Our Only Hope is Resurrection Hope
Upside Down Kingdom • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsThere is pain in the wrong story, but there is hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
What is my message about?
The story into eternal life is made possible by Jesus and we are drawn near and are invited to enter in.
Blinded by expectations and the pain of unmet expectations, God still draws near, reveals himself gradually, giving us eyes to see who he is, and where we should be.
We are secure, even when we cannot see.
Why is it important?
Why is it important?
As we face the apex of Corona Virus deaths, disappointment that God has not lifted the storm, we must remember the apex of life - the resurrection of Jesus.
What do I want them to do?
Pause the story they are in, and consider the resurrection story that changes everything.
What’s your big idea:
God transforms disappointment with resurrection hope.
The only hope in our story is the resurrection story.
The hope of our story is in his resurrection story.
The only hope in our story is the resurrection story.
Introduction
Introduction
It’s so great to be with you all this Easter Sunday.
Hello, I am Daniel Stidham, and I am the pastor at Calvary church of Oak Lawn. At Calvary we are one church with three campuses, and I pastor one of our campuses in the village of Oak Lawn. The second half of this sermon will be preached by Pastor Lawrence who leads our Arab-American Service called Noor.
Back in Fall of 2019, we launched the Oak Lawn Campus, and I admit that i had a lot of excitement for Easter 2020. I was hoping that on Easter we’d have so many visitors that we might even get to use our Balcony.
I didn’t expect to be preaching to an empty space in Orland Park. I didn’t expect to be deprived of the dozen hugs, dozen hand shakes, and 400 fist bumps each Sunday Morning. And this loss, though, real, is very little compared to so many others.
I must admit, I did not expect to be preaching on Easter to an empty room while trying to make eye contact with cameras. I don’t get to be with the congregation God has given me to serve. I don’t get to give hugs, or 30 second hand shakes, and 5 fist bumps.
Disappointment can be described as the gap between the story we wanted to tell, and the story we have to tell.
This was not the Easter 2020 story I expected to have to tell.
And this is not poor daniel, because I’ve lost so little compared to so many others. This was not the Easter story I expected to tell.
Therefore, I think it appropriate to give us a moment of silence to lament. Lament is choosing to direct our sadness towards the only one who can make a difference - God. Lament is our sorrows directed to the divine. Let’s take a moment to do just that.
None of us expected this easter story.
But on the other hand, there have been some sweet moments for some of us.
But there have been some sweet moments for us.
There are one person who has no clue what’s going on.
Sunday mornings for me can be intense. I’ve got to be ready to go with mic tests, ensure the slides are ready, have a back up manuscript printed, and greeters with bulletins, etc.
I would have never thought one Sunday might look like this:
But since this quarantine, I have spent more time at home. As a pastor on Sunday, I would have never told you that this would be how one of my Sunday mornings might look:
*picture of Nora. This is Nora and I getting ready to soar with wings like eagles.
As a pastor, Sunday mornings, I’ve got to be ready to go with mic tests, my slides, my manuscript printed, and greeters with bulletins, all the things we miss. I would have never told you that this would is how one of my Sunday mornings might look:
*picture of Nora. This is Nora and I getting ready to soar with wings like eagles.
My one year old daughter is living her best life now. I used to average 3-4 pictures of Nora/week - I am now averaging 1,000 a day. God’s giving me an opportunity to be more present with my family.
I didn’t expect to be preaching to an empty room in Orland Park. I didn’t expect to be trying to make eye contact with cameras as I preach. I didn’t expect to be deprived of the dozen hugs, dozen hand shakes, and 400 fist bumps each Sunday Morning.
And one day I will tell my daughter the story I have to tell, that while she was living her best life, the world was facing one of its worst times.
And this is not poor daniel, because I’ve lost so little compared to so many others.
None of us expected this easter story.
The pain we are feeling is the gap between the story we thought we’d be living into, and the story that we are currently living into.
And in these times there has been a lot of pain.
