"Epilogue" 5-21-23

Overview

The Rest of the Story: An Epilogue to Emmaus

After the two disciples raced back from Emmaus to tell the eleven that they had encountered the risen Lord, Jesus Himself stood among them and said, "Peace be with you" Luke 24:36. Even as they were discussing His resurrection, His sudden presence startled them—they thought they were seeing a ghost. So Jesus offered tangible proof: He showed them His hands and feet, invited them to touch Him, and ate a piece of broiled fish in their presence Luke 24:39-43. The risen Christ is no apparition. He is bodily alive, in fellowship with His people.

Christ Opens the Scriptures

Jesus then declared, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled" Luke 24:44. And then we read this remarkable line: "Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures" Luke 24:45.

How often had Jesus told His disciples that He must suffer and rise? Yet they could not grasp it—because no one can. As Paul writes, "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God… they are spiritually discerned" 1 Corinthians 2:14. Luther confesses the same truth in the Small Catechism: "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel." Jesus is both the fulfillment of all Scripture and its true interpreter. An unbeliever may read the words, but only when God lifts the veil do we truly meet Christ in them.

The Gospel That Doesn't End at the Empty Tomb

"Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem" Luke 24:46-47. The Easter story does not stop at the resurrection. The good news continues precisely because it must be proclaimed. Christ bore our sin, died the death we deserved, and rose triumphant—and that victory keeps moving outward through the witness of His people.

You Are Witnesses

"You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" Luke 24:48-49. The proclamation is not ours to bear in our own strength—Christ sends His Spirit to empower it. And this commission is not limited to the eleven. The saints today are still witnesses to what God has done: calling us through the waters of baptism, washing us clean, making us heirs of His promise. The church continues to grow because the resurrection's victory continues to advance through ordinary believers who tell what they have seen and heard. The story will not end until Christ comes again to gather His people into the eternal presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And now you know the rest of the story.

Transcript

If you would please open your Bibles to Luke the 24th chapter, Luke the 24th chapter. 3s

If you're using a Pue edition of the Bible, you can find this on page 78 in the New Testament. 10s

We are in Luke chapter 24. 19s

And now you know the rest of the story. 24s

Is that familiar? 31s

Paul Harvey. 33s

Paul Harvey in his weekly or daily Monday through Friday radio program, the rest of the story. 34s

It gave America a lovely insight into details and missed finer points and missed players 43s

in action of American history in the stories. 55s

And it tied up loose ends. 60s

Really, the rest of the story from Paul Harvey, it answered questions that Americans didn't 62s

even know they had. 70s

But it was a wonderful time to listen to the radio. 74s

We would find out all sorts of little tidbits of our entire history. 82s

And really what Paul Harvey was doing. 88s

He was doing the radio version of the literary device epilogue. 92s

And epilogue is it's a supplemental part of a main story where we find out what happens 97s

to the characters. 105s

We really find out what the rest of the story is. 107s

And epilogue in a book. 111s

It wraps up or tidies up all of those loose ends. 114s

So the rest of the story by Paul Harvey was really the radio version of an epilogue. 119s

Oftentimes in Easter. 128s

We go throughout the Easter season with a very routine look at Scripture, always beginning 130s

with the glorious resurrection story. 142s

And then week by week we move through stories that are very familiar to us. 145s

Like the story of Jesus appearing in the upper room to his disciples and Thomas doubting 152s

that he had been there. 160s

We read of Jesus asking Peter if he really loves him. 161s

We read of Jesus the good shepherd and that he knows his flock. 168s

We read of Jesus being the true vine. 174s

We have story after story that we know. 179s

And one of those stories that we hear yearly is this story of these disciples, these two 183s

disciples on their way to amazes. 189s

And while normally we would use one Sunday to parse out the text of this walk to amazes, 193s

this Easter season. 202s

We have taken the opportunity and the time to stretch the walk to amazes out where week by week 204s

we get to dive in, dig in and discover, discover hidden treasures within God's Word 213s

to discover unexpected insights and details and players within this text. 222s

Today we are wrapping up our series on amazes. 231s

And we are calling this the epilogue. 237s

Today we are going to have the epilogue of the story of amazes. 241s

And we will discover together the rest of the story. 247s

We're going to begin in verse 33 where we were last week with Pastor Eibel, 253s

beginning in in 33 that same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. 260s

And they found the 11 and their companions gathered together. 265s

Remember that these two disciples on their way to amazes. 269s

It's a seven mile walk and they have this man join them. 273s

And they have this discussion for seven miles and this man, Jesus unbeknownst to them, 278s

