped us get to that part of the trip. This morning. We're going to learn about another couple finding a difficult day on the road until a stranger appears and helps them I'm speaking about Luke's gospel chapter 24 the famous road to Emmaus. This couple of people didn't have a flat tire. They weren't in the middle of the night and nowhere Montana, but they were deeply discouraged by the crucifixion in the loss of the Savior there stranger was an angel was the Lord himself though. They didn't realize it until after the fact by the way, you know of all the stories. I love the story to the Lord. I have to say my favorites are probably the post Resurrection stories. When you see how the Lord for instance showed up when the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing and made breakfast for them. We're here on the road to Emmaus where these two discouraged lost all hope to people are leaving town and Jesus falls into stride with them and talks with them and reasons with them from the scripture. So let's take a look at this is found in Luke chapter 24 verse 13 Now Behold two of them were traveling that same day that Easter Sunday Resurrection Sunday to a village called Emmaus which was 7 miles from Jerusalem and they talked together all these things happened so it was well they converged in reason that Jesus himself do near and went with them but their eyes were restrained so that they did not know him and he said to them what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad then the one whose name was cleopas answered said to him. Are you the only Stranger in Jerusalem and have you not known the things which happen there in these days and he said to them what things so they said to him the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth who is a prophet Mighty and deed and word before God and all the people and how the chief priests and I rule is delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him but we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel and deed decide all this today is the third day since these things happened. Yes and certain women of Arc. Buddy who arrived at the tomb really astonished that's when they did not find his body. They came saying that also seen a vision of angels who said he was alive and certain of those who are with us went to the tomb and found it just as women it said but him they did not see then he said to them both foolish ones and slow of hard to believe in all that the prophets have spoken but not the Christ to have suffered these things and enter into his glory and beginning at Moses and all the prophets he expounded to them and all the scriptures the things concerning himself. May God bless the reading of his word help us is the only one of the two that is mentioned by name. The second disciple is unknown, perhaps a friend Perhaps Perhaps of wife. Columbus is a masculine name. So they've been mr. And mrs. Cleopas may have been their original home. Maybe they were just getting out of town from Jerusalem after a discouraging series of events and hear Jesus appears to them as a fellow traveler. He just sort of walks up and falls into step with them. As they continue down the road to Emmaus walking and talking it says their eyes are restrained somehow the word prevented them from recognizing. He was the Lord whether he changed his appearance would be affected their eyes. We don't know just the effect is very clear like Mary at the tomb that Jesus was not recognized and these two were talking as they went. It says in verse 17, they had a conversation going on a conversation. By the way that word literally means to toss back and forth. So the picture is there talking and they're not really coming up with answers their confused and perplexed their troubled and tender battery run ideas. What is it? This isn't that what in the world is happening? And so they're clueless about what is going on in their lives. And in their world won't let me share some lessons from a road trip with you this morning as we begin to look at this passage was the first to be unseen. Lord is not equal to the absent Lord and other words that you are not the same. They were convinced the Lord was There they were convinced. He was dead and buried it was the end of the story but just because he was unseen does not mean he was absent. In fact, he was right there with them but not a comforting thought. We're so quick in times of trouble to think. Where are you Lord? How come you've abandoned me? How come you're letting me twist in the wind like this and yet we find here very clearly that the Lord was right alongside with them walking step by step with them though. They did not realize it Hebrews 13 reminds us that he himself has said I will never leave you nor forsake you let me say that if the word appears to be absent in your life today and your problems today in the dilemmas that you're facing know that he's not apps if he's there you just might not see him as these two disciples learned. Jesus asked question. Let's be clear. It's not to gain information. He already knows everything but it's rather to enter into their discussion and then he corrects their misunderstanding or foolish ones and slow of heart. Foolish means ignorant lacking critical knowledge some translator say foolish is too strong. They say perhaps a better translation would be dim with I'm not sure. That's a more flattering. Are you? Why are you dealing with so confused about what's going on? And then he says you're slow of heart. So it's not just a data problem a knowledge problem. It's also a faith problem. It's not that they had had not heard. It said they had not believe what they had heard. They had hoped