WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:11.580 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.419 ! use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:27.060 --> 00:00:28.019 Good morning. 00:00:28.019 --> 00:00:36.700 My name is Carrie Moulton and I'm a member of the Welcome Team and a scripture reader. 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:42.060 And the Gospel lesson for today is a reading for the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 24, 00:00:42.060 --> 00:00:49.960 verses 1 through 35. 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:54.879 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:58.560 had prepared and went to the tomb. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:03.260 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the 00:01:03.260 --> 00:01:07.560 body of the Lord Jesus. 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:12.700 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning 00:01:12.700 --> 00:01:14.760 stood beside them. 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:18.000 In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground. 00:01:18.440 --> 00:01:22.760 But the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among the dead? 00:01:23.400 --> 00:01:24.480 He is not here. 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:25.760 He has risen. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:30.760 Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee. 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:36.880 The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified, and on the 00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:38.340 third day be raised again. 00:01:38.340 --> 00:01:41.680 Then they remembered his words. 00:01:43.020 --> 00:01:48.180 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:48.579 others. 00:01:49.240 --> 00:01:55.820 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told 00:01:55.820 --> 00:01:57.240 this to the apostles. 00:01:58.240 --> 00:02:02.980 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:07.140 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:13.900 Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:15.280 himself what had happened. 00:02:16.640 --> 00:02:22.500 Now that same day, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:23.000 Jerusalem. 00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:26.920 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 00:02:27.920 --> 00:02:32.759 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up. 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:34.280 And walked along with them. 00:02:34.799 --> 00:02:36.840 But they were kept from recognizing him. 00:02:37.679 --> 00:02:41.840 He asked them, what are you discussing together as you walk along? 00:02:43.179 --> 00:02:45.959 They stood still, their faces downcast. 00:02:46.399 --> 00:02:52.539 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:55.180 not know the things that have happened there in these days? 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:57.219 What things, he asked. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.560 About Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:06.360 He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed, before God and all the people. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:12.560 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:12.979 him. 00:03:13.539 --> 00:03:17.099 But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:22.420 And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 00:03:22.419 --> 00:03:26.159 In addition, some of our women amazed us. 00:03:26.659 --> 00:03:30.339 They went to the tomb early this morning, but they didn't find his body. 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:36.139 They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:42.079 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:44.119 But they did not see Jesus. 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:50.780 He said to them, how foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:51.219 spoken. 00:03:51.980 --> 00:03:55.800 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:03.360 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:04.920 scriptures concerning himself. 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:11.359 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were 00:04:11.359 --> 00:04:12.039 going farther. 00:04:12.739 --> 00:04:17.279 But they urged him strongly, stay with us, for it is nearly evening. 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:19.199 The day is almost over. 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:22.180 So he went in to stay with them. 00:04:23.039 --> 00:04:29.399 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:29.899 it to them. 00:04:29.899 --> 00:04:35.879 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he disappeared from their sight. 00:04:36.899 --> 00:04:42.179 They asked each other, were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on 00:04:42.179 --> 00:04:44.659 the road and opened the scriptures to us? 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:48.519 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. 00:04:49.479 --> 00:04:56.779 There they found the eleven and those with them assembled together and saying, it is true, 00:04:56.779 --> 00:04:59.899 the Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon. 00:05:00.739 --> 00:05:06.000 Then the two told what had happened on the way and how Jesus was recognized by them when 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:06.939 he broke the bread. 00:05:07.679 --> 00:05:09.399 This is the gospel of the Lord. 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:11.719 Praise to you, Lord Christ. 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:14.859 Happy Easter, Christ Church. 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:17.019 It's so good to see you all this morning. 00:05:17.799 --> 00:05:23.579 And for those of you who are guests with us today, maybe you came with a friend or Googled 00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:24.599 church near me. 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:27.359 We are delighted that you're here. 00:05:27.479 --> 00:05:28.180 My name is Jonathan. 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:29.560 I'm one of the other pastors here. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:35.519 And this is such a rich chapter of scripture. 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:37.599 In fact, we didn't even read the whole chapter. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:40.299 We're going to read the rest and talk about the rest next week. 00:05:40.939 --> 00:05:42.740 But there's so much here today. 00:05:43.539 --> 00:05:45.419 We're just going to dive straight in. 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:49.599 And we're going to talk today about three headings. 00:05:49.659 --> 00:05:51.680 We're just going to explore this story under three headings. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:55.079 And we're going to talk about wondering minds. 00:05:55.959 --> 00:06:00.720 Wondering minds, burning hearts, and opening eyes. 00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:03.500 Those are three things that are happening in this story. 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:06.519 Wondering minds, burning hearts, and opening eyes. 00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:11.600 And I just want to let you know, give you a heads up that my last point is going to be 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:13.620 much shorter than my first two points. 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:19.259 So if you find yourself getting nervous, feeling a little anxious, just know I probably want 00:06:19.259 --> 00:06:21.079 to get to the Easter reception more than you do. 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:23.079 So we're going to make it happen. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:23.539 All right? 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:27.319 But we're going to talk first about wondering minds. 00:06:27.599 --> 00:06:31.779 Luke, he recounts the details of this first Easter morning. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:36.680 And in doing so, in verse 10, he names these female disciples of Jesus. 00:06:37.139 --> 00:06:41.539 Mary, Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women. 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:46.020 And he says that they took spices to the tomb. 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:46.819 Why did they do that? 00:06:46.900 --> 00:06:55.120 Well, they wanted to honor Jesus one last time by embalming his corpse with these spices. 00:06:56.060 --> 00:07:00.759 And they were not thinking, hey, we've got the spices in case he's still dead. 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:05.560 But let's hope that he's alive again and we can all sing the Hallelujah Chorus. 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:05.959 Right? 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:11.839 They knew what we know, which is that dead bodies stay dead. 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:15.579 And this is not a princess bride situation. 00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:20.800 If you grew up in that movie where Jesus is mostly dead but a little bit alive. 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:21.240 Right? 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:24.439 The Romans were masters at crucifixion. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:25.680 Jesus is all dead. 00:07:26.620 --> 00:07:29.439 And these women were not at all prepared for what they would find. 00:07:29.500 --> 00:07:32.660 When they arrived at the tomb, they had an incredible shock. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:36.300 And they're asking themselves, like, who rolled away this massive stone? 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:41.000 What happened to the Roman guard that was here guarding this place? 