Everybody Has A Story to Tell

Everybody has a story to tell about Jesus

It might be something about your childhood.

It might be that today is the first time you really understood Jesus.

It might be that you credit Jesus for saving your life.

It might be you think Jesus is a good story for Christmas or that he’s a good story for women and children.

Whatever your story is, you have a story.

Everybody that has ever heard of Jesus has a story about Jesus.

Storyworth.com

I’ve talked to you guys about Storyworth before.

In fact, I’ve probably mentioned them enough that you think I get paid to advertise for them.

In a nutshell, when you subscribe to Storyworth, they send you a question in email each week.

Your job is to answer the question and email it back.

It’s really simple if you’ll let it be.

One of the questions I got asked was, “How did you celebrate your 21st birthday?”

I remembered so I answered it.

The two biggest temptations when you do this is either trying to be a Hemingway or being too succinct in your answer.

You simply let your mind wander and remember what you can remember and write it all down.

Now why would you do an exercise such as this?

We’ve had two funerals in the last two weeks.

Mr. Charlie Mayhue and Ms. Dot Bragg.

Both were larger than life characters in their own right.

They can’t tell their stories anymore, can they?

How much of the Mayhue family history and the Bragg family history was lost when Charlie and Ms. Dot went home?

You see everyone has a story to tell.

Everyone.

My daughter Anna signed me up for Storyworth 2 years ago.

For Christmas this year, she gave me the book.

They take all of your answers and publish in a book.

You get one free, but you can buy extras.

My book has 71 chapters - I answered 71 questions over the last two years.

It has 392 pages.

I gotta tell you, I was very impressed.

I would never have done that by sheer will power.

But a week at a time - sometimes more than a week - and now I have a book.

And in my book, in several places, I tell my story of Jesus.

My hope is, somewhere down the road when I am “gathered to my fathers” as the Bible says, some relative.

Or maybe even someone pouring over discarded books at a flea market will pick it up.

And maybe see a little bit of themselves and maybe see Jesus.

We all have a story to tell

Every last one of us.

Everyone’s story is important - that’s my guiding principle in a funeral - everyone’s story ought to be told.

Everyone is an image bearer - created in the image of God.

Everyone has a story to tell and that story will always include Jesus.

The Road to Emmaus

The heading in my Bible says, “On the Road to Emmaus.”

Luke tells this story in chapter 24:13-35 and it follows directly after the resurrection story.

Luke 23 ends with the set up.

Jesus has been crucified and buried.

Then Luke says this: Luke 23:54-56

Luke 23:54–56 ESV

It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

The way Luke tells the story, they’ve got to go back to Jesus tomb.

All day Saturday - the Jewish Sabbath - they worshipped Yahweh and they mourned over Jesus.

From sundown Friday evening, until sundown Saturday evening.

They waited.

Luke 24 opens on Sunday morning and you know the story.

The women got up early and went to the tomb - and you know, you know from how Luke wrote the story that something isn’t going to be like they expect it.

They get there and the stone that sealed the tomb had been rolled out of the way.

And Jesus’ body was gone.

An angel appeared to them and he uttered the most famous line ever, “He is not here, but has risen.”

But then he told them something very curious - he said, remember what Jesus told you.

That’s going to be a common theme in this story - remember what the Lord has told you.

Remember what you’ve read.

Remember what you’ve studied.

Think when you are confronted with a question.

Remember.

The women rush back and tell the men.

But the men didn’t believe them - except maybe one or two.

Our man Peter.

Peter had a story to tell, didn’t he?

Full of bravado and testosterone, Peter pounded his chest and told Jesus he’d never die, that Peter would die to save his life.

Then Jesus got arrested.

And the crowd got hostile.

Three times Peter told a story that wasn’t true.

Let me get a little too close for comfort.

Have you ever done what Peter did?

We come to church and sing and talk and we’re all brave and stuff here.

But one day, at work - at a family Christmas party - someone said something about Jesus and you knew in your gut you should say something.

But you didn’t.

Remember how you felt on the way home?

That’s where Peter was.

And you know what I think?

I think he ran hoping that tomb was empty because maybe just maybe Jesus would give him a do-over.

Peter’s story had taken an unexpected turn.

It wasn’t the story he was writing - it became something else.

He got to the tomb - and we know from the book of John that John ran with him.

And the tomb was empty.

The stone was rolled away.

He “marveled” Luke said.

He wondered in admiration - that’s what marvel means.

Something happened - something good happened.

If it was 2022, Peter would be saying, “My boy done good.”

But how good - he didn’t know yet.

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 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?” 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, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 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. 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. 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.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 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. 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. 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, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

When you hear about Jesus, it is supposed to make a difference

People expect it to.

That’s why the guys at the Washington County Road Department where I worked for a season quit telling dirty jokes when I came around.

I knew Jesus - they knew that’s supposed to make a difference.

These two guys are walking down a road towards Emmaus on the same day that the empty tomb was discovered.

They had been with the disciples - they were Christ followers themselves.

And they couldn’t make sense out what was going on.

While they were talking and discussing Jesus walked up - but this is one of those times that for some reason, they couldn’t recognize him.

I have no clue how that works - don’t need to - it worked.

