The Divine...Dispels All Doubt

Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for today. Truly, Lord, we have come to see only Jesus. We have come to worship the King. We have come to bow before you and to surrender all that we have to you. And we ask that, Lord, as we study once again the perfect law of liberty, may we be set free from those things that have ensnared us, that we might live to the glory of our King. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Luke, chapter 24. Luke, chapter 24, as we understand how the divine dispels all doubt. We come to Jerusalem in Luke 24, after the road to Emmaus, and we come and we visit the disciples.

The record is in Luke 24, verse number 33. It reads as follows. And they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon. And they began to relate their experiences on the road and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. And while they were telling these things, he himself stood in their midst. But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

He said to them, Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see me, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still could not believe it, for joy and were marveling, he said to them, Have you anything here to eat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate it before them. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity.

If the resurrection is not true, then all of those in the Old Testament who prophesied about the resurrection of Messiah lied. And they are false prophets. If the resurrection is not true, Jesus himself is a liar, because he predicted not only his death, but his resurrection. If the resurrection is not true, God himself is a liar. If the resurrection is not true, then all the apostles who would give testimony to the fact that they had seen the risen Lord had all lied. And none of that was true. In other words, if the resurrection is not true, you can take your Bible and throw it away.

Because if part of it's not true, then none of it's true. So you just as well get rid of it. Your faith is worthless, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, if Christ be not risen from the dead. Your whole salvation is based on the fact that if you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you'll be saved. But if God didn't raise him from the dead, and he's still dead and not alive, then there is no salvation. So we need to understand that the resurrection is absolutely true.

We have seen it by the testimony of the soldiers who recognized that the tomb was empty. And they went back and told the religious leaders and they said, you need to tell a lie because they knew the truth. We know that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, parents number one.

We also know that Jesus appeared to the other women who were with Mary at a different time. That's the post-resurrection appearance number two.

We also know that he appeared to the two men on the road to Emmaus. That is the post-resurrection appearance number three.

And we also know from this account and 1 Corinthians 15 that somewhere between the appearance of those three, there was the appearance to Simon. Now, we don't know anything about that appearance. The Bible didn't tell us except what Luke 24 tells us and 1 Corinthians 15 where it says he appeared first to Simon and then to the 11.

So somewhere on this Sunday, he appeared to Simon by virtue of the testimony of Luke 24. When Simon's already given testimony about the fact that Jesus appeared to him on that day. But we don't know anything about that appearance. The Bible didn't tell us. This now becomes the fifth post-resurrection appearance of Jesus Christ. And this to the 11, but it's really only the 10 because Thomas isn't there. But they're called the 11. They were called the 12, but Judas, of course, betrayed our Lord. He's hung himself.

He is dead. Neither are 11. So they're called the 11. But according to John's gospel, there's only 10 of these apostles present in Luke 24 at this time. It would not be to the following week that Thomas would show up and Christ would appear to him as well. You with me so far? This is all very, very important. Because we need to understand the scenario and all that took place on this day to show you how the divine dispels all doubt. Let's look first of all at point number one.

And that is the arrival of the two disciples from Emmaus in Jerusalem. Let's look at their arrival. And I want to note that you notice how quickly they respond to the revelation of the Christ.

It says these words Luke 24 and they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. Who are the they? Those are the two men on the road to Emmaus. We took two weeks to study that particular passage. As you recall, they were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, which is seven miles according to the text. And somewhere along that journey, Jesus shows up, but they don't recognize that it's Jesus. And they are sad and they are gloomy. They are downcast. They are depressed. They're in despair. And Jesus asked them what they're talking about.

And they say and respond by saying, are you the only person in the universe who doesn't know what's happened in Jerusalem these days? And Jesus says, what things?

Now, remember, they don't know it's Jesus. And so they begin to explain to him all the things that had taken place during that last week of the life of Christ that will lead up to his resurrection and his burial. I mean, his crucifixion and his burial. They did not believe in a resurrection. And so Jesus mildly rebukes them by calling them foolish and slow of heart. Not to believe all that the prophets had spoken. And so he systematically takes them from Genesis to the end of the Old Testament to show them what was recorded about the arrival of the Messiah.

How everything pertaining to, as the text says in Luke 24, all things that Christ should suffer and enter into his glory. And as they were walking along by their own testimony, their hearts burned within them as he spoke to them the words of the scriptures. And they arrived at their house that night. And yes, I know I'm reviewing this for you, but you need to understand the context because as they arrived that night, they're not. They invite Jesus to say they want him to stay. They urge him to stay.