Christ would bring in the kingdom when they saw Jesus died there. Hope died along with them. They had no plan B, no recourse no alternative ideas. But Jesus had explained this would happen. In fact, he predicted his crucifixion and Resurrection explicitly. No less than three times in the gospels before this so they should have known they should have known they should not have been surprised not let me ask you a question. If you know the story Jesus Walks along for the Seven Mile Journey or fall or at least most of the seven miles and explains and and reasons with them from the scripture and does that until they arrive at their destination in Emmaus and that's the Lord explains all these things. Where is to me? Is that the most efficient way to reveal the resurrection? I'm in control or just said I'm here. I'm pack about his business for the day. But the Lord chose to take several hours to walk several miles down Dusty Rhodes to explain and reason from the scriptures. And only then after that would he reveal himself when they broke bread together at the end of the day? So why would the Lord do that? When all he would have to do to settle a matter is appear why take the time I believe the answer is so that their faith would be scripture not in their site. God could have shown himself in that first instant instead. He wanted to show it from scripture and then sorted at the end of that reveal himself. So that's another lesson from the road trip the Lord conceals himself to drawers to his word. What was the take away from that door. One of them would understand that the scripture had all the information they needed, you know, it's an open book test. It's all right here you should have realized this before things came to this state. Let's continue the story verse 28 then they do near to the village where they were going and he indicated that he would have gone farther, but they can strained him saying up hide with us for dysport evening and the day is far spent and he went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass as he sat at the table with him that he took bread blessed and broke it and gave it to them and then their eyes were opened and they knew him and he banished from their site and they said it went to another did not have heart burn within us when we talked with us on the road and while they open the scriptures to us. So they arose that very hour and return to Jerusalem and found the 11 and those were with them gathered together saying the Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon and they told about the things that have happened on the road and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Jesus is revealed Suddenly powerfully at in an impressive way. So the Lord is teaching them yet another lesson. I believe the Lord conceals himself to Ross to his word the Lord reveals himself to confirm. His word was not a nice touch after the Lord had convinced them from the scripture that there would be a resurrection that they could be confident in next in the Lord gives him sort of the frosting on the cake. Hey guys, I'm back an amazing thing and it change their lives and I'm thinking that they made the return trip on 7 miles a lot faster than they made the outbound Triple 7 miles even after dark evidently. They they truck they got back in a hurry what the Lord conceals himself to Ross to his words. Then he reveals himself to confirm his work. That's what they said verse 32 our hearts burned but literally ignited set on fire Jesus lit a fire in their hearts as he Share the word and by the way, isn't that a good incentive for all teachers? If you were a teacher of the word of God with your teaching twos and threes children's church Adult class is not what you're supposed to do light fires with the word of God ignite that passion that's fire, but we got to be doing as we share the truth. Teacher that should be your goal is to light a fire in the hearts of your your listeners Haddon Robinson who's probably the dean of American preachers for the last century said some men speaking hour and it seems like 15 minutes some speak 15 minutes and seems like an hour. We've all experienced that haven't we hopefully experience the better side of that this morning at the worst side of that. Hopefully that word of God like the fire in our hearts as we see why there's more there than I thought this is amazing. This is life-changing is impactful. So the Lord reveals himself to confirm his work. Why did Jesus reveal himself at that time? I believe it was to build confidence in his word noticed. Jesus doesn't always do the miraculous display, but he does it at select times to reinforce our faith at times he breaks the rules of the ordinary to shows what is extraordinary to confirm our faith in a special time of need. So let's finish the story this morning and we're going to have remaining at the remaining time together want to focus on to the next scene that happened after they all reassemble back in Jerusalem, and they've all heard these different scattered reports and these Clues as to what is going on. So once again and Luke chapter 24 and will pick it up and verse 36, that's the whole group is reassembled waiting to see what is going to happen next verse 36 now as they said these things Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said to them peace to you. But they were terrified and frightening suppose they'd seen a spirit and he said to them. Why are you troubled? Why do Down syndrome in your hearts be hold my hands and my feet that it is I myself handle me and see for a spirit does not have Flesh and Bones as you see I have when he had said that he showed them his hands and his feet but