Encountering The Risen Christ in the Crisis of our Disappointment
In the last several weeks we have been
following Jesus’ journey from Galilee in the northern part of Israel south to
Jericho and then West to Jerusalem that one final time. As we have seen
in recent posts, Jesus was purposeful in preparing his followers for his coming
death and resurrection. Today as we reflect on and celebrate the resurrection
of Jesus, we will use this concept of “purpose” to walk through not only Jesus’
death and resurrection, but the crisis of disappointment faced by his
disciples—specifically the two who were walking to Emmaus that Sunday morning.
1) A
Purposeful Life—To Glorify/Reveal the Father (John 12:27-33)
His very life
was filled with purpose—from the 200+ Old Testament prophecies that revealed
centuries in advance much about his birth, life, suffering, and death, to the
prophecies given by faithful men and women surrounding his birth (Anna, Simeon,
etc.). His life and ministry was so tied to what theologians call the Missio Dei (the Mission of God) that
Jesus himself in John 5:30 said, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I
judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own
will but the will of him who sent me.” And again, in John 8:28-29,
So Jesus said to
them, “When you have lifted up [i.e.,
crucified] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and
that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father
taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me
alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
Yet, for all
this, the disciples initially misunderstood the trajectory of his mission.
Jesus however knew full well what he was facing, and while it troubled him, it
did not turn him from his mission. Let’s take a look at John 12:27-33!
‘Father, save me from this hour’?
But for this
purpose
I have come to this hour.
Father,
glorify your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven:
“I
have glorified it, and
I will glorify it again.”
The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered.
Others said, “An
angel has spoken to him.”
Jesus answered, “This voice has come
for your sake, not mine.
Now is
the judgment of this world;
now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
And
I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to
myself.”
He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to
die.
Jesus knew his purpose—He wasn’t confused (v. 27, 32).
“For this purpose I have come to this hour” is a precise and profound
statement. We might say, “I am here for a
reason”, but rarely do we know with enough certainty to say, “for this reason” much less, “at this very moment”! However, Jesus’
life was not spent wandering about with a vague sense of his messianic calling
which only became clear near the end. As God the Son he knew it before the
foundation of the world when we were chosen in him (Eph. 1:3-4)! As the Son of
Man we see him proclaiming knowledge of his purpose when he was 12 years old in
the temple, “Did you not know that I must
be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:9 NKJV).
Jesus’
purpose was compassionate—he wasn’t co-opted (Luke 4:42-44).
Early in his ministry, the people of
Capernaum (his adopted hometown) came to think of Jesus as their own local
teacher/healer and sought to keep him to themselves. However, Jesus purpose
compassionately extended to a much larger “target audience” than that.
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place.
And the people sought him and came to him,
and would have kept him from
leaving them,
but
he said to them,
“I must preach the good news of the kingdom
of God
to the other towns as
well;
for I was
sent for this purpose.”
44 And
he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (Luke 4:42-44)
Jesus was
committed to his purpose—no emotional crisis would deter him (v.27).
We see this in his admission of emotional
pain in, “Now is my soul troubled” (v.27)
and later in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My
soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
(Matt. 26:38) Nevertheless we see that,
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I
will, but as You will.’”
(v. 39) It seems only too natural for us to switch into fight or flight mode
when we experience our own emotional pain, yet Jesus did not defend himself.
Instead he extended supernatural forgiveness to his persecutors—even while
nailed to a cross. Such abundant grace, even in death, convinced the Roman
centurion supervising the execution, “And when the centurion, who stood facing
him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’”
(Mark 15:39)
Jesus’
purpose was to reveal the truth—not to start a war (John 18:36-38).
When Jesus was on trial before Pontus Pilate, the Roman governor, Pilate asked Jesus if he was “the King of the Jews” and “What have you done?” This famous dialogue goes like this,
When Jesus was on trial before Pontus Pilate, the Roman governor, Pilate asked Jesus if he was “the King of the Jews” and “What have you done?” This famous dialogue goes like this,
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.
If my kingdom were
of this world,
my servants would
have been fighting,
that I
might not be delivered over to the Jews.
