The Essential Jesus: His Story, Our Hope

The Essential Jesus: His Story, Our Hope

Luke 24:13-35

Introduction: Perhaps ten years after the death of the last of the Apostles, Ignatius of Antioch, in chains, was being brought to Rome for execution. He personally knew John the apostle, but I think he would have rather be known first of all as a disciple of Jesus. In a letter he wrote on the way to Rome he spoke about the historicity of the facts of the gospel, including the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus. After speaking of the life and death of Jesus in that letter, he turned to what he called the greatest fact of all.

“It is also a fact that He rose from the dead—or rather that the Father raised Him up. And that is the most important fact of all because His promise is that the Father will also raise us up if we believe in Him. So if Christ is not alive then neither shall we be, there is nothing left to hope for if He is just an idea or a fantasy…”

He is claiming that the Christian message, our faith, the Gospel that we preach is only meaningful if it is based on truth, if the story it presents really happened. 

For those who have been following our series in the Books of Acts, we began by recognizing that Acts was really part 2 of the continuing story of Jesus. The Book of Acts begins with the words, “The former account, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began both to do and to teach until the day He was taken up…” The word “began” implies that as we’ve been looking at the book of Acts we’ve actually been considering the continuation of the story of Jesus.  The point is that  Jesus is alive, and He is building His church. How can that be? We are stepping back from our walk through the Book of Acts this week, to look at the “Prequel” to that story, volume one of Luke’s story of Jesus, the Gospel of Luke. We’re jumping to the end though, to the 24^th chapter.  It is after His three years of public ministry doing signs and wonders and preaching with authority. After His betrayal, arrest and the mockery of a trial that condemned Jesus. After His gruesome torture by scourging and public execution on a Roman Cross. Friday has passed, Saturday was silent, and then the morning of the first day of the week, we come to the story of His resurrection.

  The fact that the tomb was empty is certain since almost from the start attempts were made to discredit the claims of the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead.

·     Within the gospels themselves we have the story of the guards being bribed to say that they had fallen asleep, and that the disciples came and stole the body by night (see Matthew 28:12-15).   Two responses: 1) These guys had just denied Jesus and been scattered when he was arrested. In the light of Jesus’ torture and execution do you think it likely that they would try such a bold move as stealing His body only a couple of days later? 2) If the guards had been sleeping, how in the world would they know what had happened?  It just doesn’t make sense.

·     Some have suggested that the disciples got confused and returned to the wrong tomb, mistakenly finding one that was still empty, and they jumped to conclusions about what that meant. If it was the wrong tomb that they went to, wouldn’t those who opposed Jesus simply have pointed to the correct tomb, and produced the body of Jesus when the disciples began preaching the resurrection?  And of course there is also the matter of the grave clothes the disciples found where the body had been laid? That explanation doesn’t work either.

·     Another attempt to explain away the resurrection is the so-called “swoon theory.” The suggestion is that Jesus wasn’t really dead, He was only wounded, and laid in the cool tomb he revived and came out the next day. There are at least a couple of problems with that theory: 1) How would Jesus have rolled the stone away from inside the tomb? 2) The Romans were experts in crucifixion, and they knew well when their work was finished! 3) After breaking the legs of the other condemned men, the soldier plunged a spear into Jesus’ side, blood and water pouring out. That doesn’t sound like someone who had fainted!

As we look at the story of the resurrection in the last chapter of the Gospel of Luke we’ll see that…

The Big Idea: The resurrection of Jesus is a real, time and space event, a historical fact that changes everything. It is the foundation of our only hope for forgiveness and life.

I. The Resurrection is a real, historical event, the climax of God’s story - Luke 24:13-24 (35). When I was working on my doctoral degree at Westminster Theological Seminary, they wanted their students to have a broadened perspective, so required that we take two doctoral seminars in another school. I chose Princeton Seminary since it was close to where I lived, and they had doctoral seminars in my area of study. I was impressed by the intellect of the teachers and students, but also astounded by their lack of faith.  At one point in a class on the Gospel of John, the question came up, “What about the empty tomb? What happened? Does it really matter?” Not only does it matter, the Bible itself says everything rides on that one historical fact. The Apostle Paul said, “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.  ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (I Cor 15:17-19). Either this is true and it’s the most important fact of history, or it’s a lie and a waste of your time. Which is it?

