Amen.
recognize that life brings with it broken hopes and promises. But there is something
so powerful in the fact that the seed of hope still wants to find its way to grow,
to bloom, to blossom, even through the cracks. Solomon in the book of Proverbs in the Bible
said that hope deferred makes the heart sick. And we understand that too, that hope needs its goal
and it needs its fulfillment. So as we gather here today, we are all at very different points
in our journeys of life and maybe in our journey with hope and our experience of hope. But together
we have a chance to see how hope connects with the events of that first Easter. We're going to consider
Christian hope as a journey. And we're going to do that through the lens of the disciple that we meet
on the road here, this man called Cleopas. Christian writer C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity,
he has a very helpful chapter on Christian hope. And he uses that image of Christian hope being a
journey. And it's a journey to a particular person, a journey towards God, towards Jesus.
And that journey of hope is also towards a particular place. It's towards heaven. It's towards life with
God. And while that journey in our lived-in experience brings ups and downs, and we know
Christian hope that we're going to be able to find out that way. And Christian hope is something that is
really powerful. It's not the weak hope, you know, I wish, you know, I hope it won't rain when I go on
holiday. Or I hope I'll get one more Easter egg. It's not that kind of hope. Christian hope is not also that
kind of naive optimism, that hopefulness that imagines, well, somehow things will always get better. As Christians,
many of us have come to know that actually things may get harder in this life. Things may not get better. But still,
we have that hope, we have that hope, that fixed goal, and that person. So the Christian hope that we're
going to talk about this morning is a fixed conviction. And it's a conviction because it's based on historical
facts, the death and the resurrection of Jesus. And it's the hope that one day, life for us will be life in a
perfect world. New creation. With our perfect Savior, the risen Lord Jesus. And that for life today,
and we're going to see this in our story, even when hope seems lost, the resurrection of Jesus changes
everything. So look with me, first of all, at verses 13 to 24, and this moment in Cleopas's life when hope
seems lost. We can picture the scene together. Verse 13 to 14, we're told of these two followers,
Cleopas and an unnamed companion, and they are trudging the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus.
Their heads are down, eyes clouded by tears, reflecting on recent events in Jerusalem.
We get an insight into what's going on in Cleopas's heart in verse 21 as Jesus begins to speak to him.
The sorrow of his heart revealed in three simple words, we had hoped. Past tense.
For Cleopas hope is dead and buried because he thinks Jesus is dead and buried.
It's the same kind of logic that we come across in Paul's writings in 1 Corinthians 15,
where he will say really bluntly and directly, if Christ is not raised, Christian preaching
is useless. Christian faith is useless. God, well, he's a liar because he said he would raise his son.
Sin is unforgiven. Paul will say, if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people to be
most pitied. Cleopas is feeling that because he doesn't know that Jesus has been raised.
His experience to live without hope is to cease to live, and without Jesus, Christian hope ceases to live.
And then as they're walking towards Emmaus, verse 15 and 16, they're discussing, they're talking,
and Jesus himself came up and walked with them. The risen Jesus appears. And notice this,
if this was a made-up story, we would have this, I am sure. And Cleopas, when he saw the risen Jesus,
he jumped for joy, and there was trumpets sounding, and there was happy laughter, but instead,
they were kept from recognizing him. Not sure why. Was that because there was tears filling their eyes?
Was it because their despair was so great? Was it because it was God's timing, and the reality wasn't
to be revealed just then? As Jesus begins his conversation with Cleopas and this other
companion, we see that Cleopas, he knows all about the journey of Jesus.
He's been part of the story of Jesus,
but he doesn't have the last chapter.
And so he doesn't have the resolution to the story. He doesn't have the happily ever after of
the journey of Jesus. And because of that, without knowing the resurrection for himself,
Cleopas has no hope. And so we're being led to see that Christian hope relies on the bodily
resurrection of Jesus. So we're going to listen in to what Cleopas says. And as we do so,
remember this is history. Ask yourself,
is this true? Or is it a lie? And if this is true,
do you see how important it is to your life? Listen to what he says as Jesus asks him,
what are the things you've been talking about? He says about Jesus of Nazareth,
he was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. So for Cleopas,
he knows Jesus is sent by God, powerful preacher. Verse 20, he knows Jesus was sentenced to death.
and was crucified. Verse 21, he knows that Jesus was his hope, the one who was going to redeem Israel.
He's heard the report in verse 21, on the third day, the women went to the tomb and they found it empty.
And verse 23, he knows that there's that report of the vision of angels who declared Jesus to be
risen and alive. He knows that a few days earlier, Jesus had come riding into Jerusalem on a donkey,
proclaimed as the king. And as Jesus entered, he performed miracles.
And when he arrived in Jerusalem, he confronted the corrupt religious leaders.