Jesus and he's teaching them all the way and he teaches of how he is the answer or the fulfillment of scripture 285s

and he teaches them Christology, correct Christology. 294s

And then they get to their dwelling place. 300s

He breaks the bread. 304s

They recognize who he is and he disappears. 305s

And so they high-tail it right back to Jerusalem. 308s

All those seven miles right back because they have to tell the other disciples what they have seen 312s

that they have encountered the risen Lord. 320s

And so they are talking with these disciples. 324s

And these disciples in verse 34, they were saying the Lord has risen indeed and he has appeared to Simon. 327s

Then they told what happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 335s

So these disciples have been wondering, they saw Jesus die, they didn't know what was happening. 341s

They know that his body has not been found. 348s

It's gone. 351s

It's missing from the tomb. 351s

They're trying to make sense of it all. 353s

The women had come and said that he is risen but it doesn't make any sense. 355s

And so then these men, these two disciples are on their way to amazes. 359s

They hear the Lord teaching them, preaching to them, letting them know exactly what scripture says. 363s

He may is made known to them and they have to go back and say we've seen this. 371s

We've seen this. 376s

They come back and the disciples there in the room say we've seen the risen Lord. 377s

So now we have this group of disciples, the apostles and the two disciples that had just returned from 383s

amazes and they're talking about both of them or them encountering the risen Lord. 390s

And this is where we pick up in our text today with verse 36. 396s

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 401s

peace be with you. 407s

They were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 410s

He said to them, why are you frightened? 415s

And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 417s

Look at my hands and my feet. 421s

See that it is I myself. 423s

Touch me and see for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. 426s

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 434s

While in their joy, they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, 437s

have you anything here to eat? 442s

They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it in their presence. 445s

They were startled. 454s

They were afraid. 455s

Here they were. 457s

The two that had just been to amazes, seeing Jesus and come back to say we've seen the risen Christ. 458s

They are there talking with the disciples who know that Simon Peter has had an encounter 465s

a one on one with the risen Christ. 472s

They know that Jesus is risen and yet when the risen Christ stands in their midst, 476s

as they're talking about him being alive, they're scared. 483s

And they think they see a ghost. 490s

They think they see a ghost. 495s

And Jesus says, it's me. 500s

I'm here. 507s

Touch me, feel me, I am not a ghost and he makes it absolutely certain that they know that he is a 511s

life that he is in their midst, that he is flesh with them. 523s

Touch me, feel me, know that I am here. 532s

He shows them his physical body and then to top it all, he asks for some food. 537s

Now when people are little oftentimes, they have an imaginary friend. 547s

I don't know if you've had an imaginary friend, but it's not uncommon. 550s

And when you have an imaginary friend, it's not uncommon to want a meal for that imaginary friend. 556s

And so you prepare a snack for yourself and a snack for your imaginary friend. 562s

Now does the imaginary friend actually eat that? 567s

No, because he or she is imaginary. 570s

He can't, she can't. 575s

Jesus was there. 578s

Physically, not a ghost. 581s

Eating fish with them, having fellowship with them, not imaginary. 583s

He was with them. 591s

He shows them his physical body and then he gets to the point of his visit. 592s

The purpose of his visit. 600s

We go to verse 44. 603s

Then he said to them, 606s

these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you. 608s

That everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. 613s

Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 622s

How many times? 628s

How many times in his earthly ministry in teaching and walking with these disciples? 630s

How many times did he tell them exactly what was to take place? 639s

And they didn't understand. 646s

How many times did he say that he would suffer at the hands of man? 650s

But rise and they didn't understand. 658s

But how could they? 666s

How could they? 668s

Because apart from God, no one can understand scripture. 670s

In first Corinthians, Paul writes that the natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God 675s

for they are fully to Him. 682s

And he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 685s

We are born completely blind to who God is. 692s

We are born completely blind to knowing what Jesus has done for us. 699s

In the explanation of the third article of the Apostles Creed in the small 709s

Catechism, Martin Luther says, I believe I cannot, by my own understanding or effort, 714s

believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him. 721s

But the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel. 725s

Our minds are in complete darkness until Christ shines His light upon us, 732s

until Christ shines the light of the gospel into our lives and the Holy Spirit lifts the veil 744s

and brings us to enlightenment knowing who Jesus is, what He has done and our understanding 752s

of scripture begins and the Holy Spirit opens our eyes. 762s

No one can know or understand or grasp scripture without or apart from God. 770s

And what Jesus does here as He teaches again, as He preaches again to His disciples. 783s

