Despair to Proclamation (Part A)

That's what happened with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He gave them something to think about, to develop law that ain't easy. But his delight is in the law of the Lord in his law he meditates day and night because that's what takes that's what it takes to be used by God, should we say Lord I want you to honor me and use me to preach in all the world.

I just don't want to know your word without question crazy. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the gospel of Mark chapter 16 as he begins his message despair to proclamation. After that, he appeared in a another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.

They went and told it to the rest but they did not believe them later. He appeared to the 11 as they sat at the table, and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen and he said to them go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned and these signs will follow those who believe in my name they will cast out demons. They will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God, and they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.

Amen.

Disparage a proclamation. That's where this is going in this chapter, Lord reveals himself to his apostles, having already revealed himself to other disciples and he is going to. Of course, as we just read reprove their unwillingness to believe, but at the same time he encourages them to go out and to preach any promises to back them up and doing that Mark then finishes with this climactic beginning of the church and the rule of Christ. Beside the father and showing him in sovereignty, the servant is the ruler that's how Mark will and his gospel, and then we go into the book of acts and find out what happens after that looking at verse 12. There Mark writes after that he appeared in a another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.

Now, of course, that after that a tout in the Greek very important when we get to the book of Revelation, we begin to talk about the rapture of the church happening at the beginning of the revelation of antichrist. Go there that Greek phrase after this after this lines it all up for us and we realize just that section of the Revelation chapter 1 through through six with its meta-tout in the Greek is used. We realize that the church is not here when anti-Qaeda Christ is revealed and I say that because there are those that believe in the mid-tribulation stuff and I don't think the Scripture supports that all men and anyway that's a side note, and I just give you that in case you want to go dig into it on your own.

But that is the phrase Mark uses and what he is doing his connecting what he is saying here verse 12 with what went on in verse 11 and when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her. They did not believe after that these keeps the sequence going and so before they saw him risen, the apostles, the 1212 minus Judas, of course, and in this first appearance of Christ. Thomas was not there and it looks like Peter wasn't there. Also, depending on how you interpret draw Luke's gospel book 24 but welcome to that moment anyway they were paralyzed in unbelief because they did not believe they were afraid they weren't doing anything except being afraid. Fear kills every other feeling but I love that agape love.

Unless you allow it to. He appeared in another form. It says in verse 12 he never look the same after the resurrection. There were changes. Paul makes this little note he says even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him thus no longer. Things have changed and this would explain why they didn't recognize him on the road to Emmaus why they didn't recognize him on the shore of Galilee and Wyatt says that he appeared in another form and however much they saw him there is always more to him, however much you learn about Jesus Christ. There's more to him and if you can know everything there is to know about God and he's not big enough to be your God. What makes God so wonderful and worthy of our worship is beyond us forever and yet we can receive enough of him to enjoy friendship with God, to two of them as they walked and went into the country at the bottom of verse 12. Now Mark is going to condense much of his story about that the resurrection Luke gives us more details about that one clause in Luke chapter 24 verses 13 through 32 and there are the two disciples going to this town of Emmaus and Christ joins them and they realize it is the Christ and the turnaround and they go back to Jerusalem is a 14 mile round-trip. Luke 24 verse 13.

Now, behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus which was 7 miles from Jerusalem. And they will make it to Emmaus. They will sit down with the Lord and then they realize it's him and they they come back to tell verse 13 and they went and told it to the rest. They did not believe them either. And of course this is something the crisis not going to give them a complete pass on is going to reprove them but he's going to also encourage them is not going to humiliate them will slam them what is going to send this message to them and to all after them. I am paying attention to faith. I am paying attention to those who are reluctant to believe in spite of the witness and those who are not, reminds us of checking his list and checking it twice to see who's naughty or nice and for some of you older Christians, you may still believe in Santa Claus and will talk about that later. Anyway, verse 13 and they went and told it to the rest but they did not believe them as I read another rest. I believe the nine. Initially, Peter and Thomas were absent because in Luke 24 verse 34. Luke says that these two come back from Emmaus saying the Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon well if they going to tell the apostles that he's appeared to Simon. Evidently Simon is not there to tell me.

I saw him well. Some of the Bible, and many good Bible translators not as good as new course because they don't they lack the humility. When I always point that out as it's a big thing with me to be more humble than anybody else will. Anyway, some of the commentators that will know that's no longer the two from Emmaus speaking that's now the disciples telling the two from an and I don't buy it. I think that the antecedents to lineup their way. My way is better.

