Sermon: New Beginning
Bible Passage: Luke 24:13-35
I. Jesus’ resurrection was prophesied about 700 years before it happened (cf. Isa 52:13-15)
1. He will be elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted by God (53:13b)
2. Though Jesus’ disciples heard from Jesus many times, they did not fully understand the divine act happening with Jesus’ crucifixion and burial
II. Following Jesus’ burial, the followers of Jesus were pushed into a deep crisis
1. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were “trembling and bewildered” (Mark 16:8)
2. “They [the disciples of Jesus] did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (Luke 24:11)
3. “The disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders” (John 20:19)
III. Let’s look at a specific incident from Luke 24:13-35 (Two disciples on the road to Emmaus)
1. Talking and debating (verse 15) —content of their talking was Jesus
2. Discussing so intently (verse 17)
3. Looked sad/gloomy (verse 17)
4. Hopes were apparently shattered “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (verse 21)
5. Confused about matters and discouraged with rumors (verses 22-24)
a. Jesus’ body was not found
b. Sightings of angels
6. Unable to recognize (!) Jesus when He met them on their road to Emmaus
a. Because they did not understand the Scripture (verses 25-27)
b. Were “foolish”—dull in their heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken (verses 25-27)—Resurrected Jesus lovingly rebuked them
c. When Resurrected Jesus interpreted the Scripture, “their eyes were opened” and recognized Him (verse 31)
d. When Resurrected Jesus was interpreting the Scripture, their hearts were “getting warmed up” (verse 32)
7. The Result of meeting with the Resurrected Jesus
a. They returned to Jerusalem where they needed to be, i.e., with the company of Christ followers (compare verse 13 and 33,)
b. They were confused on their way to Emmaus, but when they came back, they looked confident and clear
c. They began to announce to others about Jesus’ resurrection (verse 35)
IV. Our situation is not so much different from that of the followers of Jesus
1. To name some:
a. Death of loved ones
b. Broken relationship
c. Distanced due work and ministry
d. Financial issues
2. Dashed hopes because of our miscalculations
3. Dullness in our understanding of the Scripture
4. Hearts are not sufficiently warmed up by the teaching from the Scripture and are closed to things of God
5. Not sufficiently in fellowship with Christ-followers—superficial, only-Sunday relationships!
V. Jesus’ Resurrection brings:
1. Hope
2. Courage
3. Motivation for life
4. New beginning, which is completely different from our plan and design, but according to His plan and design
Take Away:
Surround yourself with a company of believers whose hearts are warmed up because of the teachings of the Scripture and whose eyes are opened up by the Resurrected Jesus