They don't want him to continue on in his journey. They don't know it's Jesus. Because all you know, it's a stranger. They don't want him to continue on. They want him to stay. Not because they want to feed him, because they don't sit down to prepare a meal. Instead, Jesus does that. He becomes the host. He prepares the meal. He is the one who breaks the bread. And upon the breaking of the bread and handing them that bread, they recognize that it's Jesus. He removes the scales from their eyes. And then he vanishes immediately.

He's gone. And that's when they say, did not our hearts burn within us when he spoke to us things concerning the scripture on the road? It was what he said to them from the Old Testament that caused their hearts to burn. So what is their response? They don't finish eating. When you break the bread, that's at the beginning of the meal. They hadn't even gotten into the meal yet. But they were not going to stay and eat. Instead, that very hour, they get up and they make their journey back to Jerusalem.

How far is Jerusalem from Emmaus? Seven miles. How long does it take two disciples to get from Emmaus to Jerusalem in the middle of the night? Seven miles away. I have no idea. But they couldn't get in their car and drive it in seven minutes. They had to walk or jog or run. It would take them probably a couple of hours to get that far. Unless they were really, really fast and they were in shape and they had Nikes on. Other than that, they probably took them a while to get there. Right? But they got there.

But they went in haste. Look at the promptness of their response. They moved quickly. Remember the shepherds at the birth of Christ? They were tending their flock. And the angel of the Lord appeared. And the glory of the Lord shone all around them. And they were frightened. And the angel said, fear not. For unto you this day in the city of David has been born a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Wow. The Bible tells us that they went in haste. How quickly does it take a group of shepherds to move from the fields in Bethlehem to the grotto in Bethlehem?

Did they leave their sheep? Did they take their sheep? The Bible doesn't say. They leave a guy back to watch the ones that were there? The Bible doesn't say. But they went in haste because they had to say something about what they had just heard. You see, when you receive a revelation from the Christ. When you hear the word of God. You must respond to the word of God. And you don't delay in your response. You don't drag your feet in the response. You move quickly in the response. That's what these men did.

Because the resurrection of Jesus Christ is inspirational. It's motivational. Knowing that Jesus lives changes the way you move. It changes how fast you move. It changes the quickness of your life. You want to say the truth. Speak the truth. They believe. Listen.

We had heard the women's testimony. But we didn't believe it. We didn't believe it. But now we believe it. So we're going to go back and we're going to give testimony to the women's testimony. To validate what they had already said and seen. We got to get back there. And they quickly and promptly begin to move back to Jerusalem. They don't worry about what it is to eat. They don't worry about their sleep. All they know is that Jesus is alive. And if Jesus is alive, everything about me changes. That's what happened with these men.

They went back to Jerusalem. Now, we're going to be in Mark and John to help you understand the whole scenario. So go back to Mark chapter 16. Mark 16. It says, verse 9. From whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with him while they were mourning and weeping. Okay. And when they heard it or heard that he was alive, they had been seen by her. They refused to believe it. They refused to believe this. So they would continue in their weeping and their mourning.

And those two men on the road to Emmaus would leave and make their journey to Emmaus. While the other 11 would remain where they were in Jerusalem. And we don't know where they were when the two men showed up or where they met Mary and the other women. We don't know where they were. But they're, for all practical purposes, still mourning and still weeping. It says in verse 12. And after that he appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. And they went away and reported to the others.

But they did not believe them either. Now note. They're going to go back. They're going to validate the women's testimony. And still not believe in the resurrection. This is amazing. Still not believe in the resurrection. Because there was so much pessimism. Now if you read the story in Luke 24 it says. And they arose at very hour and returned to Jerusalem and found gathered together the 11. That's the apostles. And those who were with them. That's the other disciples. That's the women included in that group.

So how many is that? We don't know necessarily exactly how many. But it's the 11 plus the others. Now listen very carefully to what it says. And those who were with them saying the Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon. That's not what the two men on the road to Emmaus said. That's what the others were saying to the 11. That's important to understand that. See these two men they get there. They've been journeying what two hours maybe three. How long it takes to run seven miles in the middle of the night to get to where the disciples were.

