Knowing the Power of His Resurrection

HC LD 17, Philippians 3:10-11, Luke 24:13-35

In our two passages, we see the aspirations of two groups of people. Paul was in prison; he experienced much suffering because of his work of the gospel. Why? Because he knew Christ. He was steeped in the gospel. He had been saved from his sins and self-righteousness. That’s what fueled him - that’s why he was able to rejoice in the midst of suffering. He aspired to know Christ more - to experience this power of Christ’s resurrection, to share in his sufferings. He knew one day, he’d be glorified - perfect. He knew one day, he’d be resurrected from the dead. This is how Christ’s resurrection benefited him. But we also see Cleopas and his companion. They were dejected after Christ’s crucifixion and burial. They were returning to their home town. Jerusalem was a place of disappointment - their master died. But once they knew he’d resurrected, they returned to Jerusalem. Their hearts were strangely warmed. Where once they were dejected, now, they were elated. Christ had risen from the dead! This is what fueled them to return back to a place of disappointment.

Dearly beloved, some of us here are like Paul. We’re seasoned saints, who’ve walked with Christ a long time. We have suffered for him, experienced the power of his resurrection - we have walked in that newness of life. But we also experience what the saints on the road to Emmaus experienced. We’re weak, easily disappointed, discouraged, and don’t always feel that power. And we need Christ to remind us again that he lives. And when we are reminded, we are raised up to a new life. That’s the portion of the catechism question that we want to focus on. How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us? By his power we too are raised up to a new life. We want to see the progression of how Christ resurrection benefits us to live a new life. And we see this progression in 3 steps: Firstly, the defeat they felt when they knew not his power; secondly, the knowledge they needed to understand his power; and thirdly, the victory they displayed when they felt his power.

Firstly, the defeat they felt when they knew not his power. In Luke 24, we see two disciples, following the crucifixion, on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. This was 60 furlongs, or 12 kilometers away. This would’ve been a village and the road was likely a dirt road - unpaved. One of the disciples was named - Cleopas. This was the husband of Mary, who was at the cross on Friday and at the tomb on Sunday morning. So on the first day of the week, he was returning home for work. We’re not sure who the other disciple was - but it was likely his wife. Just as his wife was at the cross during the crucifixion, Cleopas might also have been there. He watched or would’ve heard how his Lord and Savior died - knowing the bitter cry - Eli Eli, lama sabachthani! My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? So en route back, they talked about these things that had happened, verse 14. Verse 15 tells us that they communed or conversed together, and they reasoned - meaning, they questioned. In other words, they couldn’t understand why these things had happened, why these things were so. How Jesus was unjustly crucified, how their hope in a Savior who’d crush oppression was himself oppressed and crushed.

In verse 15, Jesus drew near to them and walked together with them. They didn’t know him at that point. His resurrection body was unrecognizable to them - just as it had been to Mary Magdalene. But Jesus said something to them that revealed their state. Verse 17 - what are you talking about as you walk? What’s making you sad? In other words, it was very clear that they were sad in their conversation. There was defeat. They expected something to happen, but it didn’t. What made them sad? Yes, it was the events - but it was more than just the events. They misunderstood the events.

In verse 19 - they called Jesus a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. However, they didn’t call him the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus had all along referred to himself as the Son of Man - the warrior king that comes in the name of the Lord. By his miracles, and they acknowledged him as someone who was mighty in deed. Even the centurion at the cross acknowledged him as the Son of God. They were defeated because they didn’t truly know who he was. They were also defeated because of their expectation of him. Verse 20-21 said that the priests and rulers crucified him, but they had trusted him to redeem Israel. They expected a political redemption. But now, he was dead. Now, they were also defeated because they forgot his words. They even acknowledged in verse 21 that today is the third day since these things were done. Jesus had told both disciples and priests that he would rise on the third day. That even though they destroyed the temple of his body, he would rebuild it in three days. He gave them the sign of Jonah - who was in the belly of the whale 3 days. They were defeated because they forgot his words. And also, they were defeated because their spiritual senses were dulled. In verse 22, they told of certain women who were at the tomb but found not his body. Instead, they had seen angels who told them they were alive, verse 23. Then they told of the disciples going there and also finding it empty. This tells us that possibly Mary, Cleopas’ wife was not there - unless she was speaking in the third person. But the tomb was empty! They had seen angels! Angels had told them he was alive! Why in the world were they sad and defeated? They should’ve rejoiced and had victory! And the reason is simple - they didn’t understand, see, acknowledge - despite all that had been taught them and told them by angels, and evidenced by the absence of his body. And when they didn’t know know that power of his resurrection, they felt defeat. They were sad. Their eyes were still on his death. This is why they were leaving Jerusalem for Emmaus, Jerusalem was a place of disappointment - their redemption evaporated. Jerusalem was also a place of discouragement - their Lord was crucified. Jerusalem was a place of death. Their Lord was in the grave. There was nothing but defeat for them. They went back.

This is why secondly, they needed knowledge to understand that power of his resurrection. And we see their lack of knowledge was an indictment against them. In verse 25, Jesus accused them of being fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. The word “fools” here is not so much an insult - like “raca” - but a description of their lack of understanding. Literally, the Greek word for fools literally means without mind. And they were also slow of heart. They were dull to believe. And they were dull to believe because they did not understand what all the prophets had spoken. We’re told in our catechism that true faith is comprised of 2 parts - true knowledge and firm confidence. They had neither. Which means they didn’t have true faith. Their minds and hearts were not taught. It is true, beloved, that when we do not know and believe, we will not be blessed. This is why Paul’s aspiration was to know him and the power of his resurrection. He hadn’t attained. He was mature, but he wanted more faith. They were like Thomas - who not having seen Jesus refused to believe. Only when he saw, did he believe - so much so that Jesus said, “Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.” They needed knowledge to understand. And what they needed to know was told them in verse 26. Jesus asked the question - “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” If only you knew that Christ had to die and suffer, and only them enter his kingdom, then you wouldn’t be defeated.

