REMEMBER HOW HE SPOKE

Luke 24:1-11 (3-23-08)

Luke is a meticulous writer of detail and is laying out the record of Jesus’ life.  Here is an overview.

The Scene of His Life: Luke 1 records the announcement of His birth to Mary, and her breaking into song.   Luke 2 Jesus is born, an Angel of the Lord has invaded the routine of shepherds, causing them to be set off all over Bethlehem rejoicing, glorifying God and announcing the great news.  An old man and woman get to be part of the dedication service of Jesus.  Luke 3-4 Jesus has the Holy Spirit come on Him and is prepared in the wilderness for ministry (perhaps the one requirement for all ministry).  Luke 5-9 Jesus is declaring the  forgiveness of sin, healing disease, and is visited anointed by a “sinful woman.” In  Luke 9-13  rejection by and a break with the religious systems of the day is escalating and spiritual Kingdom life is the main sermon.  Luke 14-19 Jesus is instructing his disciples what leadership is all about, what cost there is to identify with Him, that losing your life is real life, and that will manifest as being willing to be “last and least.”

The Sacrifice of His Love: In Luke 18-24 Jesus is predicting His death for the third time, He is having final confrontations with the religious leaders, He is weeping over the “in crowd” that isn’t getting the message, cleansing the temple, and he is warning His disciples about the Scribes (the Scripture experts).  The Chief Priests and Scribes are plotting to kill Jesus and Judas communes with them and they covenant with Judas (Luke 22:4-5).   Be careful what you commune with because it may lead to a costly covenant.  Jesus is betrayed by a  follower, hastily tried by a coalition of false religion (talk about your rejection), with spineless government; and Jesus is nailed.  There it is now, THE KING ON A CROSS.  This is NOT how kings rule, this is not how “Messiahs” end up.  This is not how one who says “I am resurrection and life” looks.

The Sunday of the Living: 24:4-6  Picture the scene.  Two angels appear, there is no body, the women are properly alarmed.  Then the question “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  It seems simple to me.  The circumstances required it.  They loved this man, this Messiah, this friend.  What I know in my head often comes from what I currently see.  I cannot be harsh with these women.  Circumstances dictate our behavior all too often. I’m guilty.  What I am used to doing makes more sense IF He isn’t heard.  I am slow to remember His words, when I am faced with the appearance of something different. When you leave His words out of the equation, you will do what you have always done.  You will, out of love or connection of some kind, go to the visitation and to the cemetery.  Church attendance can be like that you know.  You can go through the motions, good motions, but motions still.  You can draw on what has always been the thing to do.  Church programs can be like that too.  We can do a lot without hearing Him, trusting Him, or even knowing Him.

            Vs 6.  “BUT is risen: remember how He spoke.”  This word “remember” is a stronger form than other words used.  It has an added emphasis beyond recall, to fixture, a grasping of the mind.  This is not at all the same word used in doing the Lord’s supper in “remembrance.”  That word was to recall it is about Him. The word in this verse comes from the word to abide, to remain in used in John 15.  Jesus wanted them to understand this.  Jesus had three times clearly explained this even of being rejected, suffering, crucified and being raised on the third day.  Luke 9:22,44 and 18:32-33.  We tend to block out that which we do not want to hear.  I want Jesus to be my idea of a King.  He will give me the best position, portions, and fix every circumstance.  Sometimes we stop listening, we lose attention if what we are hearing does not fit our agenda.  If they had really fixed, really grasped as they were told, they would have known death was not the end for Jesus.  The same is true spiritually and physically for those who grasp His words.  The death of Jesus on the cross brings forgiveness and reconciles those who respond to Him, but it is the life coming out of the cross that brings salvation (Romans 5:10).  Paul got it “I am crucified with Christ...Christ lives in me.”  HE IS RISEN,  BUT REMEMBER HOW HE SPOKE.   Have you heard Him speak? What are you grasping this morning?  Are you so fixed on resisting the cross as the means to life, that you are missing His resurrection...and the truth, that the cross brings LIFE?  Would you embrace and join His death for resurrected life this morning?