"Thick-Headed and Slow-Hearted" Sermon Manuscript, 4/26

Sermon: Thick-Headed and Slow-Hearted

Text: Luke 24:13-25 (MSG)

The Road to Emmaus

13-16 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

17-18 He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”

19-24 He said, “What has happened?”

They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

25-27 Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

28-31 They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

32 Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”

33-34 They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: “It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!”

35 Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

Two of Jesus’ friends here are walking back to their village, Emmaus. It’s a seven mile walk- plenty of time for them to take stock and discuss everything that had happened over the last week- Jesus had been taken by the chief priests, condemned, crucified to death, buried, and now- his body was gone from the tomb!

Jesus decides to appear to these two as they walked, and asks them, “Hey, what are you guys talking about?”

What a question!

For the Jewish population in Jerusalem, there was surely no one who would NOT have heard everything that happened to Jesus. Just a week before, great crowds heralded His coming into the city on the back of a donkey. They laid down palm branches and shouted “Hosanna!” A week later, they shouted “Crucify Him!” Their wishes were heard, and Jesus, the Messiah, was executed by the Roman Empire, crucified between two thieves.

But not everyone had heard the news that Jesus’ body was gone, that He was risen. Only the small group of Disciples and close friends knew about this, and these two traveling back to Emmaus were part of that inside small group.

So, when this mysterious man shows up and asks, “What are you talking about?” It would be like two people today having a heated discussion about social distancing and lack of goods at the grocery store and businesses closing- what are you talking about- the coronavirus, of course, COVID-19, haven’t you heard about it?

These two tell this mysterious man everything that happened- the whole story. They truly thought Jesus was indeed the Savior, the Messiah, the Son of God who would wipe away the sins of the world and rescue humanity from death forever, but instead, Jesus was put to death, and now His body was gone, and no one knew where it was.

And then, after hearing their story, after listening and sharing the pain of the loss of their friend and Master, this mysterious man asks them a hard question:

“So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”

Thick-headed. Slow-hearted.

These must have been tough things to hear from someone you had never met. Basically, this mysterious man is calling them stupid, dumb, unable to believe, or worse- unwilling.

Seven miles is a good long while to walk. As they continued on their journey to Emmaus, this man began to explain to them what the Scripture said about the Messiah.

I imagine the conversation going something like this- this mysterious man says to the pair as they walked:

“Don’t you remember, the Messiah would come through Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, that the Scepter would remain in Judah, that He would inherit the Kingdom of David? Don’t you remember the Scripture said He would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, that He would go to Egypt, that He would be sinless and destroy the work of the devil?

 Don’t you remember Scripture said the Messiah would come as a sacrifice for mankind and be put to death? That He would teach in parables, and those parables would fall on deaf ears? Don’t you remember that He would be foretold by a prophet, and His ministry would begin in Galilee, and He would draw Gentiles and Jews alike to Himself, that His ministry would be full of miracles? 

And don’t you remember the Scripture says the Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a donkey while the people rejoiced, that He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, that He would be condemned to death, that He would be given vinegar for drink and forsaken, that they would cast lots for His garments, that He would be pierced and He would die, that His blood would be an atonement for sin? 

Don’t you remember Scripture says that the Messiah would be resurrected, that the Messiah would conquer death, and that the Messiah would ascend back to Heaven to prepare a place for humanity and distribute God’s gifts?”

As they neared the village, the pair invited the mysterious man home for supper with them, as it was close to nightfall. The man accepts, goes with them, breaks the bread and blesses it, and as He gives it to them, He vanishes- gone!

Then, just then, this pair, who was called “thick-headed and slow-hearted” before, became less thick and much quicker. They figured out the mystery- “Didn’t our hearts burn when He explained the prophecies in the Scripture about Him?” It was Jesus! They had just walked seven miles talking with the Messiah and didn’t even realize it! Even though it was evening, they jumped up and walked that seven-mile walk right back to Jerusalem to find the Disciples and tell them that they too had seen the Risen Messiah!

What are we thick-headed and slow-hearted about today?

Since we’re all spending tons of time at home right now, lots of people have much more time on their hands to think, to reflect, to spend time with family in their homes and connect to one another, but also, time to think about their faith, something that many up to this point maybe haven’t given much consideration. This is an unprecedented time in our world’s history, the very height of the information age where we are all connected digitally, and yet, now we’re all forced to remain apart physically from one another. God has blessed us with time right now because maybe some of you out there are like me, like this pair walking to Emmaus- thick-headed and slow-hearted.

