SERMON for APRIL 26, 2020
|
|
| ||
BURNING HEARTS
Texts: Luke 24: 13-35; Acts 2: 14a, 36-41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the scriptures to us?”
The two disciples reflect on their encounter with the Risen Lord on their journey to Emmaus. They are walking and talking, discussing all the things that have happened over the past three days and “on that same day,” that is, the day of the Lord’s resurrection. No doubt the two men are filled to overflowing with a wide mix of feelings: excitement, confusion, joy, fear, sadness. Anyone can see that they are having an emotionally intense and animated conversation.
Jesus comes alongside them and asks casually, “what are you talking about?” – as if the Lord does not already know. Maybe in their spiritual journey it is important for them to verbalize what they know and believe to be true – first – in order to build upon that foundation – before introducing them to a truth that is even more radical in nature and transformative in meaning than what Jesus has already been revealing in His life and ministry: “The Lord Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!” This good news would not make any sense to someone who did not know that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified.
Parenthetically, or maybe I should make this point front and center, one of the problems with many evangelism efforts, is that, in their zeal to share the gospel, Christians hurl truth at strangers who are not even interested in having a conversation with them about matters of faith. If there is no prior relationship that has been established, if strangers are treated as potential converts without any understanding of their lives, or if individuals are judged as sinners destined for hell rather than being seen as unknown saints who have the potential to bless others in profound ways, if we presume to know the heart and mind of others without getting to know them first, then the treasure of faith that we want to share is likely to be rejected. If there is no hunger for truth, you can offer the best spiritual food in the world to no avail. It strikes me as odd when people use the name of Jesus to justify ways of communicating that the Lord Jesus did not use Himself.
In Luke’s account of the resurrection, Jesus approaches these two disciples who are already engaged in a deep conversation about matters of faith. Notice that Jesus opens with a question: “what are you talking about?” It would have been far simpler for Jesus to say, “Guys! Stop talking! Here I am. It’s me - Jesus. I am risen from the grave.” Yet – the Lord does not work this way.
I confess that sometimes I wish that the Lord were more direct, blunt, and clear in His revelation. It would be so much more helpful for all of us if only we could see and talk with the Lord, face to face. Wouldn’t the world be a better place for everyone if Jesus walked and talked plainly among us – coming alongside us in our everyday journeys, joining in our conversations about faith, helping us to connect the dots – see the patterns – remember the history? Maybe – maybe not.
In our reading of the Gospels, we tend to overlook what Jesus reveals about human nature. In His ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing, Jesus encounters thousands, even feeds thousands with the miracle of the fish and loaves on two different occasions, yet the scriptures do not report that several thousand people started to follow Jesus from that moment on. Why not? Jesus heals ten lepers, and only one returns to thank Him. Even one of the closest disciples, Simon Peter, denies knowing Jesus, three times, despite Jesus telling Peter in advance that he would do so. Even after encountering the Lord Jesus Himself, how quickly people return to what is familiar – to old ways of living and being.
It strikes us as odd that people can meet the Lord and be unchanged, yet that is what God allows. God loves us so much that God gives us freedom – freedom to accept God’s love and truth, and freedom to turn away from God’s love and truth and pursue our own way. We are always free to ignore an invitation to a deep spiritual conversation, free to turn away from the One who seeks to come alongside us on our journey – even free to turn against Him. In the Gospel story, Jesus would have continued on His journey if the disciples had not urged Him to stay with them that evening. The Risen Lord does not invite Himself to dinner. We have to invite Him.
Let us return to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus leads them to the truth of His resurrection in their own time. With His calm and focused teaching about the scriptures – Jesus reminds them of all that they have previously learned and experienced – helping them to connect the dots so that the big picture comes into focus and truth is seen – more and more clearly. Perhaps, like us, they have to step back and take a broad view before understanding what is right before their eyes. When it comes to matters of faith – and many other matters in life - people can hear the truth over and over again, and still not understand it – or believe – what seems obvious to those who have already accepted it.