while they still did not believe for joy and marveled he said to them have you any food here. So they gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb and he took it an eight and their presence in our time that remains I want to show you what happened the two as we said rushed back they made the return trip of the of the seven miles and record time noticed by the way, there were two of them two witnesses from the road according to Jewish why it took two witnesses to validate a testimony and the year the Lord provided two witnesses yet again of the Resurrection so they came they came in from this Easter Sunday. Meeting we learn the Lord has two expectations were his disciples. So let me share those as we think about this last seen two things that the Lord expected when he up here to his gather disciples. Finally. The whole group is there minus, such as we find from John chapter 20, which also talks about this so virtually the whole gang. Is there an order to expectations? Here's the first he wants his disciples to be convinced convinced that he is risen. No doubt no question no Shadow or shade of doubt about the matter. It's resolved. He is risen death could not contain them. The grave could not keep him. He is alive the disciples should not have been surprised to see Jesus alive that Easter Sunday evening after all Jesus had told them what would happen on at least three different occasions as recorded in the gospels get already revealed himself earlier that day to marry to Peter and finally did the couple on the road. So take a clue. There's a trend. Pattern people have seen the Lord you shouldn't have a surprised face to work. Once I when I was a chaplain at once work for a large Navy Seabee unit in the Commodore used to always lectures staff don't be surprised by predictable results. This was a predictable result. It was predicted that he would rise again from the dead Witnesses said he had risen from the dead and yet the disciples were stunned and terrified when they saw him full disclosure has been given at every opportunity from the witnesses to the scriptures to the words of the war to the empty tomb yet. The disciples still seemed shocked by the resurrection. Now John's account of the same meeting ads that when Jesus appeared in the midst the doors were all sealed shut so I can understand being startled can't you when you think you're locked in and hunker down and suddenly there's a guy who wasn't there a minute ago, who's there? I can understand being startled. But I think this goes beyond just the stunning or startling moment. I think it was Taryn Spears the scripture says and they thought they'd seen a spirit and they freaked out. That's a Luz paraphrase. Jesus speaks to them. Peace to you the typical Hebrew greeting Shalom peace to you. We can understand the upset that startled but they were not simply startled. They were doubting thinking it had to be a ghost. It can't be him. Then noticed a curious wording verse 41, but while they still did not believe for joy How can you not believe for Joy? Is that a confusing complicated statement? I think it just talking about the complicated nature human nature we can believe and yet we're not sure we believe then we're excited. It's it's almost like it's too good to be true. This is really happening pinch me that's kind of the sentiment you get from this verse so if they want to believe and yet there and spank their logic is is overcome with us and they're having a hard time figuring it out. So it's a mixed response but despite all the previous teaching Revelation. Jesus needs to explain yet again that he is risen from the dead and he proved it to convince them in a couple ways first by the witnesses by the eyewitnesses. Jesus is proving his resurrection by the witnesses. How many witnesses were we seen in the gospels a number of disciples than the group of disciples and fact Paul the Apostle will say when he's explaining the gospel that the work of Jesus still say that there were Number of occasions not even mentioned in the gospels. In fact on one occasion cording to 1st Corinthians, 15 over 500 people in one setting saw Jesus raised from the dead. They saw the resurrected Laura many saw him. This is what is happening. The word provided Witnesses numerous Witnesses with their senses. He says to see the see the wounds. Do Jesus was resurrected. His body was restored reanimated refreshed yet. The wounds were retained. I find that interesting the Lord kept those wounds says his identification. If you will its credentials if you will and demonstrated those he lets them see let them touch invite them to touch they certainly hear him. And then he says, do you have any food? They still seem kind of skeptical kind of doubtful. So bored ask for food evidently the boys are going out for fish and chips earlier in the day had some leftovers and they said we'll get some broiled fish. And so the Lord eats fish with them and as you're done, So many times before the Lord sits at the table with them for fellowship and food and that reassures the disciples. Okay. This is him. This is Gabby's back. This is really him. So he demonstrates that he demonstrates that and noticed that our faith rests on a bodily Resurrection that's important. There have been called sin isn't over the centuries since that's a while. He was spiritually raised from the dead not physically when you hear somebody say that run don't walk for the door cuz that's a big deal. It's a bodily Resurrection. It's the body that's raised not just some Spirit or Apparition. He was physically raised from the dead just as we will one day be physically raised from the dead with a new body the Lord rose bottle me