An Appearance of the Risen Christ 04/17/2022

John 20: The Empty Tomb and Mary Magdalene’s Encounter

New testament, please to john. 20 Pastor jason will come and read of the resurrection of our Lord jesus And then pray for us.

John chapter 20. Now on the first day of the week mary magdalene came to the tomb early while it was still dark. And saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to simon peter and the other disciple the one whom jesus loved and said to them They have taken the lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid him.

So peter went out with the other disciple and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together. But the other disciple outran peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

Then simon peter came following him and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there. And the face cloth which had been on jesus head not lying with the linen cloths, but folded up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

But mary stood weeping outside the tomb and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of jesus had lain. One at the head and one at the feet.

They said to her woman. Why are you weeping? She said to them they have taken away my lord and I do not know where they have laid him. Having said this she turned around and saw jesus standing, but she did not know it was jesus.

Jesus said to her woman. Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener. She said to him Sir, if you have carried him away tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away.

Jesus said to her mary. She turned and said to him in aramaic rabboni. Which means teacher? Jesus said to her do not cling to me for I have not yet ascended to the father. But go to my brothers and say to them I am ascending to my father and your father to my god and your god.

Mary magdalene went and announced to the disciples. I have seen the lord and that she he had said these things to her. Let's pray Our heavenly father. We rejoice in the resurrection of christ. We rejoice in his life.

In his death in his resurrection and his ascension. We are thankful lord what this means for us for those who are found in him. For those who belong to christ jesus and are in union with him. And we pray lord that we would live out our lives in light of this truth.

That jesus christ accomplished what we could not and so we must strive to. To live righteous lives in the power of the spirit and in the strength of his might. And so lord we uh, we ask that you would help us as we continue our worship through the sermon help us lord to hear the words That are being proclaimed.

We pray that the spirit would take those words from our ear and to our heart. Help us lord to live in light of all of these tremendous truths. Thank you lord in jesus name. Amen.

The Resurrection Appearance in Luke 24

Well, let's turn in our bibles to luke 24, please. Recently our church was blessed with a new copy machine. And so it was just installed and set up last week. Unfortunately, there was just a limited and temporary toner cartridge.

And we haven't yet received the new cartridges and so We are short on notes. I believe this morning. I think we are anyway. Mary was telling me that she normally puts to prints out about 120 a week. And I know that we had at least 20 this morning.

So I don't know. Were you able to get them done? Oh really we're set then so you've got notes good.

Amen.

Well this resurrection sunday i'd like us to consider the appearance of the lord jesus To his disciples that's recorded for us in luke 24. Verses 36 and following all four gospels, of course give accounts of appearances of the lord jesus to his disciples after his resurrection.

And john's gospel records the most detail expressing What happened in all of john chapter 20 and 21. Luke's gospel stands in second place with respect to the length and detail provided of our lord's post-resurrection appearances.

Of course the gospel of luke is just volume one. Volume two is the book of acts. And luke continued to give Further information in acts chapter one of our lord. Jesus Ministry post-resurrection ministry and then his ascension into heaven.

Well after luke had recounted the women first discovering the empty tomb And informing the disciples that jesus had risen. Luke then recorded the very devotional account of our lord meeting up with Two of his disciples that afternoon of that first easter sunday and as they traveled to the From jerusalem to the village of emmaus perhaps about seven miles away.

And of course the lord engaged them with conversation. They didn't recognize who he was at first. Until they sat down and he blessed the bread. Then they recognized him and then he disappeared. But after this event we read that our lord appeared to his gathered disciples In the early evening of that first easter sunday.

And that's what we have recorded for us in verses 36 through 52. And as to this we want to give our attention this morning.

I.

Was.

Attempted to continue in malachi. We've just got two more sundays. And I thought that we could afford to Bystep that and give an emphasis to this resurrection narrative. And so here is luke 24 36 through 52.

Now as they said these things jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said to them peace to you. But they were terrified and frightened and suppose they had seen a spirit. And he said to them, why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts.