I remember exactly where I was and what happened when God called me into ministry- It was 2007 at a camp in Minnesota called Presbyterian Clearwater Forest. I had been asked to give the blessing on campers leaving for the week, and so we gathered a pavilion on the shore of the lake, and I began to pray over these children. And I felt a wind- a strong wind, outside but also within, and the voice of the Holy Spirit telling me, “This is what you are supposed to be doing.”

So what did I do, after hearing the voice of God telling me, get yourself into My service? I ran away- I returned back to my teaching job and stayed there, pushing that memory out of my head, but I couldn’t get away from it. I TRIED to be thick-headed and slow-hearted, and God wouldn’t let me. The fire of God’s calling burned within me until I finally broke down and told my wife years later, and all she said was, “When were you going to tell me? I knew since I met you.”

And here we are today. Even when we try to run away from God, even when we bury our heads in the sand, God always finds a way to restore our thickheadedness and slowheartedness. Right now, as we have this time to think and pray and read Scripture and reconnect with God, perhaps Jesus is speaking to us, directly, today.

Jesus is saying, “Don’t you remember I said, ‘do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’”

And I hear Jesus telling us, too “Don’t you remember I said, God loved the world so much He sent His only Son into the world to die for them, so that all who believe in Him will never die, but live forever, because the Son of God didn’t come to condemn anyone, but instead, He came so that everyone might be saved through Him?”

We must listen, especially right now, to what God is saying to us, to the truth God is speaking directly into our hearts. Even though we may try to run from God’s truth, God always finds a way to help us slow down and pay closer attention to Him. We have much time right now- don’t be thick-headed, don’t be slow-hearted! Hear the Gospel truth of Christ Jesus the Messiah, believe, and go love the world and make disciples for Him, so that all may know eternal life.

Go now in peace, in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Amen.

"Beside a Charcoal Fire," Sermon Manuscript, 4/19

John 21: 15-17- 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

People are starting to feel the effects of being quarantined in place this week. We are starting to hear more and more reports coming from the federal and state government press conferences about when the right time will be to open our country back up for business as usual. People in Minnesota and Texas are protesting against stay-at-home orders. This is a difficult time for us all- we are over a month into stay-at-home orders, but I can tell you, as someone who has been through this sickness, even though I only had a mild case, we need to do everything possible to keep everyone safe and healthy. If that means we have to stay home, then we have to stay home.

It feels like we keep hearing some of the same thoughts and slogans- Very rightfully, we have come to recognize all those people on the frontlines, those essential employees as heroes- doctors and nurses and hospital staff, and also grocery workers, from the farmers who grow, to the truckers who deliver, to the store employees working day in and day out to keep shelves stocked so we can eat and enjoy terrible shows on Netflix. And we hear continually, this slogan, ‘We’re all in this together,’ which is so true. And it also reminds me of the High School Musical song whenever I hear it.

Yet, it doesn’t feel like we’re together, does it? That’s because physically, we’re not, and for many, many people, from those who have filed for unemployment and had jobs furloughed to those who lament being able to see and hug family and friends, or shake hands at a Sunday worship service, sure, we are all in the fight together, but to fight effectively, we must physically remain apart, and for most of us, that hurts, day after day.

The good news is that Christ’s Kingdom is all about one thing over all: restoration. God created the earth, we as humans decided to rebel against God, and Christ came and died on the cross and rose again to new life for that reason- to restore us back to right relationship with God. 

In our text here, we have one of my absolute favorite stories in the whole Bible. This may be my most favorite favorite, even over and above the story of David and Goliath, because here in this intimate setting, Jesus appears to Peter and the disciples and restores Peter back into ministry. Here on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after a long night fishing, Jesus appears next to a charcoal fire with some fish and bread grilling and says to Peter and the disciples, “Come and have breakfast.”

We have to rewind a little in order for you to understand the poignancy of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples this early morning.

Jesus and the disciples had the Last Supper on the night He was betrayed by Judas. During that supper, Jesus told the disciples that His body was going to be broken like bread, and His blood would be poured out like wine for them and for all the world. After the supper, Jesus and the disciples went to the Mount of Olives to pray, and Jesus told the disciples, “You will all fall away, for it is written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.” Peter says emphatically, “Even if they all fall away, I will not!” Jesus tells Peter a truth here he maybe doesn’t want to hear, and says, “Peter, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

I love Peter so much, because I identify with him more than any of the other disciples or people from the Bible. He was legit and genuine and made mistake after mistake, but he continued to follow Jesus, even in the midst of his own mistakes. Peter seems to always be the one putting his foot into his mouth, but also, Peter is full of faith and vigor for following Jesus. 

