Alien life has
been a major Hollywood theme over the last thirty-plus years. America seems to
be fascinated by alien lifeforms. Whether it is Men in Black, Aliens, Star Wars, or Star Trek, American culture has had a fascination with alien life
ever since Steven Spielberg’s Close
Encounters of a Third Kind. In 1977, Richard Dreyfus starred as Roy Neary, a
cableman who, during a routine call, witnessed a bright light leaving his face
sunburned. Neary had his first encounter with alien life. He was eager to
return home and tell his wife. His excitement is dashed upon his arrival, as
his wife refuses to believe in his apparent hallucinations. Neary could not get
the vision that he saw out of his head. He becomes consumed with his desire to
have a close encounter of a third kind: contact. Neary’s wife ended up taking
the kids and leaving him because of his obsession.
Roy Neary’s
life was dramatically changed because of his encounter with this Unidentified
Flying Object along the roadside. There was no going back. Similarly, the
disciples were dramatically changed because of their encounter with the Risen
Christ following his death and resurrection. Their lives would never be the
same. The major difference between Roy Neary in Close Encounters of a Third Kind and the disciples is that one is
grounded in historical fact, while the other is fiction.
Skeptics may
want to frame the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a simple tale of make believe,
but we cannot take the bait. When the Eleven first heard the news of the
resurrection, they believed it was an idle tale told by hysterical, unreliable
women, until they encountered the Risen Christ themselves. The resurrection of
Jesus Christ is not some unbelievable alien encounter, but true historical
event that radically transformed his followers to give their lives. Remember
Luke is a historian. He carefully analyzed the evidence and wrote an orderly
account. Although Luke wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and
leaves us his book as the infallible Word of God, he also can be trusted as a
careful historian who gives facts of the events surrounding the resurrection. Let
us not over mystify the Bible, but carefully consider this account from Luke as
reliable historical account of the resurrection, specifically as we examine how
the disciples encountered the risen Christ.
The Disciples Saw
the Risen Christ
When Jesus encountered the two men on
the road to Emmaus, their last words described the mood following the
resurrection. Luke 24:24, “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and
found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” These disciples
were walking in the opposite direction away from Jerusalem because no one had
seen Jesus, but that was all about to change. Luke 24:28-35,
So
they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were
going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is
toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and
gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he
vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn
within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the
Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they
found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The
Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had
happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the
bread. (Luke 24:28-35)
Jesus revealed himself to the disciples upon the breaking
of bread and their eyes were opened. They saw him. It was their sight that
confirmed the reality of what they were feeling.
They testified
that their hearts were burning inside them as Jesus opened up the Scriptures as
they walked along the road. They knew something was different with this man,
but it was not confirmed until Jesus himself opened their eyes. How many times
have people said, “I’ll believe it when I see it?” These men were walking away
from Jesus, they wanted to believe, but did not see him. And yet, everything
changed when their eyes were opened. Notice that they were not the only ones
who had encountered Jesus. They returned to the other disciples and they were
already saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” The
number of people who encountered Jesus in sight was growing, now extending now
to Simon Peter.
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In 1946, Billy
Graham became friends with a fellow evangelist, Charles Templeton. Templeton
and Graham traveled the United States preaching the gospel. Unfortunately, as
time went on Templeton started to drift from his faith. In his memoir, Farewell
to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith, Templeton
recalls a conversation with Graham. Graham said to him,
I’ve
discovered something in my ministry: When I take the Bible literally, when I
proclaim it as the word of God, my preaching has power. When I stand on the
platform and say, ‘God says,’ or ‘The Bible says,’ the Holy Spirit uses me.
There are results. Wiser men than you or I have been arguing questions like
this for centuries. I don’t have the time or the intellect to examine all sides
of the theological dispute, so I’ve decided once for all to stop questioning
and accept the Bible as God’s word.”
“But
Billy,” I protested, “You cannot do that. You don’t dare stop thinking about
the most important question in life. Do it and you begin to die. It’s
intellectual suicide.”
