It's All About Jesus, All the Time :: Luke 24:13-35
And it came to pass while he was reclining among them, [Jesus] took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they knew him. And he disappeared from their sight. And they said to one another: Were our hearts not kindled in us as he was talking to us on the way, as he was opening to us the Scriptures? (vv 30-32)
[Prayer]
Lord Jesus, stay with us as you promised. Be our constant companion on the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope among us, that we may recognize you as you are revealed in the Scriptures and in the breaking of bread. Grant this for your name’s sake. Amen.
[Introduction]
When was the last time you paid any attention to that giant banner in the back of the sanctuary or gave some thought to the Gospel it proclaims? Have you ever? ... It’s still all about Jesus ... it says. ... Every word. Every song. Every sacrament. All of the time.
Two of Jesus’ disciples came to that realization in our Gospel reading from Luke 24. Their hearts were kindled by God’s Word and Sacraments. They learned it’s all about Jesus, all of the time. And when they arose that hour, they returned into Jerusalem, and they found the eleven were assembled and those with them, saying ... He is Risen! ... Then they told what had happened on the way, and how he was known in the breaking of bread (vv 33-35).
1. Cleopas and his companion thought they knew all about Jesus.
These two disciples certainly were well-informed on all that happened and continued to happen ... not only the past three days, but probably the past three years. We think Cleopas was the father of two disciples, James and Matthew. So here they were on Easter Sunday, walking and talking on the seven-mile trek to Emmaus, comparing notes and reflecting on everything that had been happening to Jesus and the church at large (v 14). They were trying to process what it all meant and why ... when Jesus himself drew near to them. But their eyes were restrained so that they did not know him (vv 15-16).
So Jesus asked them: What are y’all talking about? (v 17). It was a shocking question. They became astounded ... confused by it. Luke says, They stood still, saddened (v 17). Then Cleopas asked: Are you the only [one far from home] in Jerusalem, and you don’t know what has happened? (v 18). And Jesus replied, What things?
2. [What do we know about Jesus?]
We’re good Lutherans, aren’t we? Like Cleopas, we think we know all about Jesus and his Word, don’t we? He died for me, we say. ... Like Cleopas and his friend, we’ve been catechized. Some of us still have the catechism memorized. And like Cleopas and his friend, we know we have a good confession. Listen, they said, we’re talking about Jesus of Nazareth, who became man, a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him into the judgment of death and crucified Him.
I have to imagine Cleopas and his friend probably also talked about how Jesus had been arrested in the middle of the night and was declared guilty on hearsay ... about how Jesus had been condemned to death without the agreement of witnesses ... and how the mob had demanded that he be beaten and crucified. ... And let’s not forget how darkness descended upon the earth for three hours (Lk 23:44) before Jesus cried out, My God, My God, Why? (Mt 27:46) then finally, It is Finished (Jn 19:30). And how could anyone forget the earthquake that had just struck Jerusalem ... and the temple curtain being torn in two ... and people rising from the dead (27:51-52)? How could anyone not know what happened?
More than that, they said, we ourselves were hoping that he was the one about to redeem Israel. But indeed, it’s already the third day since these things happened. And some women among us astounded us. When they happened upon the tomb at dawn and did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he lives. Some of those with us went upon the tomb and found it in this way, just as the women had said, but they did not see him (vv 21-24).
3. Everything they said is all about Jesus. But one important word of faith is missing.
He’s risen! ... We believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life in the world to come!
Why they missed this important Gospel proclamation is beyond us. How could they not remember? Jesus had told us repeatedly he would rise from the dead on the third day. Jesus told us that when you have faith in this, you will not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16). Jesus told us in the upper room he would come to us, and we will live on account of him (Jn 14:18-20).
Have your eyes and ears been restrained from hearing the Gospel, too?
We can pride ourselves in knowing the finer details about Jesus. We can read our Bibles so that he will enlighten us. We can pray daily just like he taught us. We can come to church when he calls. We can receive the sacrament whenever it is offered, just like he taught us. And you can have faith as a result.
But are you listening for the Gospel? Do you believe you died and rose in baptism? Do you have eternal life now? The bread we break, is it really the body of Christ? This cup we drink, is it really the blood of Christ? Do you actually believe every Word of God is about Jesus?
We can be equipped with all the facts in the world about Jesus, and still not understand what it means ... That it’s all about Jesus. Every word. Every song. Every sacrament. All the time. We may have been blessed with a wonderful Christian education. We may know Luther’s Small Catechism as well as we know our own name. We may be able to recite Scripture like a fountain. But brothers and sisters in Christ, as Jesus said in John 5[:39] ... you can search the Scriptures thinking that in them you have eternal life. Instead, listen and know this ...
IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS. EVERY WORD, SONG, AND SACRAMENT. ALL THE TIME
4. Then Jesus said to them ...
“O foolish ones and slow in heart to have faith upon all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer and enter into his glory?” And after beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (vv 25-27).
It is one thing to hear the Scriptures. It is another to listen to them. They’re both good. Hearing is a passive activity. Listening is an active one. Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the Word, which is all about Jesus. Then we can live (2 Cor 5:7). As Paul teaches us, it is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20). The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us to redeem us ... living, dying, rising. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation (1 Pt 2:2).
Jesus didn’t just suffer and die passively for your sin. Jesus actively fulfilled the scriptures by rising from the dead, so that you will live. With this living hope rooted in the resurrection, Jesus opens our eyes to see that all scripture is God-breathed for your salvation ... from the fall in the garden ... through the flood ... and the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ... the Exodus and the exile ... the Prophets and the Psalms.
Listen to his Word. All of it shows us that, because God is just, our sin had to die. Therefore, Jesus took our sin upon himself, carried it to the cross, shed his righteous blood for it, and crucified it. More than that ... because he is just ... Jesus was therefore raised from the dead for your justification. Brothers and sisters in Christ ... He is risen! ... His life is yours.
5. Then they learned not only is his Word all about Jesus, so too are his sacraments.
When they drew near into the village to which they were journeying, he acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, Remain with us because it is toward evening and the day already has declined. So he went in to remain with them. And it came to pass while he was reclining among them, [Jesus] took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they knew him (vv 28-31a).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, they KNEW him! When our reading began, we heard that they were kept from recognizing Jesus. Now their eyes are open. For three years, Jesus’ disciples had been relying on his visible presence, but now they hear and receive the sacrament. The same is true for you. Our Lord comes to you every time we celebrate the Divine Service. He is not here merely spiritually. He is here physically. Touch him. Taste him. See that the Lord is good. Jesus comes alongside you to kindle your faith as you behold him in the breaking of bread. He’s with you always in these means. He gives you HIS forgiveness of YOUR sins, along with the life and salvation that come with it. And this enables us to go forth proclaiming the Gospel, just like Cleopas and his companion, who arose that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven assembled and those with them.
Then they announced: He is risen! And they began to tell what had happened on the way and how he was made known in the breaking of bread (vv 31b-35).
[Conclusion]
God’s Word and sacraments are given for no other purpose than to give you comfort. They are all about Jesus. So let nothing keep you from them. As Luke writes in our second reading, Jesus enables all who eat and drink with him in faith to go forth proclaiming the Gospel that the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are yours. ... In his name (Acts 10:41-44).