Behold. My hands and my feet. This is it is I myself Handled me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones. As you see I have. And when he had said this he showed them his hands and his feet. But while they still not believed for joy and marveled he said to them have you any food here.

And so they gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And he took it and ate in their presence. And then he said to them these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you.

That all things must be fulfilled. Which were written in the law of moses and the prophets and the psalms concerning me. And he opened their understanding That they might comprehend the scriptures. And then he said to them thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the christ to suffer And to rise from the dead the third day.

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations beginning at jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the promise of my father upon you but tarry in the city of jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.

A reference to pentecost, of course and the giving of the holy spirit. And he led them out as far as bethany and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And now it came to pass while he blessed them that he was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

And they worshiped him. And returned to jerusalem with great joy. And were continually in the temple praising and blessing god.

Amen.

As we look over these last verses of this last section of luke's gospel it Appears that we have just at a first reading. A single meeting between our lord and all of his gathered disciples at least the 11 Judas having committed suicide already.

Uh his gathered disciple just before his ascension to the throne in heaven. It would seem again at a casual reading everything described here transpired over the course of just a few hours. But actually the verses we just read is a compacted account of what occurred over 40 days in which the lord would meet with his disciples instructing them and guiding them.

And eventually ascending into heaven 10 days before the day of pentecost. And we know this by luke's description of the ascension of our lord into heaven recorded in verse 51. But when we turn to volume 2 the book of acts we read in Chapter 1 that this ascension into heaven when he was caught up in to the shekinah glory of cloud god Occurred actually 40 days after his resurrection.

The point is this.

Is.

That the writers of scripture are not always concerned about giving us a full detailed account. And they're not necessarily concerned about relating events in a particular historical chronology. Details of time and historical sequence are not necessarily their primary concern.

Rather they related the details so as to instruct their readers on matters that the holy spirit deemed essential and helpful for the disciples of the lord jesus. And this explains the different details and sometimes different order events that you find between the four gospels.

And so what we have before us here in luke 24 Is a concise compacted record of the principal teaching that our lord Imparted or communicated to his apostles between the day of his resurrection And the occasion when he ascended into heaven to be seated on his father's throne.

We have a summary of some very important matters here in these verses. We just read. And so it would do us well to consider them carefully. We can understand this passage by dividing it up into three sections.

First Jesus proves to his gathered witnesses or disciples that he arose from the dead. Secondly Jesus prepares his witnesses to bear his message to the world and then thirdly Jesus departs from his witnesses promising to send the holy spirit to them.

Let's work through this passage. First jesus proves to his gathered witnesses his disciples that he has arose from the dead. We read in verse 36. Our lord appeared suddenly to his apostles. Now as they said these things jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said to them peace to you.

They were in a locked room and suddenly jesus is standing in their midst. The disciples had been recounting to one another their various experiences of the day. The women had told them they found the tomb of jesus empty.

And that they had conversed with an angel. And that they had received and that they they had testified the fact that jesus had risen from the dead. But the disciples did not believe their witness. Jesus actually rebuked his disciples for not believing the women.

Verse 11 tells us of their response to the women's testimony. And their words seemed to them like idle tales and they did not believe them. The two disciples who had walked and talked with jesus on the road to emmaus had hurriedly returned to jerusalem.

And they had just rehearsed their encounter to the disciples of meeting jesus. And that it was jesus himself. Then who stood in their midst and he said to them peace to you. You can imagine how startled they must have all been.

They were still not convinced of his resurrection they themselves were fearful of. Perhaps the danger they themselves were in as being his disciples. And the romans no doubt were seeking them or they certainly Could have thought that.

They were.

And so here jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said to them peace to you. You can be sure this room was secure. It was Locked. They were fearful for their lives, but all of a sudden jesus appears.

And the first words he spoke to them recorded peace be to you. An expression common among the jewish people when they would greet one another. But with the greeting given by the risen lord the expression is infused with new significance.

Peace between god and his disciples is pronounced Peace be unto you. Through the death burial resurrection of the lord. Jesus made peace between god and his followers. Peace be unto you. Clearly the lord.