And they get there. They bust through the door and they hear them saying that the Lord has appeared to Simon. But in Mark's account. They still didn't believe. So he's appeared to the women. He's appeared to Simon. And he's appeared to these two men. And it says in Luke's account. And they that is the two men began to relate their experience on the road. And how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. So now they're going to relate their experience. They think they have a unique experience.

Not knowing they've already appeared to Simon. And the Bible doesn't tell us exactly what he says to Simon. And that's probably a good thing. Remember at the resurrection. The angel said go tell the disciples and Peter. So I was in Peter. What is it Jesus said to Simon? We have no idea. But.

You can probably get a little glimpse of what he said. When you realize what Jesus says to the 11. Now this is important. Because you have the arrival of these two men. And then after their arrival. You have the appearance of Jesus. It says. And while they were telling these things. He himself stood in their midst. Now to understand that you gotta go to John chapter 20. John chapter 20. It says in verse number 19. And when therefore it was evening on that day. The first day of the week.

And when the doors were shut. Where the disciples were for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood in their midst. And said to them peace be with you. Jesus just shows up. Jesus just appears. In a glorified body. He appears by walking through the locked doors. Remember these men are afraid. They've killed their leader. They're probably gonna come after them. They're afraid of the Jews. For fear of what they might do to these. Apostles these followers of Jesus. So they are locked away in fear. The two men from Mea show up.

They hear the testimony that he's appeared to Simon. The women are still there. And Jesus appears. Just. Boom. He's there. Because when you have a glorified body. That's what you can do. I can't wait to get mine. Because I'm just gonna be showing up at people's houses. He just showed up. Now here's the amazing thing. You go from. The arrival of these two men. And the appearance of Jesus. To the admonition that Jesus gives them. All right. Listen very carefully. To what Jesus says.

In Mark chapter 16. And afterward he appeared to the 11 themselves. This is where we are in Luke 24. As they were reclining at the table. And he reproached them. For their unbelief. And hardness of heart. Because they had not believed. Those who had seen him. After he had. Risen. Wow. He reproached them. He rebuked them. Because of their hardness of heart. And because they would not believe. The testimony of the women. The testimony of Simon. The testimony of the two men. Who just appeared to them.

They would not believe. The Bible says. In Luke 24. These words. And while they were telling those things. He himself stood in their midst. Okay. But they were startled. And frightened. And thought they were seeing a ghost. Now you remember when that happened before. Do you remember the scenario. In Mark chapter 6. When Jesus had sent his men. Out into a boat. He went up to himself. Into a mountain to pray. And there arose a great storm. On the sea. And they feared for their lives. And Jesus. Comes walking on the water.

To the men. Remember that story. And the Bible says they were afraid. Because they thought. He was a ghost. This is not the first time.

They thought this. You see. When they were in the storm. On the sea. They did not. Expect Jesus. To show up. After his crucifixion. They're locked away in some room in Jerusalem. Because they did not. Expect Jesus. To show up. That's why they were afraid. That's why they were frightened. That's why when he does show up. They think he's a ghost. They don't recognize him. And in Mark 6. He rebuked them. Because of the hardness. Of their heart. In this gospel. In Luke's gospel. In Mark's gospel. He rebukes them once again.

Because of the hardness of their heart. The stubbornness of their heart. Not to believe what he has already said. And you know what? I don't blame Jesus for that. I can't blame Jesus for anything. Except for the fact that he always does what is right. But can you imagine being Jesus. Having already explained to them. Having already spoken to them. About what's going to happen when he dies. That he will rise again. And nobody believe you. And then after you are. Risen. And people give testimony to the resurrection.

They still don't believe. And Jesus reproaches them. Because of the stubbornness of their hearts. That somehow. You still. Don't believe. What I've said. Remember the bible says.

That. It's impossible to please God. Without faith. Right? Can't please God without faith. He was eleven six. What is faith? Faith is believing in what God has already. Said. In Mark six he said. Get in the boat. And go to the other side. He told them where they were going. And what they were going to do. But they didn't believe him. Now he tells them. I'm going to die and rise again. But they did not believe that either. They did not believe it. And don't be so hard on the disciples. Because we are the exact same way.

We don't expect Jesus to show up. We don't expect Jesus to do what he says he's going to do. We want to pray and we want to. We want to preach about the sovereignty of God. We want to pray about God's sovereign control of our lives. We want to pray about God providing for us day after day. We want to pray that God's going to do all these things. And yet when the storm arises. When things don't go as we had planned. We don't expect Jesus to show up. Just like these men didn't expect him. And Jesus has to reproach them.