00:07:41.200 --> 00:07:44.080 And why is Jesus' body not inside the tomb? 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:46.740 And it says in verse 4 that they were wondering. 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:49.540 Their minds were wondering. 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:51.140 They were perplexed. 00:07:51.200 --> 00:07:52.460 They were bewildered. 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:54.000 And maybe that's how you feel today. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:54.600 You're wondering. 00:07:55.920 --> 00:08:02.580 Well, suddenly, just like in the Christmas story with the angels that come to those shepherds in the field of Bethlehem, 00:08:02.659 --> 00:08:06.599 these heavenly, angelic beings, these messengers from God, 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:12.180 they come and announce this crazy, breaking news that Jesus is living. 00:08:13.159 --> 00:08:14.839 And here's what they say in verse 5. 00:08:14.919 --> 00:08:15.139 They say, 00:08:15.219 --> 00:08:17.539 Why do you look for the living among the dead? 00:08:18.339 --> 00:08:19.159 He is not here. 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:19.759 He has risen. 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:22.740 Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:25.979 the Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:30.240 be crucified, and on the third day be raised again. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:36.820 The message from God to these women is that Jesus is passed from the realm of the dead, 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:39.220 from the realm of the dying where we all exist. 00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:45.919 And he's gone through death, out the other side, into the life of the age to come. 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:53.320 And there he is the living one in this new resurrected glorious body 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:57.320 as the first fruits of God's new creation. 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:00.680 And some of us might read this story and say, 00:09:00.800 --> 00:09:02.100 Ah, I see what's going on. 00:09:03.160 --> 00:09:04.879 Jesus is metaphorically living. 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:07.640 Jesus is spiritually risen. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.080 That this is a wonderful mythic symbol. 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:13.680 That good triumphs over evil. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:17.159 And that life continues in the face of death. 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:19.919 And that as dark as things get, there's always the dawn. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:23.679 No matter how bad life is, we can always have hope. 00:09:24.959 --> 00:09:27.579 And so the question is, is this a spiritual metaphor? 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:31.159 Is this a legend that never happened? 00:09:31.239 --> 00:09:32.559 And the angels there, they say, 00:09:32.659 --> 00:09:32.919 No. 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:37.859 Jesus told you ahead of time that he would be raised from the dead, 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.279 physically, bodily, in the space-time matter universe. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:43.039 And some of you say, Well, wait a minute. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:46.879 I'm not so sure that I can believe all of this. 00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:51.059 I mean, maybe these women, they're so exhausted. 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:52.500 They're so grieving. 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:58.139 They've got this unprocessed trauma from having witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:09:59.659 Maybe they're hallucinating. 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:01.579 Maybe they're imagining things. 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:07.879 And if you think that, you're actually not the first to doubt and to dismiss their story. 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:10.220 In fact, in verse 9, it says, 00:10:10.439 --> 00:10:14.580 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the others. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:15.779 And then in verse 11, it says, 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:20.139 But they did not believe the women because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:25.379 If the resurrection of Jesus seems like nonsense to you, 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:27.379 if it seems like absolute rubbish, 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:30.620 you are in really good company. 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:34.639 Because it seemed that way to all the apostles as well. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:36.500 None of them believed it. 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:42.120 Peter, James, John, all of Jesus' male disciples were skeptics. 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:43.639 They said, This is absurd. 00:10:44.139 --> 00:10:45.080 This is ridiculous. 00:10:45.659 --> 00:10:47.399 This is irrational. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:48.799 This is unbelievable. 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:53.000 Well, what is it that caused them to change their minds? 00:10:53.000 --> 00:11:02.279 What convinced them to go out and leave their homes eventually and give their lives and to even die 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:09.539 for this message that Jesus had been raised to the life of the age to come with a new body? 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:12.139 Why would they die for a lie? 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:15.120 Why would they die for a legend that they made up? 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:18.200 I mean, what is it that convinced them this was true? 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:21.900 And if you notice in verse 12, it says that Peter, however, 00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:27.100 he got up and he ran to the tomb, bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.800 and he went away wondering, there's that word again, 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:33.400 he was wondering to himself what had happened. 00:11:34.640 --> 00:11:42.259 See, Peter was intellectually open-minded and curious enough to go and examine the evidence for himself. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:48.240 It was absolutely essential that Peter heard that eyewitness testimony from the women, 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:52.000 but he was not content with their conclusions, 00:11:52.519 --> 00:11:58.259 and so he wanted to personally and directly analyze the data and test and verify their hypothesis. 00:11:58.580 --> 00:12:04.019 And so it was essential that Peter would go to see the empty tomb and the grave clothes. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:06.639 And it's interesting that Luke emphasizes this. 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:10.419 He says that Peter bent down to look inside the empty tomb, 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:13.860 and he, quote, saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:21.939 and this is what seems to be the thing that causes Peter to wonder in his mind what has just happened. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:24.879 His mind is wondering, it's marveling, it's amazed. 00:12:25.439 --> 00:12:26.259 Why is that? 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:37.000 Well, on Good Friday, Jesus' dead body had been wrapped in linen cloth with about 75 pounds worth of spices. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:45.960 And those liquid spices, they settled and they solidified like a cocoon around the shape of Jesus' body. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:54.879 And the only way, humanly speaking, that a body could be removed from such encrusted burial wrappings 00:12:54.879 --> 00:13:01.440 would be by cutting those strips of linen cloth from end to end 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:06.440 and laying back each side so that you could pull the body out of the grave clothes. 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:13.180 And when Peter and these women and other disciples came and they saw these strips of linen uncut 00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:18.180 and undisturbed, just as they had been when the body of Jesus lay within them, 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:21.460 but the grave clothes were empty in the shape of Jesus' body, 00:13:22.920 --> 00:13:23.940 well, they were wondering. 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:29.640 Jesus' resurrection body apparently passed through these grave clothes. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:34.800 And next week, we're going to talk about how, this is so totally bizarre, I get it. 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:38.580 We're going to talk next week about Jesus' body, right? 00:13:38.640 --> 00:13:43.040 This glorified, amazing, crazy body and all of its powers. 00:13:44.300 --> 00:13:49.840 But, you know, Peter, at this point, he's heard the eyewitness testimony. 00:13:50.680 --> 00:13:53.500 He's heard about the message that God had sent. 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:55.200 He's seen the empty tomb. 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:56.799 He's seen those grave clothes. 00:13:57.639 --> 00:14:02.080 But that was not enough for Peter to go out and become a martyr for this message. 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:08.580 Peter's skepticism could only be dispelled with the indisputable evidence 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:11.480 of seeing the resurrected Jesus with his own eyes. 00:14:12.539 --> 00:14:17.679 And that's what verse 34 tells us, that the Lord has risen and he appeared to Simon. 