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April 14, 2022 8:00 am
Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ, that all the sudden the Sanhedrin lead him to the Romans then get him convicted and the Romans crucified knows that in all of our hopes and dreams are very disappointed this drone story stand by and let this happen. I don't know this do this all the time and that's where they find themselves joining us today on this additional fellowship of the word pastor Bill Gebhart Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhart now again he shows us how God's word meets our work 70 happy Easter everybody says it is what you newscast this morning and sign off that happy Easter. We went through a drive three yesterday and the girl said happy Easter. What we mean by that. In a culture in which we live.
What that mean I mean, just think what the culture is done to Easter what is Easter here in our country, chocolate bunnies right marshmallow peeps Easter egg hunts. These are Easter things. It's amazing to me when you think about this term.
Happy Easter.
I'm all for being happy. I think that's a great idea, but I know better people in our country on happy.
This is one of the angriest times in my lifetime, and I've seen in the whole country fill a lot of rage and anger and insecurity scope which made everybody pretty insecure about this whole thing mean the whole idea behind this idea to make you happy. Christians are not much better off. We should be but were not were not that happy. A group of according to Barnett and others that when a Polish they find out that the amount of depression and despair and all that, within the church is about the same as it is outside the church so were not even really that happy what's bothering us seek it to sense what is wrong with the view of life that we have made Jesus that have come to give you life and to give it to you abundantly. Sounds great.
How many of you are experiencing that not many once you open your Bibles to Luke 24 Luke 24 you might find this story is little bit of an odd Easter message but you should of all the different stories you find about Easter in their repeated year after year after year.
Almost every Easter message starts out the same really going to talk about the women that went at daybreak to see the empty tomb. They went and they looked out at me wanted to see what it was like, etc. they went back and told everybody in, nobody would believe them Peter and John went and up. John said he believed but he just looked in the tomb. We talk about those incidences as though that's what Easter is. But this story that I'm going to use today is the story where Jesus spends most of Easter he doesn't spend as much time with anyone on Easter as he does these two men these two men get more of his time than anybody else.
You would think that he would be appearing to the Sanhedrin or the Pharisees or Pontius Pilate or someone like nice is going to appear for a long time.
With these two men and what's amazing about these two men are followers of Jesus, and I know you find a strange their miserable there very very disappointed there and despair. We consider probably depressed on the first Easter and so in verse 13, Luke starts and this is a three-part play have despair, then have a dialogue, then you have discovery despair, and behold anytime you see behold in the New Testament it Sea-Doo and into always means this is big this really important thing a mango, he said, and behold, two of them were going that very dated. The village named Emmaus first thing Emmaus is a village is about 7 miles from Jerusalem to arrange rough so to walk to Emmaus.
It take about 2 to 3 hours depending on your age. But it's kind of rough terrain, but it's about a two or three hour walk. But notice it said to them who are them to go back to verse 11. What you see there is this exhibit these words appear to them as nonsense and they would not believe them. It was the women who came back and told them the 11 disciples and the other followers. What they had seen and it's this group of them. These two men are part of it.
Since then, that they were talking with each other about all the things which are taken place. Now this is a 2 1/2 three hour conversation today, imperfect verb and imperfect verb means it just continually action. There's no endpoint to it. They spend their whole time from Jerusalem to Emmaus talking and are all talking and get your seat in the context what they're talking about is basically I don't get it. I just don't get the way this whole thing works.
I mean we know who he was. We knew he was the Messiah. We believe he was the son of God.
We see all the things that he did all the miracles that were performed. We heard him speak.
Then all of a sudden the Sanhedrin lead him to the Romans then get him convicted in the Romans crucified and always dead and all of our hopes and dreams went with him there. Very disappointed with God. Ever been like that disappointed. Put together your own story that I can understand why the Lord let this happen. I don't know why this do this all the time and that's where they find themselves in a schism while they were talking and discussing Jesus himself approached and began traveling with them is an interesting thing to guys walking along the path, Emmaus, and 1/3 guy just walks up with them, starts walking with you know that's always a little bit uncomfortable.
You know that it what's up with this.