So here, after the Supper, Peter and the disciples keep watch, but fall asleep while Jesus prays, and then soldiers arrive to take Jesus into custody. Peter leaps up and cuts the ear off a guard, and Jesus restores it back and heals this guard, named Malchus. Jesus is then taken into custody to be tried. As they stand outside, waiting, Peter finds himself questioned- “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?” Three times he denies knowing or being with Jesus. Three separate times, just as Jesus foretold. And then a seemingly unimportant detail, in the Gospel of John, chapter 18: “Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.”

Three times, standing around that charcoal fire, Peter denied knowing Jesus. Three times, standing around that charcoal fire, Peter fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy. Three times, standing around that charcoal fire, Peter broke his allegiance to the Messiah.

Jesus is taken, tried, crucified and dies for the sins of humanity. He is laid in a tomb, and three days later, Peter runs in to find out for himself that the tomb is indeed empty. Jesus is resurrected and appears to the disciples once more.

And after this, one day Peter speaks one of the greatest verses in all the Bible. He tells the disciples there with him, “I am going fishing.” Why not? Peter was a fisherman by trade, and they all needed to eat and make some income, and all of you out there who have experienced fishing as a way to get away from the chaos and calamity of the world know just how spiritually fulfilling it can be to spend some time out on the water.

All night long they fished and caught nothing. They didn’t use rods and reels like we do, instead, they used large heavy nets they would throw out into the water and catch the fish and haul them back up into the boat. So, after this long night of throwing nets and catching nothing, early that morning, just at daybreak, someone on the seashore calls out, “Children, do you have any fish?” It’s that same question every person fishing has been asked- “Did you catch anything? How did you do? Are they biting? Did you leave me any to catch?”

At this point after an exhausting night with nothing to show, that question probably stung more than any of them would admit, because their only answer is, “No.”

This person on the shore gives the disciples some unusual directions. “Throw your nets on the other side of the boat, and you will find some.” This was unusual for two reasons, first, they had fished the same waters all night long and caught nothing, and second, generally the dominant hand, for most people, the right hand, was used to cast the net because it was stronger and could clear a greater distance. This person on the shore was telling them to do everything differently, to do what they knew as professional fisherman completely the opposite of what they knew to do and throw across their body with their left hand to the other side of the boat.

They don’t argue. Anything might work at this point, and they find a huge catch of fish, so many they couldn’t even haul in all the fish in the nets, 153 of them they caught! And then Peter remembered the first time he met Jesus, after a long night of fishing and catching nothing,  Jesus was out teaching crowds in a boat, and Peter and his brothers were coming in empty handed, and Jesus said, “Put out into the deep and let your nets down for a catch,” and there Peter and his brothers landed a huge catch, so many fish they had to bring another boat to haul them all in. When they came ashore, Jesus said, “From now on, I’ll make you fishers for people.” Peter remembered that time, three years ago, and dove off the boat and swam to shore to meet Jesus, his Lord, his Messiah.

When Peter makes it to the shore, there’s Jesus, next to a charcoal fire, grilling some fish and bread for His disciples.

Can you imagine what Peter thought when he smelled those charcoal embers burning? Do you think it immediately brought him back to the night two weeks ago when he denied even knowing Jesus, as he stood around a charcoal fire with Roman soldiers, trying to stay warm, even as Jesus was being tried for crimes he never committed? Do you think he felt shame, or dishonor, or guilt, or perhaps just great sadness that around that charcoal fire, he was only concerned about himself, and not his Savior?

Jesus and the disciples have breakfast together there on the shore of the Sea of Galilee at sunrise. What a more beautiful, peaceful Easter moment could there be than this scene? Jesus reunites with these men who followed Him as disciples for three years during His earthly ministry. But the business wasn’t done. Not just yet. Jesus had renamed Peter ‘Cephas,’ which means ‘rock,’ and told him “You are the rock upon which I will build my Church.”

I imagine Jesus taking Peter aside here. “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter recognizes that Jesus is addressing him very formally, not as Simon Peter, not as Peter, certainly not as Cephas. And Peter answers, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” So Jesus responds, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asks Peter again, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter again says, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus implores him, “Tend my sheep.” One last time, Jesus asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter might not have understood completely, but he answers again, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus tells him, “Feed my sheep.”

Here as the smoke swirls from the charcoal fire, just like that night when Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, Jesus restores Peter back into ministry, restores Simon, the son of John back into Cephas, the rock on which the Church would be build. Three times Peter denied, and three times Peter confessed his love for Jesus.

