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Easter: It makes sense (Luke 24:30-49)
Dave Sunman, 27 March 2016
Part of the Easter 2016 series, Sunday Morning service
At face value, the Easter story doesn’t seem to make sense. A man who has asked us to think of him like bread and wine is executed to mark the failure of his movement and his friends hide away in a locked room. Within 3 days his disciples start to tell people that he is alive, that he alone can open the way for them to know God and that he can bring them into fulfilment. What has happened, why are they changed and can it be true? The disciples knew that dead people stay dead but were willing to die themselves in defence of their belief that Jesus was alive. Meeting the risen Jesus on Easter Day made sense of all they had known before. Meeting Jesus today can have the same effect on us.
Luke 24:30-49
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Prayers of Lament | None | Thanksgiving (AM) » |
Luke 24:30–49 (Listen)
30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 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?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 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.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 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.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 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.”
(ESV)