And Jesus would then humble himself to wash his disciples' feet, anticipating serving them and all who
trust in him by dying to wash us, not from dirt, but from sin. Jesus kept the Passover,
and he showed people how it pointed to his coming sacrifice.
Cleopas knew on the journey of Jesus, he was betrayed and beaten and sentenced to death by a Jewish and Roman
conspiracy, and he was placed in a tomb.
What he needs to discover is that on the third day, he stood up and walked out, proving he is the Son of God,
he is the true Messiah, he is the Savior King, he has broken the power of Satan and sin and death.
But at this point, for Cleopas, it's like the puzzle pieces don't fit together.
For him, Jesus is dead.
So there is no forgiveness.
There is no rescue.
There is no prospect of Jesus bringing people back home to God.
No wonder Cleopas is in despair.
And again, his story shows us the resurrection of Jesus.
It's everything.
Without it, Cleopas' hope,
it lies crushed in the dusty streets of Jerusalem.
God has not come to save his people.
If Jesus is still in the tomb,
our faith,
our being here,
it's a waste of time.
And so Easter Sunday is a great time
for us to ask the question,
is this true?
And to understand and to appreciate
that we have very good reason
to believe it is true.
that we can do the work of a historian,
we can evaluate the available data,
we can ask what's the best explanation,
and we can conclude this is true.
Because whenever we read any of the gospel writers,
this morning we read Luke,
we are listening to the earliest eyewitness accounts.
They are trustworthy.
When we put those four gospels together,
we have multiple independent cross-reference reports
all testifying to the same truth.
We have credible written sources
within a generation of the events.
And recognize too,
that these records include
a number of embarrassing truths,
a number of inconvenient truths.
It was embarrassing to people
that Jesus came from Nazareth.
The gospels are full of the lack of understanding
and failure of his disciples.
It tells us that Cleopas lacked hope
even though he was told
that he should have had hope.
Women as the first eyewitnesses
was not something a first century Jewish person
would make up.
Consider too,
the transformation of the disciples.
From running and hiding,
denying Jesus as Lord,
to boldly proclaiming Jesus risen and alive,
right in the center of where it all happened,
in Jerusalem itself.
Willing to suffer and die with hope.
Consider the reality
that we don't talk about the death of Christianity,
but we've seen the explosive life of Christianity
for the last 2,000 years.
The best explanation
is that the resurrection actually happened.
That these appearances recorded in the gospels
actually took place.
And that Cleopas
and each of us,
we would not be wrong
to hope in Jesus as Redeemer.
This morning,
you might find yourself like Cleopas,
perhaps having questions about the facts
and maybe not able to put them together.
If that's the case,
if that's where you're at,
there's loads of really great resources.
Please speak to me afterwards
if you like to use the internet.
Guys like Wes Halfley,
Strobel,
William Lane,
Crager,
loads of great resources
on the resurrection.
But this morning,
you might find yourself like Cleopas
in this way,
where you feel hopeless.
Life is going badly.
Disappointments keep rolling in.
Maybe you're troubled by your past.
Maybe you see no light for your future.
Maybe you resonate with this.
My life is a perfect graveyard
of buried hopes.
If that's where you are this morning,
let me encourage you
to listen in to Jesus,
to look to Jesus.
Because as you see from Cleopas,
when hope seems lost,
the resurrection of Jesus
changes everything.
So that's what we need to turn to now.
Verses 25 to 34.
The resurrection changes everything.
We said at the beginning,
Christian hope is a journey
to a person and to a place.
Cleopas' story is a journey.
Now, it began,
and we heard it,
with that sad seven-mile hike
from Jerusalem to Emmaus,
hope in tatters.
But we read verses 33 and 34,
didn't we?
Where we see the journey is reversed
and where the emotions
are completely different.
We see a seven-mile joyful sprint.
Because now he's discovered
Jesus, the Son of God,
is alive.
And he can't wait
to tell his friends
the good news.
So I want us to notice
three things that Jesus does
for Cleopas on this journey.
Three things, actually,
that Jesus continues to do
in people's lives today.
Three things that Jesus can do
for you and for me today.
So we're going to look at them briefly,
think about the promise
contained in them,
think about the pattern there is.
First, we need to think about
what does Jesus say?
Look at verses 25 to 27.
What does Jesus say?
Well, what we hear from Jesus,
well, what Cleopas got to hear,
is Jesus leading history's
greatest Bible study.
How foolish you are
and how slow to believe
all that the prophets have spoken.
Did not the Messiah
have to suffer these things
and then enter his glory?
Beginning with Moses
and all the prophets,
he explained to them
what was said
in all the scriptures
concerning himself.
So he walks them through
the story of the Bible,
of the Old Testament,
to say to them,
first of all,
listen,
the events of Easter
that seem so shocking to you,
they had to happen.