But my kingdom is not
from the world.”
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say that I
am a king.
For this purpose I was born and
for
this purpose I have come into the world—
to bear witness to the
truth.
Everyone who is of the
truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
What Pilate didn’t understand was that “truth” was more than an abstract philosophical
concept. As a result, Pilate asked the wrong question. Instead of asking, “What
is truth?” he should have asked, “Who is truth?” Even so, Pilate pronounced him
innocent but let him be killed anyway. That was Friday. This is Sunday and we
join the story in progress as late in the afternoon two disciples are on the
road walking the seven miles to Emmaus.
2) The Crisis of Disappointment (Luke 24:13-24).
Easter may catch us in the crisis of our own disappointments just as it did the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Last week I mentioned the “troubling expectations” of the people in Jerusalem that week. Their ideas of what Jesus had come to do were inaccurate at best. And now, with Jesus dead and in the grave for three days it seems that the disappointment was overwhelming for these two men. We don’t know why they headed to Emmaus but put in the same situation, I would want to get away from the site of such a terrible injustice and might prefer to process my loss “on the road”.
Easter may catch us in the crisis of our own disappointments just as it did the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Last week I mentioned the “troubling expectations” of the people in Jerusalem that week. Their ideas of what Jesus had come to do were inaccurate at best. And now, with Jesus dead and in the grave for three days it seems that the disappointment was overwhelming for these two men. We don’t know why they headed to Emmaus but put in the same situation, I would want to get away from the site of such a terrible injustice and might prefer to process my loss “on the road”.
Disappointment must be processed our it will
process us. I recently spoke with a long-time supervisor of pastors and he said
that he had found that the moral and ethical failures of those in church
leadership almost always are related to…
- Unresolved personal betrayal
- Unresolved injustice
- Unfulfilled
expectations (e.g., broken promises)
These two disciples were not sinning by
leaving Jerusalem, but it appears that they were separating themselves from the
community—at least temporarily. In the wake of the betrayal by Judas, grave
injustice at the hands of Jewish and Roman leaders, and their own unfulfilled
expectations, what did these guys do? They split town. Were they going home or
did they just need to get away after such a tragic loss? We don’t know for
sure. We do know that God loved them too much to let them go.
Jesus, even as a
child newly come into the world, it was for a purpose. Each year we
celebrate Christmas—the incarnation—with a Christmas tree; symbolic of all we have in Christ. But what we have can never be separated from the cross of Christ—our new name, character, purpose, family—see it coming from God’s love poured out at the cross. Now picture the same tree, with all of its lights and ornaments removed, and its beautiful branches pruned off. Perhaps that is how we feel today—ugly, stripped, without hope, good only for the fire. Perhaps that was how the two disciples felt. Let’s consider their story, their crisis of disappointment, and find hope for our own!
celebrate Christmas—the incarnation—with a Christmas tree; symbolic of all we have in Christ. But what we have can never be separated from the cross of Christ—our new name, character, purpose, family—see it coming from God’s love poured out at the cross. Now picture the same tree, with all of its lights and ornaments removed, and its beautiful branches pruned off. Perhaps that is how we feel today—ugly, stripped, without hope, good only for the fire. Perhaps that was how the two disciples felt. Let’s consider their story, their crisis of disappointment, and find hope for our own!
Luke 24:13-24
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.”
They were absolutely stunned that there was
someone who wasn’t feeling the way that they were feeling. There is currently a
television commercial that makes use of the improvisational acting phrase,
“Yes, and…” as a way to continue the story. In this biblical narrative, Jesus basically answered their
question with a “Yes, and…” when he asked, “What things?” They then tell about
the death of Christ and their own unfulfilled expectation, “But we had hoped
that he was the one to redeem Israel.” (v.21) Apparently they didn’t want to
stop with the “But we had hoped” point and in v. 22 they themselves used the
“Yes, and…” phrase to segue into what was happening that very day.