Denial is normal and a natural means of coping with life-changing news. Perhaps that was the state of mind of these two disciples following the Lord’s crucifixion. They are already reeling from the traumatic events of Good Friday. Fear has driven the disciples to go into hiding. Their lives have changed radically for the worse. Upon hearing reports of the Lord Jesus’ resurrection on that day, this good news is too good to be true. It sounds impossible. Dare they believe that the Lord is alive, risen from the grave? It makes no sense. It defies logic, reason, all the laws of nature and life that they hold to be true. To come back from the dead – that is unheard of – impossible to believe – or maybe not.
Jesus comes alongside the two disciples – to reveal the way, the truth, and the life. Like Mary Magdalene at the tomb that same morning, at first the two disciples do not recognize the Risen Lord who is standing right before them. Nor do they recognize Him while they are walking and talking together on the road to Emmaus. It is not until they are sitting at the table with Jesus, when He takes bread, blesses and breaks it, and gives it to them – that their eyes are opened. They recognize the Risen Lord! and He vanishes from their sight.
The disciples recall the experience of walking and talking with the yet-to-be-recognized Lord earlier in the day: “were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the scriptures to us?” The presence of the Risen Lord had awakened their hearts with fire - with a holy passion – for knowing and understanding and experiencing God incarnate in their lives.
The disciples hunger for truth, and they are fed – spiritual and physically. They long for good news, and they receive it. They go to share their experience with the other disciples, and all are greatly blessed. The Lord comes again – and appears to all of the disciples. The disciples go forth and tell the story of the Lord’s resurrection, and many who hear their testimony are “cut to the heart.” When people hunger for spiritual truth, many who hear the story of the Risen Lord are “cut to the heart” – and become baptized believers. Many do – but not all.
Jesus is not pushy or aggressive – powerful, truly, yes - yet the Risen Lord does not force His way into our hearts. In His divine presence, the disciples’ hearts are set ablaze with a holy passion – with a fire to share the truth that they have received – a love that has the potential to change the world for the better – if only – if only – those who receive Christ’s love will open their hearts and be transformed for God’s kingdom purposes. Our challenge is to discern when, how, and with whom to spark a spiritual conversation.
Come, Holy Spirit, Come! And set our hearts ablaze with your love for this world – your love poured out in abundance for all who seek your truth that sets us free to love as Christ loves us. The Lord Is Risen Indeed – to reveal the power of His resurrection love for the world. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Texts: Luke 24: 13-35; Acts 2: 14a, 36-41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the scriptures to us?”
The two disciples reflect on their encounter with the Risen Lord on their journey to Emmaus. They are walking and talking, discussing all the things that have happened over the past three days and “on that same day,” that is, the day of the Lord’s resurrection. No doubt the two men are filled to overflowing with a wide mix of feelings: excitement, confusion, joy, fear, sadness. Anyone can see that they are having an emotionally intense and animated conversation.
Jesus comes alongside them and asks casually, “what are you talking about?” – as if the Lord does not already know. Maybe in their spiritual journey it is important for them to verbalize what they know and believe to be true – first – in order to build upon that foundation – before introducing them to a truth that is even more radical in nature and transformative in meaning than what Jesus has already been revealing in His life and ministry: “The Lord Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!” This good news would not make any sense to someone who did not know that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified.
Parenthetically, or maybe I should make this point front and center, one of the problems with many evangelism efforts, is that, in their zeal to share the gospel, Christians hurl truth at strangers who are not even interested in having a conversation with them about matters of faith. If there is no prior relationship that has been established, if strangers are treated as potential converts without any understanding of their lives, or if individuals are judged as sinners destined for hell rather than being seen as unknown saints who have the potential to bless others in profound ways, if we presume to know the heart and mind of others without getting to know them first, then the treasure of faith that we want to share is likely to be rejected. If there is no hunger for truth, you can offer the best spiritual food in the world to no avail. It strikes me as odd when people use the name of Jesus to justify ways of communicating that the Lord Jesus did not use Himself.
In Luke’s account of the resurrection, Jesus approaches these two disciples who are already engaged in a deep conversation about matters of faith. Notice that Jesus opens with a question: “what are you talking about?” It would have been far simpler for Jesus to say, “Guys! Stop talking! Here I am. It’s me - Jesus. I am risen from the grave.” Yet – the Lord does not work this way.