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:19.120 He appeared to Peter. 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:23.000 Peter, along with many, many others, we're told in the New Testament, 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:25.100 over 500 people. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:28.059 They saw the resurrected Jesus with their eyes. 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:29.340 They heard him with their ears. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:31.220 They touched him with their hands. 00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:34.820 And they could not unexperience that experience. 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:41.200 And so for those of you who are here and this message of the bodily resurrection of Jesus, 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:43.720 it just seems like nonsense to you. 00:14:44.520 --> 00:14:46.900 We want you to know that you are so welcome here. 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:51.760 Your questions are so welcome here that just like those women, their minds were wondering. 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:55.180 And just like Peter, his mind was wondering what happened. 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:59.139 And we're so glad that you would come and wonder about these things with us. 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:07.439 And if you, like Peter, would like to channel that wondering of your mind, 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:15.600 I would encourage you and invite you into a process of intellectual curiosity, 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:18.399 a process of exploration. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:27.579 If it were possible for us to build a time machine and to somehow go back and experience these things, 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:34.240 this unique event for ourselves, if we could do that, I would be a very rich man if I could build such a time machine. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:43.440 But since that's not possible to do for any period of historical inquiry, we can do this. 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.120 A couple things for you. 00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:48.519 If you're wondering in your mind, here's some things you can do. 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:52.799 First of all, you can, if you've never read the primary sources, 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:58.240 if you've never just sat down and read the eyewitness accounts of the people who saw Jesus, 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.240 I would just say, what are you waiting for? 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:04.560 Go and listen to it. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:07.720 Go and examine the evidence for yourself. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:12.740 Go and see what it is that they claim to see and hear and touch. 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:15.240 And ask yourself, why would they be making this up? 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.680 Why would they die for this? 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:23.820 The second thing you can do is exercise the tools of abductive reasoning. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.919 This is what historians do. 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:31.219 They use the tools of abductive reasoning and inference to the best explanation. 00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:33.120 And you can ask yourself the question, 00:16:33.979 --> 00:16:39.519 what hypothesis best explains all the historical data with the least amount of strain? 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:41.099 Right? 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:45.199 What best explains this empty tomb and the eyewitness sightings of Jesus, 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:50.240 the transformed lives and the martyrdoms of the disciples, the eyewitnesses? 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.539 What best explains the sudden birth of the church? 00:16:53.680 --> 00:16:59.759 What best explains this new and utterly distinct worldview that came into being overnight? 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:04.920 What best explains the explosion of the Christian movement throughout the Roman Empire 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:08.460 over the next three centuries in the face of intense persecution? 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:12.160 If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, 00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:19.299 what alternative explanation that's plausibly historical can we give for these strange events? 00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:27.120 I want to just encourage you that if you engage all the various hypotheses 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:32.140 that this was a fraud, this was a hallucination, this was a legend, this is a metaphor, 00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:38.320 I think you'll conclude, you can conclude with your wandering mind 00:17:38.320 --> 00:17:44.060 that the bodily resurrection of Jesus makes the best sense of all the data. 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:50.000 And the final thing I want to encourage you to do as you apply your wandering mind 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.940 to examine all this evidence, 00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:57.759 I want you to consider the possibility that if Jesus died for you and if he's alive, 00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.820 then you can meet him. 00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:02.700 You can actually discover him for yourself. 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:04.799 You can discover the reality that we're talking about. 00:18:04.919 --> 00:18:08.480 You might find that as you examine the evidence, 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:11.799 that actually someone is there examining you. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.740 That someone is there eager to show himself to you. 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:21.039 Someone is there who's wanting to enter into a loving relationship with you. 00:18:22.439 --> 00:18:25.960 And so that's my first point about wandering minds, okay? 00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:28.939 But then I want to talk not just about wandering minds, 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:32.500 I want to talk about burning hearts, burning hearts. 00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:39.160 Luke turns our attention to these two disciples on the road to Emmaus. 00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:46.960 It's about a seven-mile walk, two and a half miles to walk from Jerusalem back to their home in Emmaus. 00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:49.940 And in verse 17, he tells us that their faces are downcast, 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:54.000 which means that their hearts are heavy and downcast. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:19:00.059 And then when you look at the end of the story in verse 33, it says this. 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:04.220 Verse 32, 00:19:05.059 --> 00:19:05.880 They asked each other, 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:11.980 Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:15.220 What caused this change? 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.119 It says that they had downcast hearts, 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:20.919 And then at the end, it says they had burning hearts. 00:19:22.959 --> 00:19:25.979 Jesus, as we know, he was crucified on Friday. 00:19:27.199 --> 00:19:31.000 These Jews are there for the Passover, which lasted through the weekend. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:38.480 And now they're walking home, and this stranger walks up alongside them and says, 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:39.579 What's up? 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.259 What's the latest? 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:45.119 And they're amazed at his cluelessness, 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:48.380 and so they begin to tell him about Jesus. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:51.319 And they say in verse 19, 00:19:51.319 --> 00:20:08.039 Remember when God redeemed Israel? 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:08.819 Remember the Exodus? 00:20:09.099 --> 00:20:12.119 Remember when he brought about a great redemption for his people? 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:15.859 We thought and we hoped that Jesus was going to be that person for us, 00:20:15.939 --> 00:20:18.819 that he was going to bring about deliverance for us. 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:20.019 But we're sad. 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:25.099 We're downcast because we're living in a world without redemption. 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:29.059 We're living in a world where no one's going to be delivered. 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:33.799 We're living in a world where death apparently has the last word, 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:35.599 and there is no hope. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:40.879 They say our friends, they came and told us some strange things earlier today. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:43.079 They went and visited the tomb of Jesus, 00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:46.579 and they said that it was empty, his body wasn't there, that he's alive. 