BE CONFIDENT OF THE RESURRECTION

 

4/8/2012

1. CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY (LUKE 24:15, 18-24

Luke 24:15

15 And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus Himself approached, and began traveling with them.

NASB

Luke 24:18-24

18 And one of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"

·         This counter-question, raised by Cleopas, reveals a sidelight not given by anyone but Luke. 

·         The arrest, Crucifixion, and purported Resurrection from the dead had stirred Jerusalem. 

·         These two men could not believe that there was anyone in the area that did not know about it.

19 And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,

·         They said that the Lord was a "prophet." 

·         They thought He was dead. 

·         They did not believe that He had come back from the dead.

20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

·         These men thought it was too late for their hopes to be realized. 

·         To them, it was too late. 

·         They did not have much faith in what the Prophet said.

·         These men did not believe the report of the women. 

·         They did not believe the tomb was empty. 

·         You can see how much unbelief there was in the Resurrection at this time.

22 "But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. 24 "And some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."

NASB

2. EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES (LUKE 24:25-27)

Luke 24:25-27

25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"  27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

NASB

·         This is a very important section. 

·         The Lord did not show them the prints of the nails in His hands. 

·         He referred them to the Scriptures rather than to the nail prints.

·         There are people today who are actually saying that you cannot be intelligent and believe the Bible; that you are a fool.

·         The most subtle and satanic trap of our day to discount the inerrancy and integrity of the Word of God. 

·         Christ says a man is a FOOL not to believe it.

"Human knowledge must be understood to be believed, but Divine knowledge must be believed to be understood." – Blaise Pascal

1 Corinthians 2:14

14 But a natural man 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.

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3. TRUST THE LORD (LUKE 24:30-32

Luke 24:30-32

30 And it came about that when He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"

NASB

·         Now they knew that the women who had been at the tomb were right!

·         It is at this point that we begin to see that all who were in despair because they thought their hope was lost, being transformed.

·         They now begin to realize that their hope has been more than fulfilled.

4. REJOICED WITH OTHERS (LUKE 24:33-35)

Luke 24:33-35

33 And they arose that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, "The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon." 35 And they began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

NASB

·         Good news is for sharing!

·         The transformation from woeful to hopeful has begun.