And there's a few on my side to so not long anyway, these two come back and they tell nine Thomas being the missing man in the last of the 12 apostles to see the risen Lord. No slide on Thomas will how many lessons are in that maybe you your timing has been off at some point in your walk. Maybe you want when you are supposed to be in. You missed out.

And Christ says I know you missed out now, but I got more stuff for you anyway because there's a lot to be done and the Lord is looking for those who can assist him in getting it done. Well, it would've been a crime to walk to Emmaus with the Christ find out it is him and not tell anybody a matter they just went to bed missing mouth to the Lord is risen tomorrow the Christian life is to be a proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is the Christian life and all that lines up after that your job wherever you work in the world. It's logistical to preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you have the you have to sleep you have to have shelter and clothing and we glad and so to get these things.

You need a job, and once these things are in place.

We we we can preach the gospel to the people we live with. Now, anyway we we get that first Corinthians 11 verse 26.

We do this at the communion every time I administer the communion and I use first Corinthians 11, mostly I try to read this verse fact I do read this verse every time and this here it comes, for as often as you eat this bread and drink this club a cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he returns. That's the risen Lord the Christian life is to be a proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And Paul is saying when we as a body gather to celebrate is dealing with our sin. Through his death we do it so that we can also preach that we know he rose again man is accountable to him, and this is found nowhere else on earth is not found in the stars the gospel message is not in the stars. It is in the Bible is in the word of God. Yet there are truths concerning God and creation. Of course you cannot dispute that there is a God saying with any sanity by buddy again looking at the start is a will. They just happen one time.

No in and in to give the evolutionists some FairPlay. One time I threw a box of Legos up in the air and came down altogether all the pieces were just it was a little car's so okay yeah that didn't happen anyway. At one of the things that the evolutionists will be dealt with. With God's dishonesty just being dishonest just so determined to make God out of creation that they resort to dishonesty and the stuff with Carl Sagan, the pagan, you know, overlooking that alien life. If there were aliens visiting Earth, we would know what you know why we'd all be in straitjackets. They had the technology to do that. The anyway. Alright, I'm warmed up now. Anyway, the world around us is drunk with Satan's leadership and it doesn't even know it.

We oppose this leadership will you know that part just don't know the names that belong to what we are rebelling against. From their perspective as we point out that there rebelling against God were not at war with lost souls. We are at war with the foolish lies they have fallen for and if we could stand beside ourselves before we would be's. We were saved. We would be at war with ourselves.

Let me know if I met the old me walking on the street. I met you pretty good-looking way to get to be older in the pulpit anyway. I would say he was a fool, lost in his sins and pray that I would have a chance to share Christ. It says here in verse 13, but they did not believe them either. These guys were on a roll again. Their hearts were broken. I mean this is more than just a mental thing.

This was emotional for them. They love Jesus so much walk with him and then and seemingly just powers. He's arrested and murdered in front of everybody's gone and they just couldn't recover easily from this and so we read in, but they did not believe them either when tragedy strikes, belief can crumble into despair very quickly. It had been only a weekend of for something for some of us sometimes tragedy strikes in it for years. The remainder of the life and yet we are still required to have faith again. Luke's gospel chapter 24 it says about them.

At this moment, and their words when they were hearing the testimony, that Christ was risen from the women in their words seem to be like an idol tail and they did not believe them.

It was too good to be true. God wants his people to love and he wants them to trust through the word through the truth through the testimonies in pain or out of pain were supposed to believe what you think passes always come to the pulpit Jolly in a they now have a life there are problems with kid children are problems with just other things in life.

I've been in the pulpit of sun had not recently but I have been at times just depressed duking it out and winning is get all up in season and out of season has a broad application and anyway reminder to Christians who place priority over the word with song or works or sensationalism or ritual on it can go. Jesus did not expound when he met those two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He did not sing them a song. He did not talk to them about ritual. Well you got in a light this candle included just over here to the east.

What did Jesus expound on with his disciples once he was risen word, Luke's gospel 24 verse 27 and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself, so he dealt with prophecy prophecy fulfilled application of the prophecy.

What good is it if you know that you have an end time scenario and you do nothing with it. I we don't learn these things we can just go home is a boy that was really nice is tempting. I mean, I love reading sermons from the old pastors but I have to do something with it is not just way that was like watching a play or something. Usually turns into work, scribbling notes and is not as enjoyable as it is just I mean I could probably read war and peace in our but his exaggeration, but of course I come to Bible material. It it can read it because I'm busy boy this is a point I want to forget this.