You guys are stubborn. You don't believe. You don't believe in what I have already said to you. So he admonishes them. But then in the graciousness of his character. He wants them to believe. In the resurrection. And so.

He says this. Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Why? See my hands. And my feet. That is I myself or ego a me. It is I am. The great I am. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the way the truth and the life. I am the vine. I am the good shepherd. I am the light of the world. Because that's who Jehovah God is. I am. Behold it is. I am. I told you I was the resurrection of life. And you didn't believe me. I told you. See our biggest problem. Is that we just refuse to believe what Jesus has already said.

And if we don't know what he has said. And we should know. He says we're foolish and slow of heart. See. God doesn't let you off the hook. I know he's a God of grace. A God of mercy. A God of forgiveness. And it's a good thing he is. But he never lets you off the hook. If you don't know what he said. You're foolish and slow of heart. Because you should know. Because you have the book in your hand. If you know what he says. And don't believe what he says. You're stubborn. You're hard hearted. Not to believe.

In what he's already said. So he's not going to let you off the hook. By saying you know what it's okay. I know you had a tough week. And you couldn't study the word of God. So I don't expect you to know that verse. I know it's been a tough life. And you've been involved in a bad church. And so there's going to be an excuse for you. Not to know as much as somebody else does. No. He never lets you off the hook. Because you have in your hand. The word of God. That you must study. Learn. Memorize. And believe.

So don't think for one moment that God says. It's okay. No it's not. By virtue of the fact that what he said to his men. The men who were with him for those three years. The men who walked with him. And talked with him. And ate with him. The men who should have known these things. Some of us have been walking with Jesus. For a lot longer than three years. Some of us have been walking with Jesus. For 30 years. And we still don't know what he said. And Jesus said you're foolish. Slow of heart. Some of us have been walking with Jesus for 30 years.

And know a lot of what he said. We just don't believe what he said. He says you're stubborn. You're hard hearted. You become calloused and cold. When I've revealed it to you so clearly and plainly. And then he asks the question. Why do you doubt? Of all people. Why do you doubt? How can you doubt? You've seen it. How can you doubt? But we do. We do doubt. So he gives them the opportunity. See. Look. Hear. Touch. Touch. In John's account. This is what he says. In John's account. Which is very important.

Because it's the only record that we have. That he was actually crucified to the cross. Did you know that? It's the only record we have. That he was nailed to the cross. John 20 says. And when he had said this. He showed them both his hands. And his side. Both his hands. And his side. He told Thomas. In verse 27. Reach here your finger. And see my hands. And reach here your hand. And put it into my side. And be not unbelieving. But believing. That's the only record we have. In scripture. That Jesus was actually.

Nailed to the cross. We know that because of his hands. And his side. He was pierced. He was nailed. And therefore.

We understand the death of the Messiah. He just didn't hang on there with ropes. He was actually nailed to a cross. He rose again. He wants to dispel all doubt. He would go on to say. To Thomas. Thomas you've seen. And believed. But just think how blessed are those. Who have not seen. And yet they believe. In other words. Just think about Thomas. You saw. And had a hard time believing. But you eventually believed. But can you imagine. How blessed those people are. Who really take. My word. To heart.

And believe it without seeing it. Those are the blessed people. That's where the blessing comes. It comes in believing what Jesus. Said. The record of his revelation. The word of God that he's given to us. That's why we are the most blessed people. That's why we. Are greater than John the Baptist. Remember John the Baptist. He was the greatest man ever born of a woman. John was he was that man. And yet Jesus says.

But the least in the kingdom. Is greater than John can ever hope to be. Wow. Because why. Because we have the written revelation of God. We have the whole kit and caboodle. We got Genesis to Revelation. We know how it begins. We know how it ends. We know everything in between. See John didn't know all that stuff. He just had. Only the things that the Old Testament given. He did not know anything about the church age. The coming of the spirit of God to dwell man. Nothing to that. Nothing to the other tribulation period.

That would come upon this earth. Didn't know anything about those things. But we do. Because we have the Old Testament. And the New Testament. So the least person in the kingdom. Is greater than John. Because we believe what Jesus said. If we could just believe what he said. Everything would change. Everything about your life would change. But we. Pay. Mental assent. To what Jesus said. We agree with it. Initially. But when push comes to shove. And the storm. Arises. And things get really bad. We're just not sure.