[slide] with pictures
And I have a feeling that when the world opens back up, Nora is going to be confused. When she sees Daddy leave, i will begin to interrupt her expectations, She may go from this [ picture] to this [ picture]
Probably going from this [ picture] to this [ picture]
Nora doesn’t see daddy going to work serve the Lord and provide for the family - she sees daddy going away.
Unmet expectations are painful.
And we’ve coped with this pain in different ways haven’t we? We’ve tried to figure out who to blame, we’ve become social hygiene police and to relieve our stress we escape the world through TV Shows, only to come back to bar charts and line graphs that visualize the virus’ havoc. All of these things are creative ways we as adults are coping, these are creative ways we are asking, “what is our hope of justice?” “what is our hope of restoration?” “When will it end?”
And if you’re looking for hope in a vaccine or government checks, you will be disappointed.
Lament is our sorrow directed to the divine.
Lament is our sorrow directed to the divine.
Lament is our sorrow directed to the divine.
And if you’re looking for hope in a vaccine or government checks, you’ll just be disappointed.
And if you’re looking for hope in a vaccine or government checks, you’ll just be disappointed.
And if you’re looking for hope in a vaccine or government checks, you’ll just be disappointed.
And if you’re looking for hope in a vaccine or government checks, you’ll just be disappointed.
The story of hope for most of the world is in how quickly we can find a most of the world is believing is a story of hope in the vaccine.
My only hope in a sea of disappointment is Easter, the resurrection story.
the resurrection story.
The only hope in our story is the resurrection story.
God transforms our story with the resurrection story.
God transforms our story with the resurrection story.
God transforms our story with the resurrection story. with resurrection hope.
[Transition] Which, brings me to our story in Luke chapter 24 verses 13-35.
[Transition] Which, brings me to our story in Luke chapter 24 verses 13-35.
Today, we are in a world on the pain of unmet expectations, and I believe the God of all creation is not unfamiliar with
All of you are experiencing disappointments, be them no behalf of others or your own.
Scripture Exegesis:
[Transition] Which, brings me to the story from the Bible in Luke 24:13-35.
I will tell this story from the 2 men’s perspective through verse 24, and then pastor lawrence will preach on the remainder of the passage.
These two men know
First let me tell this story from the two men’s perspective.
The Pain of walking in the wrong story x2
The Pain of walking in the wrong story x2
They’ve left Jerusalem because they are disappointed, hopeless 24:17
Our Expectations can Separate us from God's Truth. (13-14)
They’ve left Jerusalem because they are disappointed, hopeless 24:17
Jesus, having concealed himself to them, seeks to know how they are processing the last few days.
Jesus, having concealed himself to them, seeks to know how they are processing the last few days.
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
Two of Jesus’ disciples return home to Emmaus, discussing recent events to Jesus, when Jesus himself, veils their eyes, and asks, what are they discussing as they walk? 24:17
They’ve left Jerusalem because they are disappointed, hopeless 24:17
“That very day” what day? It’s the day of resurrection. Jesus has Risen. He’s alive. The reality of the resurrection has happened, but these men seem to be living in a different story. IN the wrong story.
I sometimes feel like these 2 men, walking in the wrong story, even though there is another reality out there that I just haven’t seen yet.
That very day - It’s the day of resurrection They’ve left Jerusalem because they are disappointed, hopeless 24:17
But for these men, walking in a different story, let’s see what that is: verse 14.
14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
Possibly in an intense debate - that clearly drew Jesus’ attention
this word “talking” - can also mean debate, so there’s a possibility that they could be debating what in the world just happened. They aren’t likely mad at each other, but they are probably passionately trying to figure out who to blame, what could they have done, and so on.
And this lively debate or conversation drew a stranger’s attention. verse 17 -
And this conversation drew a stranger’s attention. verse 17 -
17 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.
And when this stranger breaks in, interrupting the debate, it’s like the weight of the pain of their story hits them, paralyzes them.
This stanger asks them in verse 17 - What are ya’ll talking about?
They stop debating, They stood still sad, crushed.
And in all of their activity, they avoid lament. In the Good Friday Service, Pastor Ron noted that we are in a season of Good Friday, a season of death. In this season, I ask you to be more than sad, to be more than critical, I ask you to Lament. Lament is choosing to direct our sadness towards the only one who can make a difference - God.