from the grave. The resurrection is proved in a second way after Jesus demonstrates, that's really him to their satisfaction. Look at what he does next Route 44, then he said to them these are the words. I spoke to you while I was still with you that all things must be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me and you opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures. I see what is it was written. He said verse 46 unless it was necessary for Christ to suffer and a rise from the dead on the third day. Now, I find this interesting early in the chapter on the road to Emmaus Jesus taught from the scriptures and then showed himself in the meeting with a gather disciples adjust to reverse first. He shows himself and then he demonstrates it from the scripture either way. He's corroborating that that shows has a second way that the resurrection is proven disproved by scripture proving by scripture. I underline in my Bible verse 44. These are the words which I spoke to you. These are the words which I spoke to you. That's a very polite and Jenna way of saying this is not new information. You should have got this already. I'm just repeating it making a perfectly obvious for the most casual Observer. This didn't come as a surprise. You should have known this. I provided insight to you're ready as I've already told you this was going to happen. That's what the word is reminding them. It's a gentle patient rebuke that again. The predictable result was the Resurrection The Lord again explains from Moses the prophets in the Psalms notice how he droops those three terms togethers Moses and when he says Moses she's talking about the first five books of the Old Testament that Moses wrote Moses wrote those books. So they're often called Moses by the Jewish people. So the first five books of the Bible and the Psalms in the profits if you see the Hebrew Bible today what we call the Old Testament as Christians, you'll see those are the three divisions of the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible Moses the prophets in the Psalms. And so what the Lord is saying is that This this book this book and its entirety. This book is Hebrew Bible testifies of me. Did you know that the whole Bible has one subject one theme? It's cheese. It's all about him. You see it's all about the Lord Jesus all scripture. All scripture points to him as its subject. All scripture is focused on the Lord Jesus the savior of the world. It's an important lesson to understand Jesus as the subject of the whole Bible. It's all about him. It goes back to Genesis 3 when he was told that our Offspring will be bruised by the serpent spiky for Offspring will crush the Serpent's head. That's a a preview of Jesus in his work Abraham offered his only son at Mariah which is essentially the same Hill geographically as Calvary where Jesus would later died. Abraham was told to offer his son at the last second. God said, no, that's alright he gave him an out on that one. But later God would send his own son. Go through with it and his own son will be put to death for the sins of the world and the prophets talk about Jesus twosomes talk about Jesus Moses and the bronze serpent lift it up so that whoever looked would live up to that recently in the book of numbers that speaks of Christ. He is shown to the prophets you the Psalms to the whole Old Testament. Jesus had a high view of scripture. He quoted prodded. It products. He he helped his disciples understand it and he still does that today all to this end that you might believe and be convinced of the Resurrection. Are you convinced of the Resurrection? I hope you are because it's the truth. It's the truth and we should accept that we must accept that. Last week I read about the convincing of a man named Lee Strobel Lee Strobel was a committed kritika the Bible he served as legal editor for the Chicago Tribune newspaper years ago Strobel was known for his skepticism saying I needed evidence before I believe anything one day his wife Leslie told him she decided to become a follower of Christ Strobel said to himself. This is the worst possible news I could get I thought this would be the end of our marriage will Leslie did change but to Strobel surprise the new version of a spouse was a welcome presence in their home. He said I saw positive changes in her values and character and the way she related to me and the children. It was Winsome an attractive and it made me want to check things out. So I went to church with her one day may need to see if I could get her out of this couch had gotten into the pastor explained that forgiveness is a free gift and Jesus died for our sins so that we could spend eternity with her Almighty and all loving father in Heaven. I walked out still an atheist, but also sang if this is true, this has huge implications for my wife. Strobel spent the next 21 months applying his legal training and journalists experience to investigate whether there was any credibility to Christianity or any other faiths system at the end of his research drobo came to the conclusion that would require more faith for him to continue being an atheist then to follow Jesus and become a Christian Strobel became convinced. The Bible is true. And Christ is risen. Are you convinced? Are you convinced that Christ is risen the Bible in his testimony is true. If you want to know Jesus get into the Bible, you know as I think about this Emmaus Road story. I wish I could have been one of those guys going for a walk with Jesus and hearing him teach and explain the scriptures. What a wonderful treat that would be so let me tell you that you can do something very similar you see for you and me. This is