Resurrection Encounters - Part 3
Resurrection encounters utterly transformed the early followers and can also transform us. Easter can be about more than baskets, bunnies, and brunch.
Have you ever been late to the party when it comes to a trending TV series? You watch it much later than most and realize very quickly that you didn’t think it would be a thing until you saw the world around you, and you, change because of it.
Luke 24
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
This was a confusing time. Two disciples are walking home, both sad and confused.
Experiencing Complete Brokeness
Luke 24
15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked.
This was not about having a bad day or a bad week. This was complete brokenness. The thing their lives were built on was no longer. It was more than feeling like things were tough, something seemed broken beyond repair.
When we feel this way, we think we have to crawl back to God, but Jesus starts where we are. Jesus knows but wants to hear us in our own words, struggles, experiences, and voices. Jesus isn’t being coy or clever, He’s inviting relationship.
Sometimes, the most divine thing we can provide is not an answer but a journey of understanding.
Luke 24
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
But He doesn’t just passively listen, He reconnects them to the whole story, the bigger picture. And it happens somewhat abruptly.
Disconnecting from Truth
Luke 24
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Remember, these two were close to Jesus. They heard Him talk about these very things before. They certainly knew all of the Old Testament Scriptures Jesus used from their own Jewish upbringing.
He calls them “foolish.” Not stupid. This is similar to when you know your kid is smart but makes a poor decision. In Jewish culture, this isn’t an intellectual assessment but a moral pronouncement.
Big feelings can blur bigger truths.
When we’re very close to our present experiences and circumstances, and our feelings are high, they can disconnect us from the larger truth.
Luke 24
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
Jesus doesn’t invite Himself in, He waits for an invitation.
Luke 24
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
This parallels the last meal He shared with them – the last supper in the upper room before He was crucified.
Opening New Eyes
Jesus opens our eyes to see Him where we didn’t recognize Him before.
We look for God in the extraordinary, the new, or the unfamiliar. But He’s often most evident in the familiar, even the mundane or ordinary.
We’re looking for a new experience, a new mountain peak. What if we prayed for new eyes instead? New eyes to find a new understanding and vision – an accurate picture. There’s a theme throughout the Bible of this idea.
Ephesians 1
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
It’s right in front of us. We see it, but we don’t comprehend what we’re seeing. We all know the story of Easter, so it doesn’t surprise us when we hear it. But more than just knowing it, can we see it?
Are our eyes open to truly comprehend what we’re seeing or hearing?
And Jesus does this curious thing, He disappears. Why? Because they would never leave or move on. It’s almost as if our purpose is not to stay with Jesus, but for those times with Him to set us up for the journey.
Luke 24
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
What do you do with a burning heart? It moves, motivates, and transforms you in an outward direction.
Luke 24
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
These two disciples had just walked seven dusty, discouraging miles away from everything they thought they believed. They were tired, confused, and grieving. And then… they encounter Jesus.
When they realize who He is, their hearts burn, their eyes open, and they don’t wait until morning. They don’t say, “Let’s rest and head back in the daylight.” They run the same seven miles back in the dark.
Why?
When you encounter the risen Jesus, you don’t stay where you were.
You go back to the people who need to hear, back into the mission with renewed purpose. The road to Emmaus was a road of grief, but the road back to Jerusalem was a road of resurrection.
Jesus meets us wherever we are, walks with us, opens our eyes, and sends us back as a witness. Each resurrection encounter changed a life, which then changed a community, which ultimately changed the world.
So, what’s your resurrection encounter?
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons here or our podcast, LHC Unplugged, here.
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter here or follow us on Instagram.
Have you ever been late to the party when it comes to a trending TV series? You watch it much later than most and realize very quickly that you didn’t think it would be a thing until you saw the world around you, and you, change because of it.
Luke 24
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
This was a confusing time. Two disciples are walking home, both sad and confused.
- Sadness – It seemed like it was over, their hopes crucified on a cross and buried in a tomb. It seemed like there was no miracle for the one who had performed miracles.
- Confusion – The reports trickling in were about the tomb being found empty and something about an angel.
Experiencing Complete Brokeness
Luke 24
15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked.
This was not about having a bad day or a bad week. This was complete brokenness. The thing their lives were built on was no longer. It was more than feeling like things were tough, something seemed broken beyond repair.
When we feel this way, we think we have to crawl back to God, but Jesus starts where we are. Jesus knows but wants to hear us in our own words, struggles, experiences, and voices. Jesus isn’t being coy or clever, He’s inviting relationship.
Sometimes, the most divine thing we can provide is not an answer but a journey of understanding.
Luke 24
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
But He doesn’t just passively listen, He reconnects them to the whole story, the bigger picture. And it happens somewhat abruptly.
Disconnecting from Truth
Luke 24
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Remember, these two were close to Jesus. They heard Him talk about these very things before. They certainly knew all of the Old Testament Scriptures Jesus used from their own Jewish upbringing.
He calls them “foolish.” Not stupid. This is similar to when you know your kid is smart but makes a poor decision. In Jewish culture, this isn’t an intellectual assessment but a moral pronouncement.
Big feelings can blur bigger truths.
When we’re very close to our present experiences and circumstances, and our feelings are high, they can disconnect us from the larger truth.
Luke 24
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
Jesus doesn’t invite Himself in, He waits for an invitation.
Luke 24
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
This parallels the last meal He shared with them – the last supper in the upper room before He was crucified.
Opening New Eyes
Jesus opens our eyes to see Him where we didn’t recognize Him before.
We look for God in the extraordinary, the new, or the unfamiliar. But He’s often most evident in the familiar, even the mundane or ordinary.
We’re looking for a new experience, a new mountain peak. What if we prayed for new eyes instead? New eyes to find a new understanding and vision – an accurate picture. There’s a theme throughout the Bible of this idea.
Ephesians 1
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
It’s right in front of us. We see it, but we don’t comprehend what we’re seeing. We all know the story of Easter, so it doesn’t surprise us when we hear it. But more than just knowing it, can we see it?
Are our eyes open to truly comprehend what we’re seeing or hearing?
And Jesus does this curious thing, He disappears. Why? Because they would never leave or move on. It’s almost as if our purpose is not to stay with Jesus, but for those times with Him to set us up for the journey.
Luke 24
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
What do you do with a burning heart? It moves, motivates, and transforms you in an outward direction.
Luke 24
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
These two disciples had just walked seven dusty, discouraging miles away from everything they thought they believed. They were tired, confused, and grieving. And then… they encounter Jesus.
When they realize who He is, their hearts burn, their eyes open, and they don’t wait until morning. They don’t say, “Let’s rest and head back in the daylight.” They run the same seven miles back in the dark.
Why?
When you encounter the risen Jesus, you don’t stay where you were.
You go back to the people who need to hear, back into the mission with renewed purpose. The road to Emmaus was a road of grief, but the road back to Jerusalem was a road of resurrection.
Jesus meets us wherever we are, walks with us, opens our eyes, and sends us back as a witness. Each resurrection encounter changed a life, which then changed a community, which ultimately changed the world.
So, what’s your resurrection encounter?
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons here or our podcast, LHC Unplugged, here.
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter here or follow us on Instagram.
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