“I Have Seen The Lord”
John 20:18-29, Luke 24:18-35
Imagine, the adrenaline rush, the pep-to-your-step, the “Breaking News", when Jesus suddenly appears and you finally recognize him, the One who was sent from God the Father to bring salvation to all who will believe. These are the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection testimonies. Let’s begin with the first portion of our text from Luke’s gospel. “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and 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 and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
Cleopas and the other (Simon), two men who were disciples as well but not a part of the eleven, had been in Jerusalem with the other believers for two days. Dejected, downcast, and still visibly stunned from the death of Jesus on the cross. They journeyed back home to Emmaus, a seven mile walk from Jerusalem. They were recounting all the things that they had hope for and what they witnessed over the last two days. All the believers were shaken to the core of their hearts, none had much solace or consolation. As these two disciples were trying to make some sense out of the ordeal, a stranger joined them in their walk.
Jesus in his glorified body remained incognito. He listened to their plight, and inquired of their agony. They stopped in the midst of their travel and looked at this stranger who seemed to be clueless to the events of the two prior days in Jerusalem. In a state of incredulousness (unable to believe), Cleopas explains the death of Jesus of Nazareth to the stranger as they begin to walk again. His despair is evident. As he unpacked the events of Jesus’ life of miracles, anointed teachings, who was “mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.” He shared their hopes that Jesus was the Messiah, the redeemer of Israel, only to have them dashed on a cross on a hill. Then Cleopas tried to explain the inconceivable, some of the women went to anoint the body only to find the tomb empty and angels speaking to them of his resurrection. Then also, some of our brothers went to confirm what the women said, only to see that indeed the tomb was empty, only grave clothes remained.
Application - There are times in our lives when we believe we have God figured out, we know his next step, only to find out his way is far different than ours, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8-9). We see the signs of the end that Jesus said will take place, but the end is still to come. We walk in the faith that we have, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) Trusting in Jesus means just that, there is much that is beyond our abilities and understanding when it comes to the ways of God. Like the men from Emmaus, we must listen to the words of our Lord and trust him who knows the beginning from the end. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure … I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isa. 46:9-11)
As they continued down the road, they neared their village. Jesus began to speak of the prophetic scriptures, and how they revealed all that the Christ had to suffer out of the writings of Moses and the prophet Isaiah and the others prophetic scriptures. As the disciples and the stranger came to the fork in the road to their homes, they compelled the stranger to come rest and eat at their home, and they would listen to more of his recitation of prophetic scriptures. Let’s read the next portion of our text, And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
They arrived at their village and prepared the meal for themselves and their guest. Jesus offered the blessing for the meal, he took the bread and broke it in the same manner that they had seen Jesus do many times. It was in hearing and seeing this that the scales were removed and Jesus was revealed to them. Then the supernatural happened, Jesus disappeared from their midst. In amazement and bewilderment they looked at each other, they both exclaimed the burning in their hearts at the words from God’s scripture. They immediately headed back to Jerusalem, this time super energized. This seven miles would be in record time. They arrived at the gathering of the disciples and Cleopas boldly proclaimed “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” With a renewed exhilaration, they replayed the whole conversation with Jesus on the road as he revealed the prophetic scripture to them and again shared in a meal blessed by Jesus the Messiah.
Application - Oh, how blessed we are as we hear and read the Word of God, as the Holy Spirit reveals the treasures of Heaven. We should ask and long for the revelation of scripture, “he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” by the Holy Spirit as we read the scriptures, especially those as Jesus said the Holy Spirit would reveal, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27) Oh what joy we have when the scriptures are open to our hearts and minds. Also when we take of the Lord’s supper, the “do this in remembrance of me” should burn in us. It was God’s perfect and pleasing will for our Lord to go to the cross. He was the sacrificial Lamb of God in whose body, the bread, was given for all who would partake and believe in Him, and the blood shed for our sins, the covering of righteousness that we could never obtain in our humanity. The breaking of bread and the taking of his cup should be like a fire in our hearts. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Rom. 5:8-11) He has covered us with righteousness, righteousness that is pleasing to the Lord and reconciliation. The righteousness of Christ allows us and gives us the ability to stand before God the Father without guilt, condemnation, or the feeling of inferiority, for he sees the blood covering of His Son.