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:48.599 But that is absolutely nonsense. 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:51.579 It's because crucified people stay dead. 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.619 Can you imagine this conversation? 00:20:54.899 --> 00:21:01.000 Can you imagine telling the resurrected Jesus everything he needs to know about Jesus? 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:08.659 And Jesus begins to turn their downcast hearts into burning hearts. 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:11.559 And here's what it says in verse 25. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:13.519 He said to them, 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:17.879 How foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:23.240 He tells these defeated friends that you are, in the Greek he says, 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:24.220 You are a neity. 00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:25.440 You are without mind. 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.720 You are without understanding. 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.639 He says, 00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.460 Because you're dull in your heads, 00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:33.319 and you're kind of slow and sad in your hearts, 00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:35.279 you're not grasping the truth. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.960 You're not trusting the truth that God has given through his prophets. 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:44.639 And how does Jesus change their downcast hearts into burning hearts? 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.079 Well, he says in verse 26, 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:47.500 He says, 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:49.899 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things, 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:52.379 and then enter his glory? 00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:55.500 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, 00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:59.280 he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:04.920 You know, it's amazing to me that the first thing that Jesus does after defeating death, 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:07.260 the first thing he does after his resurrection, 00:22:07.780 --> 00:22:09.600 is he gives a fresh reading, 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.260 a fresh exposition, 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:14.580 a fresh interpretation of the Bible. 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:18.960 Can you imagine sitting in this master class with Jesus? 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.120 Jesus. 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:21.819 These downcast disciples, 00:22:22.100 --> 00:22:23.620 they'd been reading their Bible, 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:27.620 but they'd been reading it through an interpretive grid 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:29.799 that was causing them to miss its meaning. 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:32.799 And so Jesus comes to them and he says, 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:34.500 I have the golden key 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:38.240 that can unlock the deepest meaning of God's word. 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.120 He says to them, 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:43.000 I have fresh new lenses for you 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.039 that when you put them on, 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:47.900 you will be able to see as you were meant to see 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.720 with fresh eyes 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:52.100 in a way that will turn your sad and downcast hearts 00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:53.759 into burning hearts. 00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.259 And he says, 00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:55.480 let me unpack for you 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.560 the truest truths of the universe 00:22:57.560 --> 00:22:59.220 from God himself. 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.140 And Jesus says, 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.360 look, 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:03.060 when you read Moses, 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.620 when you read the prophets, 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.640 when you read the Psalms, 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:08.060 when you read what we call the Old Testament, 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:08.780 he says, 00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:10.759 I want you to look at what God is revealing 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:12.320 about his Messiah, 00:23:12.580 --> 00:23:14.040 and I want you to look at what he's revealing 00:23:14.040 --> 00:23:15.360 about me. 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:17.659 And in verse 26, 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.000 he says, 00:23:18.219 --> 00:23:20.799 did not the Messiah have to suffer, 00:23:21.459 --> 00:23:22.539 that is to be crucified, 00:23:23.899 --> 00:23:25.419 and did not the Messiah then 00:23:25.419 --> 00:23:27.240 have to enter into his glory, 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.859 that is to be resurrected? 00:23:30.539 --> 00:23:32.639 How does this question from Jesus 00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:35.959 put fire into the downcast hearts 00:23:35.959 --> 00:23:37.159 of his disciples 00:23:37.159 --> 00:23:39.059 and make them burn with zeal? 00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:41.759 Jesus begins to go through 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:43.559 all the historical precedents, 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:45.980 all of the prophetic promises, 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.839 all the psalmist's prayers, 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:50.039 and he shows his disciples 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:52.359 a pattern that they just cannot see. 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:53.839 And I imagine he began 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.859 at the beginning. 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:56.419 He goes back to Genesis, right? 00:23:57.079 --> 00:23:58.179 And he takes them through 00:23:58.179 --> 00:23:59.500 Genesis 3.15. 00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:02.019 That great mother promise, 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:03.119 that first announcement 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:03.779 of the gospel 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:05.319 that says that the offspring 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.139 of the woman 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:07.240 is going to come 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.000 and be terribly wounded, 00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.460 but is going to crush 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.339 the head of the serpent. 00:24:11.339 --> 00:24:13.939 That that great representative 00:24:13.939 --> 00:24:15.059 of the human race 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:15.659 is going to come 00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:17.299 and he's going to suffer horribly, 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.720 but he will trample on evil 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:21.480 and he will triumph in glory. 00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.299 And I imagine Jesus 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.399 just begins there 00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:24.659 and he works them through 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.779 the book of Genesis, 00:24:25.939 --> 00:24:26.879 and when he's done with that, 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:28.319 he goes on into Exodus, 00:24:28.459 --> 00:24:28.939 and he says, 00:24:29.379 --> 00:24:31.579 you remember how Israel's sufferings 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:33.339 increased in Egypt 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:35.359 until it got to the screaming point? 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:37.979 And then redemption came, 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:39.439 and then glory came, 00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.799 and he takes them through Exodus 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.119 and on into Leviticus 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.619 and Numbers and Deuteronomy, 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.399 and he goes out into Joshua, 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:48.059 Judges, Samuel, and Kings, 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.459 and he says, 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.519 don't you remember that 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:51.419 when Israel cried to the Lord 00:24:51.419 --> 00:24:52.459 and her sufferings, 00:24:53.339 --> 00:24:55.059 then God would raise up judges 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.819 and kings to deliver his people? 