Lament is our sorrow directed to the divine.
But these men leave lament quickly, saying, “are you serious, how do you not know?” with a sort of attitude, maybe to deflect their pain. (vs. 21)
stranger insists, “what things?.
Lament is our sorrow directed to the divine.
And when the stranger sees their sadness, received their moment of lament
What things - the stranger persists.
They stood still in sadness, disappointment, deflated and hopeless. (vs. 21)
And so they go into this story of a mighty prophet of God, powerful in word and deed, who was condemned and crucified by the priests and rulers. And we come to the disappointment. We come to the clash of the story they wanted to tell versus the story they have to tell:
21 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.
When asked by Jesus, what they are talking about - they stood still in sadness, disappointment, deflated and hopeless. (vs. 21)
Within this verse is a clue about the story they wanted to tell. These two men wanted to tell a story of Jesus bringing a political revolution to Israel - particularly - political freedom from Roman occupation.
“But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” 24:21
But Rome won, they murdered their leader, so they are walking home, in the wrong story.
These expectations made them blind to what Christ wanted to accomplish. Which Pastor Lawrence will dive into later.
[condense here?] Jesus didn’t just come to judge some nation that would pass in the ebbs and flow of history, Jesus came to destroy the cosmic enemy, the kingdom of death. Jesus isn’t as invested in destroying earthly kingdoms as he is invested in destroying the Spirit of the Devil that infects every human heart with an insatiable selfish impulse, driving us to hoard toilet paper, driving us to hurt or kill anyone who might offend the story we want to tell.
Sometimes, our expectations can blind us from God's Truth (13-14)
Our expectations
Cleopas and the other disciple clearly had a more political than religious understanding of how the Christ would redeem Israel.
Jesus was here to destroy the kingdom of evil of death. So Jesus isn’t interested in destroying earthly kingdoms that come and go on
These men had no capacity to understand the BIGNESS of the story that Jesus, the Mighty Prophet, was coming to accomplish.
They got the problem wrong - they thought Rome was the Problem, but Jesus also came for the Problem within you and me. And that problem isn’t more clear than it is in verse 23-24
Their inability to understand this story couldn’t be more clear than in verses 22-24.
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 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. 24 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.”
Some women amazed them when they didn’t find his body and receiving angelic visions of him being alive in vs. 23
In other words, being amazed is not the same thing as believing.
They got the problem wrong - they thought Rome was the Problem, but Jesus also came for the Problem within you and me. And that problem isn’t more clear than it is in verse 24.
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 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. 24 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.”
23 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. 24 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.”
23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Even though Jesus’ body can’t be found, they didn’t believe it. they didn’t trust it. So they are going home, disappointed, discouraged, feeling the pain of unmet expectations.
They got the problem wrong - they thought Rome was the Problem, but Jesus also came for the Problem within you and me. And that problem isn’t more clear than it is in verse 24.
24 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.”
With every step they take towards Emmaus, every step they take is evidence that they do not believe, is evidence that they are walking in the pain of the wrong story.
Even though Jesus’ body can’t be found, they didn’t believe it. they didn’t trust it. So they are going home, disappointed, discouraged, feeling the pain of unmet expectations.
Confused Hope: Describe the report from the women and other disciples that he was alive.
They couldn’t see Jesus in Jerusalem and they cannot see Jesus now.
Even though Jesus’ body can’t be found, they didn’t believe it. they didn’t trust it. So they are going home, disappointed, discouraged, feeling the pain of unmet expectations.
“but him they did not see”.
Confused Hope: Describe the report from the women and other disciples that he was alive.
Which we now come to this point - who was this stranger?
[transition] So who is this stranger? verse 15.
[transition] So who is this stranger? verse 15.
Heard something they didn’t know they could trust – so they didn’t. evidenced by their return home.
Jesus draws near in Mercy
Jesus draws near in Mercy
15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
Jesus draws near in Mercy
Jesus draws near in Mercy
For the children listening - this isn’t Jesus wearing a wig and make-up like some master of disguise, this is God wanting to do something that only if He’s veiled can he accomplish.