He's opening their minds to the scripture that finds its ultimate purpose in Him. 792s

Jesus is the fulfillment of all scripture and Jesus is the interpreter of all scripture. 801s

We know Jesus because we have His Word. 811s

An unbeliever can read His Word and understand the words but they won't know Jesus. 817s

Unless God opens their hearts, God opens their minds and God opens scripture to them. 826s

Faith in Jesus knowing who He is, what He has done for us, the salvation and the life that we have in 837s

Him, that's what scripture speaks of. That's the God that we learn and know through scripture. 846s

He opened their minds to understand the scriptures and He said to them, continuing in verse 46, 859s

thus it is written that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day. 865s

How many times did He tell them? It was necessary for the Messiah to suffer. 876s

How many times did He tell them that He would be crucified upon the cross? How many times did He tell them 882s

He would be lifted up and they didn't know until He opened their minds until scripture 892s

was taught through the lens of Christ Himself. The Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead 908s

on the third day. That is the Easter story. That is the gospel itself that Jesus, the holy one, 920s

the second person of the Trinity entered into humanity that He taught, walked, performed miracles, 934s

that He loved the people and yet the people hated Him and they turned Him over to be crucified. 943s

The gospel is that Jesus went to the cross that He took the sin of all time all places all people 954s

upon Himself. The gospel is that the Messiah who went to the cross was crucified, 963s

He gave up His spirit. The gospel is that this Messiah who went to the cross and was crucified, 971s

bearing the weight of our sin, dying the death that we deserve so that we don't have to. 989s

The gospel is that this Messiah rose three days later triumphant. The gospel, the good news 1001s

is that this Messiah didn't keep His righteousness for Himself but when He rose, when He died upon the 1009s

grave, He gave that to us. Our sins are forgiven because He died for our sins. 1018s

Our sins no longer bear the weight of God's wrath for us because Jesus rose triumphant. The sacrifice 1037s

was accepted. It is written that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third 1051s

day. That is the Easter story. But that's not the rest of the story. 1062s

It is written that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 1080s

and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in His name to all nations 1086s

beginning from Jerusalem. The Easter story, the gospel does not end with the resurrection. 1095s

The good news continues because the good news is not stopped. The good news is that we got to hear it 1110s

and that all saints get to hear that Jesus has died for them, that Jesus has risen for them. 1123s

It continues. The Easter story, the Easter gospel is not ended and will not end until He comes again. 1134s

You are witnesses of these things says Jesus and see I am sending upon you what my father promised. 1153s

So stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. 1166s

The Messiah's death and resurrection absolutely necessary. Absolutely necessary, but the 1173s

proclamation, the proclamation of this promise is to be proclaimed that is also necessary. That is 1182s

is not ours to bear. We are empowered by God Himself. He doesn't leave His disciples 1201s

hanging out to drive, but He empowers them. He sends His own spirit and He says, You are going to 1211s

testify. You are going to witness to everything that you have seen, everything that you have heard 1220s

and it's not just these disciples. My brothers and sisters, we as the saints today are 1228s

disciples. We as the saints today still are witnesses. We are witnesses of what we have seen 1238s

God do and work in our own lives through the waters of baptism calling us into faith, calling 1250s

us washing us clean, making us airs of the promise. We are witnesses to the salvation and the 1257s

life that God has worked in and through our lives and we are empowered by His own spirit to go out 1267s

and to share. As we, the saints of today, we take this mission, this commission from the Lord, 1278s

and we are empowered by Him. The church continues to grow. The church continues to expand, and we 1294s

are promised that in all of eternity, the saints will be gathered and it will be enumerable. 1302s

Enumerable, how many are praising the Lord in His presence. It is written that the Messiah is 1313s

suffering to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins 1325s

is to be proclaimed in His name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things 1333s

and see I am sending upon you what my Father promised. You will be sealed. You will be filled 1343s

with my Holy Spirit and you will go forth proclaiming the good news and it will continue 1352s

fourth. The victory of the resurrection continues to move forward because the church on earth 1368s

continues to proclaim the mighty power of God and what He has done for us through Christ. 1378s

Scripture, Scripture lets us know Jesus, Scripture lets us know Jesus what He has done, 1398s

what He has overcome and what He continues to do in and through our lives. The story 1409s

doesn't end until Christ comes together us all that we would live eternally with the 1424s

Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in all mercy, in all glory, in all grace. Now you know 1440s

the rest of the story. 1458s