Even in difficulty His love reigns supreme.

Introduction

Good morning Lafayette Baptist family. It is so good to see you again this weekend and share God’s word and worship with you. It is also good to finish out the journey we started together a few weeks ago in Luke. So, today’s text will be Luke 24:36-53, Luke 24:36-53. While you are turning there in your Bibles, I want to share with you a personal story from this week that fits this week’s main idea very well. You see, as many of you know here, my wife and I have been involved in an unusual adoption process for a few months now. While many weeks are difficult, this week has been the most emotionally difficult for serval reasons. I want to share with you one of the things that happened to me.

While spending some time with the little girl and her current caretaker (whom she calls mom), we had a freighting abuse case be told to us from her mom. We listened and lamented as this sad story was told to us; which I heard then again and again in my head through the rest of the day. I committed to helping them report this to the police. I worked diligently through the week to help achieve this. As more and more information regarding the situation became revealed to me (some of which was hurtful lies to me), I became an emotional wreck, staying up all night Wednesday and cried out in one point during the kings, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me and mercy on them.” The next morning was much the same. In my devotional time after Emily left for work, I added some worship music provided by The Austin Stone Worship Team to my morning. A few songs I listened to were songs like “Build my Life,” “Good Grace,” and “something greater.” During this time a I cried hugely and painfully thinking of how much God’s love must have hurt when he had to correct his children and allow Jesus to be murdered when considering having to do a police report and how emotionally draining it is me. These songs reminded me one truth though, that Jesus, His love, God’s love reigns supreme. That is the big idea today, that His love reigns supreme.

The Text

If you will all now please rise for the reading of God’s word. Please read along in your own Bibles as I read out loud and say thanks be to God after I say “This is the Word of the Lord.” But first, let’s pray. Father God, we need you so desperately. In all areas of our life, we are totally dependent on you. Take this message, that you are about to give us, and help us find the hope and joy that can only be found in you. Help us to find it and then apply to ourselves Lord. Make us, mold us, refine us in the refreshing and nourishing spring that is the truth in your word. Sanctify us in your word father, your word is truth. It’s in these things we ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy Name we pray, Amen. Luke 24:36-53. Luke 24:36

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,[b] 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[c] 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.”

50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

This is the word of the Lord. (Thanks be to God). Thank you, you may be seated.

Background

Now we are finishing out the Gospel account of Luke. You will recall last week we found ourselves on the road to Emmaus. In this narrative, two disciples found themselves leaving Jerusalem heading back to Emmaus after 3rd day of Jesus’s death. This death and resurrection of Jesus we of course celebrated on Easter Sunday two weeks ago. During their travels, these two disciples were worrily discussing the things that had happened. Jesus then, keeping himself not recognized, appears to the disciples and teaches them about Himself along the way. When the end of the day came, these two invited Jesus to stay with them. Jesus did stay with them and dined with them, but as he had finished serving the wine and breaking the bread, he made Himself appear in their eyes suddenly. The disciples then quickly ran back to Jerusalem to tell the 11 apostles and the other disciples what happened to them, that Jesus had indeed appeared to them and had appeared to the others as they claimed, to them their was no doubt.

We know that up to this point the apostles and disciples had been largely astounded and confused. They knew that Jesus had died, they saw it with their own eyes; this true despite credible claim after credible claim had come in depicting a resurrected messiah. Most of them still doubted though, they had not yet heard, understood, or touched the messiah as the others had, but now thing are about to change. This bring us into our text today. This brings us to where the apostles and disciples truly believe in Christ as the Messiah, the savior of the world who redeemed us from our separation from God. This was the hope of all Israel (and us) fulfilled grasped in heart and mind. One thing I really want us to mark through this is message is (and as the apostles and disciples learn) Even with the most obvious and clear explanations/signs/examples it is often hard to see and trust God for who He is; no matter to our flaws He is still God and what He says stands true. So, that begs the question, What did he say!?

Exposition

Moving into our text today, I want to share with you three things that God is telling us through this text.

The first thing I want to share with you all is that Jesus had wounds just like us.

Verse 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,[b] 43 and he took it and ate before them.