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.819 And he goes on into the Psalms, 00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.279 I'm sure, 00:25:00.399 --> 00:25:01.419 and he talked about 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:02.860 how God's king 00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:05.180 suffers terribly, 00:25:05.820 --> 00:25:07.300 how God's king is rejected 00:25:07.300 --> 00:25:08.560 by the nations, 00:25:08.660 --> 00:25:11.120 he's rejected by even his own people, 00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:13.580 and yet he cries out to God 00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:14.680 and God rescues him, 00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:16.140 God vindicates him, 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:17.560 and then I'm sure Jesus went on 00:25:17.560 --> 00:25:18.360 into the prophets, 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.600 he went to Isaiah, 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:22.420 Isaiah chapters 40 to 66, 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:22.980 and he said, 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:23.380 look, 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:26.000 look at the servant of Yahweh 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.800 who suffers 00:25:26.800 --> 00:25:29.019 because he's taking on to himself 00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:30.960 all the sin and the punishment 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:32.140 of other people, 00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:35.160 but then notice how he's glorified 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:37.279 and he carries all of his beloved people 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.259 to glory 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:40.400 as their savior. 00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:43.600 If we had all day today, 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.480 it wouldn't be enough 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:48.360 to explore this amazing question 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:50.720 that Jesus asked in verse 26, 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:52.700 was it not necessary, 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:54.500 was it not a divine necessity 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:57.380 that the Messiah must suffer these things 00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:59.940 and then enter his glory? 00:26:01.020 --> 00:26:02.280 Jesus is telling us 00:26:02.280 --> 00:26:03.060 that the scriptures 00:26:03.060 --> 00:26:04.700 come to their climax 00:26:04.700 --> 00:26:06.560 in the suffering and glory 00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:08.000 of God's Messiah. 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.180 Now how might this 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:12.200 Easter Sunday Bible study 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:14.180 with the resurrected Jesus 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:16.800 transform our downcast hearts 00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:18.480 into burning hearts? 00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:21.080 How might this put fire in us 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:23.059 and cause them to burn 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.919 with zeal? 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.019 I want to suggest 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.799 three points of application. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.899 Number one, 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:30.119 that we need to apply 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.179 the Messiah scriptures 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:32.359 to our lives. 00:26:33.679 --> 00:26:35.319 The experience of the burning heart 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:36.960 comes from the scriptures 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.859 freshly read 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:39.579 and properly interpreted. 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.220 If one of the first things 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:43.119 that the glorified 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:44.539 and resurrected Messiah did 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.899 when he stepped out of the tomb 00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:48.279 to begin his new creation 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.859 was to open up the scriptures 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:52.799 to teach us 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:55.539 what should be one of the first things 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:56.379 that we do 00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:58.000 when we step out of the bed 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:59.259 to begin a new day. 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.879 The more we read, 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:03.079 the more we understand 00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:05.099 the story and the scriptures 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:06.079 about the Messiah, 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.779 the more the resurrected Jesus 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:10.539 will cause our downcast hearts 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:12.079 to catch fire 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:13.139 and begin to burn. 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.319 And if you don't have 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.339 a scripture reading plan, 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.980 I've printed a bunch 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:19.000 of these for you. 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:19.299 It's called 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.900 the Essential 100 Plan. 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.480 It takes you through 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:23.420 50 readings of the Old Testament, 00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.880 50 readings of the New Testament. 00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.500 It's back there 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.259 on the back table. 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:28.160 It's also with the welcome gifts 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:29.200 in our community hall. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.579 And I'd encourage you 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:32.460 to begin a new day tomorrow 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:34.480 reading the Messiah scriptures. 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.579 The second application 00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:37.019 I would like to make 00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:38.160 is that we need to apply 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.740 the Messiah's sufferings 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.839 to our lives. 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:43.860 These downcast disciples, 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.620 they thought that 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.360 the suffering 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:47.140 and crucified Messiah 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:48.320 was the devastation 00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:49.759 of all hope 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.780 for being redeemed 00:27:50.780 --> 00:27:51.840 and delivered by God. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:54.200 But Jesus says to them, 00:27:54.300 --> 00:27:54.520 no. 00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.800 The suffering 00:27:56.800 --> 00:27:57.600 and crucifixion 00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:58.120 of the Messiah 00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:59.759 was a divine necessity. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.040 There was no other way 00:28:01.040 --> 00:28:03.740 for God to redeem you 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.380 from your sin, 00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:05.600 for God to deliver you 00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.480 from death. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.480 And you see, 00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:10.140 when God transformed 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:12.259 that dead body 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.900 of the Messiah, 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:15.339 and He brought Him 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.059 into the glory 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.680 of a new 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:18.799 and resurrected body, 00:28:18.980 --> 00:28:21.319 God was vindicating, 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.579 God was validating 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.879 all the claims 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.720 that Jesus made 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.160 for Himself 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:26.519 about being the Messiah. 00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:29.660 That on that Easter day, 00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.680 in that resurrection, 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.720 God was giving 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:33.079 His verdict 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:36.079 on the Messiah's suffering. 