Sermon -- 3rd Sunday of Easter (April 19, 2026)

TO SEE THE RISEN SAVIOR, THE SCRIPUTRES MUST BE OPENED TO YOU.

LUKE 24:13-35

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

      Noah and his family sat in the ark for a long time.  We usually think of 40 days and 40 nights, but that is only as long as the rains poured down.  The water crested for 150 days, then receded slowly before the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat.  All told, Noah spent more than a year on the ark.  Noah and his family might have wondered if God had forgotten them.  They were not told how long this Flood would last.  All they had was what the Lord had told Noah, “I will establish my covenant with you.  You shall come into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you” (Genesis 6:18).  The ark would preserve them, implying that they would survive the Flood and replenish the earth.  For over a year, Noah had only the word of the Lord to sustain his hope.

     Fast forward to the children of Israel in Egypt.  God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that they would become a great nation and inherit the Promised Land.  But in Egypt, they experienced centuries of slavery and oppression.  Many died not seeing God’s promise fulfilled.  They had to wonder if God had forgotten them.  The only thing they had to sustain their hope was God’s promise.

     Now fast forward to Passover, about 29 AD.  Jesus was crucified during the feast.  He was buried quickly before the Sabbath began.  Two disciples of Jesus were in Jerusalem for the feast.  They were walking to a village called Emmaus, presumably because that was the nearest lodging available due to the pilgrims thronging Jerusalem for Passover.  They were grappling with the events over the past week.  They were dejected and disappointed, and they did not hide why.  They said, “Jesus of Nazareth … was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be condemned to death.  And they crucified him.  But we were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 23:19-21). 

     Noah sat in the ark for over a year, but he still had hope that God would deliver him.  The people of Israel were enslaved and oppressed for centuries, but the nation was not snuffed out.  They still had hope that God would deliver them.  The disciples on their way to Emmaus considered all hope lost.  They had put their hopes in Jesus, but Jesus was crucified, died, and buried.  Noah’s hope and Israel’s hope were strained; the hope of these disciples was dashed.  What hope could you put in God’s word when it appeared that it had failed?

     This is the part of the story we would have written differently.  St. Luke wrote, “They were talking with each other about all of these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing this, Jesus himself approached and began to walk along with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  He said to them, ‘What are you talking about as you walk along?’  Saddened, they stopped” (Luke 24:14-17). 

     Wouldn’t this have been a wonderfully satisfying story if Jesus had proved himself alive as soon as they saw him?  Their sadness would have turned instantly to joy.  Their dejection would have been converted to jubilation immediately.  Their hopes would have been restored, knowing and seeing that God keeps his promises!  But instead of granting them instant relief, Jesus gave them what they actually needed—not to have their eyes opened to see the Risen Savior, but to open the Scriptures to them.  To see the Risen Savior, they needed to have the Scriptures opened to them. 

     You and I have our difficult days.  The stress and the strain can go on for some time.  As it was for Noah, your suspense could go on for a year.  Like the Israelites in Egypt, you may live with your stress until the day you die and never see the relief you pray for.  You may wonder if God has forgotten you.  You may become dejected, perhaps even concluding that God’s promises have failed.  You see and feel your fear and your pain.  You want to see and feel relief and refreshment.  Where is God in these moments? 

     It is at these times that we judge God.  We assess his performance and declare that God has come up lacking.  Some even turn away from the Lord, looking for a god that will bring instant gratification.  Money problems?  Try embezzling.  Ego problems?  Prop yourself up by slandering others.  Relationship problems?  Try to gratify yourself with seedy websites.  After all, if God is failing you—as it seems—the devil will offer quick fixes to bring momentary thrills.  But he hides the price tag, which is eternal sorrow.  Beware, and repent.

     Our desire for instant relief often fails to remember the goal of every Christian life—to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Yes, it would be wonderful if God made your life easy, your body sound, your bank account full, and your neighbors respectful.  But recognize that he has not promised you that.  If you hold God accountable for promises that he has not made, you are guaranteed to be disappointed in God.  To see what God has promised, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  Then you will recognize what God has promised.  Then you can cling to what God has promised, and that will not fail you. 

