Luke 24: Walking, Talking and Sharing the Resurrection  ebc 4 12 09

How did Jesus spend that first Easter day?  He spent it spending time and caring for some people who has lost hope.  When we think of the resurrected Jesus we often picture Jesus glowing in bright, heavenly light, hovering a few feet above the earth.  He is Risen and He reigns in heaven.  In reality, Jesus spent his 40 days after his resurrection encouraging and teaching.  The resurrected Lord Jesus says to the doubting Thomas, “Touch my hands and side, stop doubting and believe.”  The risen Jesus prepares a fire on a sandy beach and cook breakfast for his friends who were out fishing.  After breakfast he looks at Peter and says, “Do you love me?” Peter struggling: “Yes.”  Jesus:  “Go and feed my sheep.”  The resurrected Jesus is not seen as much hovering over people as he is mixing with and interacting:  he walks with them, he talks with them, he shares a meal- In the Garden.  Still does the same things today.  Want to celebrate Easter the way Jesus did?  Find someone who is hurting, lost hope, care for them.

* Jesus WALKED with them:  (isn’t it great to see all the people out walking with the warmer weather?)
Luke 24: 13-15:  "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.”  Jesus came along side some people who were struggling, trying to process that had happened to this prophet for which so many had high hopes.  For some reason, I picture Jesus walked with them for a long time before he said a word.  Just listening… He just walked with them, listening not lecturing.  Why?  Because these two people were hurting.  They were heartbroken.  Their dreams had been crushed.  They hopes had died with Jesus.  You can see their heads hanging and their shoulders drooping as they walk toward Emmaus.   Most counseling is listening.

Study walkers… we telegraph our emotional state. 
In their minds are questions:  Why did everyone turn on Jesus?  Why didn’t he come down from the cross, we saw his miracles? 
What did he let Pilate and Herod push him around?  What do we do now?

-As they walked along they are joined by a stranger.  It is the Risen Lord but they didn’t recognize him.  Disappointment can blind a person to the presence of God.  Discouragement turns our eyes inward.  Despair clouds our vision and hardens our heart.  You can hear their discouragement in Lk. 24:20-21:  "The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”  We had hoped.  They expected that Jesus would kick out the Romans and bring in a Golden Age of Jewish self-rule, but Jesus didn’t do what they expected.  Disappointment often happens when our expectations meet reality.  The Messiah they expected wasn’t supposed to suffer, lay down and die.  No, he was supposed to rise up and lead the rebellion.

-In their discouraged state, they refuse to accept the good news that Jesus was alive.  Lk. 24: 21-24: “And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."  
Can you feel the discouragement?  Twice they mention that Jesus was nowhere to be found.  It’s as if they were saying, “It wasn’t bad enough that Jesus was killed but now some grave robbers have taken his body & confused our friends.”  The old saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.”  These disciples are grieving, they are in the process of putting their hearts on the shelf.  Don’t hope and don’t dream then you wont get hurt.  The same thing happens to us everyday:  Hurt by love?  Stop loving.  Someone betrayed you or broke a promise?  Stop trusting.  Someone broken your heart?  Don’t ever be vulnerable to again.  Blame your pain on others.  Keep re-living your failures and regrets.  Harden your heart.  Hide your feelings.  Go inside yourself, shut the door, refuse to come out.  Disciples refused news women-11.

-Jesus didn’t sit back and watch these two cynical disciples complain;  he came to them and met them at their point of need.  Jesus walked beside them and felt their discouragement.  Old saying: “Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.  Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.  Just walk beside me and be my friend.”  Jesus often meets us where we least expect him and often we don’t recognize him because we’re not looking.  Remember Jesus’ promises:  “I will never leave you or forsake you!”  “I will be with you always, even to the end of time.” “Come to me all weary…”  He is Emmanuel- “God with us.” 
We think of religion as something where we sit down, inside, be still. Jesus taught most walking outside.

-Think of your biggest problem or area where you hurt the most:  somewhere Jesus is with you, walking alongside you but you may not recognize him because you’re so tired and frustrated.  These two discouraged disciples remind us that we always need to nurture a sense of expectancy with Jesus because he will meet us in times/ places in we don’t expect. Jesus will appear if we’re open and praying for help.

* Jesus TALKED to them:
When Jesus does speak he doesn’t sugar coat or water down his words.  He speaks the truth w/ boldness.
Lk. 24: 25-27:  "He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” 
After Jesus walked and listened and felt their hurt, then he spoke to them.  He went back to the basics, the Bible stories they had heard as children in kindergarten.  Back to basics:

-Jesus cure for a broken heart is to tell God’s story.  Why?  Because when you’re disappointed and discouraged you need to hear that God is still in control, that you’re not alone; that you’re not the first person to weep, to doubt, to question God’s existence or power to help.  The Bible is full of people who weep, suffer, who question and doubt, who run away and hide… God gave 10Cs and the Bible reveals how every one of those commandments is broken by real people.  God is seeking real people like you.