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:38.140 And the resurrection 00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:39.319 is God's way 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:40.980 of saying to us 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:42.240 that what the Messiah 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.000 accomplished 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.339 in His suffering 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.220 on the cross 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.019 was effective 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.059 for you. 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.220 That His 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.599 atoning sacrifice 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:52.059 for your sins 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:53.039 in your place 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:54.299 was utterly 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.500 satisfactory 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:56.379 to God. 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.259 And that there's 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.799 nothing more 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.700 that needs to be done 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:01.559 for you to be 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.319 redeemed. 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.379 Right? 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.279 The new glory 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.720 of the resurrected Messiah 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.480 shows us 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:08.259 the sufficiency 00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:10.059 and the finality 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.720 of Jesus' 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.559 sufferings 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:13.000 in our place. 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:13.860 It shows us 00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:14.680 that the resurrection 00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:16.059 is actually not 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.640 the reversal 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.420 of a defeat. 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:18.960 The resurrection 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:20.059 is the manifestation 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.660 of a victory. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.720 And that 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:25.279 vicarious 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.079 and victorious 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.700 suffering 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.400 of the Messiah 00:29:27.400 --> 00:29:28.740 for you 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.720 and in your place, 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.420 that is what will 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:32.599 change your downcast heart 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:34.299 into a burning heart. 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:37.240 The third thing 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.039 I think we need to do 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.659 is to apply 00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:39.759 not just the Messiah's 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.159 scriptures 00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:41.379 and not just the Messiah's 00:29:41.379 --> 00:29:41.859 sufferings, 00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:42.559 we need to apply 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.680 the Messiah's 00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:45.059 glory to our lives. 00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:47.039 I read a story 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.779 this past week 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.559 about an Old Testament 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:49.859 scholar in Australia. 00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:51.480 His name 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:53.960 was Frank Anderson 00:29:53.960 --> 00:29:54.819 and he died 00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:55.759 in 2020. 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.259 And in his 00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:59.180 later years 00:29:59.180 --> 00:29:59.779 as he was getting 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.940 physically run down 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:02.180 and there was just 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:03.180 not a lot of strength 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:05.140 left in him, 00:30:05.220 --> 00:30:05.880 you would go 00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:06.600 and you would ask him, 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:06.840 you'd say, 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.259 Frank, 00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:08.200 how's it going? 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.820 And Frank would respond 00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:11.560 and he would say, 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:12.799 oh, 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.779 I'm not suffering 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.640 from anything 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:17.060 a good resurrection 00:30:17.060 --> 00:30:17.860 can't fix. 00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:21.840 Don't you love that? 00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.220 This Old Testament 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:25.180 scholar Frank, 00:30:26.080 --> 00:30:27.160 he understood 00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:28.480 the pattern 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.279 of the Messiah's 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.600 scriptures 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:29.799 scriptures 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:31.639 and therefore 00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:32.279 he understood 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:33.000 the pattern 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.159 of the Messiah 00:30:34.159 --> 00:30:34.740 himself 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:36.480 and therefore 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.079 he understood 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:37.719 the pattern 00:30:37.719 --> 00:30:39.059 of all who 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.319 belong to the Messiah. 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:42.879 Friends, 00:30:43.219 --> 00:30:44.000 that pattern 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.139 is first suffering 00:30:45.139 --> 00:30:47.059 then glory 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:48.699 and 00:30:48.699 --> 00:30:50.279 we 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:51.000 are 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.980 living our lives 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.379 between 00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:53.259 the completed 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.919 resurrection 00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:54.579 of Jesus 00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.359 in the past 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:57.399 and the coming 00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:58.099 resurrection 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:59.299 of our bodies 00:30:59.299 --> 00:31:00.179 in the future 00:31:00.179 --> 00:31:02.139 and that means 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:02.919 that we can have 00:31:02.919 --> 00:31:03.679 burning hearts 00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:05.339 now in the present 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:06.759 because our God 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:08.699 is planning to do 00:31:08.699 --> 00:31:09.459 for us 00:31:09.459 --> 00:31:10.379 what he did 00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:11.519 to our Messiah. 00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:12.039 That is, 00:31:12.159 --> 00:31:12.839 our suffering 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.979 will turn 00:31:13.979 --> 00:31:15.379 into glory. 00:31:16.439 --> 00:31:17.000 And let me just 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.759 read to you 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.099 a few words 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:19.779 about this coming 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.459 glory from the 00:31:20.459 --> 00:31:21.240 apostle Paul. 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.079 He says in 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:24.219 Philippians chapter 3, 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:24.600 he says, 00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:26.200 we eagerly await 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.279 a savior from heaven, 00:31:27.380 --> 00:31:28.480 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:30.360 who by the power 00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:31.160 that enables him 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.140 to bring everything 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.400 under his control 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:34.480 will transform 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.940 our lowly bodies 00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:37.220 so that they will be 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:39.420 like his glorious body. 