     “Jesus himself approached and began to walk along with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  He said to them, ‘What are you talking about as you walk along?’ …They replied, ‘The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth.  …They crucified him.  But we were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel.’  He said to them, “How foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter his glory?”  Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:15-27). 

     To see the Risen Savior, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  Everything that was written points us to Jesus and the work he has done to save sinners.  For reasons known to the Holy Spirit, St. Luke did not record the sermon that Jesus preached on that seven mile walk to Emmaus.  I think it would have been fascinating.  Perhaps it was not recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel is because it was documented throughout the entirety of the Old Testament.  The words of Moses and the Prophets give us plenty to ponder as they foretell and foreshadow the Messiah and his work of redemption.

     To see the Risen Savior, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  They present to you the Lord who acts to deliver his people—whether being delivered from the Flood in an ark or being delivered from the bondage or slavery to freedom.  The Lord delivered his people through the Red Sea and sustained them on their forty-year journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land.  The Lord provided deliverance through judges such as Gideon and Samson and through kings such as David and Jehoshaphat.  Every act of deliverance foreshadowed God’s ultimate deliverance.  Jesus has delivered you from the enemies that would seek to destroy you—sin, death, and Satan.  And Jesus sustains your life and faith as you journey toward the heavenly Promised Land.

     To see the Risen Savior, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  They present the sacrifices that were made to atone the sins of the people and to reconcile them to God—whether it is Isaac who carried the wood up the hill to be slain by his father, Abraham, or the ram which ended up being the substitute for Isaac.  It was seen in the daily sacrifices made in the temple and in the annual visit into the Holy of Holies by the high priest and in the scapegoat which carried the sins of the people away from God’s presence.  All Scripture has been fulfilled by Jesus.  He is the substitute Lamb who was slain for your accusations that God is uncaring or incompetent.  He is the scapegoat who carried away your sins of impatience and complaining against God.  He is the great High Priest who carried his innocent blood into the Holy of Holies to atone for all your guilt. 

     To see the Risen Savior, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  Jesus said it: “‘Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter his glory?’  Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:26-27).  All Scripture testifies of Jesus.  And you have the benefit of pondering the fulfillment of all that was foreshadowed and foretold.  Jesus suffered and died because it was necessary to fulfill Scripture and to pay for sins.  And Jesus now has entered his glory.  He lives and reigns to secure your resurrection to eternal life and will enable you to enter his glory.  And that is the goal for every Christian, whether you receive that glory at age 5 or 105.

     “When he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and began giving it to them.  Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30-31).  This is how we recognize the risen Savior, too.  The bread and the wine are consecrated, and Jesus comes to us.  To see that, you need to hear the words of Scripture where Jesus tells you: “This is my body, given for you.  This is my blood, shed for you.  Take it.  Eat.  Drink.  It is for you, for the forgiveness of sins.”  And though you may not feel forgiven, Jesus has taught you not to believe in your feelings, but in his words and promises.  The risen Savior delivers forgiveness to you and sustains your faith for the journey homeward.  To see it, the Scriptures must be opened to you.

     The Emmaus disciples had their hope resting on what they could see and feel.  When they did and when they saw the Messiah killed, all their hope was gone.  Since Jesus wanted them to rest their faith on God’s promises and not on their senses, Jesus opened the Scriptures to them.  Their faith was strengthened.  Their hearts were kindled.  Their confidence was restored.  Then they saw the risen Savior.

     If you are experiencing hardship, and if you are not seeing the blessings you hope for, the Lord has not forgotten you.  His word remains strong and steady and true.  Soon, our risen Savior will come again.  Then we will see and feel permanent relief.  Then we will experience endless glory.  To see the risen Savior now, the Scriptures must be opened to you.  To see the risen Savior in glory, “wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14)! 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.