Sermons Preached In Moody Texas

Moody-Leon United Methodist Church

Luke 24:36-48

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost 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. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. 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, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “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. You are witnesses of these things.

Jerry Rice, who played for football’s San Francisco 49ers, was considered by many experts the best receiver in the NFL. He was once asked, “Why did you attend a small, obscure university like Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi?”

Rice responded, “Out of all the big-time schools (such as UCLA) to recruit me, MVSU was the only school to come to my house and give me a personal visit.”

The big-time schools sent cards, letters, and advertisements, but only one showed Rice personal attention.

– Edward J. Robinson, Urbana, Illinois. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 1.

Jesus made a personal appearance. He came to them in a room in Jerusalem. Jesus is making a personal appearance today. He is coming in the midst of Holy Communion. As United Methodist we believe in the presence of Christ in this Holy Meal. We also believe that God came to us - a personal visit - in Jesus Christ.

Jesus appeared. The disciples first thought they were encountering the dead, not the living, but Jesus did not appear as a ghost or spirit. He did not even appear as a resurrected body. Yes, he showed them his hands and feet. He told them to touch him so they might feel his body. He ate fish with them to demonstrate his bodily resurrection.

But Jesus came in far more than a resurrected body. He appears as a resurrected, crucified body. This is the Christ who died on the cross for them. This is the Christ who died on the cross for you and me. This is the Christ who died on the cross for those we like the least.

Jesus said, “When I was still with you I told you my story.” Jesus said, “that everything written about me must be fulfilled.” “The law of Moses, the prophets, the psalms.” “They have all pointed to my suffering, death, & resurrection.”

Luke is reminding us of the consistent faithfulness of God. The point is that all of these events should be understood as fulfilling the Scriptures - The record of God’s redemptive acts.

Luke is reminding us that our heritage did not begin with the foundation of this church. It did not begin in 1784 with the Christmas Conference at Lovely Lane Chapel in Baltimore. It did not begin with the birth of Jesus that first Christmas, but our heritage began - “In the beginning…” All of Scripture is a story of OUR heritage.

NEXT Jesus performs a miracle. He opened their minds to understand the scriptures– to understand that the Messiah must suffer and rise on the 3rd day. Often at a funeral, we hear how Jesus’ resurrection has overcome death. The apostle Paul even reminded us: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

While that is true, that is not Luke’s message for us today. Farley Snell suggests that Luke answers the Why? question. Why must Jesus suffer and 3 days later rise? Not to only or primarily overcome death, but “that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name.” Sometimes A Surprising Word, Farley Snell, p103

The world needs to hear repentance & forgiveness of sins proclaimed in the name of Jesus Christ. We have been given that mission.

Aimee was in nursery school, she’d come home each day with drawings, collages, and other projects. Next to her own name she’d scrawl the name of someone she loved–usually Mommy or Daddy, sometimes baby brother Ben. “I did this for you,” she’d proudly say.

If Aimee could do every school project for her mom or for her dad, surely we can do our “projects” for our heavenly Father. How often do we ask ourselves, “Have I written my Lord’s name on all I’ve have done today?”

Today we are not focusing on all that we do each day. Today we are called to proclaim repentance & forgiveness in the name of our Lord, that the person next to you may need to hear. The uniqueness of the Easter message is that it invariably changes the lives of those who find themselves touched by it.

Maxie Dunnam has written, “Few things are as hollow as a relationship intended for passion that instead is marked by mere duty.”

God seeks a relationship with us through Jesus Christ - A relationship filled with passion.

We are called to proclaim to all nations in the name of Jesus Christ, a message of repentance and forgiveness of sins. So where do we begin? Jesus said to his disciples, “Begin in Jerusalem.” That’s where they were at that moment.

We are called to begin right where we are. To begin in this church, in this town, in this very moment. You can begin right now as we come to our Lord’s table. You are invited to come into the presences of The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

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