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But The Greatest Of These Is Love

Lesson #3

RESURRECTING LOVE

Intro

1. Can you imagine having Jesus taken away from you?

If you’ve been saved for very long, it may very well be difficult for you to go

back in your mind to a time when you knew life without Christ; many of us were

saved as children.

For others, you know how empty life was without Jesus in it. He’s always there

for you when you pray. As you read your Bible, you sense His presence in the

very words you read. When you come to church to worship, you know the

presence of God in your heart and in the worship services of our congregation.

But...what if Jesus were gone...suddenly, quickly, but surely gone from your

life.

What would you be thinking right now? What would you be feeling emotionally?

2. When Jesus died on that cross the disciples and people that regularly walked and talked

with Him, immediately sensed the loss of Jesus in their lives, something even in

my most backslidden condition, I’ve never known.

They mourned Him as a lost Friend, yes, but that’s not it.

They mourned Him as a fallen national Hero, yes, but that’s not it.

They mourned Him as their Messiah, their Savior, the One upon Whom all their

hopes were built.

Just take some time to ponder that kind of loss.

3. Significant loss brings discouragement, depression, and despair.

*******

I. THE ROAD TO DESPAIR

A. Read Luke 24:13-14.

1. These two men were disciples of Jesus.

a) They may have been among the 72 men Jesus sent out to

heal the sick. (Read Luke 10:9)

b) And they were with the 11 disciples when Mary Magdalene and

the other women came with the incredible news that Sunday

morning.

c) When the news that Jesus had risen came, how did they

respond?

• Read Luke 24:11.

• They simply did not believe them.

2. Here are two of those disciples who heard the words, but were traveling

the road to Emmaus...they held on to their disbelief and doubt.

3. Why do you think they were going to Emmaus? We are not told, but

it may have been just to get away from the cloud of despair hanging

over Jerusalem at this time.

4. Regardless, this physical journey was about to become a spiritual

journey that these two men would never forget.

5. Can you name some of the appearances of Jesus after the resurrection?

#1. To Mary Magdalene.

#2. To the women who were returning to the tomb.

#3. To the 10 disciples in the upper room.

#4. To Peter.

#5. To these two traveling disciples.

• It is interesting that the most detailed of all the accounts,

is this one.

• It is an appearance to two “unknowns.” These two men are

not specifically mentioned up to this point in Scripture. Cleopas makes his debut in this chapter, and the other one goes without being named.

• Isn’t that just like Jesus? He is not partial to people who are

unknown; He does not gravitate toward individuals

who are famous. He comes to the meekest and

weakest of us...to bring us His joy and gladness.

6. The verses we are about to study today may be one of the most dramatic

passages in the New Testament. It is like a three-act play:

Act 1 - On the Road Between Jerusalem & Emmaus

Act 2 - On the Road With a Mysterious Stranger

Act 3 - In a Humble Home Sharing a Meal

*******

I. THE THREE-ACT DRAMA

Act 1: Discouragement

1. There are three levels to discouragement:

#1. Doubt - They heard the testimony of Mary Magdalene and the other

women, but still.... “Let’s be realistic,” they reasoned.

#2. Disappointment -Disbelief turns to disappointment and gloom as they thought the Messiah had finally arrived in the Person of Jesus.

At the crucifixion of Jesus all their dreams had been crucified

with Him.

#3. Despair - They now had no hope at all. It’s been three whole days

since the crucifixion; there was no real proof to validate all

these rumors.

2. They walked back to Emmaus very discouraged. The word “sad” in verse 17 means

“downcast.”

Act 2: Dialogue

1. Suddenly a mysterious man appears in the midst of all this discouragement.

a) Note the words in verse 15: “...Jesus himself drew near....”

b) Where there had been two walking, now there were three.

2. Consider all that these two men did believe:

(v.19) #1. They believed Jesus was a great prophet.

(v.19) #2. They believed Jesus did mighty miracles.

(v.21) #3. They believed Jesus was to be the Redeemer.

(...”we trusted...”; past tense)

It’s amazing how much one can believe about Jesus,

and not believe enough.

3. They needed to believe Jesus was a risen Savior.

It is possible to be a Christian and not UNDERSTAND the resurrection.

It is NOT possible to be a Christian and not BELIEVE in the resurrection.

I Corinthians 15:17...

And if Christ be not raised,

your faith is vain;

ye are yet in your sins.

4. So these two disciples believed everything, but the essential thing.

5. Why do you think Jesus asks:

“Why are you sad?” (v.17) and then ...

“What things?” (v.19)

a) As in other times, to expose their lack of faith.

b) Only at the appropriate moment did Jesus open the Scriptures to them.

c) Jesus proves here that you can learn about Him from the Old Testament...

...from Moses and the prophets.

6. Wouldn’t you loved to have been a part of this Bible Study? Just listening in?

7. Jesus acted as if he would go on ahead with them, but they urged him to go with them

and spend the night---and he did go with them toward the village. (v.28-29)

Act 3: Discovery

1. When they arrived at the home (perhaps of one of the disciples), they sat down for an

evening meal.