Jesus draws near in Mercy
Jesus draws near in Mercy
The author emphasizes, Jesus, himself, - noting that its not some vision but it was truly Jesus, himself, the Person.
Even though they are walking in the pain of the wrong story, Jesus draws near in mercy. :
His hidden face is a mercy.
Luke 24:
His hidden face is a mercy.
Despite their giving up, even when they were walking away. Having lost all hope, running away, Jesus draws near to them. He doesn’t wait for them figure out the right story, he goes after them even as they walk in the wrong story. He goes after them like the shepherd goes after the lost sheep, and like the father of the prodigal son, and like the woman searching for the lost coin.
Despite their giving up, even when they were walking away. Having lost all hope, running away, Jesus goes after them. He doesn’t wait for them figure out the right story, he goes after them even as they walk in the wrong story. He goes after them like the lost sheep, and like the father of the prodigal son, and like the woman searching for the lost coin.
He is the one who draws near to them, despite their giving up, even when they were walking away. Even when they had were utterly confused, even as they were leaving, having lost all hope, running away, Jesus draws near to them. He doesn’t wait for them to figure it out to draw near, he goes after them like the lost sheep, and like the father of the prodigal son, and like the woman searching for the coin.
This Stranger is JESUS - He is the one who draws near to them, despite their giving up, even when they were walking away. Even when they had were utterly confused, even as they were leaving, having lost all hope, running away, Jesus draws near to them. He doesn’t wait for them to figure it out to draw near, he goes after them like the lost sheep, and like the father of the prodigal son, and like the woman searching for the coin.
He has a purpose for them, and he has a purpose for us - He is drawing near to you in this moment friends.
For the children listening - this isn’t Jesus wearing a wig and make-up like some master of disguise, this is God wanting to do something that only if He’s veiled can he accomplish.
But how is Jesus drawing near? Because he feels far away. Here is one way...
If you’re here, right now, listening to these words, listening to this old story, even though there are tons of other websites, TV Shows, and ramen noodles waiting to be warmed up in your kitchen, but right now, you’re here, listening to this sermon, because God is drawing near to you.
But even though Jesus draws near in mercy, He hides his face. These two men cannot recognize
[Transition] Why does Jesus hide his face?
[Transition] Why does Jesus hide his face?
His Hidden Face Draws Us Out
His Hidden Face Draws Us Out
Had these men recognized Jesus, they would have lost their minds with excitement, likely grabbing their swords, ready to go take down Pilate and the Priests, who will surely bow down now, right?!
Jesus draws near to them, but makes himself unrecognizable to the disciples. For the children listening - this isn’t Jesus wearing a wig and make-up like some master of disguise, this is God wanting to do something that only if He’s veiled can he accomplish.
Jesus still meets these guys even when they are utterly confused, even as they were leaving, having lost all hope, running away, Jesus goes with them, he chases them.
If they recognized him, they would have lost their minds with excitement, likely grabbing their swords, ready to go take down Pilate and the Priests, who will surely bow down now, right?!
second thing he does is
He gives them the space to tell their story, honestly, to a curious stranger. “What things?” vs. 17 and 19a
17 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.
If they recognized him, they would have lost their minds with excitement, likely grabbing their swords, ready to go take down Pilate and the Priests, who will surely bow down now, right?!
19 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,
19 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,
God not only wants to hear from them, he wants them to stop debating, and to give them space to process what they’ve just seen and experienced.
Luke
He gives them the space to tell their story, honestly, to a curious stranger. “What things?” vs. 19
He gives them the space to tell their story, honestly, to a curious stranger. “What things?” vs. 19
I believe the hidden face of Jesus gives these men space to tell their story.
God is drawing them out.
He gives them the space to tell their story, honestly, to a curious stranger. “What things?” vs. 19
With Jesus’ hidden face, God is drawing them out, giving them space to tell their story.
God not only wants to hear from them, he wants them to stop debating, and to give them space to process what they’ve just seen and experienced.