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.759 Paul says in 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:43.000 2 Corinthians chapter 4 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.579 verse 14, 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:43.960 he says, 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.559 we know 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.600 that the one 00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.579 who raised the Lord 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.700 Jesus from the dead 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:49.120 will also raise us 00:31:49.120 --> 00:31:49.799 with Jesus 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:51.339 so that what is mortal 00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.740 may be swallowed up 00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.640 by life. 00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:56.000 And then Paul says 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.579 in Romans 8, 00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:56.880 he says, 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:58.220 if the spirit of him 00:31:58.220 --> 00:32:00.019 who raised Jesus 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.759 from the dead 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.900 is living in you, 00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:04.079 he who raised Christ 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.600 from the dead 00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:05.579 will also give life 00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.720 to your mortal bodies 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.839 because of his spirit 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:09.380 who lives in you. 00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:10.059 And so the question 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.440 today is, 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:10.660 friends, 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.620 what kind of heart 00:32:11.620 --> 00:32:12.220 do you have? 00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:13.980 Do you have 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:15.059 a downcast heart? 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.299 Do you want 00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:18.299 a burning heart? 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.160 Do you want 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:21.240 a heart that's filled 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.440 with the very spirit 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.539 of the one 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.720 who raised Christ 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.680 from the dead? 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:27.420 Do you want 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:28.420 a heart that's able 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:28.940 to say, 00:32:29.120 --> 00:32:29.880 even in the midst 00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:30.960 of the most horrific 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.680 suffering, 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.820 oh, I'm not suffering 00:32:33.820 --> 00:32:34.720 from anything 00:32:34.720 --> 00:32:35.940 a good resurrection 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.880 cannot fix. 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.279 You see, 00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:39.980 if our suffering 00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:42.160 Messiah has been glorified, 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.019 if he's been raised 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.580 from the dead, 00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:45.299 then this guarantees 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.400 for us a hopeful 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:48.240 and a joyful future 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.860 in which God 00:32:48.860 --> 00:32:49.680 will raise all 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.820 who belong to Jesus 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:51.359 and he will, 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:51.819 in fact, 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:54.000 resurrect the whole 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.099 material world. 00:32:56.639 --> 00:32:57.279 And if this is 00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:57.859 our future, 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:58.879 friends, 00:32:59.919 --> 00:33:01.599 everything is going 00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:03.240 to be okay. 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:07.759 Everything that is sad 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:09.379 is going to become 00:33:09.379 --> 00:33:10.000 untrue. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.359 All that is broken 00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:14.159 is going to be mended. 00:33:15.139 --> 00:33:16.439 All that is causing 00:33:16.439 --> 00:33:17.819 our hearts to be heavy 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.799 and downcast, 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:20.579 it's going to be put 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.460 to rest. 00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:25.200 Your life, 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:27.059 like the Messiah's life, 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.480 is not going to end 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.259 in suffering. 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.200 It's going to end 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:32.319 in glory. 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:34.359 And that is what turns 00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:35.379 a downcast heart 00:33:35.379 --> 00:33:38.079 into a burning heart. 00:33:39.859 --> 00:33:40.460 So, 00:33:40.799 --> 00:33:42.220 wandering minds, 00:33:43.439 --> 00:33:44.319 burning hearts, 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:46.079 and the last thing 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:47.500 is opening eyes. 00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:47.859 And again, 00:33:47.939 --> 00:33:48.359 don't worry 00:33:48.359 --> 00:33:49.480 because this third point 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.000 is much, 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.599 much shorter 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:52.359 than the first two points, 00:33:52.399 --> 00:33:52.619 okay? 00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:54.019 Opening eyes. 00:33:54.439 --> 00:33:55.419 Jesus has just given 00:33:55.419 --> 00:33:56.759 the most mind-blowing 00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:57.519 Bible study 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.200 in the history 00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:58.659 of the world. 00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.599 The downcast hearts 00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:01.299 of these disciples 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:01.960 are changing 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:03.539 from, 00:34:03.879 --> 00:34:04.919 into burning hearts 00:34:04.919 --> 00:34:05.539 and they say, 00:34:05.639 --> 00:34:05.879 Jesus, 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:06.799 we don't want this 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.319 to end. 00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:08.519 We want this 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.420 to keep going on 00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.319 and so they strongly 00:34:10.319 --> 00:34:11.900 urge him to stay. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.259 They say, 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:12.980 stay with us. 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:13.679 Please come. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.680 And eat with us. 00:34:17.120 --> 00:34:18.860 And how does Jesus respond 00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:20.880 when people plead to him 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:21.660 and request of him, 00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:22.080 please, 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.400 please give us more? 00:34:25.059 --> 00:34:25.780 It says that Jesus 00:34:25.780 --> 00:34:27.280 shared the table 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:29.080 with these two travelers 00:34:29.080 --> 00:34:30.220 and in the same way 00:34:30.220 --> 00:34:30.880 that he shared 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.700 that last supper 00:34:31.700 --> 00:34:32.559 with his disciples, 00:34:33.720 --> 00:34:33.920 right, 00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:34.480 when he took, 00:34:34.620 --> 00:34:34.840 blessed, 00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.160 broke, 00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:36.000 and gave the bread, 00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:37.100 it says that he took, 00:34:37.260 --> 00:34:37.440 blessed, 00:34:37.580 --> 00:34:37.800 broke, 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.880 and gave the bread 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.539 to them. 00:34:40.620 --> 00:34:42.940 And when he shared 00:34:42.940 --> 00:34:43.700 this meal with them, 00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.359 what happens 00:34:44.359 --> 00:34:45.500 to their eyes? 00:34:47.239 --> 00:34:48.379 It says that their eyes 00:34:48.379 --> 00:34:50.199 are opened. 