The first thing we see here is that Jesus appears. But whereas in that case Jesus had walked up to Cleopas and his companion as any traveler might, this time he appeared suddenly.[1]You can understand then why they may think they were being visited by a spirit/apparition/ghost, keep in mind that Jewish people of this time where by nature a very superstitious group. You may notice in the text, that depending on your bible translation you may have an asterisk or footnote near the “he said to them, peace to you” part. This is because many of the oldest text manuscripts do not include this, but either way it is very likely that Jesus did this weather or not it was recorded as this would been the common greeting amount Jewish people of the time. Picture the scene. The disciples have been filled with grief at the destruction of their dreams, but then reports began to filter in that gave them a glimmer of hope they were too crestfallen to accept at first. But disbelief and doubt slowly turned to perplexity and then hope.[2]

Jesus then clams their fears, he invites them to observe and touch that it was really Him and not something to fear. He shows them his wounds and scars which were many.

While still in disbelief. Jesus provides further evidence of his physical presence by eating (vv. 42–43). The theologian Liefield says, “Commentators refer to instances such as Genesis 18:8 and 19:3 as examples of eating by supernatural visitors, though in these two instances the reason was not, as here, to show that they were not ghosts.”[3] Once again, it was obvious to them now. This was Jesus in front of them. He had wounds deep wounds. Wounds so deep they would have been horrifying to see. Guess what, we have wounds too. While they may not literally be deep impressions from nails for javelin stabs, I guarantee that every person in this room today has a wound that hits them deeply as well. Just like they saw Jesus’s wounds, Jesus sees yours too. He cares deeply about them and intercedes to the father for those who are his. Take comfort, Your God knows what it’s like to be wounded. In the same way, we are to care about each others wounds.

Let’s move into our next point, point 2, Jesus had suffered just like us.

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[c] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Here, once again we see the patient savior teaching his disciples what they already knew but never quite made the connection. He opened their minds and in an instant they understood all of His teachings, all of the scriptures, all of the truth. That He was supposed to suffer (which they didn’t want to believe (How could God suffer they must have thought) they didn’t realize that God’s love far exceeds ours as all to often our love ends where suffering begins.

You may remember the words of Job. In Job 2:13 after taking his affliction the Bible says that his friends saw that his suffering was very great. It would go to say in the next chapter. “20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, 21 who long for death, but it comes not,and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,22 who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave? 23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?24 For my sighing comes instead of[a] my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.25 For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, but trouble comes.” This is of course all after his entirety of his wealthy, all of his children die, his health goes away, and his wife tells him to no longer hold onto his integrity, but to curse God and die. Here was a man knew extreme suffering , just like the Christ. If you go through your Bible, you won’t have to look hard to find people suffering, it’s everywhere…. Just like it is everywhere for us…… Know this though, your God knows what it is like to suffer, to suffer in the highest degree. For us, and much like Job our suffering has to do with the sinful world that we are in. Our own sin all to often can be traced back to the cause or the sin of others as well. When your children yells at you in hatred and rebellion, or your life’s work dwindles away in front of your own eyes, or your diagnoses isn’t good and you don’t know how or even if to share it with others, God knows what it is like to suffer in this way. His time on the cross was the worst kind of suffering imaginable. To make it worse, the sinless one who knew the constant delight and attention of His father, had His father turn away in His final moments as a Holy God cannot tolerate the sin that was laid on Him, the sin of all people.

We go through suffering not for no reason, but because much like Job it is this suffering that draws us closer to God and understand Him and treasure Him better; so that we can glorify Him more. You know, I have heard it said that, “A Christian is like a tea Bag-not much good until it has gone through hot water.”[4] I can attest to that this week, through my emotional sufferings I drew closer to God and understood the pain He feels when we separate ourselves from Him all the more.

Verse 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.”

So, what is this promise that The Father was to give them? This was of course the power of God’s Holy Spirit that indwells all believers of Jesus Christ. To receive Him, all you have to do is believe in Christ and repent for your former ways. You can read more about this happening to the apostles in Acts 1. There is much to say about Him, the Holy Spirit but I think this short Poem by J.S. Baxter does it beautify He says, “What God chooses, He cleanses. What God cleanses, He molds. What God Molds, He fills. What God fills, He uses.”[5]When you receive this gift from God, this is not a gift we keep idly. Rather we are all expected to go out and do kingdom work for the Glory of God. If you don’t do this you yourself are disobedient and need to do an about-face. That being said, you are not alone. We are the church, we are to be a family that delights in helping one another know God better and serve Him better.