They're all part of
God's salvation plan.
And then he invited them
into the Old Testament
to see all the promises,
all the prophecies made
about salvation,
about rescue,
they come true in Jesus.
And that's something
that we all need to see,
that God has been writing
his story of redemption
on purpose,
and that included
the suffering and death
of his son,
the Lord Jesus.
But that was not
the end of the story.
And so we keep reading on
and we come to the resurrection
of Jesus.
And we've been singing,
haven't we,
of the victory of Jesus,
of the glory of Jesus,
of the demonstration
of God's love
in his death
and resurrection.
resurrection.
We've been working
through the early chapters
of Genesis.
Remember that promise
of the one who would come
and crush the head
of the serpent?
Jesus is the great
snake crusher
anticipated in Genesis 3.
And he does that
by tasting the sting
of death,
taking the wages,
the punishment of sin
for us,
satisfying God's wrath,
death.
And in his resurrection,
we can have confidence
that Satan has been
trampled in defeat,
the devil has been defanged,
and we can enjoy
the blessing of forgiveness.
Another hugely significant passage
is Isaiah 53.
And we can well imagine
Jesus bringing Cleopas
there in recognizing
Jesus as the suffering servant,
the lamb who was led
to the slaughter,
the one who was silent
before his executioners,
the one who was both
substitute and sacrifice,
that the Lord had laid on Jesus
the sin of his people,
and then,
just as was promised
by the prophet Isaiah,
Jesus saw the light of life,
and he was satisfied.
He had finished his work,
God was pleased with him,
and he would bring to glory
all who trusted in him.
So here is the promise.
Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus is the promised King.
He is the great hero of God's story,
and hope in him
will never be disappointed.
But recognize here, too,
is a pattern.
Because Jesus didn't just speak
back then.
Jesus still speaks today
through the Word of God,
the Bible,
by his Spirit,
to reveal these same truths,
that all the Bible
is about Jesus,
all the Bible
is telling God's salvation story,
where Jesus is the great Savior,
and by faith,
you and I can be part
of that story.
If we turn from our sin,
if we trust in Jesus,
because he is alive,
we can know new life with God.
So that's what Jesus says.
Let's think secondly
about what does Jesus do.
Look at verse 30.
It's the end of the day.
Evening is drawn in.
Jesus makes the head
past the village,
but Cleopas and his companion
invite him in for a meal.
And when Jesus was at the table
with them,
he took bread,
gave thanks,
broke it,
and began to give it to them.
Then their eyes were opened,
and they recognized him,
and he disappeared
from their sight.
Now,
I want to ask this question.
Why does this moment
of breaking bread,
why does that cause hope
to spark in Cleopas' heart?
Because that's the moment.
That's the great aha moment
when he understands
Jesus really is alive.
Why does that happen?
Maybe
it's because
of the time
when Jesus fed
the great crowd
of 5,000 plus people.
And when Jesus declared,
I am the bread of life.
I am the one
who satisfies
your deep hunger.
I've been sent
by God to do that.
I am God's provision
for hungry hearts
and souls.
Perhaps
it was as Cleopas
was thinking about
what happened
at the last supper
as Jesus celebrated
the Passover,
and he took bread,
and he said,
this is my body,
broken for you.
Cleopas understood
that in the body
of Jesus being broken,
and the blood spilled
at the cross,
sin was forgiven,
relationship was restored,
and the promise
that feeds hope
is that Jesus
is now alive.
Jesus is now
sharing fellowship
with his people.
He's with us always
to the end of the age.
Jesus still is providing
the goodness
and mercy
to sustain
his followers
in their lives
of faith,
bringing hope
where everything
seems hopeless,
and recognize
that Jesus
comes near
and does good
not to perfect followers,
not to perfect people.
Jesus is so patient
and kind
as to share fellowship
with doubting,
troubled,
sinful followers
who look to him
in faith.
That's his promise.
And the pattern
that backs up
that promise,
the pattern he sets,
well,
it's the Lord's Supper.
It's that visible
sermon
that Jesus
dies
so that trusting
in him,
we,
we can live.
And Jesus
lives
to be our
source of strength
to make sure
that we make it
to journey's end,
that we will be home
with our Lord
and our King
forever.
I wonder
for those of us
who are Christians,
are you here today
and you feel weak?
Do you feel
your hope
and your faith
is weak?
Do you feel
like you're hanging
on by your fingernails?
Recognize
and rest
in this.
Your hope
and mine
is not,
I think
I'll make it.
Our hope
is in the risen
Christ's commitment
to make sure
you and I will.
He will save us
and he will keep us.
Consider these words
of the pastor
Thomas Goodwin.
We owe
our standing
every moment
to his,
that's Jesus,
to his
sitting in heaven
and interceding
every moment.