Just walking with Ms. interesting would that be who you would think Jesus should appear to on the first Easter no heat is one appear to the religious leaders. They got him crucified no interest in the Romans. But think about it. What who was the first people we appear to when he was born. Shepherds so this whole idea is Jesus just picks these two guys and he's walking along with the him food and then it says in it says that the verse 16 but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him as a passive verb means some of the outside prevented them from seeing who he was likely God here there prevented. But remember, even when Mary Magdalene seen him in the garden. She thought he was a gardener, so he's changed obviously in a resurrection body but either not able to see him for who he is and so without happening. He said to them. One of these words that you are exchanging with one another is your walking Jesus. If you read the Gospels, Jesus loves to ask questions, even if you ask him a question almost always answer with a question for you.
And so Jesus and what he is talking about what's going on here, and they stood still, and then they gave them as you do your sad book for your thoughtful my lights off is this terrible looking sad their miserable. Why God had met their expectations guy didn't meet my expectations. I know what I was expecting about from the Messiah of Israel. God did meet him. That's is making me miserable. People don't change much over time.
That's just the way we act human at a certain level. You know this, all of us have had days that we all like your from Winnie the Pooh like stinks is this tall terrible just the way I feel, looking sad and one of them men clear press clear opus is a male name for Cleopatra kind of an interesting etymology there and it says answering said to him, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things have to happen here in these days, I gotta love this. This is a resurrection Sunday and listen to what the guy says the Jesus how stupid are you mean hugging me the stupid every everybody in the Passover from the whole Jewish world is there everybody was talking about Jesus from Nazareth.
Everyone was aware that he was tried.
Everyone knew he was crucified and you don't know a thing about it. What's wrong with you.
It's kind of ironic, but kind of funny in its own way, not realizing who you're talking to Jesus might be pretty familiar with what really went on their and he said to them of what things another question and they said to him, the things about Jesus. Notice the things about Jesus. He said the Nazarene who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to the sentence of death, and they crucified him while is anything they said wrong. Notice what they said about Jesus is the Nazarene he's measured is a prophet, the prophet Moses spoke of his mighty in deed and he was mighty in word and in front of God and all the people that sounds pretty good government. Now there that write about it why there's a miserable see what still makes them miserable but was see the reason right here in the next verse, but we were hoping that it was he who was going to redeem Israel.
Indeed, besides all this, it's the third day since these things happen.
We were hoping for more. We thought it was going to redeem our country from the Romans out and start the Davidic messianic kingdom worldwide. You see, we that's what we thought is the Messiah and that's what we thought, and he was a big disappointment. And he's dead.
And not only is he dead but he's been dead for three days.
He's dead dead.
That's why were so sad. My interesting any system those they say, but also some women among SMEs. This when they were at the tomb early in the morning and they did not find his body. And they came saying that they had not. They had also seen a vision of angels.
Who said that he was alive.
Now these are the memories that showed up sounds pretty impressive dumping. The women came back and said hey guess what we know he's alive.
They sought was empty. Also, by the way an angel told us there's an angel of the tomb, so an angel told him that he's alive.
So, why they miserable and unbelievable and believe it all. Why dead people are dead.
One of the odds. How many dead people. Have you known that her life ever know. Dead people are dead now only see dead bees been dead three days this guy's dead.
All of our hopes he's not met our expectation of vanished and all we have a someone who's dead. That's interesting. The whole point of our faith is a rebuttal of that statement. The whole point.
The whole foundation of Christianity is a resurrection of the dead from Jesus and from Jesus Christ is the whole thing were not a group that follows certain principles of life certain practices we do certain religious things matter that matters except the resurrection from the dead is the whole point. Paul said, our whole faith is knowing based on up in first Corinthians 15. He said if Christ isn't raising the dead go home. There's no point to your faith at all. None. You cease. In fact, we are to be the most pitied of all people. If there's not a resurrection. Everything about Christianity is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's the only point this is the one day in the year we talk about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But think about on this point of view, the culture recognizes Eastern is a happy Easter. Do you think the people in our culture same of you should be happy because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, you never heard anyone say that our culture when I look have any stray kind. Kids will love it. That's what we say is Easter about know is there's about some so much more profound than that somebody is been raising the dead makes all the difference in the world and effectively new comparative religious studies should go all the religions in the world. Guess how many of them have a resurrected leader us.
