A lesson by Pastor John Skaggs

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

P.O. Box 1447, Claypool, Az. 85532

520-425-8345 or 520-402-9134

Web Page: www.oocities.org/heartland/plains/3364

Email: pastorjohn@gila.net

Date: 10-24-99

Sermon Number: 156

Text: 24:36-49

TOPICS ADDRESSED IN THIS LESSON

(Christ’s love and concern for His children, encouragements to trust in the Sovereignty of God, finding comfort in the atoning work of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit in revealing truth to the saved and unsaved alike)

In last weeks text two of Christ’s disciples, discouraged, confused, and grieving, over His death decided to go home to the city of Emmaus. Along the way the risen Savior joined them. But they did not recognize Him right away. However when the encounter had finally ended they knew who Jesus was and that He had risen from the dead. They also knew they must return to Jerusalem immediately. They must tell the others that the Jesus was alive. Earlier some female followers of Jesus had related to the rest the words of an angel they had met at our Lord’s tomb, "He is not here He is risen." But most if not all did not believe the report. For no tangible evidence had been presented. They had not seen Jesus since they saw His dead body removed from the cross. Surely, based on the testimony of these two men, the hearts of all the disciples would be encouraged.

When they arrived they discovered that Jesus had not only appeared to them but to Peter as well. They related their experience as to how Jesus had walked with them, taught them about Himself from the Old Testament scriptures, and how when He broke bread they recognized Him. This is where we ended our study last week.

We come back to the Gospel of Luke today to witness something wonderful. Luke 24:36-49 NASB. "And while they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst. (KJV) . . . and saith unto them, "Peace be unto you.") {37} But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. {38} And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?"

Humans who have died do not generally rise from the dead. This was as uncommon and unexpected then as it is now. Jesus’ appearance scared these people to death. I hate to think of the scene I would have caused had I been there. I am easily startled and often holler and jump about when I am frightened. They thought they were seeing a ghost! Jesus was crucified and buried now here He was standing in their midst. No doors had opened but there He stood nonetheless.

He could not have arrived at a better time. The disciples were all comparing notes. They were weighing the evidence in favor of and against the resurrection of Jesus. Could He really be alive? In a split second the question is answered, there He was standing among them. "Peace be unto you," He says and then He asks the question, {38} . . . "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? No doubt peace is what they needed. For they had been troubled by the Savior’s death. It is interesting that Jesus asks why? Why are you troubled, why have doubts risen in your hearts? These are questions with obvious answers. They were troubled because Jesus, their friend, Master, leader, spiritual guide, and Savior had been murdered. The Messiah, promised so many years before, had come at last but now He was dead. This is why they were troubled. Not to mention the fact that the Jews might burst through the door at any moment to carry them away as well. There was a great deal to be upset about on the human fleshly side of things. But this was not the focus of the question. His question had to do with their response to the events of the last few days. Why have you responded like you have to my death and the threat of danger? Why do you act and feel as if you did not know what was going on here? In other words, "Where is your faith." If you had exercised your faith you would not be in such a troubled condition. You would have peace. The words He spoke on the road to Emmaus are quite appropriate here, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" Had you believed the scriptures you would not be troubled and your hearts would not be filled with doubt.

But Jesus has not come to rebuke these people, He came to comfort them in spite of their infirmities and faithlessness. He came to bring them peace in their time of trouble and fear. Yet He is not immediately successful. His arrival causes them more fear and anxiety. Why? Again the answer has to do with faith, with believing the scripture’s testimony about our God and Savior. We must come to know the Savior very well if we hope to have hearts filled with peace in times of sorrow, grief, or trouble. We must know and believe the scriptures. They tell us that He will never leave us or forsake us, that He will be with us even to the end of the world. He is in us and for us working all things together for our good and the Father’s glory. When we have asked for bread He will not give us a stone. We could go on and on but this is enough to make the point. If these things are true, and they are, then we must learn to look at and respond to the difficult things in life in a different way than our flesh wants us to. We must always remember that the very trial we experience is God, by the Savior, through the Spirit, working in our lives to mold us into something better than we presently are. Perhaps He intends to break our pride, to soften our hard hearts, to bring us to our knees in submission to Him so that when we have risen we will bear a better witness and testimony to the grace of God. Let’s us not entertain mistaken thoughts about Jesus or our Father lest we find ourselves filled with unnecessary fear and anxiety. Had these disciples been better students of the scriptures. Had they listened more carefully when Jesus taught them God’s truth they would have enjoyed peace. But as it was they were troubled and filled with doubt. They were like us. We all have a tendency to run screaming into the sunset, therefore, we must often rebuke ourselves and ask with the Psalmist, "Why are you in despair oh my soul, hope in God!" Hope in the God who is your Father and in your Savior who is your elder brother, intercessor, and friend. Hope in God!