And Christ would teach them. Verse 27 - “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” The road to Emmaus was only 12 kilometers, a 2 1/2 hour walk. Jesus would’ve had to truncate everything - to give an overview. The Hebrew Bible was arranged this way - Moses’ law, then the prophets, and after that the historical writings. That’s why verse 27 says he began at Moses, then the prophets, and then all the scriptures. He would’ve started at Genesis - the seed of the woman’s heal would be bruised by the Satan, though he would bruise his head. How that seed would come through Abraham and bless the whole world. That God would provide a lamb to be sacrificed. And how his red blood like a scarlet thread would mark his people out for salvation. That Moses had prophesied how a prophet of prophets would come to teach. That the sacrifices of the Tabernacle pointed to the sacrifice of the Christ. That he would be a king - a descendent of David who would rule over all things. But that he would be a servant, as Isaiah called him - and would suffer and die to redeem his people. That his hands and feet would be pierced through. And that while he died, God would not allow hid body to be corrupted or decay, but that God would raise him from the dead. They learned.

And then something interesting happened. Their learning led to a change in attitude. In verses 28-29, we see that once they got to the village of Emmaus, Christ made as if he was going to go further. But they stopped him and asked him to stay with them because it was late. And he did. If the story had stopped here, we would just simply take it that they were hospitable and knew it wasn’t safe for a person to travel at that time. But the next verse tells us something more - there was a respect and submission to Christ - even though their eyes hadn’t opened to see who he really was. Verse 30 says, “And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.” There was a submission and a committal of their ways to him. Now, this was their village and their home. But yet, it was Christ who took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them. He was more than their guest. They had invited him to be the host of their dinner that night. They committed their meal to his hands - they gave him control of their immediate affairs.

But as he broke the bread, the would’ve seen the nail prints on his hand. That’s when they knew him in the power of his resurrection. And when they knew, they experienced not defeat but victory. That’s the third point - the victory they displayed when they felt his power. When he broke bread, they realized this stranger was none other but their Lord, raised from the dead. Verse 31 - “And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” They knew him. And in verse 32, we see that they communed together again and reasoned. They asked - “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” While in verse 15, the conversed and questioned and were sad; in verse 32, when they conversed and questioned, they were strangely warmed - their hearts burned within them since he started to teach them. While they were once fools and slow of heart; now their hearts were racing.

The result of this was that they returned to Jerusalem. Verse 33 says that it was the same hour that they rose up and returned to Jerusalem. This was dinner time. They hadn’t eaten the bread broken by Christ. But it was dark. In fact, they had even told Jesus not to go on, but to stay because it was late. Traveling would’ve been dangerous. Yet, they went. They knew to go to the upper room belonging to Mark’s mother and they found the eleven with others there. And what did they proclaim? “The Lord is risen indeed and hath appeared to Simon.” Now, Jesus had already by this time appeared to Mary Magdalene, as well as the two other women. He also appeared behind closed doors to the disciples, minus Thomas. And so there was corroboration. They told them what happened and how he was known in the breaking of bread.

This tells us several things. It tells us about the victory they had. You see, Jerusalem had been a place of disappointment, discouragement, and death. But they made their way quickly back there. It was now a place of new beginnings, expectation, anticipation, new hope, and victory. You can imagine, all of them talking about how Christ vanished, how he could come in through locked doors. These disciples would’ve understood all the Old Testament prophecies. They knew that to understand them, Christ was the cipher. And they talked about it not with sadness but with victory.

It tells us that they knew his personality. His resurrected body showed his personality - that he loved them so much to die for them. They saw his wounds and recognized him as the one who was nailed to the cross. Once they had known and loved Him, and they thought they had lost Him, but He was with them again! It was Jesus Himself, and by His wounds they knew Him. And that fueled them to return to Jerusalem - and they knew what would happen. But they were willing because he gave himself for them.

It also tells us that they also knew his purpose. He died to save them. And the benefit they would receive was not just righteousness or new life, but they would one day have a glorious resurrection. He resurrected. Death could not hold him. He was innocent. And as such, because of the righteousness he had purchased for them, they would also one day resurrect. They feared not him who could kill the body - they feared him who could kill body and soul. Victoriously, they returned back to the place of defeat - because they realized it was a place instead of victory.

It also tells us that they knew his victory. By his death, he went to the extreme. And if he went to the extreme, he is able to save and deliver to the extreme. That’s his power. A leper once cried out after Him, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” He didn’t doubt for a moment the Lord’s ability. He only doubted the Lord’s willingness. And the Lord despatched his doubts, and the Lord said, “I will, be thou clean.” In other words, he gives power to live a new life. If we ever doubt the ability of Jesus, to meet our needs and cleanse our hearts and make us whole, then take a look at His wounds - on his resurrected body.

His resurrected body conveyed his personality, purpose, and power. They knew they were redeemed and called righteous. They knew he gave them a new life. And they knew they would be with him, like him one day. This is why they returned to Jerusalem. No longer would it be the place of disappointment, discouragement, defeat, and death - but a place of new life. Their hearts burned within them.

 Perhaps even now, you have a place like Jerusalem - you are discouraged, defeated, and disappointed. You are sad. But when you know the Lord and the power of his resurrection, you too can burn within and be strangely warmed. You therefore must surrender yourself to him. Let him lead you. Just as there was submission a committal of all their ways to him - letting him host in their own home - perhaps the Lord is showing you the need to know and submit. Only then can there be transformation.