our Emmaus Road. This is our Emmaus Road as Jesus speaks to us from the scripture as we travel through the scriptures he reasons Explains the spirit of God opens her eyes to see what we would not otherwise. I understand we can have that same experience. Have you had that if you're a Seeker if you're an atheist and agnostic walk that road give it a chance to explore it. You don't Mark Twain famously said a classic is a book everybody talks about but nobody reads by that definition. The Bible's a classic people. Don't read it. Let me challenge you to read it to hear the word of God and see Jesus in those pages starting the Gospel of John if you're a new person if you're a rookie start the Gospel of John because that book is written explicitly to help you make a good decision about Jesus to know who he is and believe it believe that he is the Son of God who stretched his arms out on the cross on that Good Friday and died in the place that we deserve to die. He took our sin upon himself and then he was raised from the dead on Easter Sunday and so lives today. That's the gospel and if you trust in that you turn in fake that you will be The Bible is our road to Emmaus walk that road and meet the Lord. Let's continue. I want to show you a second expectation Lord had for his disciples noticed that Peppers 48 Jesus makes a statement and says you are witnesses of these things these things that you've been seeing. So if there are two expectations the Lord has on that Easter Sunday, the first is that we be convinced he's risen the second is that we get ready to tell people in other words now that we've established the facts of the matter. I've got a job for you to do you are witnesses for me to All Peoples to all the nations you are witnesses for me after confirming the Resurrection The Lord moves on to commissioning the disciples. In other words. You have a job. You have a task of a mission to do Believers are called to be Witnesses. That's what we called to be recalled to be Witnesses never been a witness in a jury trial and a courtroom. Some of you have have you ever watched a court where you had witness testimony. What is the job of the witness simply to tell what they saw or heard just to report the facts of the matter isn't that were called to do as Christians if we found the Lord to be true if we have found that he is risen indeed if we know that this is the truth. We are called to be witnesses to tell what we seen and heard, you know, you don't have to have a seminary education to tell somebody about Jesus. In fact, it might be easier without a seminary education to tell the truth. You don't have to be able to answer every hard question about the Bible to be witness. All you have to do is say what Jesus did for you? Can you do that? That's that's being a witness. And that's what the Lord called his disciples to be to be witnesses to the world around them. In this case. The disciples saw Jesus come back to life and now their commission to take that good news that message to all the world. So what is the message? Let's take a look again at this message verse 46. He said to them it is written and that's it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name to All Nations beginning at Jerusalem and you were Witnesses of these things, but let me just summarize the work that we've been given here's the first part RR message starts with a subject is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. You know, sometimes people say what we have to do to be saved you have to believe you have to trust or have faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. If you want to put it down to the lowest common denominator if there's a line right here on this side, you don't believe what makes you cross the line to believing and having saving faith. It is trusting in the fact that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose again from the dead. That is the gospel those the irreducible minimums are the gospel believing in Christ atoning or substitutionary death for me and Resurrection. If you believe in that if you trust in that you are saved that's what the Bible teaches us. That's the message belief in his death and Resurrection. Our Authority is Jesus himself. Jesus himself we go at his bidding not our own yet, you know, this is not just some made-up thing that a bunch of people got together and came up with a new club called Christianity. Now, it's Jesus mission from start to finish and we do his work. We do it his way. They preached in his name verse 47. It's not our idea. It's his idea when we share the gospel. We're doing his work his errand the work of the king of kings notice also that our audiences all the nations notice how he adds that verse 47 to all the nations to every ethnic group to every tribe to every language to every race to every Everything everyone. There's no exceptions. The gospel is not just for a little select few a few privileged people. That's for everybody for all people. Jesus died and rose again to save all who would come all nations All Peoples. Notice also that our goal is giving its repentance and forgiveness does repentance verse 47 in remission of sin should be preached repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in the Old Testament. The word repent usually means a change of Direction. I was going this way now, I've changed my activity my behavior and I'm going a different way in the New Testament the word talks about her thinking our our mind in other words. If you look at the whole of the Bible repentance means to change your thinking and change your direction and the fact is if you change your thinking you will change your direction or you haven't really