To calm the disciples fears and suspicions that He might be a ghost He condescends and allows them to touch Him . . . . {39} "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." {40} And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. {41} And while they still could not believe it for joy and were marveling, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" {42} And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; {43} and He took it and ate it before them."

As we see the tenderness with which Jesus treats these weak and trembling men and women we must remember that His disciples, the eleven, deserted Him in His time of need. They had all made promises of faithfulness but they failed. They ran like scared rabbits when things got difficult and dangerous. Peter went further than that. He denied his Lord to the face of His enemies. Yet Jesus appeared to him alone. Why? To encourage and comfort him in the midst of his shame and grief. In all of this we see the unconditional love that Jesus has for His own. We see that our relationship to the Savior is based on His love for us in spite of our weakness and fears. His love for us is based on His integrity, His faithfulness, His righteousness, His keeping of the Law, not ours. Because we trust in Him as our representative before God we can have this confidence, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Not now, not ever! In time of hardship failure and grief Jesus comes to comfort, not condemn us. To strengthen and direct us, to bring us peace. This is why He came to the disciples.

Jesus encourages their faith by showing them His body, particularly His hands and His feet. They saw the wounds created by crucifixion along with the hole in His side made by the soldier’s spear. He invited them to touch Him so they could prove to themselves that His body was real, solid, flesh, blood, and bone. He was among them in person, He was not a spirit, He was really alive.

The same evidence Jesus put before the disciples in that moment offers us comfort today. In time of sorrow, fear, conviction of sin, we must learn to see His hands and feet. When we have failed, when we have sinned against His Majesty and holiness, His grace, mercy, and love, we must consider His wounds. These are the evidence of His love for us. Remember, dear Christian, that He has shed His blood and by that blood your sins have been washed away. By that same blood you may come today as you did when you were saved to find cleansing for a troubled conscience. It was through the wounds in our Savior’s hands, feet, and side, that the soul cleansing blood flowed for you and for me. It was and is by this blood that we who believe are saved from eternal damnation. Again I say it is this same blood that now cleanses you from all unrighteousness and daily sin. Do not fear, rather, flee to Him again and again to confess your sins and find peace. He seeks to comfort not condemn you.

It is an amazing thing, even after seeing and touching the Savior the disciples still did not believe it was Him so He goes one step further to prove He is as alive as they are, He asks for food and then eats it right before their eyes. {41} And while they still could not believe it for joy and were marveling, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" {42} And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; {43} and He took it and ate it before them."

This was a most convincing proof of the resurrection. Peter used it later in his preaching, Acts 10:40-41, "God raised Him up on the third day, and granted that He should become visible, {41} not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead."

But that word from Peter was spoken much later. At the moment they are still, even with all the evidence, doubtful. This doubt is spoken of in verse forty-one. {41} And while they still could not believe it for joy and were marveling, . . . " This is a strange statement but it becomes quite familiar if we just think about it for a moment. It describes that mix of joy and doubt that captures us when we want to believe some good news but it just seems too good to be true. They would like to believe that Jesus was standing before them but, was this really Him? They had touched Him and seen Him eat real food. What else must Jesus do to convince them?

He turns their attention to the scriptures and reminds them of things He had taught them before His death.

We went on a brief journey into the Old Testament last week to see if we could find Jesus there. What we discovered is that the O.T. is all about Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation He is the focus. He is the spirit of all prophecy. Here He says that all the predictions made by the prophets about His life, death, and resurrection have been fulfilled. That is what has been taking place in these last few days, says Jesus. Still, these people look at Him with doubt in their eyes. Still they did not understand. {45} Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, This miraculous opening of the mind must take place before anyone can understand and believe the Bible.

In our day there is a lot said about man’s ability to understand and believe on his own but the scriptures do not support the theory. Saint, or sinner, God must open our understanding or the scriptures will remain a mystery. God must turn on the lights or we will remain in darkness and unbelief. The Bible is clear about this.

(1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB) "But a natural man (one not born again) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he CANNOT UNDERSTAND THEM, because they are spiritually appraised."

No man or woman can understand the scriptures apart from a miracle of revelation wrought in the heart by God the Holy Spirit. One’s spiritual eyes must be opened or he will never see the kingdom of God, he will never understand the Gospel and be saved. Consider this example from Acts 16:14. "And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul." Apart from the Lord "opening Lydia’s heart" she could never have responded to the gospel that Paul preached to her. She would not and could not have understood the message unless God the Holy Spirit had brought her dead heart to life.