That's the point of our faith in these guys don't get it. The women came and said he's alive. Some of those work with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women.
It also said but him. They did not see Peter and John, what are these guys missing there. He only believes certain parts of what Jesus taught.
They only believes certain things from the Old Testament. That's all they believe they're either ignorant of or decide not to believe in an awful lot about the Old Testament taught, and not only that, but what Jesus taught for the last year and 1/2 two years of his ministry. How many times you read Jesus told his disciples, his followers the Son of Man is going to have to go to Jerusalem he's going to be arrested is good to be tried is going to be crucified, and he will rise on the third day Jesus taught him that and how much the response to his teaching. Now that people don't. That's why I'm so miserable.
He hasn't met my expectations. Well, it's kind of interesting. They ask about this now. Jesus response a foolish man, slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. He diagnoses the problem is a problem. Believe it. I don't believe it. I don't believe what the prophet said she might so I don't even know. I think what the prophet said I just pick and choose what I want a lot like we do. I just pick and choose the passages I like and I'll leave the rest go decent you can't do that, he said, was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory. Decent don't you knowing about me being Savior, don't you know anything about you don't know anything about this verse 27, one of my favorite in the entire New Testament then beginning with Moses and all the prophets explained to them the things concerning himself and all the Scripture greatest Bible study ever done.
Maybe an hour and 1/2 two hours walking with Jesus and he explains from Genesis to Malachi everything that the Old Testament says about him. Can you imagine that he just starts.
He starts in Genesis 3.
The first prophecy of the Bible verse 15 Adam and Eve sinned, and he says first prophecy that the seed of the woman is going to be the destruction of the evil one. Your bruising on his heel crucifixion, but he'll take you out.
He goes on to Genesis 6 through eight, Noah's Ark, Peter writes that the true work of safety is Jesus Christ. That's what the ark was how do I avoid the judgment of God.
The ark Genesis 8 after he gets off the ark was the first thing that Abraham I mean, excuse me, that no one does. First thing he does sacrifice to God. In other words, I may be delivered through the ark, but because my send something's going to have to die. Genesis 22. Abraham offers up his own son Isaac. Jesus, that we think that's about God the father offering me up. Exodus 12 the Passover lamb the way you were delivered from the angel of death was the end of the blood of the Passover lamb should be a that was that's a picture of me.
Leviticus 1 to 7 all of the different kind of offerings they made all five of them.
He said there's all refer to me.
Deuteronomy 18 Moses prophesies a prophet is going to come.
That's me said, he said.
Where were you on Friday. They were probably nearby about Psalm 22, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me in a description of his agony did you hear me cry that out in the dark for three hours. You can hear it, that's me. David wrote about me. Psalm 69 you heard me say I thirst. That was when the thousand years before the event. Isaiah 52 and 53, my servant me missing the what Isaiah wrote shortly are greasy himself or he bear our griefs in our sorrows, and he carried them he is stricken and smitten of God, and afflicted Pierce room for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell on him and by his scourging we are healed and all of us like sheep going astray.
Each has turned his own way and the Lord is laid the iniquity of us all on him is that's me on Isaiah just the Zechariah 1210. One day Israel will look to him whom they have pierced, that's me. He goes the whole way through the Old Testament and says that's me, that's me, that's me, that's me, that's me and that's me. The Savior on the have to suffer. I am the land of the Lamb of God, just what John the Baptist said when he inaugurated his ministry, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins will that's me me pastor Brueggemann you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like to listen to the message one more time. Remember the little great website called in one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio program, had Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make his broadcast possible with all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is of the sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FPC Nola.org that FPC Penn of LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds of possible sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking for, or you can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listening and anchoring. And remember all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website is FPC Nola.org forecaster Bill Gebhardt and Jason Denhardt thanking you for listening to fellowship in order