Easter Sunday
Sermon Notes
1. WHAT KEPT THEIR EYES FROM SEEING?
A. Was Jesus’ glorified state hard to recognise?
In the resurrection accounts Jesus is often not recognised at first. Here in Luke 24:15-16. Mary
Magdalene in John 20:15). The disciples in Luke 24:37. If making up a story you wouldn’t include
this sort of detail. If you were making it up you would say ‘we knew him at once!’ If you wanted to
be convincing you would change the story to “we knew him the second we saw him!” But this is a
sign of authenticity, of real life. Real life contains doubt and failure to recognise.
B. Were their eyes clouded by despair?
Take Home And Discuss Reflect Question
Luke 24:13-34
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from
Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While
they were talking and discussing together,
Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?”
And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the
only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief
priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped
that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these
things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early
in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen
a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb
and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish
ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the
Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the
Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew
near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged
him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he
went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and
broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished
from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on
the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to
Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying,
“The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.”
A deep mystery? At the heart of this story is something unsaid! Guess and wonder! The way we deal
with this mystery may just change everything!
In my grief I have failed to recognise people. Grief, sadness, despair and depression certainly do
warp our vision. If you are experiencing depression, grief, or despair, then please understand that
your vision is warped. You are wearing brown glasses – everything you see is coloured by the poo!
Don’t trust that things are as hopeless as you feel right now. Get help now! Jold on and do not
accept that how you feel is permanent!
C. Did God prevent their eyes from seeing?
The verb ‘kept from recognising’ is what they call a ‘passive’ verb. It does not say “their eyes did
not recognise” but “their eyes were kept from recognising”. And this is a special thing that ancient
writers did when they wanted to say God did something. This is a special way ancients wrote
called ‘the divine passive’. It is most likely that that Luke who wrote this down was saying that
their eyes were kept from recognising Jesus BY GOD. Why would God do that?
Isaiah 45:15 “Truly you are a God who hides, O God the Saviour of Israel!”
Perhaps it was necessary for them to go through this dark time, to grieve, and to not see. What
purpose would God have in this? Perhaps you need to see God is still with you even when you
can’t see. Perhaps you are being called to trust that God has a purpose in the darkness too?
2. WHAT OPENED THEIR EYES TO SEE?
That he walked with them? The prophecies? The explanations? Fresh air?
Getting some perspective? The road? Going home? The breaking of bread? God? If so how?
3. WHAT ARE YOUR EYES NOT SEEING?
I’m basically stupid. I don’t see things that are right in front of me all the time. Often I search the
same rooms over and over again for something that’s in my pocket. Sometimes I fail to recognise
God’s amazing power and grace all around. Our searching sometimes gets in the way of being
found because we search for our idea of what God is – we seek power and the obvious rather than
listening for God on the dark road. Jesus walks the road with you - closer than your heartbeat.
God loves you more than you can imagine. To know that love changes everything and opens eyes.
Perhaps today your prayer needs to be not ‘change my situation’ or ‘rescue me from this road’ but
instead ‘open my eyes to see you here on the road I walk?’ Eyes opened by the Holy Spirit change
everything! My prayer for you is that this Easter you will truly see.
- Pastor Matt Thiele, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Buderim, 05-12-2015