Thank you, Lord, and on it and maybe you're the same way. Or maybe you just hear someone else preaching.

It's okay if you have the same way. I just depositing it so I can think about that. Write it down there of bookworms and their tapeworms. It's it's okay to be one of the other.

Anyway the age of the apostles was accompanied by miracles for a long part of that. But because of their work because of the signs and wonders that followed their work. We now have the truth in written form another does not mean I'm not saying I do not believe in the gifts, signs and wonders what it does me that it is not like it was. We covered this last session as it was in the days of the apostles physical miracles are not as widespread. Presently, as they were in biblical times. Since we are now in the age of truth by faith through grace.

The word is the dominant vehicle. There are other vehicles but Scripture is by far dominant. Remember Farrell, he saw signs and wonders they still did not believe Deuteronomy 26 verse eight so Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. All this has to do with talking about does it not because Jesus is going to use signs and wonders in the early church to establish the church and he but but he gives them something to think about through Scripture.

That's what happened with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

He gave them something to think about, to develop and to apply that an easy but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night because that's what it takes, that's what it takes to be used by God, should we say Lord I want you to honor me and use me to preach in all the world. I just don't want to know your word or that of course would be crazy. Verse 14. Later, he appeared to the 11 as they sat at the table, and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

He wanted them to believe the preaching and didn't say to Mary, okay, you've seen me now.

I'm going to give you a sign in wonder to take back so they'll believe me Mark again condensing the appearances of Christ, Peter, and Thomas present at some point and this is I think verse 14 would have that materialize in their midst.

He ate food he demonstrated that his body was real, but that it could all also a fannish that there will physical laws in place, but there are also other laws in place and he had mastered them where he rebukes them, hear their unbelief.

Love must rebuke what is wrong in order to restore and to preserve and to advance in situations like this. If you have a child and the child is doing something that is wrong and harmful, that child must be rebuked dealt with me doesn't have to be hard.

Some children are very responsive to you know don't do that good. My father could just look in my direction.

It would all stop until he went away and I could go back at it… Anyway, this is part of our faith as Christians. Galatians 6 brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. That's a verse that every Christian should memorize every Christian should look to apply that subtle walking around the microscope instead of trying to take you know beams out of people's eyes. It's easier to take her to spot a beam and take it out of someone else's eye, than to get the motor out of your own despair hardened their hearts.

That's why they did not believe what a lesson I want to hear this when I'm in a state of despair instead of the spirit is what relief or whatever is causing me this lack of faith, but that somehow works not all the time. I have to remember okay I'm supposed to endure. Take the pain despair hardened their hearts lesson for me. Scripture warms the hearts again. Luke's gospel 24 verse 32 and they said to one another. This is the to get on the road to Emmaus after they realize Christ had been with them did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road and Wiley opened the Scriptures to us. Interesting point. Their hearts were burning as he was giving them lessons on Scripture even though they still thought he was dead us the power of the word of God. It it warm their hearts in the midst of their grief and then when they are when they realize that they put it all together.

That's where victories are. That's where I want to be. Verse 15 and he said to them go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Not like some of the histories are talking about going preaching to ants or you know mosquitoes want to preach the mosquitoes just anyway. Clearly when he says to them go into all the world. This is the church age because it would be was physically impossible for the 12 to go throughout the whole world this would this is looking down the telescope going to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature were not supposed to be separatists, isolationists, spiritual hermits living in monasteries.

I mean, when they first started monasteries. They were of you know they they did have a plan. It was not intended to be what monasteries became but anyway were not there now. We're not supposed to be isolated from the world. We are supposed to seek and engage as spirit gives opportunity. Philippians chapter 2 verse 15. I love reading these verses is one of the bonuses of preaching the not so bonuses of preaching is when you mess up the young guy gets all the credit for the good stuff and I get all the bad stuff.

Anyway, that's the contract verse 15 of Philippians 2 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. How profound is that how many that name praise don't want to hear that Christian life is to be dominated by truths through the word. Where else are you going to get it from God is not trusted Christianity guy writing some or all of what I going to do today only comes a plain Marine says is from God, church age is one of faith by truths, not by sight.

For the church age.

Israel was the primary mission field move. Thanks for tuning into cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time.

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