One day our Lord will appear instantly, and we will again break bread this time at His table in His kingdom of light.
At last Jesus showed himself to the disciples who were all listening to the repeated testimonies of Mary Magdalene and the disciples from Emmaus. Let’s look at the final portion of our text in John’s gospel, “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
The disciples were still pondering Mary’s proclamation in a locked room. They knew the religious leader and Sanhedrin would be looking for them in connection to the empty tomb. And now two of their extended number had returned elated with the news that Jesus had risen from the dead and he spoke to them, ate with them, showed himself to them, and then disappeared before their very eyes. It was at this moment, Jesus appeared in their midst. All the doors were secured, and no one had followed Ceopas and Simon. Jesus’ words hushed and calmed all in the room, “Peace be with you!” For here stood their master, Lord, Savior, and Messiah. After the initial shock and startling, the joy of the Lord filled the room. The revealing of their Master alive and risen from the dead was astonishing. He offered to anyone to come and touch his wounded hands and side. As the emotions subsided, Jesus spoke to them of the work that God had for them to do, but first they must be sealed with the Holy Spirit, for they now have believed the words of Jesus and have received the promised guarantee of being his children, to receive the inheritance of eternal life. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” “And who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” ”In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Jn. 1:12; 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13-14)
At this Jesus breathed upon them, and they received the Holy Spirit and were sealed. God had forgiven all their sins and cleansed them. Now they were the vessels of clay, filled with the life giving living water. They were new creations in Christ Jesus. God had chosen them to be vessels of honor, mercy, and of his glory. Filled with his holy presence so that these vessels can be used for his honor. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” “Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Cor. 4:7, 2 Tim. 2:21)
Application - The power of the testimony of the work and salvation God has done in us is more powerful than we can imagine. It is the truth of God's grace, mercy, and providence. We shouldn’t be ashamed of Jesus or the work he has given us to do. We should proclaim our testimonies to all. In the end days, those who overcame the accuser during the tribulation did so by the blood of the Lamb and the words of their testimonies, “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Rev. 12:10-11)
Just as Jesus revealed himself to the disciples in that room, He also reveals himself to us through his creation, his written Word, and through others, his vessels sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit. We shouldn’t be afraid but bold, and in gentleness and love share the truth of what Jesus is doing and has done in us. We are his workmanship, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)
Now, the seal of the Holy Spirit is two-fold: trust in God and abstain from sin. First, it is our guarantee from trusting in God, it is the preservative power that endures throughout our lives. We are marked with his seal, we are his vessels. God sealed us for the day of redemption by the Holy Spirit.
Second, As in the Old Testament, a vessel not sealed is unclean, “And every open vessel that has no cover fastened on it is unclean.” “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” (Num. 19:15, 2 Tim. 2:21)
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we are earthen vessels sealed for the glory of God the Father. We are to abstain from sin, not to be used for dishonorable use. If what God has sealed is broken open and used for the degradation and sins of this world, it is unfit for his kingdom. As Paul wrote to the Corintians, they were no longer to use their bodies for the sinful practices of the world. God takes and makes them clean by the work of salvation through his Son, and now fills them with the Holy Spirit and to be used only for the work of God. I’m afraid of what we are seeing in our days, for the vessels that God created and sealed are now being contaminated and used for the sinful practices of this world. I believe God knows those who are sealed for the day of redemption, “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” (2 Tim 2:19) and we who are his should be confident in the seal of God, that it will endure till his coming, then we will receive a new body, a glorified body (1 Cor. 15:35-58).
As we began in this lesson, we too will see our risen Lord. He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, awaiting the time the Father has set for his calling all those (sealed vessels) who are marked with the seal of God to join him in his kingdom. But in the meantime, we are his vessels, sealed for his use and purpose here. So let us rejoice in the fact, Jesus is alive and he has given us his promised Holy Spirit, and one day we will see him face to face.
I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.
First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second, B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."
Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.
If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com
Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis
I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today. Thank you
http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com
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