Let’s move on, the next point is Jesus loves people just like us.

50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

You see here, in the final moments of His time on Earth, what did Jesus do, He blessed His followers. Blessed is probably one those words we here a lot, so often that it loses it’s meaning, so what does it mean? It means to ,” speak well, to thank, to encourage, or praise.” He encouraged them for their future work in sharing God with others. We see this moment foretold about by Jesus in John 13 which says, “31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” He loved them to the point of sacrificially giving up of Himself to thoroughly equip them for the work of the Kingdom of God. In our main text we see that Jesus is carried up into heaven which overjoys the apostles. So then, what do we do? We Love God and we Love another. If we don’t do this as believers, we are weak and frail. If we do this, we are mighty and strong, empowered by the Holy Spirit, EMPOWERED BY GOD HIMSELF HOW CAN NOT BE STOPPED. But How do we do this? This means that as a church family we are to be so tight nit that we know by just looking at one another that something is good or bad. We should be first in line when it comes to helping one another when help is needed, we should be vulnerable enough in our congregation, the Holy Bride of Christ (the church), to share our hurt and weaknesses. We should love God enough to go out and show His love to the world, even when it seems like the world or the people of world don’t love us (and guess what all to often they won’t, the wisdom of God seems foolish to men). We don’t deserve the kind of love that God give us, but we have it anyways because HE is so great, WE. MUST. GO. SHARE. THIS. WITH.THE.OTHERS. God loves people, yes even people just like us.

Conclusion

Rounding things out today, here are the three points. Jesus had wounds just like us, Jesus had suffered just like us, Jesus loves people just like us.Wow, isn’t He amazing? I want to share with you some of the words that hit me the hardest this week from the song, Build my Life. This is a beautiful song, one that I would say is one of my favorites as a believer. They are (and this is a song to God), “Worthy of every song we could ever sing. Worthy of all the praise we would ever bring. Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe, we live you, we live you. Jesus the name above every other name. Jesus the only one who could ever save. Worthy of every breathe we could ever breathe we live for you. Oh! We live you. Holy, there is no one like you. There is none beside You, Open up my eyes in wonder. Show me who you are and fill me with your heart and lead me in in your love to those around me. I will build my life upon your love it is a firm foundation. I will put my trust in You alone and I will not be shaken.” Wow, we are to build our lives on the foundation of Christ.

Our love is to be good and it is right for us to love others. By the ways brothers and sister, I love you all. However, God’s Love is something different. His love reigns supreme. So, how do we be become objects of God’s love and not his wrath. If you are not a friend of God’s then you are an enemy of God; as James 4:4 tells us. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” So what is in the world? It is a fallen sin nature. What makes a friend of God (and this THE ONLY WAY) is to know that you are a sinner in dire need of help. This help and payment for your sins can only come through the atonement of Jesus Christ whom you are to confess as Lord and Messiah of your life. Then you count yourself amount the redeemed, those in God’s good pleasure who then are equipped and commanded to go out and make an impact for His kingdom. This is not the work of the enemy, but of the friends of God.

If you are not a friend of God yet, will you become one? Only He will fill the piece of your heart that seems to never be filled. If you are a friend of God and need prayer, or you need someone to talk to, or someone to confess to, or someone to ask forgiveness of, I invite you to come down during our last song together. I will be here and I would love to talk listen to you very much.

Let’s pray. “Father, thank you for this message that you have given us this day. What a wonderful God you are. A God that knows and sees all. I pray father that as part this week that our faiths would be strengthened and fortified as we remember what you have shared with us today. Father, though we may hurt so much, it pails in comparison to the hurt that you feel when we separate ourselves for you. Still, despite this fact you still stand with arms wide open ready to receive your child. Help us to remember this, Help us to put away anything that keeps us from trusting in you, help to mobilize us for the works of your good kingdom. It’s in these things we ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy name I pray, Amen.

[1]Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8, Zondervan Publishing House, 1984, p. 1056. [2]Osborne, Grant R. Luke: Verse by Verse. Edited by Jeffrey Reimer et al., Awa Sarah, Lexham Press, 2018, p. 573. [3]Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8, Zondervan Publishing House, 1984, p. 1057. [4] Pg 363 of Illustrations for Biblical Preaching by Green. [5] Pg 190 Ibid