Rev. Roland J. Wells, Jr. - Pastor

The Third Sunday of Easter - April 14, 2002

Lessons: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35

"By Word and Sacrament"

Hmmm- lots of props up here today- a virtual museum of sermon illustrations-

A bow, arrow and target; three stones and a hammer- Mr. Potatohead; A Red Wing jug;

And do you remember the canoe, the churn, the 2 x 4s, and the talking sheep, the time lines, white board, posters, and the exploding box?

And best of all, the flash pot! Twice now, I've used the theatrical flashpot- the thing goes 'Flash!' 'Boom!' and you all jump about six inches and then a smoke ring curls to the ceiling.

Troy and I were talking about sermon illustrations the other day; I still think the best ones explode-

Now when you see that flash pot there, you just know it's going to go off at some point in the sermon. You think it's going to go flash-bang- at some point to illustrate a sermon point. Here's the switch- but when? When will the surprise come?

I) The Familiar Story of the Emmaus Road

I've been reading our Gospel text for several weeks now. I've seen this text come around through the lectionary 22 times since I've been ordained. Every year we hear the story of Jesus and the Road to Emmaus. It's one of those rare stories that comes around every year.

I've preached on it many times; but this year, as I studied the text, some new thoughts struck me. We're used to the story- it's Easter evening. Jesus slips up alongside a couple of his followers, and they are 'kept from recognizing him.' That's odd; sort of like Tom Sawyer listening to his own funeral- they explain all the terrible and surprising things that have happened- it's a bit humorous, but the scene develops. He explains Scripture to them; then they sit for a meal, and... he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

They recognize him and say further, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Now, the odd thing, as we look at this story is how very plain the whole thing is. Sure, you've got a man newly raised from the dead popping in and out, but in the first three gospels, except for the fact of Jesus popping in and out, there are no miracles. In fact, there is one non-miracle which is notable-

(Luke 24:36-43) While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." [37] They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. [38] He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? [39] Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." [40] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. [41] And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" [42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [43] and he took it and ate it in their presence. Here the striking thing was - he was normal!

II) We're Used to Miracles

We're used to hearing about Jesus' miracles- he says to the man, 'Your sins are forgiven' and the Pharisees get all huffy, so Jesus says, 'Which is easier, to say your sins are forgiven, or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk.'- so he says to the guy, 'Rise take up your pallet and walk'. The miracle illustrates the story; the miracle sets up the action; the miracle backs up his words- the tension of the story is created or resolved by the miracle. He does them when they're needed; he shows his power; he delivers those in need. The miracles illustrate Jesus' Words with power and authority.

Time and time again we've seen miracles here. We've seen miraculous healings. We have a couple people in our midst who should have been dead years ago. We've seen God provide half a million dollars come when we needed it most, to bring us through the most difficult times, and give us the ability to move forward when everything around us looked impossible.

We've seen people filled with God's Spirit, we've seen gifts evidenced; we've seen lives changed and a lot of young lives touched by the power of the Gospel. We know our God does miracles. But getting back to our Gospel-

And then Jesus is raised from the dead, and we have only one miracle- a bunch of fish are caught again in John 21- then he cooks breakfast.

III) Jesus Does Come to us!

What I found remarkable this time as I read and re-read these familiar texts is how this very remarkable Jesus comes to them. He opens the Scriptures. They recognize him in the blessing of the bread and wine.

This is not how the story ends if it was in a comic book or an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. No, if indeed he hero was to remarkably come back alive, he's be bigger than life, he'd probably be 60 feet tall, with machine guns, or bazookas, and he'd be more powerful than ever, blasting the bad guys and kicking some serious tunic.

That's the amazing thing about our risen Lord. He doesn't need to do miracles. He's proven himself. He's been raised from the dead, and now he comes to us where- in the Word, in the Sacrament.

That's where he's decided to come. That's how he comes to his disciples- and their heart burn within them. Do we realize what we have when we go to God's Word- Jesus promises us, 'My word is Spirit and Life.' (John 6:63)

We become so amazed at the story of that revival over there, or that phenomenon over here- and God does graciously and sovereignly move- but does that make it real Christianity? Does it make the sermon to make the flashpot go bang? If you never saw a miracle, would you believe? The risen Jesus appears to his disciples again and again; he said, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

In Matthew there are no post-resurrection appearances until he meets them on the mountain- all we get is the Great Commission- isn't that enough? Mark has little to say, and we've heard most of Luke.

That's it. One miracle - of fish- the same as they started with, back when Jesus called them away from the fish. (Lk 5) Jesus comes to you, always and faithfully in those same ways, in his Word, and his Sacraments. His Word promises that he will always meet you when you go to his Living Word; when you receive him in Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Those are faithful ways he has promised to always meet you. Do you believe that?

If that were not enough, why did he use those as his ways of revealing himself to his disciples? He could have done literally anything to show his Resurrection power. Instead he opened the Scriptures and they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.

Do we really understand what we're dealing with when we hear the promises? Do we realize that we will always hear the voice of the Living God when we go to his Word? Do we really believe that?

Do we take Jesus at his Word when he says, (John 6:53-56) "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. [54] Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. [55] For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. [56] Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.

This does not mean God doesn't do miracles today; we should expect them, because his Word tells us. But it's the Word. Do we need the flashpot to make the sermon effective? Or is the Word enough? Do we need the flash of emotions, or of ecstasy or phenomenon to make it real? Or is the Word enough?

Or if our Risen Lord Jesus opens the Bible to us, and it comes alive; if it was good enough for Jesus to give that to his disciples, should we look seriously at its importance? Is it enough? Do we really expect God to work in us as he said he would? If our Risen Lord Jesus comes to his disciples as he gives them his supper; isn't that enough? Do we really expect that the Living God will meet us in his Supper? Is his promise enough? Do we believe he meets us there? Maturity expects a Living God to meet us, to work in history, to keep his promises, to answer prayer, to give gifts, to empower for service, to make urgent in witness- all because his Word says it will be so. But he gives us those promises and meets us in that Word. His Spirit meets us and interacts with us through these things.

There is a deep tension here, that the Living Savior comes to his followers in a book, and in bread and wine. But amazingly, that's how he showed himself. That's how he decided to reveal himself, and he promised very specifically to always and faithfully meet us there. Does a sermon have power, even if nothing explodes?

The call and power of God are there; we've talked about these things so many times; but when we see Jesus reveal himself, he comes to them in Word and Sacrament. As we close today, ponder the depth of what Jesus is giving you, as he reveals himself to you there. Even if you never saw another miracle. Does a sermon have power, even if nothing explodes? Amen (The flashpot never did go off!)

3^rd Sunday After Easter-April 14, 2002

Acts 2:14, 36-41

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:...

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." [37] When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" [38] Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

[40] With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." [41] Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

1 Peter 1:17-23

Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. [18] For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. [20] He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. [21] Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

[22] Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. [23] For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Luke 24:13-35

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [16] but they were kept from recognizing him.

[17] He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. [18] One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

[19] "What things?" he asked.

"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. [20] The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; [21] but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. [22] In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning [23] but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. [24] Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." [25] He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

[28] As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. [29] But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

[30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. [32] They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" [33] They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together [34] and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." [35] Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.