He sacrificed
for you,
he prays for you,
those prayers
will not fail.
Jesus
must quit
heaven
and give up
living there
if he does
not bring
us to be
with him.
Do we
understand
how committed
Jesus is
to our
eternal salvation?
He will
not fail.
The death
and resurrection
stands as proof.
Those hands
that were held
out on the cross
to save
sinners,
those hands
that broke
bread
to feed
weary,
troubled souls,
those are the hands
that hold us.
He is
our hope.
The third thing
to notice
is this,
what effect
does Jesus
bring?
And that takes
us to verse
32,
and those
burning hearts,
what a wonderful
phrase.
Here's Cleopas
and his friend,
they ask each
other,
were not our
hearts burning
within us?
Well he talked
with us on the road
and opened the
scriptures to us.
again,
if hope
is the fuel
that drives
the engine,
I wonder
this morning
what level
our tank
is at.
Maybe for
some of us
we're beginning
to see,
even as we've
come here,
maybe my hope
is actually
placed in the
wrong thing.
Maybe I'm
placing my hope
in myself,
or in my job,
or in my wealth,
or in my health,
and there's that
recognition that
this is coming
up empty.
Maybe we're
following Jesus,
but our hope
is growing dim.
It's like those
dark clouds
are covering
the sun,
so we don't
feel it's
warm.
Well listen
to Cleopas.
Having met
the risen
Jesus,
Jesus explained
the Bible
is true,
the events
of Easter
have purpose,
his death
has given
way to
resurrection
victory,
and recognize
that it's
hope in the
risen Jesus
that can set
your heart
ablaze today.
I think
some of us
we know
this feeling.
It's one of
those things
that's easier
felt than
tell,
as we say
as Scots,
but you'll
know it.
Maybe it's
the hushed
moment in a
sermon
as if you
could hear
a pin drop.
It's as if
God himself
has spoken
to us.
But maybe
the burning
heart comes
when you're
speaking to
an older
godly
Christian
and you
get that
glimpse
into a
life of
faith that
seems so
real and
so beautiful
and it
causes your
heart
to be
inflamed
by joy.
Maybe it
comes
sitting at
home
with your
Bible.
It's like
you've done
many, many
times and
all of a
sudden those
words jump
off the
page and
they come
alive and
the gospel
cuts right
to your
heart and
meets you
at your
point of
need.
Maybe it's
the moment
when you
prayed and
asked Jesus
to forgive
and to
save you.
Jesus is
in the
business of
working on
our hearts
and Jesus
is so good
and kind
as to give
us these
moments to
send his
spirit to
confirm to
us that
these things
are true.
And the
promise is
that Jesus
still works
in hearts
and still
works in
lives today.
That when
we meet the
risen Jesus
we receive
the Holy
Spirit and
remember that
when the
Spirit was
sent first
how did it
appear as
a flame of
fire?
That fire
burns as
we realize
Jesus is
alive and
he loves me
and he is
with me and
he is for
me.
And we can
have that
certainty if
we turn to
him in
faith.
And then
don't you
love what
happens next?
I think it's
the pattern
that God
sets for
all believers.
He discovers
these things
are true.
Hope is
burning in
his heart.
And so he
doesn't keep
it to
himself.
Rather he
runs joyfully
to spread
the word to
the disciples.
And
Cleopas is
part of that
first generation
that will
begin to
turn the
world upside
down with
the good
news that
it is
true the
Lord has
risen.
sin.
And that's
the basis
for our
hope.
It is
true that
Jesus is
alive.
And so
this Easter
I can
invite each
one of us
into
Christian
hope.
Because
Christ has
been raised.
Forgiveness
of sin has
been secured.
The promise
of eternal
life with
God can be
proclaimed.
the power
and the
presence of
the risen
Lord Jesus
can be
our experience
in the
journey of
life.
In that
journey of
life and
faith that
ultimately will
lead us to
Jesus.
One day
to be made
like him
and to be
with him
forever.
A journey
that will
lead us
who have
faith to
the glory
of heaven
and ultimately
to new
creation.
to a
world free
of sickness
and pain
and sin
and suffering
and death.
A joyful
world where
all hope
comes true
forever.
Some of
us, we're
suffering.
We know
trouble.
We know
grief.
If our
path is
marked by
disappointment
and despair,
we know
that we
are here
today and
you're
searching
someone to
hold on
to,
someone to
give you
hope in
life and
in death.
Let me
invite each
one of us
to turn to
the risen
Lord Jesus.
Ask him
to walk
with you on
the journey
of life
and to
lead you
to your
eternal
home.
Let's pray
together.
Lord our
God, we
thank you
that these
things are
true, that
Jesus is
alive and
because Jesus
is alive, we
have living
hope.
Let's pray.