That Jesus is ever going to show up. Because in all reality. We deny. The omnipresence. Of Almighty God in our lives. That he's everywhere. There's never a place he's not. See. That's what it means to be omnipresent. It means there's never a place he's not. He's always there. Always. And we of all people should never deny his presence. And if we never deny his presence. We should never deny his power. Because with his presence comes. Power. We should never deny his person. Because his presence is his person.

And that person is. All powerful. We should never deny his. Peace. Because. With the person. And his presence. Comes his peace. That's why he says to his men. Peace. Beyond. To you. With my presence. There's peace. When I'm here. You have nothing. To worry about. And that's why he sent another comforter. Another of the same kind. Because the spirit of God. Indwells us. And is present with us. And so he gives us the peace. We need. Amidst difficult circumstances and storms. He gives us. The power of his presence.

Through the spirit of God that indwells within us. The living God. And so. You have the arrival. Of these two men. Who. Who think they're going to say something. No one's heard yet. But.

They've already received the testimony. That Simon has already seen Jesus. But they will reiterate the revelation. And reiterate the things that the Lord said to them. On the way. But Mark's account says. They still do not believe. So Jesus shows up. And they thought he was a ghost. A spirit. Because. I mean. Can you imagine. Jesus just showing up. Without knocking on the door. Without asking to come in. He just shows up. And they're startled. I like what the Bible says.

In Luke's gospel. In Luke 24. When these words are recorded. It says. And when he had said this. He showed them his hands and his feet. And while they were. They still could not believe it. For joy. And were marveling. It was too good to be true. You ever been there. It's really too good to be true. This is too good to be true. That's why. There is joy. Joy. And astonishment. Joy. And amazement. Joy. And reservation. Because it's too good to be true. Here he is. But.

Is he really here? It's too good to be true. Jesus knows that. And says. Have you anything to eat? Really? Seriously? You're hungry? Is there anything to eat? Because he wants to show them. That the living glorified. Christ. In this body. That he now has. Is going to be. Like the body. They one day will have. Because the glorified body does eat. He truly is resurrected. He's not a spirit. He is flesh. And bone. Different kind of flesh. Different kind of bone. Because it is an. Eternal. Flesh. And eternal.

Bones. Unlike anything. We've ever experienced. Flesh that won't deteriorate. Bones that won't break. That's always a good thing. Because this is the glorified body. A body that one day. You and I will receive. If we believe in. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we've. We've given our lives to Christ. One day. We will experience the resurrection. Of our bodies. And we will have this kind of body. When you see him. You'll be like him. For you'll see him as he is. You're going to have a glorified.

Body like the resurrected. Christ has. You will eat. You'll be able to drink. You'll be able to go through walls. You'll be able to transcend. Time. Because you have an eternal. Glorified. Body. And that's what Paul says. The first 15.

This. Perishable. Will become. Imperishable. This mortal. Will become. Immortal. Death cannot hold us. If. You believe. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our Lord. And Christ set out to dispel. All doubts. In the life of his men. He wanted them to believe. Because they would have to carry this message. They had to speak this message. From this day forward. You read the book of Acts. That's what they say. One scenario. Acts. Chapter. 11. I'm sorry. Acts. Chapter 10. Says this. Peter is preaching.

He says in verse 38. You know of Jesus of Nazareth. How God anointed him. With the Holy Spirit. With power. How he went about doing good. And healing all who were. Oppressed by the devil. For God was with him. And we are witnesses. Of all the things. He did both in. And. Of the Jews. And in Jerusalem. And they also put him to death. By hanging him on a cross. God raised him up on the third day.

And granted that he should become. Visible. 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. And he ordered us to preach to the people. And solemnly to testify. That this is the one. Who has been appointed by God. As judge of the living and the dead. Of him. All the prophets bear witness. That through his name. Everyone who believes. In him. Receives. The forgiveness of sins. Have you received. The forgiveness of sins.

Let's pray. Father we thank you Lord for today. And the opportunity we have to study your word. To realize the greatness of your power. In the beauty of your resurrection. Today Lord we gather together to celebrate. Your redemption. Of your people. And we thank you for what you've done. In our prayer. As always. It's for those who do not know you. They would give their life. To the living resurrected Christ. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.