-Lucado:  “Read the story and remember, the Bible story is your story:”
Are you facing challenges that are too big?  That’s you crossing the Red Sea with Moses w Egy purs
Are you overwhelmed w financial worries? That’s you receiving manna/ quail from heaven desert/ 5000
Are your emotional wounds too deep to ever heal?  That’s you like Joseph forgiving his brothers in tears
Are your enemies too powerful?  That’s you running out to face giant Goliath with a sling shot & faith.  Read God’s word and your life will be changed.  Listen to what the two men said in Lk. 24: 32, “...Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"  Heb. 4:12:“The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any doubled edged sword.  It penetrates our souls and reveals the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts.”  It’s like God’s x-ray/ MRI.  Jesus’ cure for a broken heart is to tell God’s story: God is in control. We’re never alone. Tell own story:

* Jesus SHARED a meal with them:
Lk. 24: 30-31: “ When he was at the table w them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it & began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” In sharing a meal with them, Jesus shared himself.  When he broke the bread, they saw his nail scarred hands for the first time and they knew it was Jesus?  Eating with someone is a symbol of acceptance and fellowship.  You avoid eating with your enemies… you eat with family and friends.  In sharing this meal with these two disciples,  Jesus was saying, “I love you, you are my friends and I gave my life as a sacrifice for your sins.”  Just hours before this encounter Jesus said that his followers should regularly gather to share a meal of bread and wine to remember his broken body and shed blood that brought forgiveness to all who eat it in faith.  Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life” given for all who are hungry.  “I am Living Water” given to all who are thirsty for something more than this world can provide. 

* The men SHARED the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection with others:
Lk. 24: 33-35: “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them…They shouted:  "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”
It  shouldn’t surprise us that after Jesus broke the bread and then vanished from view, that these two disciples got up and ran 7 miles in the dark back to Jerusalem to find the other disciples to share with them their experience:  “It’s true! It’s really true!  He’s alive! He has risen from the dead!”   Everything had changed.  They could dream again, love again, live again.  When God comes alive in our heart, then we naturally want to share it with others and as we share it, the story becomes more real to us as well. 

* The TURNING POINT in our story: They invited Jesus in.  It’s found in Lk. 24: 28: “As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over. So Jesus went in to stay with them.”  They had walked with Jesus, felt the power of his presence and the depth of his love and then they came to their road/ driveway.  Jesus appeared like he would move on and they invited him in.  They had to open the door and let Jesus enter into their home, which led to him entering their heart.  If they hadn’t invited Jesus in, they would have had an interesting story to tell, but not a life-changing one.  Jesus will not force his way into anyone’s life.  We have free will but Jesus is constantly knocking, saying, “Here I am.  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and we’ll share a wonderful meal together.”  If they had not invited Jesus to stay, they would have never fully recognized Jesus and never known the joy of experiencing his resurrection power.  

Easter is powerful because it promises a happy ending for anyone and everyone who believes in Jesus.  Two thieves crucified on either side of Jesus:  one cursed Jesus and the other said, “Jesus remember me”  Jesus was clear that not every road leads home.  He said, “Narrow road leads to life and a broad road that leads to death.”  Narrow road sounds boring and restrictive then I thought of the roller coaster and how it runs on a very narrow path, up, down, upside down, unexpected yet controlled and exciting and if you hang on and don’t exit the ride early, you’ll make it back home. 
Prov. 16: 25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” 
Jesus in Jn. 14:  “I am the way, the truth and the life;  no man comes to the Father except through me.”

What about you?  Jesus is walking with you through your hurt and pain.  He is talking to you by His Spirit and through his Word, the Bible.  He has shared his life by dying on the cross for your sins and mine.  He has done all this to say, “I love you. I forgive you. Let me come into your life make you new.”

* Peter Larson: “Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes.  The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities:  a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb.  Jesus entered our world through a door marked “No Entrance” and left through a door marked “No Exit.”

Prayer:  Father, we know that Jesus appeared to all the disciples, saying, “Peace be with you.” See my hands & feet.  Now go!” That he lifted up his hands and blessed them and then he ascended into heaven. They worshiped you with great joy, and they stayed continually at the temple, praising You. So do we.
So in Easter journey:  help us get out and walk, to enjoy creation pray.  Help us be open to learning from Word.  Help us to share meals w others who will both encourage & challenge us to grow in our spiritual life?  Father, fan into flame the burning embers so that our hearts will burn in love for you & others.  Remind us anew that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation:  the old has gone, the new has come.”

Hymn No.  226  “Thine is the Glory”

Nicole Nordamen’s song  “Seasons”
Every evening sky, an invitation /  To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration /  For freedom that is ours
And I notice You /  In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade /  Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered /  To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September / And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins / And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn
And everything in time and under heaven /  Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation /  Shivers underneath
And still I notice you / When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass /  Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced /  Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed /  Turning all things green
So it is with You /  And how You make me new
With every season’s change /  And so it will be /  As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring