Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Luke 24:13-35
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  April 26, 2020

They were in shock. Complete and total disbelief. It didn’t seem real. Things had changed overnight. Everything they had been dreaming about was shattered. Their hope was dashed. What else could they do but go home. And so they went. On that first Easter afternoon, two disciples started out for home. Emmaus was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And as they walked they talked. They talked about what had happened in the last week. And it was more than just talking. There’s a sense of debating here, almost to the point of arguing with one another. These events of the past week had rocked their world. And when worlds get rocked, emotions spill out about how things should have been handled or were handled. Emotions were frayed. Tensions were high as these disciples walked and debated on the road to Emmaus.

Shock, total disbelief…we know those emotions right now, don’t we? This world we’re living in right now doesn’t seem real. Things change daily. There’s no such thing as normal. The dreams of high school and college seniors have been shattered. Hope for a return is gone. What else can we do but stay at home? And all the talk is about the events of the past weeks. And there’s more than just talking. There’s a debate that’s raging, even to the point of arguing. Our world has been rocked. And when worlds get rocked, emotions spill out about how things should have been handled or should be handled going forward. Even among Christians, sinful arguments are being had because emotions are frayed and tensions are high.

“While they were talking and discussing this, Jesus himself approached and began to walk along with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” Saddened, they stopped.” 

You can imagine that these two disciples didn’t notice Jesus at first. So deep in discussion, so overcome with grief and despair, you can understand how they didn’t realize Jesus was there. Maybe you feel that way right now? As we’re forced to separate and distance, maybe it feels like God is distant too? But even when we’re apart, Jesus is near. Even when we don’t realize it, Jesus is right there, walking with us. 

When they finally noticed that someone was there, Luke tells us that they were kept from recognizing him. Literally, their eyes were controlled by Jesus so they didn’t realize it was him. Jesus wants in on the conversation. So he asks a simple question, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” The question stopped them in their tracks. 

Cleopas is flabbergasted! Have you been living under a rock? (Well for three days…) How can you not know what’s going on? It’s the same reaction we would have if someone didn’t know anything about the virus. What else would we be talking about? It’s what everyone is talking about! That’s how universally impactful the events of Holy Week had been in Jerusalem and the surrounding communities. But Jesus feigns ignorance. “What things?” he asked them. 

It’s heartbreaking to listen to Cleopas’ answer. He’s exactly right about Jesus when he says: “a man who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.” He recognized Jesus for who he was, the Messiah, the Savior. He had been there to hear Jesus preach. He believed in Jesus as the Redeemer! And that’s why it’s so heartbreaking to hear the despair in his answer. “But we were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel.” We were hoping, but no longer. That’s why Jesus’ question stopped them in their tracks. Their hope had vanished. All that was left was despair. 

And the other heartbreaking part of Cleopas’ answer is what follows: “Not only that, but besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Also some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning. When they did not find his body they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb. They found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” If you were able to watch our WELS Together at the Empty Tomb on Easter Sunday evening, you’ll remember President Treptow talking about the “fog” Mary was experiencing because of her grief. I think that’s a great picture of what despair does. Remember, it’s the same day. This is still Easter. And just like Mary was in a “fog,” so were these disciples. All hope was lost. They had given up. And so even though they remembered that three days was significant, even though they had the testimony of the women, even though they had words from angels saying he was alive, even though other disciples had gone and found everything exactly as the women had said; they couldn’t put it all together. They just couldn’t believe so thick was the “fog” of their despair.

I pray that you aren’t feeling like you’re in a “fog” right now, but honestly it’s hard not to feel that way. And maybe that says something about us. Maybe we have become so tied to the things of this world and the activities of this world that when those things are taken away we don’t know what to do. And you know that Satan is loving this. And you know that he’s going to try to use this by piling on. He’s going to say that this whole pandemic and isolation is God’s way of punishing us for our sins. He’s going to say that this is only the beginning. Our sins are so many, so awful, that there’s no way God’s going to forgive us. A God who loves you wouldn’t let this happen to you…so God must not love you. Satan wants you to despair. He wants you permanently in the fog.

At this point, Jesus had heard enough. If you think about when we’re most disappointed with our kids it’s when they should have known better. You almost get that sense here with Jesus’ answer. “How foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” They should have known better. Not only did they have all the prophets foretold, but Jesus himself had told them what was going to happen, multiple times! But Jesus doesn’t leave them in the “fog”. He doesn’t let them wallow in despair. No, in love he patiently and gently walks them back to the Word. Starting with Moses, starting at the beginning, he explained to them who he was and what the Scriptures said about him. He preached the Word. He shared the good news of the Gospel. 

And that’s the answer for us too! When Satan sows his seeds of lies, when he tries to keep us in the fog, the answer is to go back to the Word. Go back to the Gospel. When I was at the Lutheran Leadership Conference back in January, I heard a wonderful presentation by Pastor Jon Schroeder. And he used an illustration that I found so powerful that I knew I would want to use it with you. He said that we have a wonderful opportunity as Wisconsin Synod Lutherans because we give people the gospel “neat.” And at first I didn’t understand what he was talking about. And then he put a picture up of a glass of scotch with no ice. His point? We give people the full power gospel. We don’t water it down with works or conditions. Full proof gospel is what we share. Full proof truth that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for you to take away your sins, to give you life forever with him, all and only because he chose to love you from eternity. That’s the message that we have to share. That’s the only thing that drives away despair! And we have it! We have an unlimited supply of Gospel. And it works in the hearts of those who hear it, even if they don’t realize it at the time!

“As they approached the village where they were going, [Jesus] acted as if he were going to travel farther. But they urged him strongly saying, “Stay with us, since it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and began giving it to them. Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Then he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us along the road and while he was explaining the Scriptures to us? Isn’t it amazing what happens when the fog lifts. You can see so clearly. All the while Jesus was talking, the hearts of these disciples were trying to jump out of their chests. They were hearing the gospel neat. It was bringing comfort and joy, warming their hearts. The gospel was working and they didn’t even know it. Friends, the same is true for us. I know it’s hard to find joy in our current situation. But the gospel is working. The gospel has found its way into more homes than ever before. What an opportunity we have to share the gospel neat with people who would hesitate to walk through the church doors, but have no problem watching from their couch. Right now, the gospel is warming the hearts of those who hear it. And it will have an impact!

“They got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those who were with them assembled together. They were saying, “The Lord really has been raised! He has appeared to Simon.” They themselves described what had happened along the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.” These disciples couldn’t contain themselves. So warm were their hearts with the good news that they trekked back the seven miles to Jerusalem, in the dark, to find their friends. They had to share. They had to celebrate. One day soon, I pray, we’re going to be able to get back together as a church family. May we run with the same burning hearts to gather again to share, to celebrate our victory over despair because we have been given the gospel neat. May God grant it for Jesus’ sake. AMEN