00:34:51.399 --> 00:34:52.299 It says that they, 00:34:52.299 --> 00:34:54.879 they begin to recognize 00:34:54.879 --> 00:34:56.539 the resurrected Jesus. 00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:57.019 They're given 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:58.599 a new understanding. 00:34:59.939 --> 00:35:00.319 And you see, 00:35:00.379 --> 00:35:01.159 this is a clue 00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:02.819 as to why we break 00:35:02.819 --> 00:35:03.179 the bread 00:35:03.179 --> 00:35:03.839 at this table 00:35:03.839 --> 00:35:05.179 every Sunday. 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:07.399 because it's an opportunity 00:35:07.399 --> 00:35:08.899 for the resurrected Jesus 00:35:08.899 --> 00:35:10.579 to reveal himself 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:11.199 to us 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:12.699 in a fresh and deep way. 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:14.500 And it's an opportunity 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.719 for us to experience 00:35:15.719 --> 00:35:16.599 the very presence 00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:17.359 and the power 00:35:17.359 --> 00:35:19.419 of the living one 00:35:19.419 --> 00:35:20.379 as the bread 00:35:20.379 --> 00:35:21.339 is broken. 00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.699 This table, 00:35:23.859 --> 00:35:24.019 I think, 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:25.019 goes a long way 00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:26.099 to explain 00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:26.919 what it is about 00:35:26.919 --> 00:35:27.539 Christianity 00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:29.599 that grasps us 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.819 and that holds us 00:35:30.819 --> 00:35:31.519 in the face 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:32.179 of so much 00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.739 that is wrong 00:35:32.739 --> 00:35:33.359 with the world, 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.460 so much that's wrong 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.120 with the church, 00:35:35.380 --> 00:35:36.220 so much that's wrong 00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:37.620 with our very selves. 00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.460 And I want you 00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.140 to think about this 00:35:40.140 --> 00:35:40.700 as we prepare 00:35:40.700 --> 00:35:41.460 to come to this table 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:42.180 in just a moment. 00:35:43.240 --> 00:35:44.440 I want you to remember 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:45.480 that first meal 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:46.280 that's recorded 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:47.160 for us in the Bible. 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.400 You remember that first meal 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:48.800 in the Bible? 00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:51.680 It says there 00:35:51.680 --> 00:35:53.200 in Genesis chapter 3 00:35:53.200 --> 00:35:53.840 verse 6, 00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.280 the woman took 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:55.920 some of the fruit 00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:56.500 and ate it. 00:35:56.640 --> 00:35:57.539 She gave it to her husband 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.360 and he ate it 00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:59.860 and then the eyes 00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.500 of both of them 00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:03.000 were opened. 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.920 And they knew 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.280 that they were naked. 00:36:07.740 --> 00:36:08.980 This is the beginning 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.519 of all of our woes. 00:36:11.599 --> 00:36:12.440 This is the beginning 00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:13.620 of all the cursedness, 00:36:13.740 --> 00:36:14.480 all the heaviness 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:15.480 that came upon 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:17.039 our human race. 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:19.099 Death itself 00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:19.740 can be traced 00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.559 all the way back 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:21.260 to that meal 00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:22.019 and that moment 00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:23.320 of rebellion 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:25.559 where the whole creation 00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:26.280 became subject 00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:27.000 to decay 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.960 and futility 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:29.559 and absolute sorrow 00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:30.200 and misery. 00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:32.399 But now, 00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:34.579 here in this story 00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:35.159 is an echo 00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:36.199 of that story 00:36:36.199 --> 00:36:37.259 but in this story 00:36:37.259 --> 00:36:38.460 it's the meal, 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:39.279 the first meal 00:36:39.279 --> 00:36:40.739 of the new creation 00:36:40.739 --> 00:36:43.079 where Jesus says 00:36:43.079 --> 00:36:43.639 in verse 30, 00:36:43.759 --> 00:36:44.500 it says he took 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.559 the bread, 00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:46.339 he blessed it, 00:36:46.419 --> 00:36:47.019 he broke it, 00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:47.980 he gave it to them 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.960 and the eyes of them 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:49.500 were both, 00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.239 what? 00:36:51.239 --> 00:36:51.759 Opened. 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:53.179 But this time 00:36:53.179 --> 00:36:53.919 what did they see? 00:36:54.879 --> 00:36:55.759 This time 00:36:55.759 --> 00:36:57.099 they recognized 00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:57.819 Jesus. 00:36:59.159 --> 00:37:00.179 It says their eyes 00:37:00.179 --> 00:37:00.619 were opened 00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:01.559 and they knew 00:37:01.559 --> 00:37:02.599 Jesus. 00:37:04.279 --> 00:37:04.719 You see, 00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:05.500 at this table 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.539 and in this meal 00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:07.960 disciples for over 00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:08.779 2,000 years, 00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:10.480 disciples around the world 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:12.099 and every culture today 00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:12.860 have discovered 00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:15.559 that the long curse 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.519 on the human race 00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:18.119 has in fact been broken 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:21.559 and that death itself 00:37:21.559 --> 00:37:23.380 has been defeated 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:26.019 and that bursting in 00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:27.340 upon this world 00:37:27.340 --> 00:37:28.000 of decay 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:29.980 and absolute sorrow 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:32.220 is God's new creation 00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:32.820 that's brimming 00:37:32.820 --> 00:37:33.539 with life, 00:37:34.240 --> 00:37:35.360 it's brimming with joy, 00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.940 it's brimming with power, 00:37:37.720 --> 00:37:38.500 it's brimming with 00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:39.680 new possibilities 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:41.300 because Christ 00:37:41.300 --> 00:37:42.820 is risen from the dead. 00:37:44.160 --> 00:37:44.820 And so the question 00:37:44.820 --> 00:37:45.559 for us is 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:47.180 as we come to this table 00:37:47.180 --> 00:37:49.079 are you hungry 00:37:49.079 --> 00:37:49.880 for all that? 00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:52.440 and do you want 00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:53.160 your eyes 00:37:53.160 --> 00:37:54.420 to be open 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:55.059 to Jesus? 00:37:56.640 --> 00:37:57.840 And even more than that 00:37:57.840 --> 00:37:58.340 are you ready 00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:59.079 to sit down 00:37:59.079 --> 00:38:00.519 and to eat 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:02.680 and share this feast 00:38:02.680 --> 00:38:03.519 with the resurrected 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:04.780 Jesus himself? 00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:07.000 I hope that you are. 00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:08.599 In the name of the Father, 00:38:08.740 --> 00:38:09.500 Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:38:10.200 --> 00:38:10.400 Amen.