Were Not Our Hearts Burning? / Resurrection 2

April 17, 2022

 

Luke 24:1-35

Key Verse 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?’”

 

When I was a young Sunday school student, my pastor said that we may not laugh or be joyful during the passion week, in order to join Jesus’ suffering and remember his cross for my sins. Except for Resurrection Day, most of the messages were focused on Jesus’ cross. However, I was too focused on the suffering and I lost the joy and glorious hope for the resurrection. Jesus on the Cross messages makes me sad and gloomy more and more. Last year, I had a chance to deliver the Resurrection Sunday message entitled, “The Glory of the Resurrection” by using the story of an ugly caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly. We shall be like Jesus with a glorious body when Jesus comes again. The problem is that many people cannot believe in the resurrection. In fact, it is really hard for me to believe resurrection, because I never saw or heard the news of someone resurrected except Jesus in the Bible. It is like a mystical butterfly story for the caterpillars’ world. Surprisingly, even Jesus’ disciples who were with Jesus for 3 years could not believe even though Jesus mentioned his death and resurrection again and again. Jesus’ death on the cross and Resurrection is the most important event in Christianity. Luke the author does not develop theological arguments on the resurrection of Jesus; rather, he gives the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He tells us also what happened in the hearts of those who saw the Risen Christ. Therefore, in this passage, we don’t want to study the theory of the resurrection, but the evidence of the resurrection. When his disciples were in deep despair, the Risen Christ taught the Bible until they opened their spiritual eyes to see the Risen Christ, and as a result, their hearts were burning within them with glorious hope.

 

I. He is not here; he has risen (1-12)

 

Look at verse 1. “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.” Who were these women? They had followed Jesus from Galilee all the way to Golgotha and saw his crucifixion. After his crucifixion and burial, they found out where the tomb of Jesus was and returned to their own places with broken hearts. They must have stayed up all night in consuming sorrow. They must have thought of Jesus who had been so good but was crucified by evil men. Very early on Sunday morning, they went to the tomb to anoint his dead body with the spices. This was what they could do as the expression of their love for the dead Jesus. They were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others. Mary Magdalene had been very sin-sick. But she was healed by Jesus. Since then she dedicated her life to Jesus’ ministry. They were happy to follow Jesus. Jesus was the meaning and joy of their lives. But when they saw Jesus crucified on the cross they felt their hearts were dead. They felt as if they were suffering in the place of Jesus. When they saw Jesus crucified, these women were so wounded and became even more sorrowful than before being healed by Jesus. They were overwhelmed by sorrow.

 

Jesus was buried in a new cave tomb of Joseph, the tomb which Joseph had prepared for himself. The tomb was closed by a big stone. But when the women came, they found the stone rolled away, and when they entered they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Their last hope of anointing the dead body of Jesus was gone. While they were wondering about this, something unusual happened. The angels appeared to them. Look at verse 4. “While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.” The appearance of the two men was not gloomy; it was indeed glorious. It reminds us of the glorious preview of the Risen Christ on the Transfiguration Mount. Mark 9:3 says, “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.” To the women, Jesus’ death on the cross looked so tragic. But it was not so. Jesus’ death on the cross was the prelude to his resurrection. Jesus’ death on the cross is a spiritual victory: it is the fountain of eternal life for all people. As he had predicted concerning his death and resurrection, Jesus has risen from the dead. 

 

Look at verse 5. “In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead?’” These women were looking for the dead body of Jesus, not knowing that Jesus has risen. They were beautiful and faithful women in the sight of God. However, they were only looking for the dead body of Jesus, for they did not remember what Jesus had said to them concerning his death and resurrection. They were too attached to human Jesus and they wanted to hang around him forever. They did not accept the glorious resurrection hope. To these sorrowful women, a life-giving message was given. Look at verses 6-7. “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” During the time of his earthly ministry, Jesus had predicted his death and resurrection to his disciples again and again (9:22,44; 18:31-32). At the time of his crucifixion and resurrection, the disciples failed to comprehend or accept what he had been saying to them. But look at verse 8. These women, who until now had only overheard over the shoulders of the disciples, immediately remembered what Jesus had said before his crucifixion. When they remembered what Jesus had said, their spiritual eyes were opened and new hope arose; sorrows melted from their hearts. They felt their dead hearts come back to life. In a moment, they were overwhelmed by eternal joy overflowing in their souls. They were overjoyed because of the glorious resurrection hope. They had not eaten for several days because of their sorrows. But they felt great strength in their souls. And they came running with their whole strength and told what had happened to the apostles.

 

How did the apostles respond to the women’s words? They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. They thought that the women had gone insane because of their sorrow. They did not believe because they had no word of God in their hearts. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. We can see here a sharp contrast between the women and Peter. The women went to the tomb with sorrowful minds. But when they remembered the promise of God concerning his glorious resurrection, they came back with great joy. On the other hand, Peter, when he did not remember Jesus’ words concerning his death and resurrection, went to the same tomb and saw only a few pieces of grave clothes. 

