Luke 24:13-35 Acts 2:14a, 36-41 1 Peter 1:17-23
Have you ever worked on a problem, whether it was math, or a puzzle, mystery, raising children, something at work, interpersonal relationships, finance, or anything else, that just had you stuck and your brain spinning in circles? And then, suddenly, there was some kind of clarity and the answer just popped into your head. These things have been called “aha” or lightbulb moments, epiphany, revelation, dawn, and likely a few other things. But one moment you were baffled, confused, and in a fog, and the next moment you were certain that you knew what to do. These moments of inspiration and revelation are rare and valuable, but what is more important than having such a moment is what you do with it. If you suddenly realize how to fix your problem, but do nothing, then you still have the same problem. That is the situation that we find in our scriptures this morning and the first of these is found in Luke 24:13-35, and the story that we refer to as the Walk to Emmaus, which says:
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven milesfrom 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 the only one visiting Jerusalem who does 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 they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah 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 continued on 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.
There are several things here that are important. First, Jesus begins walking with Cleopas and his friend, and they are surprised that he is unaware of the happenings surrounding Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as if it were a common topic of discussion and gossip most everywhere. Second, though they admit that the women had told them that he was alive, Jesus admonished them for foolishness and slowness to believe, not only what the women had said, but what the prophets had foretold. The men then invite Jesus to stay the night because walking in the dark was foolishly dangerous and, as Jesus breaks bread with them, they suddenly have their revelation and realize with whom they have been walking and talking all afternoon and evening. Despite the danger of the night, they immediately rush back to Jerusalem where the eleven disciples and those gathered with them confirm that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead and had appeared to Simon Peter.
And next, you may remember, as Peter stood in the Temple courts, he addressed the crowd and said that he had had his own epiphany, and finally realized that God does not show favoritism, and had commanded them to tell others the story because they were witnesses to what had happened. And, in that same setting, we hear Peter continue his speech in Acts 2:14a, 36-41.
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
36 “Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
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.
As the people hear Peter’s speech, they have their lightbulb moment and suddenly Peter’s words help them to make sense of the things that they had seen and the stories that they had heard. And, as soon as they have this revelation, they ask Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do?” They understand that now that they finally put the pieces together, now that they finally comprehend what had happened and what it all meant, that something must be done with that knowledge. And Peter has the answer saying, “Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” But we should note that Peter also tells them that they must save themselves “from this corrupt generation.” The meaning of that is fairly obvious, that the teaching of the temple was, to some degree, corrupted by teachers who wanted to maintain their power and authority more than they wanted to teach the whole truth, but Peter’s words also have some important implications for the church, for us, that we will shortly see.
Taken as a whole, what does this all mean for us, and why does it matter two millennia later? And for that, let’s begin with Peter’s own words in 1 Peter 1:17-23 where he writes:
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners 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 ancestors, 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 each other, 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.
This is addressed to us, to the church, to believers, for now, and for all time. This is personal. Peter uses the pronoun “you” or “your” no less than seven times. He says that because you call on God, then you should live your life in reverence as if you were a foreigner. You know that you were not rescued by wealth or houses or things that will pass with time, but by the sacrifice of Jesus. It is because of him that the path to God was opened so that you could have faith and hope. You have now been purified by your obedience and love; you are commanded to love one another even more deeply. And, because you have been born again, your life is now imperishable and eternal through the living and eternal power of God.
In this, Peter tells us a lot about how we should live our lives as the followers of Jesus Christ. Live in reverence to God in recognition that we are foreigners, not in this country, but in our culture and in our world. This world is where we live, but it is not our home. Remember that our intellect, money, and power are not ever things that can save us, but only the sacrifice of Jesus and, because we have been saved and purified, we must now love one another even more deeply than we did before and love the people around us more deeply than our culture can imagine.
But also remember what Peter said in the temple courts: Just as it was so in the first century, each generation must save themselves from the corruption that surrounds them. We must recognize that not every political or religious leader loves truth more than they love power and our calling is to hold tight to the truth even if, and when, that means speaking truth to power and telling leaders that we love that they are wrong. And that, as I mentioned before, sends out expanding ripples of implication. Speaking truth to power, or even just rejecting the teaching of respected politicians or religious leaders can come at great personal risk, but we are called to do so anyway. In addition, as lovers of the truth, we cannot keep the truth to ourselves. If a new disease caused a global pandemic that was killing millions, or hundreds of millions of people, and you knew how to cure it, it would be nothing short of monstrous to keep it to yourself, or only in a small circle of friends. If we knew how to save the people around us from certain death, and chose not to do so, what kind people would we be?
And what we have learned from Jesus, and from Peter, is that this is exactly the kind of life-saving information with which we have been entrusted.
What kind of people would we be if we did not share how the people around us can be rescued from certain death?
That is our “aha” moment, our epiphany, and the dawn of our realization.
What kind of people would we be if we did not share how the people around us can be rescued from certain death?
We cannot be that kind of people.
What will we do…
…the day after the dawn?
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*You have been reading a message presented at Christ United Methodist Church on the date noted at the top of the first page. Rev. John Partridge is the pastor at Christ UMC in Alliance, Ohio. Duplication of this message is a part of our Media ministry, if you have received a blessing in this way, we would love to hear from you. Letters and donations in support of the Media ministry or any of our other projects may be sent to Christ United Methodist Church, 470 East Broadway Street, Alliance, Ohio 44601. These messages are available to any interested persons regardless of membership. You may subscribe to these messages, in print or electronic formats, by writing to the address noted, or by contacting us at secretary@CUMCAlliance.org. These messages can also be found online at https://pastorpartridge.com . All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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