 The gospel accounts give all the earmarks of eyewitness testimony. Luke writes in 24:13-16, 

“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…” 

Specific place names (and we’ll see one of the disciples being identified by name), distances and details, even the confusion of the disciples over what was happening all bring an air of authenticity to the account.  In the fifteenth chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians Paul related some of the eyewitnesses to the resurrection:

“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,  ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me…” (I Cor 15:3-8).

He is making the point that the resurrection of Jesus was recent history, and that it was a real time and space event. He arose, and if you had any question about that fact you could go and talk to the many eyewitnesses who were still living!

Jesus wanted his followers to know that He had died and rose again: Acts tells us He appeared to them for a period of 40 days before His ascension.  Here, in Luke 24:17-20 He goes up to these two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  He meets them where they are, He walks and talks with them, and eventually eats with them, all the while leading them toward understanding and faith.

“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.”

Giving the name of one of the disciples hints at the kind of careful, historical research Luke did as he prepared to write his gospel.  Remember how he started this book?  Like the introduction to the Book of Acts it is directed to “Theophilus.”  In the opening words he spoke about how he considered other written accounts and talked to eyewitnesses and set out to write down “an orderly account of the things accomplished” among them.

 Jesus knew that the cross had shattered their hope, and that the preliminary reports of resurrection had brought only confusion.  He knew their hearts, and yet Jesus came alongside of the two disciples, and like a good rabbi began asking them questions, why were they sad, what had happened? Cleopas said,

“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."

Essentially he was saying they had hoped in Jesus, but their hope had been shattered by the events of Good Friday. The cross didn’t make sense and even the empty tomb was a disturbing enigma, they couldn’t understand what the reports meant or what had happened, much less why it had happened.  They did not yet understand that the resurrection of Jesus was a real, time and space event, a historical fact that would change everything. It is the foundation of our only hope for forgiveness and life.

II. The Resurrection is the key to understanding God’s story (Luke 24:25-27). “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…” Jesus is the theme of the entire Bible.  Jesus points them to the Scriptures which speak of Him.

            First of all, He says that their confusion at this moment was the result of failing to understand the prophetic word (v.25). The idea of a suffering Messiah might not have been popular current theology, it might have been difficult to understand, but it was all over the pages of the Old Testament, if they had eyes to see it! 

            Notice also that He says “it was necessary” for all this happen. This translates a little three letter word that is often used in the New Testament to convey exactly this idea of divine necessity. This is God’s plan we are talking about. We saw that passage in Acts 4 last week, describing the passion of Christ: They did to Jesus what God’s “…purpose and plan determined beforehand would happen.” It had to happen. God had a plan. He would redeem a people for himself, and He would do it through the Cross. It was necessary, it had to happen that way. How could a holy God still be just and justify sinners? Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:21,  “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

             And so he turns to the Scriptures and shows how the entire Bible looked ahead to coming of Jesus, and to his death and resurrection.  I like the overview the reformer John Calvin gave of some of the “types” of Christ in the Old Testament. He wrote,

“He, Christ, is Isaac, the beloved Son of the Father who was offered as a sacrifice but nevertheless did not succumb to the power of death. He is the good and compassionate brother Joseph who in his glory was not ashamed to acknowledge his brothers however lowly and abject their condition. He is the great sacrifice and bishop Melchizedek who was offered an eternal sacrifice once for all. Jesus is the sovereign lawgiver Moses writing his law on the tables of our hearts by his Spirit. He is the faithful captain and guide Joshua to lead us to our promised land. He is the victorious and noble king David bringing by his hand all rebellious power to subjection. Jesus is the magnificent and triumphant king Solomon governing his kingdom in peace and prosperity. He is the strong and powerful Samson who by his death has overwhelmed all of his enemies. This is what we should in short seek in the whole of Scripture: Truly to know Jesus Christ and the infinite riches that are comprised in him and are offered to us by him from God the Father. If one were to sift thoroughly the law and the prophets, he would not find a single word which would not draw and bring us to him. Therefore rightly does Saint Paul say in another passage that he would know nothing except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

“Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” Not only did these types point ahead to Jesus, but the Old Testament specifically foreshadowed a suffering Messiah who would lay down his life for his people. The sacrificial system pointed to the necessity of blood for the remission of sins.  The suffering servant in Isaiah 53 anticipated a servant messiah who would bear our sins.  The rejected and suffering King in the Psalms likewise looked ahead to a king whose reign is resisted and who is surrounded by enemies.   All of these things Jesus did, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. But the story of Jesus is good news because it doesn’t stop with the cross and the tomb. The stone is rolled away, and Jesus is alive.  The resurrection of Jesus is a real, time and space event, a historical fact that changes everything. It is the foundation of our only hope for forgiveness and life.

III. The Resurrection is a powerful story of Hope to the world (Luke 24:30-34). They had lost hope on Friday, but as this teacher explained the Scriptures to them, their hearts burned within them, they longed to hear more, they urged him to stay with them, and then, as He broke bread, their eyes were opened. It was Jesus!

             Our future is real: notice that he sat at table with the disciples, as he says elsewhere, He was flesh and bones.  Remember the words of Job,

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  ²⁶ And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,  ²⁷ whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another” (Job 19:25-27).

 He said “…yet in my flesh, I will see God…” We don’t have to fear the future, we don’t have to wonder how this story is going to unfold. Human rebellion brought sin, suffering and death into the world. But God’s good plan will not be frustrated. We can know that God’s plan for creation, and for us, will be accomplished.  Life is short. The years go by quickly, and yes, each decade seems to come and go by faster!  Some people live with the thought, “You live, then you die, that’s it.” No. Humans were created in God’s image, and created for eternity. And it’s not only hope for heaven, a spiritual existence out there somewhere. God created Adam and Eve sinless and placed them in a physical, material, place. And if we have confessed our need, and come to Him through faith in Jesus, He promises us a new heaven and a new earth, which seems to me to be a return to Eden, to what we were designed for in the first place. He promises us a new body, as this corruptible will put on incorruption, this mortal, immortality.

            One of my favorite Resurrection Day quotes comes from a little book entitled “Triumph of the Crucified.” Erich Sauer said,

“The present age is Eastertime. It begins with the resurrection of the Redeemer, and will end with the resurrection of the redeemed. Between lies the spiritual resurrection of those called into new life through faith in Christ. And so we live between the two Easters, and in the power of the first Easter, we go to meet the last Easter.”

            The resurrection promises that the future is personal, it is not some mystical merging with the cosmos or something, it’s not reincarnation or some other nonsense. Even the ancient wise man Job had a resurrection hope when he said, “Yet in my flesh, I will see God.”

            And because it is God who promises it and God who will do it, if our hope is in Him our future is certain – The resurrection of Jesus is called the first fruits of the harvest, and the Bible makes it clear that our future resurrection is as sure as the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus.  Our future is certain and it is better than we can imagine - "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

What is God saying to me in this passage? Have you ever felt helpless or hopeless about the future? Our politicians and government, economic instability, the uncertainties in the world around us, even our bodies that fail us so easily, all or any of these can make us lose hope.

Listen carefully: The story of Jesus means HOPE for those who will come to Him, trust Him, and take Him at His word. And biblical hope is not mere wishful thinking that everything will work out. It is a confident expectation about the future, because Jesus Christ is our living Lord. The empty tomb leaves no doubt that He is who he claimed to be. And He claimed to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only way to the Father.  The resurrection of Jesus is a real, time and space event, a historical fact that changes everything. It is the foundation of our only hope for forgiveness and life.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? The facts of the Gospel are history. The question for each of us is, “What will you do with Jesus?” Either you believe He is who He claimed to be, or, he was a liar, or worse, a lunatic. Did his disciples invent the story of the empty tomb? Is it even conceivable that these men who were scattered when Jesus was arrested would be willing to die for a story they themselves had invented? The only rational explanation for their transformed lives is that this message is true, that Jesus is the Son of God, God the Son, He laid down his life for his friends, and He rose again the third day. That is the Essential Jesus. It is His Story, He is our Hope.      AMEN.