Sermon Devotional: What is Jesus doing for us now?
Sermon Title: What is Jesus doing for us now?
Scripture: Luke 24:36-49 (ESV)
Jesus has been methodical in preparing the disciples for the events of Holy Week. All three synoptic gospels tell us that with precision and clarity Jesus repeatedly describes what is to come. Long before his final days, just after feeding five thousand hungry men, Jesus begins to reveal all that his Passion would entail. “From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Mt 16:21; Mk 8:31; Lk 9:22).
As his final days approach, Jesus gives the disciples more details. “As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead’” (Mt 20:17-19; Mk 10:33-34; Lk 18:31-33).
What were the disciples thinking when Jesus told them what was to come? Did they have ears to hear what Jesus had been telling them? Do we? If the disciples were listening, there should be no surprise.
On resurrection Sunday the risen Jesus walked alongside two confused and sad disciples on the road to Emmaus. They knew that Jesus was “a prophet who did powerful miracles . . . and a mighty teacher” and they “had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel” (Lk 24:21). But they couldn’t make sense of what they thought was the horrific “end” of Jesus’ story. So, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?’ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Mt 24:25-27).
Moses and the prophets had told the disciples about the Messiah. Jesus himself had told them. “On the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Mt 20:19; Mk 10:34; Lk 18:33). But when Jesus stood among the disciples in the upper room “the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Why are your hearts filled with doubt?” (Lk 24:37-38).
Our final Godspeed Pilgrim question is, “What is Jesus doing for us now?” If we listen to the Word, it is clear that He is doing now for us what he did for the confused and weary disciples on the first resurrection Sunday. “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45). He explained again that “everything written about [himself] in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Lk 24:44). He declared that “there is forgiveness of sins for all who repent” (Lk 24:47). And Jesus commissioned the first disciples to be “witnesses of all these things” to proclaim God’s salvation message “to all the nations” (Lk 24:47). And he sent “the Holy Spirit, just as [his] Father promised” to lead them and remind them as they go.
Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed! As he opens our minds to understand the scriptures, Jesus is responding to our confusion, our doubts and fears. As we repent and receive his forgiveness, He is inviting us to ever-deepening relationship with God and God’s people. As we continue to tell God’s story, we will be his witnesses wherever the Spirit leads. The weary world is waiting to hear the transforming news – Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed!
Consider—
╬ Telling one another our Pilgrimage stories is an essential part of this journey. One pilgrim struggles to find words for his resurrection joy and wonder. “Easter is the best day of the year!” Christ is risen!
╬ Continue Godspeed-ing. Tell your stories to one another, witnessing to the truth that Christ is Risen!
╬ Thank you, Lord, for taking us on this Godspeed Pilgrimage. Thank you for inviting us to walk with you, Jesus, during the last hours of your life on earth. Your salvation is a profound mystery. May God the Spirit open our hearts and minds to know and to remember that our lives belong to you. We worship you Father, Son and Spirit. It is in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Scripture: Luke 24:36-49 (ESV)
The whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” Luke 24:37-39
Jesus has been methodical in preparing the disciples for the events of Holy Week. All three synoptic gospels tell us that with precision and clarity Jesus repeatedly describes what is to come. Long before his final days, just after feeding five thousand hungry men, Jesus begins to reveal all that his Passion would entail. “From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Mt 16:21; Mk 8:31; Lk 9:22).
As his final days approach, Jesus gives the disciples more details. “As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead’” (Mt 20:17-19; Mk 10:33-34; Lk 18:31-33).
What were the disciples thinking when Jesus told them what was to come? Did they have ears to hear what Jesus had been telling them? Do we? If the disciples were listening, there should be no surprise.
On resurrection Sunday the risen Jesus walked alongside two confused and sad disciples on the road to Emmaus. They knew that Jesus was “a prophet who did powerful miracles . . . and a mighty teacher” and they “had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel” (Lk 24:21). But they couldn’t make sense of what they thought was the horrific “end” of Jesus’ story. So, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?’ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Mt 24:25-27).
Moses and the prophets had told the disciples about the Messiah. Jesus himself had told them. “On the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Mt 20:19; Mk 10:34; Lk 18:33). But when Jesus stood among the disciples in the upper room “the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Why are your hearts filled with doubt?” (Lk 24:37-38).
Our final Godspeed Pilgrim question is, “What is Jesus doing for us now?” If we listen to the Word, it is clear that He is doing now for us what he did for the confused and weary disciples on the first resurrection Sunday. “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45). He explained again that “everything written about [himself] in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Lk 24:44). He declared that “there is forgiveness of sins for all who repent” (Lk 24:47). And Jesus commissioned the first disciples to be “witnesses of all these things” to proclaim God’s salvation message “to all the nations” (Lk 24:47). And he sent “the Holy Spirit, just as [his] Father promised” to lead them and remind them as they go.
Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed! As he opens our minds to understand the scriptures, Jesus is responding to our confusion, our doubts and fears. As we repent and receive his forgiveness, He is inviting us to ever-deepening relationship with God and God’s people. As we continue to tell God’s story, we will be his witnesses wherever the Spirit leads. The weary world is waiting to hear the transforming news – Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed!
Consider—
╬ Telling one another our Pilgrimage stories is an essential part of this journey. One pilgrim struggles to find words for his resurrection joy and wonder. “Easter is the best day of the year!” Christ is risen!
╬ Continue Godspeed-ing. Tell your stories to one another, witnessing to the truth that Christ is Risen!
╬ Thank you, Lord, for taking us on this Godspeed Pilgrimage. Thank you for inviting us to walk with you, Jesus, during the last hours of your life on earth. Your salvation is a profound mystery. May God the Spirit open our hearts and minds to know and to remember that our lives belong to you. We worship you Father, Son and Spirit. It is in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.