Jesus regarded this meeting to have been a wonderful reuniting with his disciples After they had witnessed his crucifixion and burial. And his gracious greeting reveals the gracious heart of our lord.

Jesus. Toward these ones who had not shown themselves to have been loyal to him. They all fled. Peter himself had denied him. Matthew henry wrote of this meeting. This intimates in general that it was a kind visit which christ now paid them a visit of love and friendship.

Though they had been very unkindly deserted him in his sufferings yet He takes the first opportunity of seeing them together for he deals not with us as we deserve. Thank the lord for that. They did not credit those who had seen him therefore he comes himself.

That they might not continue in their disconsolate Incredulity, they didn't believe the women. He had promised that after his resurrection he would see them in galilee. But so desirous was he to see them and satisfy them that he anticipated the appointment and sees them at jerusalem.

Note christ is often better than his word, but never worse.

Amen.

And now his first word to them was peace be to you. Not in a way of compliment. But of consolation or comfort. This was a common form of salutation among the jews and christ would thus express his usual.

Familiarity with them though. He had now entered into a state of exaltation. Many when they're advanced. Forget their old friends and take state upon them, but we see christ is free with them as ever.

And thus christ would at the first word intimate to them. That he did not come to quarrel with peter for denying him and the rest were running away from him. No, he came peaceably to signify to them that he had forgiven them and was reconciled to them.

The lord is merciful and gracious to his people. The peace of god is one of the greatest gifts that the lord gives to his people. Actually, the peace of god spoken of in scripture comes in two forms. First of all Disciples of jesus christ enjoy an objective peace with god.

This is outside of us. It's objective. This is a state of peace That exists between god and all of his people. All believers true believers in jesus christ. Paul wrote of christ. He is our peace. Prior to coming to christ.

God was not at peace with us, but rather a state of war existed. We were against him in our thoughts attitudes and actions. Scriptures say we're at enmity with him and he with us. He was against us. His righteous and holy wrath was upon us.

The wrath of god abides on unbelievers. The scriptures say jesus said That we were his enemies and were objects of his indignation. But through the death of christ on behalf of believers god was appeased.

The word commonly used was propitiated God's justice having been satisfied. He established a state of peace with us through the blood of his son. It satisfied all of his holy concerns. And so all true christians are in this state of peace.

Although not every true christian may be aware of His or her blessed condition. But each of us and all of us who are in christ are in a state of peace with god equally. We have an equal standing. God is at peace with us because of jesus christ who he is and what he did on our behalf.

That is an object of peace. And it never changes. But there's a piece of another kind other than this object of state of peace. All disciples of jesus christ may enjoy a subjective peace with god. This is a feeling of peace.

The first object of peace is not a feeling. It's a reality. It's a fact. It's a state. But there is a subjective peace with god a feeling of peace That god bestows upon his people. Now not all christians experience this.

And not all do so to the same degree. Philippians 4 6 and 7 described this subjective peace. In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication. With thanksgiving let your request be made known unto god and the peace of god which passes all understanding Shall guard your hearts and thoughts in christ.

Jesus. See that's a feeling a sense of calmness and assurance. That the lord gives and it's not conditioned on what's happening in your life. You can be going through great distress great difficulty great turmoil.

Great suffering and the lord can impart this peace to his people. And that's why sometimes it's described as a peace that passes understanding. I'm at peace and it doesn't make sense. The lord grants that kind of peace to his people.

And so whereas objective peace is in the realm of fact god is at peace with his people due to christ. And nothing can change this reality. Subjective peace is in the realm of feeling. And any number of factors may cause one's sense of peace to increase or diminish.

Whether or not one is prayerful or prayerless Obedient or disobedient to the lord believing or unbelieving knowledgeable or ignorant will affect our awareness and sense of peace from god. Our peace with god cannot change but our feeling of being at peace with god can change quite easily and quite readily.

The lord jesus on this occasion seemed to use the expression peace be with you. Not only to greet his disciples, but also perhaps to soften the surprise and the fear that his sudden appearance would cause.

What was the reaction of the disciples? Well, they were startled and frightened. By what they thought was a fearful apparition. Verse 37 Tells of their reaction, but they are terrified and frightened.

And suppose they had seen a spirit. Their first reaction was great fear. They thought they saw a ghost. There's no new testament reinforcement of the idea of ghosts of dead people appearing to live people.

But these disciples were influenced by contemporary superstitions of the time. And the lord jesus dispelled their error and their fear by permitting them to examine his physical body and so he said to them.

Why are you troubled. Why do doubts arise in your hearts. Behold my hands and my feet. That it is I myself handled me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you. See I have. It was a bodily resurrection of jesus christ.

Same body went into the grave the tomb came out of the tomb only with new glorified properties. It's a common experience of the people of the lord to be afraid needlessly. When times of uncertainty come when thoughts of loss or trouble arise fear is often the result.

But for the christian who's thinking rightly He need but trust the lord's promises and the lord's ability to fulfill his promises by which that needless fear may dissipate. Our lord would say in another place peace I leave with you.

That's subjective peace, isn't it? My peace I give to you not as the world gives which is conditioned on circumstances. Let not your heart be troubled neither. Let it be afraid. Jesus does not want his disciples to be afraid.

The lord promises to be with his people in their trials. As real was the presence of the risen lord jesus among his disciples. On this occasion is no less than the real presence of christ with his people in their time of trial.

The people throughout these last 2 000 years. He's promised those who have committed themselves to him in faith that not only is he with them but that he will never depart from them. Peter wrote peace to you all who are in christ.

Jesus.

Amen.

He concludes his epistle. The writer of hebrews recorded. For he himself has said. I will never leave you nor forsake you. And yet his disciples were terrified and frightened. But the lord would have them to be at peace.

He does not want you to be frightened and terrified. Jesus showed them his hands and feet Apparently to show them the places where he had been pierced with the nails of his crucifixion. But it would seem that this wasn't enough to convince his disciples that he was Who he really was and so he gave further proof.

Verses 41 through 43 record what jesus did next. Well while they still did not believe for joy And marveled he said to them have you any food here. So they gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb and he took it and ate in their presence.

And this seemed to satisfy them. Apparently they must have believed that ghosts don't eat fish and eat honey. I suspect. This was indeed he. Their master had risen from the dead. He was in a real physical body.

However, there was a difference. For apparently his resurrection made possible activities that are not experienced by humans. This side of the resurrection he appears suddenly disappears. Suddenly can transport himself to different places.

It would seem instantly. And later, of course, they saw him taken into heaven. Well with the fact of his resurrection established. We see that secondly jesus prepared his witnesses to bear his message to the world.

Verses 44 through 49. Our lord would soon leave his disciples, but before doing so He would equip them to be his witnesses to the world. There were certain key truths of which they needed to be grounded.

They were.

If they were to be effective and faithful witnesses of their lord throughout the world. And so first and very importantly jesus affirmed the identity of the old testament scriptures. Critically important the lord identified for his disciples god's inspired books of the old testament scriptures.

In other words the canon of our old testament Was asserted by the lord jesus himself. The lord had given his disciples proof that he was alive. They were eyewitnesses to the fact that god raised him from the dead.

But although their eyewitness testimony was important scripture testimony was also important. If they were to be faithful witnesses of him, they must know the scriptures and to know the scriptures. They must know what books they were to regard and treat as holy scriptures.

Because the matter is kind of fluid actually among the jews of that day. And so we read in verse 44 our lord's words. Then he said to them these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you.

That all things must be fulfilled which were written in one the law of moses to the prophets. And three the psalms concerning me. Verse 44 is one of the most significant verses in luke's gospel even in the entire new testament respecting the identification of which books.

Comprise the holy bible at least the old testament of the holy bible. And so verse 44 defines for us what jesus regarded as the canon of the old testament scripture. The word canon is derived from a latin word, which means rule or standard not like an artillery piece as with two ends canon a rule or a read like a like a tape measure or a ruler.

