Title: Christ has sent the promise of the Father upon you!
Text: Luke 24:36-49
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 and 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.”
In his book Facing Loneliness, J. Oswald Sanders writes, "The round of pleasure or the amassing of wealth are but vain attempts to escape from the persistent ache [ and then concludes]... the millionaire is usually a lonely man and the comedian is often more unhappy than his audience."
Sanders goes on to emphasize that being successful often fails to produce satisfaction. He then refers to Henry Martyn, a distinguished scholar, as an example. Martyn, a Cambridge University student, was honored at only 20 years of age for his achievements in mathematics. In fact, he was given the highest recognition possible in that field. And yet he felt an emptiness inside. He said that instead of finding fulfillment in his achievements, he had "only grasped a shadow." After evaluating his life's goals, Martyn sailed to India as a missionary at the age of 24. When he arrived, he prayed, "Lord, let me burn out for you." In the next 7 years that preceded his death, he translated the New Testament into three difficult Eastern languages. These notable achievements were certainly not passing "shadows."
Our Daily Bread, January 21, 1994.
As you joy in the Easter season may you be reminded that the Lord Christ has made peace with the Father for you and has sent the promise of the Father upon you!
In our gospel today we see a similar scene unfold as the scene from last weekend, where Jesus came and stood in the midst of the disciples. In Luke’s gospel it follows Jesus as he walked with the two men on the Emmaus road.
As these two men walk towards Emmaus about 7 miles outside of Jerusalem, Jesus joins them and remains unrecognized by them. He asks them what they are discussing and they can’t believe that he is unaware of what just happened in Jerusalem to Jesus of Nazareth. That the Chief Priests had turned him over to be sentenced to death and that he had been crucified and now it is the third day and the women who went to the tomb to anoint his body say his body is not there. There are some who even say they saw a vision of angels that say that Jesus is alive and has been raised from the dead.
As they continue on, Jesus open the scriptures to them – showing that the Christ would have to suffer, die and rise again and finally, Jesus:
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.
This is where we pick up today as these two Emmaus road disciples go back to Jerusalem to confirm to the 11 that they had seen the Lord.
Jesus says to those gathered, “Peace to you!”
He confirms to them that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
And we are told that they, disbelieved for joy … this Christ … present here … was in a sense, too good to be true!
Christ has sent the promise of the Father upon you!
That can seem too good to be true for you and me as well. Consumed at times by life’s activities, we are overwhelmed by so much that is given to us daily that we can forget the one gift that is truly needed … peace with God.
Ill.
Disbelieved for joy can be just unbelief for some. I received a call from a good friend. He told me about his wife’s cousin who was dying and had very little time to live. He also said that his wife wanted to talk to me. As he gave me some of the details, I found that not only was the cousin dying but she was an unbeliever and not receptive to hearing about Christ … even as she neared death.
My friend’s wife Rebecca, would be driving up north to be with her cousin who had been sent home die as there was nothing left to do. But for we who name the name of Christ there was plenty left to do. Rebecca wanted to know what to do and what to say to a cousin who said to her, “I don’t share your beliefs or faith.” - After she called her and said, “Happy Easter” on Easter Sunday.
What would you say … what could you say … what could I say?
At the time of a death of a loved one we all feel lost. We want to comfort and we need to be comforted ourselves.
Jesus says to the disciples and to us, “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.”
The word of God written for us is Christ’s word and it is he who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.1 Tim 2:4
I spoke with her about reading scripture to her cousin and we talked about some verses that would be good. I shared a few illustrations of people that I had witnessed to but also told her that she might not hear the words she hopes to hear from her cousin … “I believe.”
But I also reminded her to, “ not be discouraged, because it is God himself who works in the lives of all who are brought to faith.”
It is his work, it is his grace and his salvation that we share with others.
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, as he did with his own disciples.
Even if we don’t hear the words of faith we long to hear from those we love, God can still do and accomplish all that he intends to do to draw and bring those he desires to a believing faith.
“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
That repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations … even to one who is on her death bed up north, in Michigan.
Rebecca is going as a witness to testify to that things she has not seen - yet believes. She has God’s word … and as a believer is covered by the whole armor of God.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts [arrows] of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
48 You are [my] witnesses [Jesus said] of these things [in the world].
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.”
The power of the Father is upon you as the Holy Spirit dwells in you and points you to Christ. Jesus is the promise of the Father and by the Spirit’s work we know Jesus, his love for us and his working in us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Today we too receive from Jesus his gift in the Lord’s Supper to receive his forgiveness in his body and blood, shed at the cross and also have our faith strengthened as we continue to trust in him.
May our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who has redeemed you, and called you through the power of the Holy Spirit to faith, complete this blessed good work in you now and forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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