changed your thinking it's proof in the works as James said faith without works is dead. So Jesus has given us a message that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. It releases all sick all send that we confess is released. We don't have to bear that burden or that guilt or shame anymore. It's gone. It's taken away. It's absolve completely. by the blood of Christ I want to hear Pastor John MacArthur say that he learned a quick way to figure out if the person next to me on the airplane was interested enough to continue a gospel conversation. He said when the question came up, what do you do? He would say I help people get their sins forgiven. Are you interested? That's pretty quick way to cut to the chase admit. I help people get their sins forgiven. Let me tell you don't have to be a pastor to help people get their sins forgiven. We are all given that privileged as as Servants of the lord we can help anyone everyone have their sins forgiven. That's what the gospel is and what a delight it is. There is no greater thing that we can experience his Believers. I think then to see somebody come to Faith in Jesus Christ. Grab somebody will come to faith in Christ this morning if you were here and you've never made that once-in-a-lifetime Faith decision make it today make it today. Jesus said there is rejoicing in heaven the Angels rejoice when a person comes to faith in Christ, that would be the Delight of my day as well as his day come to faith in Christ. So our goal is repentance and forgiveness and notice something else. Where is 49? This is an important Mission. It's urgent. It's like man, we need to get that at work but not so fast. There's a pause at strategic pause verse 49 behold. I send the promise to my father upon you but carry in the city of Jerusalem until your endued with power from on high in other words. I got this incredible Mission. Nothing could be more important but wait what what you die for a sins and raised from the dead in the world. Should we wait for we got to get the word out? He says wait for what for power you see our help comes from God Spirit. We've been given a huge job and we need huge help. The fact is we can go through the motions without God's help, but we can't see the fruit the result that we would desire without God's help. You know, we can do our best but it's not good enough God is the only can change your heart. Then he gives his power because it's power and ability to share the truth to share with people. It's a big job. Don't try this alone. So God is sending help. So we have a mission. Jesus calls us to be witnesses to be communicating what he has done. He calls us to witness and share that truth of other people and we must do that. It's not optional. It's not just for the person who has the gift of evangelism. It's for everybody who knows Christ is Lord. We're all enrolled. In fact, if you're a Christian raise your right hand raise your right hand i'm deputizing you to be Witnesses. The name of Jesus Christ, we're all called to be Witnesses for him. In fact, Jesus put it in very strong terms. He said if you do not confess me before men neither will I confess you before my father and have another words? It's pretty big deal. It's essential. You can't keep that bottled up to yourself. You know, we're not the custodians of Truth where the conveyors of Truth we communicated and share with people. So I have some homework for you this Easter Sunday. Did you realize when you came to church this morning? You have homework? Here's your homework and it's mine to tell someone tell someone about the Lord Jesus that he has risen. He has risen indeed. It changes everything the world has never been the same and never will be the same because of the Resurrection. So if you're thinking I know somebody that I'm not sure they're Christian. How do I even begin? Let me tell you what I do. I like to pray for that person and I like to pray God you said you would help me to do this and I need that help. EBay ever choked up and they try to talk to somebody about the Lord give her choke had a not know what to say cata stumble. I pray pray God help me to know what to say to know what not to say help me to know when help them to be ready to listen. So you pray pray and get prepared prepared to share that truth. Ask God who to share with how to share when to share what not to share. All those are so important. So this morning we looked at to expectations. The Lord has for his disciples as revealed them that Easter Sunday that first Easter Resurrection Sunday be convinced of the resurrection and then get ready to tell others so brothers and sisters the good news is he is risen. He is risen indeed. Will you pray with me Father in heaven? We thank you that you are a Risen Lord. The Risen Savior came to this world. He came and died in the place that we all deserve to die. He took upon himself the punishment. He endured the cross despising the shame and now he is raised from the dead and need to send it on high. By the way. Thank you for the good news. The great news the incomparable news of the Resurrection by the may we share that news with others. May we tell someone this week? Father thing when hearing these words either at home or here present in the sanctuary has never resolve this matter, they're not really believe her that not really settled that they're not convinced father May the spirit of God make them Restless until they get convinced. May we seek? Because you promised that if we ask we shall receive if we seek we shall find if we knock the door shall be opened father encouraged us to seek you out help us in all these things. We pray in Jesus name and all God's people said amen.