Disbelieving for Joy
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Easter
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.”
Sermon Outline
The resurrection of Jesus is perplexing and our world is complicated, so it is worth asking what Easter is about if we want to experience the joy and wonder of it:
1. Easter is about Jesus in our messy world.
v21 “but we had hoped…”
v26-27 “was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
2. Easter is about a spiritual transformation where God reveals what brings us life.
v16 “their eyes were kept from recognizing him”
vv30-32 “he took the bread… and their eyes were open… ‘did not our hearts burn…?’” (vv34-35 - “he is risen indeed”)
vv44-48 “he opened their minds to understand the scriptures…”
3. Easter is about God granting peace so we can have joy even while things are being worked out.
v36 “Jesus himself stood among them… ‘peace’”
v41 “they disbelieved for joy”
Prayer of Confession
Our life-giving God: even as we hear the good news with hope, we confess our unbelief. There are things we don’t want to believe, and there are things we don’t want to do. We admit the problem is deeper than we have discerned and we are guilty in ways we have not acknowledged. Forgive every sinful thought, word and action. We want the peace and joy offered to us in Christ, but our hearts are hard and our minds resistant to belief. We thank you that you are gracious, giving us what we have not earned, and generously granting life in such a costly way. Transform us so we see Jesus and that we come alive with new life in him. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What about life or our world doesn’t make sense? How do those things affect you?
What about Christianity doesn’t make sense? What don’t you understand, or have trouble believing?
What is the significance of Jesus’ death? What is the significance of his resurrection? How can anyone best learn and understand why he had to suffer and enter into glory?
What keeps you from “seeing” Jesus? As you reflect on yourself, is there anything that may prohibit you from recognizing him, his presence, the meaning of his teachings or what he did?
Have you ever had a spiritual experience where you sensed God’s presence or activity? If so, what was it like? What did you experience? What were the circumstances?
If you begin to see how all things come together in Jesus, and that God and His plan are more remarkable than you could have imagined – what would you expect to experience?
How does the gospel bring joy? What in the story of Jesus’ sufferings and glory can bring you gratitude, wonder, hope, or some experience of goodness?
How can you deal with the questions you still have, or the confusion you still experience? What are healthy ways of trusting God, following Christ, and living faithfully even when it is hard, or you lose a sense of its purpose?