His Hidden Face draws us out.
God is drawing them out.
Jesus is preparing to teach them something they can only learn when they are drawn out.
illustration? If the world’s electricity were to go out, and everything went dark - we’d all be drawn out - in a way - forced to come out and recognize our need.
There are some things we can only learn in the midst of disappointment, when our story falls apart. In the pain of the wrong story, in the presence of a hidden face, a stranger, who draws us out.
They are learning the story in a setting
There are some things we can only learn in the midst of disappointment, in the midst of unmet expectations, in the midst of a stranger.
Many here feel like Jesus is hidden, like he’s distant, like he’s a stranger - but he is teaching us something through the veil that we could not learn in the blazing brightness of noon day.
Many here feel like Jesus has be veiled, like he’s distant, like he’s a stranger - but he is teaching us something through the veil that we COULD NOT LEARN in the blazing brightness of noon day.
My prayers intensify and increase when disappointment breaks in and the story i wanted to tell isn’t the story i have to tell.
So we have 2 men, walking in the pain of unmet expectations, interrupted by a stranger, whose hidden face has drawn them out.
So we have 2 men, walking in the pain of the wrong story, interrupted by a stranger, Jesus, who has drawn near to them, and whose hidden face has drawn them out.
What else is Jesus up to?
Jesus has heard their story, and now he wants to show them THE Story. Pastor Lawrence?
Jesus has heard their story, and now he wants to show them THE Story.
Jesus wants us to know HIm through His Story -
The Word of God as the Light to their Path
The Word of God as the Light to their Path
He first listened to them, and its not over -
Did not our hearts burn.
“it wasn’t mandatory” he voluntarily did it, but doesn’t it say it was necessary in verse 26. Maybe say, Jesus wasn’t forced to do this against his will, but it was necessary.
He redirects them through the prophetic Word of God. In addition, He personally and previously had told them all that would happen to Him. He will be crucified by the chief priests etc...and rise on the third day.
Disciples urge Jesus, who acted like he was going further, to stay with them.
The Lord leads us to where we need to be
The Lord leads us to where we need to be
Jesus revealed himself at the table, breaking the bread and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight.
Disciples run back to Jerusalem
We have a New Story in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ -
Did not our hearts burn.
Because they found themselves in the story, they return back to Jerusalem. Eyes wide open to the Truth and filled with hope. Resurrection!!
And how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Lawrence’s outline
1. Our Expectations can Separate us from God's Truth. (13-14)
A. They were leaving Jerusalem because they felt disappointed and let down. Blinded to the Truth and hopeless.
Death!!
2. The Lord meets us where we are at.
(15-24)
A. We are the the wandering, confused, and lost sheep. The Lord finds us and allows us to tell Him our story.
3. His Word is a Light to our Path. (25-27)
A. 4. The Lord leads us to where we need to be. (28-35)
4. The Lord leads us to where we need to be. (28-35)
A. They return back to Jerusalem. Eyes wide open to the Truth and filled with hope. Resurrection!!
Orienting Questions
Orienting Questions
What is my message about?
The story into eternal life is made possible by Jesus and we are drawn near and are invited to enter in.
Blinded by expectations and the pain of unmet expectations, God still draws near, reveals himself gradually, giving us eyes to see who he is, and where we should be.
Why is it important?
As we face the apex of Corona Virus deaths, disappointment that God has not lifted the storm, we must remember the apex of life - the resurrection of Jesus.
What do I want them to do?
Pause the story they are in, and consider the resurrection story that changes everything.
What’s your big idea:
The only hope in our story is the resurrection storys
Homiletic Outline
Homiletic Outline
What is my message about?
Blinded by expectations and sorrow, our hearts cannot fathom or believe the hope without divine intervention.
We are secure, even when we cannot see.
Why is it important?
Why is it important?
As we face the apex of Corona Virus deaths, disappointment that God has not lifted the storm, we must remember the apex of life - the resurrection of Jesus.
What do I want them to do?
What’s your big idea:
We are secure, even when we cannot see.
Homiletical Outline
The pain of unseen hope
Wonder Walking
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