Apart from Jesus opening the eyes, the understanding of these disciples He could have piled evidence upon evidence to prove His resurrection and they would never have understood. But now, by a miracle of grace, they see the truth. Standing before them is the Christ. Here is their old, beloved, friend, the Messiah, the Savior of their souls. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye their lives are changed forever. He is not in the grave. Neither did some cruel fiend steal His body. He is risen, that makes all the difference in the world and, in eternity. Now that they can "see," He continues.

From this time onward repentance for forgiveness of sins was to be preached in His name to all the nations beginning in Jerusalem. They were to explain the Old Testament scriptures and how they spoke of Jesus. They were to speak to men of their sin and need to repent and believe in Jesus for salvation, i.e., forgiveness of sins.

Our text speaks only of repentance but true repentance always includes and implies faith in Jesus Christ. What has one accomplished if he turns from sin to nothing? What has he accomplished if he turns from one sin to another. Or from sin to philosophy. Or from sin to religion. Such repentance is of no value to a man. Jesus is telling these men to preach repentance from sin and faith toward Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins. Sinners must be called to change their minds in reference to sin and Christ. This is repentance. "Repent and believe in the crucified and risen Jesus and your sins will be forgiven." This was the message. And did they preach this message? Indeed they did. Listen as I read part of a sermon preached by the Apostle Paul.

The disciples, the Apostles, did become incredible witnesses to Gospel truth. They faithfully preached the Gospel from the Old Testament and, one book at a time, wrote the New Testament. But they did not set out to do so in that moment and they did not do so in their own strength. Which statement points us to the last portion of our text for today. {49} "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." In other words, the Holy Spirit would come to live within them and empower them as He had never done before. The evangelization of Jerusalem and of all the nations, indeed, the entire world, was a task that could only be accomplished by supernatural strength and wisdom. This takes our thoughts to the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell upon and filled those gathered in the upper room. This was the fulfillment of the Father’s promise made long ago. Hear the word of the Lord.

Isaiah 44:3 'For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, And My blessing on your descendants; This wonderful promise is repeated in the New Testament as well.

John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 "And He, when He comes, WILL CONVICT (convince) THE WORLD CONCERNING SIN, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; (This is the ultimate and unforgivable sin. This is the reason men will suffer in Hell forever, unbelief in Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit who convinces people that they must believe in Jesus for salvation. When they refuse to do so they have committed a sin against the Holy Spirit and that, when persisted in to death, is unforgivable.) 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me; (The Holy Spirit convinces sinners of their need for righteousness and that Jesus is that perfect righteousness.) 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (The Holy Spirit convinces sinners of the judgement to come.) 12 "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL THE TRUTH; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 "HE SHALL GLORIFY ME; FOR HE SHALL TAKE OF MINE, AND SHALL DISCLOSE IT TO YOU. (The Holy Spirit will never draw attention to Himself. Rather, His function is to reveal the person and work, and will of Jesus Christ.) 15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you."

The coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles was the promise of God fulfilled. It was by Him and Him alone that they would evangelize the world of Jew and Gentile. It was by Him alone that they would speak with the authority of God, indeed by perfect inspiration. It is by the Spirit that we have in our possession the Bible infallibly written and perfectly preserved. Praise and thank God for His Spirit!

Peace now filled the hearts of the disciples for they could see the truth about Jesus, "He is not dead, He is risen." Next week, Lord willing, we will consider the glorious conclusion of Luke’s Gospel.

But what are the lessons of the day? Once again I have made application along the way so a number of the lessons have already been pointed out. But here are some final reminders.

First, we see the wonderful truth that for the believer there is never any condemnation that comes from Jesus. He ever lives to intercede for us, to comfort and guide us. He comes to us in time of trouble, sorrow, fear, and anxiety, not to rebuke but to remind us of why we should be a rejoicing people. He shows us His wounds to reminds us of His blood which has washed away all our guilt in eyes of God. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ by faith.

Second, we are reminded that no man or woman can believe in Jesus by the mere presentation of evidence or facts. If one is to be saved he must be born again first. That is God the Holy Spirit must give him or her a new heart. The person must be raised from spiritual death unto life. Only then can he understand the truth about sin, righteousness and the judgement to come. These things must be revealed to a person by God the Holy Spirit. Evangelism is commanded so we preach and teach the Gospel to all men. But we must remember that the success of that work depends on God opening the eyes of those we speak to not on the manner of our presentation. Not on the exercise of the human will.

Praise God for our crucified, risen, and ever present, Lord and Savior, Praise God!