 

II. On the road to Emmaus (13-35)

 

This part is a story about two despaired men on the road to Emmaus. Look at verses 13-14. “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.” As a matter of fact, they were running for their lives. Even though they were running for their lives, the Risen Christ came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. Look at verses 17-20. “He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’ They stood still, their faces downcast.” “One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you only one visiting to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’” “‘What things?’ he asked. ‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him...’”

 

They had hoped that Jesus would establish the earthly messianic kingdom and rescue them from the bondage of the Roman Empire. But evil men crucified him and they despaired. There are regrets and despair in their words. In addition, they were even more startled and confused by some of their women, who went to the tomb early in the morning, and reported that his dead body was gone and that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. They despaired when they saw good Jesus was condemned and crucified by evil men. They were bewildered even more to know that his dead body was stolen. They despaired when their human hope was gone. In reality, they had nothing to despair, for Jesus had risen. But they despaired because of their unbelief. During the time of his earthly messianic ministry, Jesus taught his disciples about his sufferings, death and resurrection repeatedly. But his teachings were blocked by their own desires. Contrary to Jesus’ teaching, they wished that Jesus would rise to power as the earthly messianic king and rule the whole world. When the events of his death and resurrection actually happened, his disciples became blank and remembered no words of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, they despaired and were on the way to Emmaus to live a hermit life. In their despair, they were reluctant even to call Jesus the Messiah. They called Jesus just a prophet.

 

But there is no despair in Jesus. The Risen Christ followed them and rebuked them for their unbelief. Look at verses 25-26. “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’” The Risen Jesus began to teach them the Bible all over again, beginning with Moses and all the prophets. He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning his death and resurrection. “As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 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.” Here we learn that Jesus was waiting for them to open their hearts and invite him to come in. Then he went in to stay with them (Rev 3:20). When he was at the table with them, he took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then, amazing things happened in their hearts. Their spiritual eyes were opened and they recognized him. They wanted to be with the Risen Christ forever. But the Risen Christ disappeared from their sight since he had completed helping them open their spiritual eyes. Even after his crucifixion, the Risen Christ taught the Bible and was waiting for them to open their spiritual eyes. 

 

What happened when they met the Risen Christ? Look at verse 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?’” Yes! A miracle happened. Their dead hearts became alive again. There was no more despair in them. They became courageous. Before meeting the Risen Christ they were running away from Jerusalem, escaping from the realities of the world. But after meeting the Risen Christ, they got up and returned at once to Jerusalem, where Jesus had been crucified and where secret policemen were scattered all around to arrest Jesus’ people. Before meeting the Risen Christ they were full of fear. After meeting the Risen Christ they became the witnesses of the Risen Christ. When they arrived in Jerusalem, there they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Their human expectations were gone. But when they met the Risen Christ, it solved all their problems. Here we learn that human hopes lead men to despair. But the words of God lead men to meet the Risen Christ. Without meeting the Risen Christ all mankind cannot but despair and end up with the thought of death. Whoever meets the Risen Christ can overcome the world. When we are attached to things of the world such as family, job or career, we cannot but be anxious and tired in order to save ourselves. So even some Christians are attached to things of the world and go back to their old bad habits again and again. They waste their time and energy by chewing on their past failures and regrets. But when we believe in Jesus’ resurrection, we can have inner spiritual strength to overcome our bad habits and past failures and sorrowful memories and live a victorious life. 

 

I grew up in a Christian home. But when I saw hypocrisy in Christians, I felt disgusted toward them. I was so disappointed in God who didn’t heal my mother’s cancer. So I tried to run away from all failures like the two disciples who were running away to Emmaus. But I ended up in UBF and received a lot of love from them. They loved me and cared for me even though I was not good enough. From that time on, my spiritual struggle started. When I meditate on this passage, I realize that my state of faith is the same as that of the two disciples who could not believe in Jesus’ resurrection. I lived the last 25 years like the disciples who only witnessed Jesus’ death on the cross. I lived in fear and guilt, and I thought that at least I could pay back to God with my dedication and suffering to serve the ministry of Jesus who died for my sin. My sin was forgiven but there was no joy and happiness because I still vividly see Jesus on the cross who is groaning in pain and as I grow in my awareness of how sinful I am. Now, I realize that it is Satan’s scheme to trick me not to believe Jesus’ resurrection but to remain on Jesus’ death only. I hear Satan whisper to me, “See, Your commander Jesus died on the cross because of you ” And it makes me feel guilty. But I surely believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, conquering death. Because Jesus lives I shall also live. There is no more despair and sorrow. Our mourning will turn to dance. Our dead hearts will be alive, burning within us with glorious hope and joy through Jesus’ resurrection.

 

Big Idea: Resurrection makes our hearts burning