I confess that sometimes I wish that the Lord were more direct, blunt, and clear in His revelation. It would be so much more helpful for all of us if only we could see and talk with the Lord, face to face. Wouldn’t the world be a better place for everyone if Jesus walked and talked plainly among us – coming alongside us in our everyday journeys, joining in our conversations about faith, helping us to connect the dots – see the patterns – remember the history? Maybe – maybe not.
In our reading of the Gospels, we tend to overlook what Jesus reveals about human nature. In His ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing, Jesus encounters thousands, even feeds thousands with the miracle of the fish and loaves on two different occasions, yet the scriptures do not report that several thousand people started to follow Jesus from that moment on. Why not? Jesus heals ten lepers, and only one returns to thank Him. Even one of the closest disciples, Simon Peter, denies knowing Jesus, three times, despite Jesus telling Peter in advance that he would do so. Even after encountering the Lord Jesus Himself, how quickly people return to what is familiar – to old ways of living and being.
It strikes us as odd that people can meet the Lord and be unchanged, yet that is what God allows. God loves us so much that God gives us freedom – freedom to accept God’s love and truth, and freedom to turn away from God’s love and truth and pursue our own way. We are always free to ignore an invitation to a deep spiritual conversation, free to turn away from the One who seeks to come alongside us on our journey – even free to turn against Him. In the Gospel story, Jesus would have continued on His journey if the disciples had not urged Him to stay with them that evening. The Risen Lord does not invite Himself to dinner. We have to invite Him.
Let us return to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus leads them to the truth of His resurrection in their own time. With His calm and focused teaching about the scriptures – Jesus reminds them of all that they have previously learned and experienced – helping them to connect the dots so that the big picture comes into focus and truth is seen – more and more clearly. Perhaps, like us, they have to step back and take a broad view before understanding what is right before their eyes. When it comes to matters of faith – and many other matters in life - people can hear the truth over and over again, and still not understand it – or believe – what seems obvious to those who have already accepted it.
Denial is normal and a natural means of coping with life-changing news. Perhaps that was the state of mind of these two disciples following the Lord’s crucifixion. They are already reeling from the traumatic events of Good Friday. Fear has driven the disciples to go into hiding. Their lives have changed radically for the worse. Upon hearing reports of the Lord Jesus’ resurrection on that day, this good news is too good to be true. It sounds impossible. Dare they believe that the Lord is alive, risen from the grave? It makes no sense. It defies logic, reason, all the laws of nature and life that they hold to be true. To come back from the dead – that is unheard of – impossible to believe – or maybe not.
Jesus comes alongside the two disciples – to reveal the way, the truth, and the life. Like Mary Magdalene at the tomb that same morning, at first the two disciples do not recognize the Risen Lord who is standing right before them. Nor do they recognize Him while they are walking and talking together on the road to Emmaus. It is not until they are sitting at the table with Jesus, when He takes bread, blesses and breaks it, and gives it to them – that their eyes are opened. They recognize the Risen Lord! and He vanishes from their sight.
The disciples recall the experience of walking and talking with the yet-to-be-recognized Lord earlier in the day: “were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the scriptures to us?” The presence of the Risen Lord had awakened their hearts with fire - with a holy passion – for knowing and understanding and experiencing God incarnate in their lives.
The disciples hunger for truth, and they are fed – spiritual and physically. They long for good news, and they receive it. They go to share their experience with the other disciples, and all are greatly blessed. The Lord comes again – and appears to all of the disciples. The disciples go forth and tell the story of the Lord’s resurrection, and many who hear their testimony are “cut to the heart.” When people hunger for spiritual truth, many who hear the story of the Risen Lord are “cut to the heart” – and become baptized believers. Many do – but not all.
Jesus is not pushy or aggressive – powerful, truly, yes - yet the Risen Lord does not force His way into our hearts. In His divine presence, the disciples’ hearts are set ablaze with a holy passion – with a fire to share the truth that they have received – a love that has the potential to change the world for the better – if only – if only – those who receive Christ’s love will open their hearts and be transformed for God’s kingdom purposes. Our challenge is to discern when, how, and with whom to spark a spiritual conversation.
Come, Holy Spirit, Come! And set our hearts ablaze with your love for this world – your love poured out in abundance for all who seek your truth that sets us free to love as Christ loves us. The Lord Is Risen Indeed – to reveal the power of His resurrection love for the world. Thanks be to God. Amen.