Such is the Kingdom of Christ. Jesus’ great love for the world He created meant that in order to restore it back to righteousness, He would step out of Heaven and become human and die as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. In Christ’s resurrection, we are restored, just as Christ is restored back to perfection.

Jesus doesn’t care what our pasts look like. Jesus is concerned with restoring us back to Him, restoring us back to His heart and His love, which is eternal. The Kingdom of Christ is a kingdom of restoration, forever and ever.

We are all apart from one another right now. And it hurts, some days, sometimes more than others. But if we know the truth and the love and the peace which Jesus offers us, we know that one day, we too shall be restored.

With that in mind, I leave with words from good old Peter himself, from 1 Peter 5: “¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Go in the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ ever towards His restoration- of our world, of our lives, and of one another. In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Easter Sermon, 4/12 "Go and Tell" Sermon Manuscript

Matthew 28:1-10  Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Jesus did not waste any time, did He? 

As a matter of fact here, Jesus sent an angel before He appeared to the women at the tomb, but the message is clear, from both the angel and from Jesus, exactly what He wanted them to do, and what Jesus wants us to do today: Do not be afraid. Go and tell.

Jesus’ angelic messenger tells Mary and Mary, “Do not be afraid, go quickly and tell his disciples he is risen from the dead.” Then Jesus meets them himself before they get out of the garden and tells them the very same thing, from his own lips: “Do not be afraid, go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see me.”

We discussed earlier this morning in the Sunrise Service how these women might have felt, the Message translation of this text says they left with hearts which were deep in wonder and full of joy. How could you not be full of wonder that your friend, your teacher, your master was alive again? Especially after you witnessed his sham trial in a kangaroo court and state execution by crucifixion- you’ve literally just watched your loved one die and be put in the ground, and now here He is, alive once more! How would you not been deep in wonder and full of joy, but our text here says they left with fear and great joy.

There are different kinds of fear, fear can be reverence for something, kind of like how we fear fire- we don’t grab hot pans off the stove, not because we’re scared, but because we don’t want to get burned and know what might happen. There’s also fear that’s being terrified of something to the point that you actively avoid it. In every case, fear equals avoidance, and Jesus did not want these two women He loved, his friends, to be scared of Him in any manner.

What Jesus did goes against the normal rules for being a human. We’re born, we live, we die. But not Christ- not the Son of Man and Son of God- who was indeed fully human, and yet also fully God, and so, even as His human body was nailed to the cross and died, His Divinity would not let Him remain dead in the tomb. Jesus’ resurrection broke the rules for humanity because we broke the rules of God. We sinned, and to pay the debt we owe to God, Christ died on that cross on Golgotha in our place, and as He lives now, if we believe and trust in Him, then we too shall live forever with Him in Heaven.

Jesus shattered the bonds of sin and darkness and there is not time for us to lose.

This is the Gospel. This is the Good News. This was the message the angel and Jesus instructed Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James to take to the disciples: Jesus is alive! Jesus died, and on this Easter Sunday, Jesus is alive now and forevermore!

We’ve celebrated this majestic, miraculous day for 2,000 years as the Church, and yet, despite the miracle, despite the appearance of snow white, lightning angels, and a resurrected Savior, Jesus wasn’t about the fanfare, about the fear, Jesus was about getting His people to work!

Go and tell! Go tell the Good News! Go, right now, quickly, and tell the world that Christ Jesus is risen today! Go and tell them that He lives! He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

And so, this is our mission.

While Jesus walked the earth, He told us the Greatest Commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength, and that a second commandment was like it- to love your neighbors as you love yourself. And after Jesus was raised to life, but before He ascended to Heaven, Jesus gave us the Great Commission, to go into all the world and make disciples.

What could be a better way to do all three together: to love God with everything we are, to love our neighbors, everyone everywhere all over the world, than by fulfilling this mission, this Great Commission: to Go and Tell.

In our celebration of our Risen King, go tell the world of Jesus and His great love, a love for all of us, for all of humanity, a love so great He stepped out of Heaven, took upon Himself human flesh and gave His own life for us as a sacrifice so that through Him, we might have an eternal home in Heaven.

We praise Jesus for His great and mighty works in defeating death, and now the mission has passed on from Mary, and Mary, and the disciples to us. It’s up to us now to Go and Tell.

As we come to a close this Easter Sunday, I would like to offer you the lyrics to my favorite Easter Hymn, “Up from the Grave He Arose:”

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,

waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,

vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;

he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave he arose;

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

he arose a victor from the dark domain,

and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed.

Now Go and Tell.

Happy Easter!