The scriptures are our canon or rule by which all beliefs and practices are to be measured. And so when one speaks of the canon of scripture He's speaking of what books were inspired by god and are to be regarded as authoritative scripture.

And so why do we hold to our 39 books of the old testament and only 39 books? Why do we reject the teaching of some denominations that add the books like the apocrypha to the old testament? Well, it's because the lord jesus himself asserted what books constitute the old testament the law the prophets and the psalms or the writings.

Even in the first century the jews were not united or unified in their understanding of the canon the sadducees who were mostly the priests of israel at that time. Who controlled the temple in the sanhedrin?

They only accepted the five books of moses. Genesis through deuteronomy they said that alone is scripture. The pharisees however who lived wherever there were synagogues throughout the roman world. They accepted a three-fold division of this hebrew scriptures.

And so the hebrew bible contained three divisions. You first had the law. That's the torah the first five books of moses genesis through deuteronomy. And then you had the prophets. Which for them began with joshua.

They were former prophets and latter prophets, but the prophets in the hebrew canon included. Well the books i've listed for you in your notes joshua judges Samuel we have two books of samuel. There's one two books of kings one book in hebrew Isaiah jeremiah ezekiel and then the 12 that's the minor prophets only in one book.

And then thirdly you had the writings all the rest of the books. Which included psalms proverbs job song of songs song of songs or solomon ruth lamentations ecclesiastes Esther daniel chronicles and ezra nehemiah.

Those were the writings. And here the lord jesus identifies the scriptures as containing this three-fold division. The law the prophets and he uses the word psalms, which is another term for writings.

And so our lord jesus defined for us as christians. What constitutes our old testament? This is why protestants insist that the old testament should only include those books that were in the full jewish canon.

For this is what the lord. Jesus himself affirmed to be the case here in luke 24. Now technically if you opened up a hebrew bible today You'd find that there are only 24 books in the hebrew scriptures.

But they're divided according to these three divisions the law the prophets and the writings. Our english old testament contains 39 books. And they're set forth in a different order than the hebrew scriptures.

Nevertheless, they're the same content. Our 39 books in our english old testament are the same Content as the 24 books in the hebrew canon different order combining certain books. Dividing The minor prophets into 12 separate books and this describes the difference in numbers.

And the reason that we hold this is that a couple hundred years before the coming of christ There were certain hebrew scholars in alexandria. We think egypt who translated the hebrew scriptures into greek.

Because the hebrew language had fallen Really into disuse and everybody spoke greek. And so the septuagint Is the greek translation of the hebrew old testament and really it became the scriptures of the people.

And most of the new testament writers commonly will quote from the septuagint rather than the hebrew bible. And it was the septuagint that divided up the books into 39 rather than the 24 and so protestants have recognized this Organization of the hebrew old testament based upon that greek translation of the of the hebrew text.

But the point is the lord affirmed the threefold division. This is what constitutes the holy scriptures of the old testament. The law the prophets and the writings here. He calls them the psalms. However, after having identified the canon of scripture The lord jesus we read in verse 45 did something further.

He opened their understanding. That they could understand the scriptures. This is a whole different matter. After our lord identified the content he did something more for these disciples. Jesus gave his disciples understanding of those scriptures verse 45.

He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures. That's significant. And so we see that not only must we know what constitutes scripture. But we are in need of a right understanding of those scriptures.

Which is only possible through what is commonly called the grace of god in illumination. It's good to know what constitutes the holy bible. But knowing that the bible is god's word is not enough. We must be instructed in the truth of the scriptures.

Or having them will bring us no benefit at all. There are many people who carry their bible around and they're in churches all over the world today, but may be clueless as to what it teaches. Because not only do we need an inspired bible.

We need to have our minds illuminated by the holy spirit as to what the bible teaches. And when true understanding is attained of the word of god is due to work of the grace of god. Jesus opened their minds to so they could understand the bible.

