Sermon April 13-14, 2024

Title: The promise of the Father is upon you!
Text: Luke 24:36-49

Facebook live: The promise of the Father is upon you!

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 ... “

He 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.

During this Easter season I pray that we all will be reminded that our Lord Jesus has made peace with the Father for you and has sent the promise of the Father upon you!

We can’t all, in a sense, burn out for the Lord. Special callings and service are given by the Lord, but we all are called to be faithful. That comes in our vocations as friends, brothers and sisters, parents, children, workers and the like. In each station of life God leads and directs us by his word and Spirit to affect the lives of others. I pray that we all take advantage of those opportunities.

In our gospel today we see a scene unfold as the one 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.

They recount 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 opens 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. [saying] 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 what they were seeing and hearing that …

this Christ … present here … was in a sense, too good to be true!

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.
Disbelieved for joy can be just unbelief for some.

I’ve had stories that I’ve shared before of dealing with friends and relations. Of speaking the gospel of truth and telling them about Jesus. At times it is met with anger and other times apathy. It is hard to, at times, know what to say.

I remember a call a number of years ago from my friend and a cousin that was dying.

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, would be visiting with the 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.

Sometimes we wrestle with what to do or what to say to one who has said, “I don’t share your beliefs or faith.” - After a call and a, “Happy Easter” on Easter Sunday.

What would you say … what could you say … what could I say to help?

At the time of a death of a loved one we all feel loss and lost. We want to comfort and we need to be comforted ourselves. Dear Marilyn Rappuhn come to mind.

So sad, so quick, so much to reconcile. Marilyn was a dear sister in Christ. She is handled. But what about those left behind that she cared for?

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 to my friend about reading scripture when they talked and I shared some verses that might be helpful.

I shared a few illustrations of people that I had witnessed to … but cautioned that you might not hear the words you hoped to hear … “I believe.”

But I also reminded him, “do not be discouraged, because it is God himself who works in the lives of all who are brought to faith.”

It is his God’s work, it is his grace and his salvation that we share with others. I’m reminded of a pastoral instillation that I attended where a pastor proclaimed to the pastor being installed, “You are not the Christ!”

What a fitting reminder.

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, as he did with his own disciples.

We are though given the word of God and the ability to learn and share it!

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 in unbelief. Bring the good News!

WITNESS AND TESTIFY to the things you have not seen - yet believe.

You have God’s word … and as a believer you are 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.

Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who has redeemed you, and called you through the power of the Holy Spirit to faith, will complete this blessed good work in you now and always!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen.