Easter Sunday Evening April 20, 2014 - preached at Resurrection Lutheran Church Centerville, Indiana

Sermon Text:      Luke 24:13-35

Title:          Where is Jesus? Part II

I.        Confusion and misunderstanding rule that first Easter.

II.       Jesus – the fulfillment of Moses and the Prophets – opens the eyes of all to believe.
 

THE MESSIAH IS REVEALED AND FAITHFUL EYES ARE OPENED TO BELIEVE!

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The text for the homily for this Easter Sunday Evening, is taken from the Gospel lesson…

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I.

My kids used to watch a PBS show back in the 90s entitled Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? It was a kids’ show regarding geography and finding the mysterious character Carmen San Diego was a bit tricky. Today I think we might have found someone who was as equally elusive and evasive as Ms. San Diego – Jesus! Or so it would seem.

Earlier today I preached a sermon at sunrise and the text was taken from the Gospel according to St. John. In this account of the events of Easter Sunrise we have all kinds of confusion and misunderstanding. Mary Magdalene, Peter and John all are mentioned – and all don’t get it!

Then in the Easter Morning sermon I preached on the Gospel according to St. Matthew where we find the women with mixed emotions as they are filled with joy, and yet there is fear – because they weren’t sure what it meant.

Now I have the privilege of preaching from a third Gospel text today. St. Luke writes of two disciples – one named Cleopas and the other unnamed – who have left Jerusalem, and seemingly all of the emotion and chaos, fear and confusion behind as well, and are headed toward the town of Emmaus.

We find Cleopas and the other disciple walking to Emmaus discussing with great interest the events that had taken place over the past three days concerning their Teacher Jesus. As they are walking and talking Jesus – unrecognized by them – joins them in their journey and asks what is this that they are talking about?

They look at him as if to say, ‘Have you been sleeping under a rock this past week? Why Jesus of Nazareth of course!’ And then they relate to this stranger what it is that happened – and that even this morning some of the women said that they were told by angels that Jesus was alive! And then they conclude with something to the effect that they hadn’t seen Him.

You can almost hear a sad chuckle from these two at the thought of their Teacher – great though He was – coming back to life after three days!

Then Jesus calls them fools for not believing what Moses and the Prophets have said regarding the Christ – the Messiah – and begins to teach them all that the Holy Scriptures say – well – about Himself!

How long does it take to explain Moses and the Prophets regarding the Christ? About seven miles – if you’re Jesus!

The text says ‘interpreted [from the Greek word διερμήνευσεν] ,’ but having studied Greek and Hebrew at the Seminary I like the word ‘translated’ better, and that is an apropos way of saying it, Jesus translated all of the Scriptures concerning Himself. Jesus was not unlike a foreign language teacher trying to not just teach the vocabulary of a language, but every shade and nuance so that one could speak this foreign tongue fluently.

Is it any wonder that GOD calls His people the Children of GOD – yes, even to include you and me?

Don’t we have to have everything spelled out for us? Don’t we have to be cracked over the head with a shovel – or is it two tablets of stone? Don’t we have to be constantly reminded like some mindless teenager, ‘Make sure and fasten your seatbelt, look both ways before backing out of the driveway, come to complete stops, use your turn signal and so on? Because you know if they have an accident and you forgot to remind them that red means stop they will blame you for not reminding them!

A word of caution – before you start dealing out comments regarding the shortcomings of one Cleopas and the other disciple [not even intelligent enough to be named!] – remember there is a ginormous skyscraper, high mirror in front of you. Raise your hand and repeat after me, ‘I am a child of GOD – and I am stupid!’

 

II.

The seven miles were up and it was getting late so Jesus made like He was moving on when the two disciples invited Him to stay and have supper.

Jesus does what the Bread of Life does – He blesses the bread before Him, breaks it and gives it to them and immediately their eyes were opened – and Jesus was gone.

Why did He disappear? Because they believed and once they believed you no longer need to see Jesus. In that instant the confusion and misunderstanding of Who He is and What He is also disappeared.

Does that mean they never had doubts and questions and even confusion again? Of course not. But the core belief was there. It’s not unlike not understanding exactly how the Trinity works or Holy Baptism or Holy Communion. Just because you don’t understand how all that works does not mean that you don’t believe. Of course it doesn’t!

They struggled just like we do – and they saw Jesus die and rise again! We are the ones Jesus will call blessed when He shows Thomas Who He is.

Yes – just like the disciples – we too have to have our eyes pried open to see Jesus. For Cleopas and the other disciple, and Mary Magdalene, and Peter and John, and all of the other disciples there eyes were pried open by seeing Jesus alive again.

Our eyes are pried open by the splashing of some water on our heads, and eating and drinking bread and wine. For these simple things connected to the Word of GOD becoming Living Water and the very Body and Blood of Christ, and they work like crowbars and pry bars, hammer and chisel. They force our eyes open to see the crucified and resurrected Messiah – Christ Jesus Himself.

Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples and in the Sacraments and His Word, Christ is breathing new life into us. We have been forgiven by this One foretold by Moses and the Prophets. We now have life and heaven itself!

HE IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED! HALLELJUAH! Amen.

 

The Peace of the LORD – which surpasses all understanding – will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus the Messiah.  Amen.

 

+ Soli Deo Gloria +