And that's what we do every every week. That's why when we call jason up here I've got it listed in the bulletin prayer for illumination. If the lord doesn't turn on the lights, we're not going to see and understand.

At least to where it's going to impact our lives. And so when we speak of god having enabled human writers to pen the books of the bible we speak of god's inspiration. But when we speak of god giving us understanding of the scripture we speak of his illumination.

God must open our minds or we'll remain in darkness and confusion. Many people carry the bible about even read the bible regularly. But because our lord has not illuminated their minds to the truth of his word.

They remain in spiritual ignorance. There are cults who would argue all day long. The bible is the word of god. And yet they're clueless with regard to essential teachings. Like who jesus christ is. And so it's very important that whenever we open the scriptures we pray God be gracious to us and give us understanding.

Otherwise, they're just words on a page. And yeah, you can acquire some understanding but it is not going to impact your your life to speak of our confession of faith. 1689 baptist confession sets forth this important matter.

In the very first article is on the holy scriptures. And it speaks about this matter of illumination. Here's paragraph six. The whole counsel of god concerning all things necessary for his own glory man salvation faith and life Is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the holy scripture.

That's the only source that god has given us. Onto which nothing at any time is to be added whether by new revelation of the spirit or traditions of men. That was a veiled hit on catholicism that says tradition is As inspired as scripture.

And they repudiated that rightly. Nevertheless notice this acknowledgement. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the spirit of god to be necessary. For the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word and that there are some circumstances Concerning the worship of god government of the church common to human actions of societies.

Which are to be ordered by the light of nature and christian prudence. According to the general rules of the word which are always to be observed. In other words, you know, we may set up the bylaws of our church.

So things function well and orderly that you may not be able to find chapter and verse. You know that substantiates Any single point, but that's okay. Spiritual illumination is more than a knowledge of biblical words and theological ideas.

I can testify going through seminary. I sat under some brilliant well-informed men Who are without christ? But first though we affirm that we're in need of the bible's illumination of the scriptures.

We affirm that the essential message of the bible is understandable. If people were honest, this is called the perspicuity of the scriptures. We're not as some that say you have to be a priest. Come to me and i'll tell you what the scriptures mean.

No, you have the bible you can understand if you're humble and prayerful and the holy spirit helps you. You don't need me. Although there's value and intention, of course to call teachers and and preachers.

The reason the protestant reformers desired greatly the bible be translated Into the language of the common people and the reason they were persecuted and hunted down for doing so by rome. Is that the protestant reformer strongly believed the common people could understand the bible.

And when one translator early english translator was challenged about his work. He basically told a priest one day the time will come when the guy Standing behind a plow is going to know more the word of god than you.

They believed that people can understand the bible. People may obtain knowledge of biblical ideas and theological concept of sin salvation the person work of christ apart in the work. Apart from the work of the holy spirit, but unless the holy spirit Energizes that it is not transforming and so something more is needed.

There is the need for the work of the spirit of god to reveal truth to a fallen man and paul wrote of this need. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature and here in this context mature is a true christian.

Yet not the wisdom of this age nor the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing talking about the Greek scholars and sophists and whatnot, but we speak the wisdom of god in a mystery. The hidden wisdom which god ordained before the ages for our glory.

Was none of the rulers of this age knew for had they known they would have not crucified the lord of glory. They were clueless. But as it is written I has not seen nor ear heard nor have entered into the heart of man.

The things which god has prepared for those who love him. See natural man does not have the capability the capacity for seeing and understanding these things. He's not talking about heaven. He's talking about the way of salvation here.

It doesn't even enter into your mind and understanding you're incapable. Because you're a fallen sinful person. Of understanding the ways of god. Of bringing salvation what we see in verse 10, but god has revealed them to us through his spirit.

For the spirit searches all things just the deep things of god. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of man, which is in him? In other words, you know, we can be talking out in the narthex and I might be able to sense you're angry.

How can I tell you're angry because i'm a man? I know what it is to be angry. But nobody knows god. Nobody can communicate and understand god except the holy spirit. And that's why the holy spirit must reveal him to you.