“I don’t know
about anybody else,” he said, “but I’ve decided that that’s the path for me.”[1]
Beloved, it is not intellectual suicide to believe in the
resurrection. The first disciples doubted until they saw Christ. It is not an
idle tale, but a fact of history. This is one of the reasons I am so encouraged
with the renewed interests of apologetics in our congregation. We have reasons
for the faith that is within us. Near the end of Templeton’s life, he was
interviewed by Lee Strobel in a Case for
Faith. Strobel recounts the conversation,
“And how do you assess this Jesus?” It
seemed like the next logical question—but I wasn’t ready for the response it
would evoke. “He was,” Templeton began,
“the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius. His
ethical sense was unique. He was the intrinsically wisest person that I’ve ever
encountered in my life or in my readings. His commitment was total and led to
his own death, much to the detriment of the world. What could one say about him
except that this was a form of greatness?”
I was taken
aback. “You sound like you really care about him,” I said.
“Well, yes, he is the most important thing
in my life,” came his reply. “I . . . I . . . I . . . ,” he stuttered,
searching for the right word, ‘I know it may sound strange, but I have to say .
. . I adore him! . . .Everything good I know, everything decent I know,
everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus. Yes . . . yes. And tough! Just
look at Jesus. He castigated people. He was angry. People don’t think of him
that way, but they don’t read the Bible. He had a righteous anger. He cared for
the oppressed and exploited. There’s no question that he had the highest moral
standard, the least duplicity, the greatest compassion, of any human being in
history. There have been many other wonderful people, but Jesus is Jesus….’
“Uh . . . but . . . no,’ he said slowly,
‘he’s the most . . .” He stopped, then started again. “In my view,” he
declared, “he is the most important human being who has ever existed.”
That’s
when Templeton uttered the words I never expected to hear from him. “And if I
may put it this way,” he said as his voice began to crack, ‘I . . . miss . . .
him!”[2]
This man wanted to believe, but refused to accept the
evidence. Beloved, the disciples saw the Risen Christ. The resurrection is not
intellectual suicide, but real people seeing the Risen Christ in real history.
The Disciples Touched
the Risen Christ
There will always be a few skeptical
people in the crowd. Charles Templeton was a skeptic, but there were skeptics
among the disciples. While they were all recounted what they had seen, Jesus
came to address the skeptics. Luke 24:36-43,
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As
they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said
to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they
saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts
arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me,
and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while
they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you
anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it
and ate before them.
This was not a spiritual resurrection, but a literal,
bodily resurrection with flesh and bones. Jesus looked at him and said, “Touch
me, and see.” He then offers them his hands and his feet so they can touch him
and see.
Luke notes
that the disciples “still disbelieved for joy and were marveling.” Luke is
highlighting the sheer amazement and shock of what they were witnessed. It is similar to when we hear or see
something and say, “That is unbelievable.” We do not mean it is actually
unbelievable, but we are amazed that it just happened. We know this because
Luke says the disciples disbelieved with joy and were marveling; a clear sign
of belief. Jesus then removes all doubt by taking a fish and eating it. Although
we may draw implications of this meal of Jesus communing with the disciples as
in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with
me,” Luke’s main point is to confirm the reality of Jesus resurrection. The
disciples had good reasons to think that Jesus rose from the dead.
The Disciples Heard
the Risen Christ
We have seen throughout Jesus’s ministry that the
miraculous events done by his hands were to draw people to his words. He would
heal a paralytic or exorcise a demon so that people would listen to his
teachings. The same could be said of his resurrection. The resurrection is like
the Mount Everest of miracles. It confirms the reality of all the Scriptures
and has implications for all of life. The charge that Jesus gives his disciples
following the greatest miracles of all history is the charge he gives to us as
well. Luke 24:44-49,
Then he said to them,
“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 and the Prophets and the Psalms
must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the
third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should
be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are
witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father
upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
The first thing that Jesus does is remind them of the words he has
already spoken.
He starts not with sharing with anything new, but that
which is from the beginning how everything written in the Law, Prophets and
Psalms has been fulfilled. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to
fulfill it. He has done everything that was required of him. He confirms that
the entire Old Testament finds its “Yes and Amen” in Christ Jesus. If we read
the Bible and miss the person and work of Jesus Christ, we are misreading the
Bible. The main thrust of the Bible is to show us Jesus.
