The Risen King (Luke 24:13-35)

What this episode covers

How is your daily bible reading going? Do you follow a plan? Have you been able to stick to it? When you read, is your heart warmed by your communion with the Lord? Are you filled with anticipation, excitement, and joy? What does any of this have to do with the resurrection of Jesus? It happens to be the central point of one of the most significant resurrection accounts recorded for us in Luke 24. It reminds us that reading the bible is about intellectually understanding and being emotionally moved by the bible’s central figure — Jesus Christ. This passage teaches us the importance of a Christianity that impacts both our heads and our hearts. Last week we considered the triumphal entry of Jesus as he rode upon a donkey into Jerusalem with a large crowd shouting “Hosanna in the highest!” They were ready to crown him as their king. They viewed him as the Messiah, the promised Savior. But they limited his reign to a physical throne, and his salvation to political freedom. Jesus came to accomplish so much more. The entrance of the King was merely set up for a swift departure. Jesus did indeed triumph, but it was through his death upon a cross. As our King, Jesus defeats all his and our enemies, the greatest of which is our own sin and misery. In order to be forgiven, satisfaction for the penalty of sin had to be made. Jesus was the perfect Lamb whose sacrifice was satisfactory once and for all. There would be no more bloodshed for the forgiveness of sins. The temple curtain that separated the Most Holy place from the inner court was torn from top to bottom. Now, anyone could have free access to God through faith in Jesus. But that was not all. In order to prove his redemptive power and to show that indeed sin and death had been defeated, the King had to return. And that’s what he did. Jesus rose again from the dead. This morning we will read about the event of the resurrection, but I want to focus most of our time upon a particular encounter that a couple of disciples had with the Risen King. The last chapter of the gospel of Luke is one of the most important passages of the New Testament. It is here that Jesus confirms the ultimate purpose of the Old Testament (v.27). If the Old Testament does not in some way point to Christ, then we have read it wrong. These disciples had read their bibles wrong. They, like most of Jesus’ disciples, were confused about the Savior who was to come and rescue them. It wasn’t until Jesus accurately taught them the Scriptures that their eyes were opened and they were able to rightly see Him. All of us begin with that same problem. We need eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe. Without them we cannot know Christ. Apart from a right understanding of Christ, we cannot know God. And if we do not know God, then we have no hope beyond this brief life. But the risen King taught everyone with eyes to see, where He could always be found. Pray and Read Luke 24:1-35. › Before we can hear the solution, we must begin with… The Problem of Unbelief (13-24) These two disciples had a distorted view of the person, purpose, and power of Jesus Christ. A distorted view of the person of Christ (16) – They didn’t recognize Jesus. In fact, they were kept from recognizing him. Of all people, these two disciples would not have been apprehensive to believe. The reason they don’t is because God had not given them this ability. This wasn’t because Jesus looked different. The text specifically tells us that they were kept from recognizing him. God had not given them eyes to see Him for who He was. A distorted view of the purpose of Christ (21) – They anticipated a temporal, physical redemption rather than the eternal, spiritual redemption Christ brought. They fully expected the Messiah to overthrow the Roman authorities, to take over Caesar’s throne, and to establish an earthly reign right then and there. They didn’t realize that Christ’s purpose was much greater. He hadn’t com

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