They didn’t get it. Their world had caved in,
their expectations crushed, & their hearts grieved. Even though things were
happening in accordance with Jesus’ predictions they still didn’t understand. But
God didn’t leave them there in their crisis. In our culture, we often forget
about the caring will of
the Father and must train our eyes to see his therapeutic love!
And this
is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing
of all that he has
given me, but raise it up on the last day.
For this is
the will of my Father,
that everyone who looks on the Son
and believes in him
should have eternal life,
and I will raise
him up on the last day.” (John
6:39-40)
In this case, the story is not over. Jesus came
after them, like a shepherd seeking his lost sheep (Luke 15:4) and gently,
relationally, Jesus begins to roll away the stone of their doubt.
3) The
Stone of Their Doubt Was Rolled Way (Luke 24:25-34)
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.
While much could be said about this narrative, let me just make a few
simple observations about how Jesus rolled their doubts away, that first Easter
Sunday:
- He listened to their story of disappointment (v. 19-24)
- He reminded them of Jesus’ purpose (v. 25-26)
- He opened the Scriptures (v. 27, 32) to show why it was necessary for the Christ to die.
- He opened their eyes (v.31) to see him for who he was.
- He kindled their hearts to share the good news. (v.32-35)
- He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (v.44-45)
4) “Thus
it is written”: In His Purpose, We Find Our Own! (Luke 24:35-49)
Jesus
himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
But they
were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
And he said to
them, “Why are you troubled, and why do
doubts arise in your hearts?
See my hands and my
feet, that it is I myself.
Touch
me, and see. 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 disbelieved for joy and were marveling,
he said to them,
“Have you anything here to
eat?”
They gave him a
piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
Then he said to
them,
“These
are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in
the Law of Moses
and the Prophets
and
the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he
opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
and said to them,
“Thus it is
written, that
the Christ should suffer
and on the third
day rise from the dead,
and that repentance
and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed
in his name to
all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are
witnesses of these things.
And behold, I am
sending the promise of my Father upon you.
But stay in the city until
you are clothed with power from on high.”
What had been
written about Christ that “must be fulfilled”? First, that he would suffer and die and then be raised
from the dead on the third day. Second, that the compassionate proclamation of
the Gospel would be made to all nations. Thirdly, to fulfill this, Jesus called
his followers (and us) into his purpose as the mantle was passed—“you are
witnesses of these things.” Finally, Jesus was sending the promise of the
Father— the Holy Spirit to not merely empower them and send them as he had been
sent, but to connect them relationally to the love of the Father. This should
sound familiar. Jesus invites us to share in his purpose. We don’t have to
wonder why we are here. We are “witnesses of these things” and are commissioned
to be a part of the compassionate proclamation of the Father’s love.
However, we may question our ability to be a part of such a wonderful
cause. What if we have really made a mess of our life? Are we still included in
this purpose? The answer is the same for all of us. We are qualified by the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. In addition, we have the example
of Saul of Tarsus (aka Paul) who in his ISIS-like fervor to wipe out Christians
was confronted by the risen Christ (Acts 9) and transformed into the great
apostle of the faith. As he told it in his own words, in Acts 26:14-18,
I heard a voice saying to me in the
Hebrew language,
‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?
It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
And the Lord said,
‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
But rise and stand upon
your feet,
for I have appeared to you for this
purpose,
to appoint you
as a servant and witness
to the things
in which you have seen me and
to those in
which I will appear to you,
delivering you from your people and from the
Gentiles—
to whom I am sending you to open
their eyes,
so that they may turn from darkness to
light
and from the power of Satan to
God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins
and a
place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Is It Not Necessary?
He came that we might believe in him and might have life in his name.
But we must respond to
his love with our trust in him as our risen Lord. He is still seeking us--even
on the road from our greatest disappointments. Will we tell him our story and
listen to his answer?
Who is this Jesus of
Nazareth? What had we hoped? It is important to realize that he cannot be
merely a prophet or a good moral teacher for he claimed to be Lord. If he is
not who he said he was then either…
- he knew that he wasn’t Lord and is thus a Liar, or
- he didn’t know that he wasn’t Lord and is thus a Lunatic.