After reminding his disciples of the truth, he then
commissions them to go and share this knowledge with the entire world. Jesus
said that he suffered and was raised on the third day so that repentance and forgiveness
of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. This is the task of
the church. This is our mission. We are to go and to proclaim repentance and
the forgiveness of sins to all nations. We are on mission to proclaim that the
Kingdom of God has come near in Jesus Christ. Therefore, in order to be
faithful to our mission, we must proclaim the message of the gospel, but why
would we not want to share it?
Fritz Kreisler
(1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and
compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an
exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn't able to buy it. Later, having
raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping
to purchase that beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold
to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner's home and offered to
buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he
would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had
an idea. "Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to
silence?" he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled
the room with such heart-moving music that the collector's emotions were deeply
stirred. "I have no right to keep that to myself," he exclaimed.
"It's yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear
it."
Beloved, the gospel message of salvation is so beautiful; we must take it
into the entire world. Think back to
your salvation: How precious did that grace appear the hour you first believed? Romans 10:15b, “How beautiful are the feet of
those who preach the good news.” It is a
privilege and joy to share the beauty of the gospel with those lost in sin.
Non-Christian, have you ever heard and believed the
good news about Jesus Christ? The Bible
says that all have sinned and stand condemned before God. Because of God’s perfection he cannot allow
sinners into his presence and because of his justice he has to punish sin with
death. But the good news is that God
sent Jesus Christ into the world to be condemned in our place. And after Jesus was dead and buried, God
raised him from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection for anyone who
would turn and trust in Him as Lord and Savior.
Christians cannot imagine better news.
We were dead in our trespasses and sin, but have been made alive in
Christ. Dear friends, believe the good
news of Jesus Christ. The kingdom of God
has come near in Christ. This is our mission, but we will not be left alone to
complete it.
We can know this that whenever God gives us a mission,
he will give us the means to complete that mission. As a church it is easy to give reasons why we
cannot complete our mission to reach the world for Jesus Christ. We do not have enough time. We do not have
enough energy. We do not have enough money. We do not have a cool, hip
pastor. The list can go on and on. We do
not need what we think we need, for what we need has already been given to us
by God. Remember the promise of the Lord
Jesus here, “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But
stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” We will finish
our mission because we trust the promise of the perfect Promise-Keeper. God the
Son will send the promise of God the Father which is the power of God the
Spirit.
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Two Greek words in the text should frame our
understanding of our task to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. The first
word “power” comes from the Greek word dunamis which usually connotes the
ability to overcome evil forces. The kingdom of God has been inaugurated by the
Lord Jesus and will be ushered in by the Spirit of God at Pentecost where the
church will be clothed in the Holy Spirit. The second word “witness” comes from
the Greek word marturion which is where we get our English word martyr.
We are called to be powerful witnesses. These two words
should frame our understanding of the mission. You will face evil, but you have
the power to stand up against that evil with the truth of the gospel in unto
death. The Christian mission is one of ultimate victory. God promises
opposition, but promises the power to testify in the face of that opposition so
that we will be fully and finally blessed. Blessed is the man who remains
steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown
of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12) Blessed are
those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. (Matthew 5:10)
The Disciples Believed
the Risen Christ
Jesus leads his disciples to Bethany comforting and
confirming with them the task that lies before them. He blessed them and then
returned to the Father. Luke 24:50-53,
Then he led them out
as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed
them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped
him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the
temple blessing God.
The Resurrected Christ was raised to sit at the right hand of the Majesty
on High. He returned to his place of authority and power waiting for the day
when all his enemies will be his footstool. The disciples saw, touched and
heard the Risen Christ and believed. They worshipped him with great joy
continually blessing God in the temple.
They encountered the Risen Christ and they believed. Have you
encountered Christ? Have you believed?
Encountering Christ will change you. Our faith is not
some mystical, idle tale like Roy Neary in Close Encounters, but a reasoned
faith grounded the historical eyewitness accounts of those who were there. Let
me close with the words of one of the 500 eyewitnesses that saw the Risen
Christ, the Apostle John says,
That which was from
the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we
looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the
life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to
you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to
us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too
may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and
with his Son Jesus Christ.
That which they had seen and heard, I proclaim to you also that you may
have fellowship with God. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and
yet believe.” Dear friends, listen to those who were there. Believe in
evidence. Believe in the Risen Christ and have eternal life.
[2]
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/05/09/charles-templeton-missing-jesus/
accessed 4.18.15
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