He asked what was going on.

They stopped stock still.

They were walking and talking and this stranger asked what they were talking about and it stopped them cold in their tracks.

Essentially they asked him, Dude, how in the world did you miss the news?

They weren’t being smart alecks, they were stating a point for you and me.

This Jesus thing didn’t happen in a corner somewhere.

It didn’t happen on the south side of town and the north, east and west sides had no clue.

This was big news - it was huge news.

Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified and 72 hours later, His tomb is open and His body is missing.

The way Luke records the story, he’s telling us - this had an entire city of people in an uproar.

Whether we choose to believe Jesus is the savior of the world or if we choose to think he’s simply a good man - doesn’t matter.

Something happened in the city of Jerusalem to a man named Jesus and it made a difference to the entire community.

When you hear the story of Jesus, you are supposed to think

Every time all of my life that I’ve read verse 25, I’ve felt like it was a slap down.

“O foolish ones,” Jesus said to them.

I’ve always heard, “You dunderheads, how dense can two guys be?”

But that’s not what Jesus was saying at all.

When Jesus said, Luke 24:25

Luke 24:25 ESV

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

Jesus was making a moral statement to them.

He wasn’t saying, “how dense can you two guys be?”

Jesus was saying, “Guys, how come you know the answer but you refuse to believe it?’

Luke 24:27 “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

They knew this.

They had studied Moses and all of the Prophets.

They knew what Isaiah had to say about the Messiah.

They knew - but they were slow of heart.

It was hard for them to believe it.

Not so different from us, right?

So many things in life, so many decisions that we worry and fret over.

And pray - pray impassioned, tearful prayers begging, pleading for an answer.

But have we gone to the word?

And not just a plop the Bible down and read where it opens.

But read it - slowly - regularly - listening to it - hearing the story of Jesus.

When you meet Jesus, you are changed.

Whether you want to be or not.

How can you expect to meet the Savior of the world and not be changed?

And I don’t mean to trust Him as Savior.

I mean if you reject His claims, that changes you too.

It’s late - they’ve walked seven miles - they are near someone’s house and they invite Jesus in to talk some more.

Jesus says no, he’s got to ease on down the road.

And they strongly urged him - in other contexts these words almost mean to kidnap someone.

They really wanted him to stay.

So he did.

They fixed supper.

They sat down to eat - now, here’s a deal.

Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it.

Doesn’t strike us as odd but it was so odd.

Jesus was a guest - not a host.

The host breaks the bread and passes it out.

Now, because we know we are supposed to think when we meet Jesus, what is Luke bringing to our minds?

It’s the last supper right?

Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in ...

Remembrance of me.”

And immediately their eyes were opened and they knew they were with Jesus.

It appears that the Lord’s Supper might be a bigger deal to Jesus that it has been for Baptists.

Luke says that Jesus vanished from their sight.

But then he said the coolest thing - Luke 24:32 “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?””

Did our hearts not burn within us…?

Do your hearts ever do that?

Something in a sermon, something in a book.

Talking about Jesus and your heart burns within you.

It hurts - it aches.

It’s unexplainable.

It’s the Spirit - telling you about Jesus.

What happened to them when they were with Jesus, happens to us.

It was dark by then - but all fear was gone.

That same hour they headed back to Jerusalem.

In the dark.

For seven miles.

Until they could get back to where the disciples were.

The disciples said, “The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.”

And these two told them, “We saw Him too - we recognized Him when He broke the bread for us - like He did the other day.”

Everyone has a story to tell about Jesus.

The story is told about a Russian by the name of Nikolai Bukharin.

He was an official in Stalin’s government in 1930 and he took a trip to Kiev to give a speech on atheism.

For an hour he addressed the crowd telling them there was no God.

He hurled insults, he made arguments, he submitted his proofs.

He told his story about Jesus.

There was no Jesus.

He proved it to them.

And then he asked, “Are there any questions?”

Like modern day anti-christs, he expected no response.

Who would dare stand?

Who would take such a chance?

One man approached the platform and Bukharin allowed him to speak.

The man told his story about Jesus.

The man simply said, “Christ is Risen.”

To which the masses thundered, “He is Risen Indeed!”

Everyone has a story to tell about Jesus.

Our world right now has us a little afraid to tell our story.

But I wonder?

How many people would tell their story if just one person would speak up and tell their story?

There is so much left for us to tell about Jesus.

How many people might change their stories about Jesus if we would tell them our story about Jesus.

That’s the reason for the Storyworth commercial earlier.

Everyone has a story to tell.

Everyone.

Even the most shy, introverted person alive has a story to tell.

So here are some questions?

What do you know about Jesus?

What have you seen?

What have you heard?

Have you looked in the Bible to see how what you have seen and what you have heard line up with what God says?

I’m sure you’ve listened to church horror stories but have you heard about Jesus?

Have you read the stories?

Have you really paid attention - have you really listened to who Jesus is and how He really operates?

I invite you this morning to tell me your story of Jesus.

If you are seeing Him as your Savior for the first time, why not tell me?

Why not tell someone?

Right now.

And brothers and sisters, why not tell someone your story of Jesus.

You might be surprised at the difference it makes.

Pray with me.