2. Read verse 30.

a) Verse 35 says that Jesus was known to them at the breaking of the bread.

b) Can you picture this scene in your mind?

3. David Jeremiah says this about this scene:

Think with me. The two men have been on a long journey, and it had been a long day. they were emotionally spent. They came in and sat down at the table, and Jesus took over. It wasn’t His home, yet He broke custom by distributing the food. He asked the blessing. He presided over the meal, even though He was a guest. He took the bread, began to prepare it, broke off a couple of pieces, and handed them to the men. There did you see it?

Cleopas and the other man looked down. they took the bread out of Jesus’ hand. And what did they see? A nail print. Can you imagine their reaction?

4. Jesus quickly vanished out of their sight.

5. Just how changed do you think these men were now?

a) Read verses 32-34.

b) Remember how discouraged, tired, and hungry these men were?

c) But now they get up in the night and go back to Jerusalem, some seven-plus

miles, just to find the disciples?!

d) Read verse 35... it’s as if they couldn’t stop talking about Jesus!

*******

II. THE HOPE FOUND IN THE RESURRECTION

A. Christians And Hope

1. Saved people understand that they love a Savior, not the memory of a

good man or a good teacher.

It’s a relationship with a Man who has been victorious over death.

2. Because He was victorious over death and the grave, we have a hope

that is centered in Him. This is not the hope that a worldling might

would experience, something akin to wishing.

3. Our full-expectation is to experience being resurrected to a new body

and to eternal life, all of which Jesus demonstrated to us and

promises us in His Word.

B. The World’s Kind of Hope

1. Alfred Hitchcock used to have a nightly television show that demonstrate

real life in the real world, a world without hope.

2. One of his episodes came from a classic short story about a wicked

woman who had been guilty of murder and sentenced to life in

prison. The courtroom scene depicts her in a rage of anger, screaming at the judge, vowing that, no matter where she was imprisoned, she would escape and she would come back for him.

As she rode the bus into the prison, she noticed outside the walls

of the prison something that would become a part of her escape

plan. She saw an old man, a prison inmate, covering up a grave

outside the prison walls. This old man had a key to the prison

gate; she was determined to get his key.

Later she learned that this old man’s job was to build the caskets

for the prisoners when they died, put them on an old cart, take them

to the state cemetery, lower them into a grave, and cover them up.

After a great deal of coaxing and persuading, the old man agreed

to help her escape and in return she would pay for his cataract

surgery, because he was slowly going blind.

Their plan consisted of listening for the next ringing of the prison

bell, signaling that another prisoner had died; she would then slip

out of the prison ward and go to the shop and locate the casket in

which the old man placed the dead prisoner. She would then secretly

slide herself into that same casket and pull the top down tightly.

Early the next morning the old man was to put the casket on the cart

and roll it out to the graveyard for burial. And the next day he would

come back, uncover the grave, release the lid on the casket, and she

would be free.

A perfect plan...almost.

Late one night she heard the tolling of the bell, signaling someone

had died. This was her moment of escape. She quietly slipped out

of bed and went to the room and saw the casket prepared for

the next day’s burial. Without hesitation, she slipped into the dark

box, squeezing in beside the corpse. She pulled the lid down tightly.

Within a few hours, she could feel the wheels rolling her to

freedom. As soon as she felt herself lowered in the grave, she

heard the sound of clumps of dirt hitting the lid of the casket.

Before long she was sealed beneath the earth. Still smiling, her

excitement for release was almost more than she could bear,

knowing she would have fooled them all. Time began to drag.

The next day came and went and the old man didn’t show up to

release her. Now she began to worry. Her air supply was

diminishing and she broke into a cold sweat. Where was he?

Why hadn’t he come?

In a moment of panic, she lit a match and glanced at the corpse

beside her, and... it was the old man himself who had died.

She screamed and the match went out; her only hope lay buried

right beside her.

3. Sadly, men who died without Jesus have no hope.

C. The Encouragement of the Resurrection

1. The greatest act of love man will ever know is the giving of Jesus Christ

to our world.

What the world needs now is.... Jesus. Through His death, burial,

and resurrection, Jesus has written the word hope in every heart.

Because He lives, we, too, shall live.

2. Remember the words to the chorus...

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know, He holds the future,

And life is worth the living, just because He lives.

*******

CONCLUSION:

1. We should have two responses to today’s lesson:

#1. We should express gratitude to our Father for eternal life.

• Read I Corinthians 15:57...

But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory through

our Lord Jesus Christ.

#2. We must share Christ with others.

• Read I Corinthians 15:58...

Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast, unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour

is not in vain in the Lord.

2. Who can you encourage this week?

a) Who needs an encouraging card or letter?

b) Someone needs an invitation to eat lunch or supper with you?

c) Is there someone you could volunteer to help study for a test?

d) Is there an elderly person in the church who needs an encouraging visit?

e) Someone may just need a baby sitter for an evening?

3. The ministry of encouragement involves:

#1. Genuine concern

#2. Willingness to take risks

#3. Personal sacrifice

#4. Persistence in serving

#5. Being alert to the needs of others

#6. Providing relief from their pressures and burdens

4. Will you let the Lord use YOU to encourage someone else in the ministry?