Author: missionspaul

Dead but alive in Christ

Luke 24: 36-43

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ ³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’ ⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

 

If you have lost a loved one then you are often wondering what they are doing now.

We know that eventually the 2 worlds, heaven and earth will come together and be re-created into something completely new that will accommodate our own post-death resurrected bodies.

What will we look like? What are our loved ones who died in Christ doing now?

1. Jesus had nothing physical limiting him.
2. Jesus could talk.
3. Jesus was not a ghost, he had a body.
4. Jesus was recognisable.
5. Jesus could eat.

It is of great comfort to know that those who have died in the Lord are continuing to live.

Turning your road of despair into a road of joy

Luke 24: 25-35

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 further. 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 recognised 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 recognised by them when he broke the bread.

 

How did their road of despair change to a road of joy?

1. The Scriptures. When the Bible is opened up and when we see truths that were once hidden a fire is lit within us, a consuming one. We may not know at the time the full extent of the work of God within us but the Bible is changing our despair into joy.
2. The Invitation. Simple that it may be. An invitation to the stranger to stay. It looked like kindness but it was also their desire to be with this stranger, to possess what he had. A desire to learn, a longing for more, an inquisitive heart and a passion to pursue are all traits that lead to changing despair into joy.
3. Was it the table and the way they sat down? Was it the way he took the bread? The way he gave thanks? The way he broke it? Or the obvious: the nail prints? Whatever it was they once couldn’t understand or recognise him but now the communion table turned their despair into joy.
4. The experience of resurrection. They didn’t need an empty tomb. They didn’t need further conversations and worshipful moments. He was gone. But He had been there. The impact of His presence was still there after He had gone and it turned their despair into joy.
5. They returned. It seems they had been going home to their village but this was not the moment for retreat but for return. You can return in the darkest of nights when you have the light burning within. They retraced their steps in the dark until they found the house where they had presumably come from. Their return unravelled the road of despair and created a new road of joy.
6. ‘It is true’ exclaimed the Eleven. Finding someone who knows what you have gone through is so valuable. ‘He has appeared to Simon’. Finding someone who has also gone down a personal road of despair is also valuable. Finding the right people around you will lead to your own road of despair turning into a road of joy!

The road of despair has a beautiful stranger on it.

Luke 24: 13-24

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from 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.”

It is unclear exactly where Emmaus was situated apart from it being 7 miles from Jerusalem. It is not important where it is nor why the 2 people were going there.

We may find ourselves on the long road to Emmaus. It is long because the journey is so tough. Not because of the dangers we encounter on the road. But It is what we have just left behind.

1. They were replaying the traumatic event, the death of their best friend.
2. Their walk slowed up, the story was a heavy burden and it slowed them down. (Jesus seemingly caught them up).
3. They were a picture of gloom in contrast to the face of Jesus.
4. They struggle with the fact that life goes on and this stranger doesn’t appear to have even heard of their big news story.
5. They had once been people of hope, but now it is lost.
6. They had heard of the testimonies of the women and Peter and John. It was the third day and if Jesus was going to be alive then why hasn’t anyone seen him.

Are you on the road to Emmaus?

You have gone through trauma and you are going through every moment in your mind.

Life is a drudge, getting through the day is such a slog.

You have lost your joy.

You are privately frustrated that others don’t share your gloom.

You have lost hope.

You are agitated because people are talking of spiritual experiences regarding this trauma, but what good is that to you?

The road to Emmaus is a difficult one.

But you are never alone.

Even if today you do not recognise it.

Stop the division start running

Luke 24: 9-12

“When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”

Women were not credible witnesses in that generation. If this was a made-up story then why have the first witnesses of an empty tomb being women?

These women seemed to be speaking nonsense. If this was a made-up story then why not have the disciples believing the report straight away?

We know it is not a made-up story, it is true.

But there seems to be mayhem at Disciples HQ. The women were trying to convince them of the fact that the body was not there and the disciples dismissing their stories. As they continued to discuss 2 men have a better idea than those willing to fall-out, they set off running as fast as they could. Luke has Peter running and in the gospel of John he mentions himself outrunning him to the tomb though he doesn’t enter it. Peter on the other hand runs right into the tomb, he wants to investigate it thoroughly, he bends down over where the body had been, the linen was left behind; the body cannot have been stolen for they would have taken the expensive cloth if so.

Whilst Peter is having an empty tomb experience the other disciples are back at HQ questioning, discussing, debating the theories, caught up in the nonsense.

Where do you want to be?

You may not grasp everything there is. But you have a choice.

Are you going to get caught up with divisions and arguments over what people have experienced etc or are you going to move and have an experience yourself? Are you going to pursue God again? Are you going to run?

Revelation needs remembering.

Luke 24: 1-8

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

 

When we misinterpret the revelation then we are often standing in places where He is not.

He had told them many times that he would rise again.

They probably either believed Jesus was meaning the Jewish thought of an end-time resurrection of all of God’s children. Or perhaps that someone would carry the spirit of Jesus on. Or maybe it was just that they had zero faith.

It is incredible to think that the disciples are not at the tomb waiting for Jesus to rise on the 3^rd day. It is also hard to believe that the women who were there had their spices with them to anoint the dead body. No one was ready for the resurrection. Even though he had told them many times.

If you find yourself absent of the presence of the Lord. Then maybe you need to think again. What are you doing at this point in your life? Go back in your mind. Retrace your steps. Get out the old promises, the ones you marked in your Bible or stuck on your fridge. Remember. You may be standing in the wrong place.

When you lose the vote …

Luke 23: 50-56

“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵² Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. ⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”

 

The process of the deterioration of the dead body took some time. The bodies would be laid on ledges inside the tombs and coated with various spices to offset the smell. Once the process had been completed they bones would be placed in a box for the family, the ossuary.

But Jesus’ body was laid in a tomb where there was no one else. His was the only body in that tomb.

Luke is keen to point out that there were eyewitnesses to where Jesus had been placed, there was no confusion. It was Joseph’s tomb. Secondly, the women knew where it was, when they returned with spices after observing the Sabbath, they would not be wondering where it was, they would not get it wrong. Thirdly, something very important. Not all the Religious Council found Jesus guilty and deserving of death.

Someone had said NO. He had not consented. It means he did not vote the way of the majority. There was at least one other. John in his gospel (19:39-40) tells us that a colleague named Nicodemus was also of the same mind as Joseph. He had encountered Jesus during one amazing night some time previously and was now a believer.

But notice something profound.

Saying NO can result in you having to take responsibility for the majorities YES.

Who went courageously to Pilate to ask for the body?

Mark writes that he went boldly, he took the risk. (15:43)

Who had to lower the cross to the floor?

Who had to pull out the horrible nails in the body?

Imagine the sadness of this.

Who then wrapped the body in a linen cloth and carried it to a new tomb?

The women who followed knew.

It was the one who had lost the vote.

When you lose the vote you can be seen to do the most beautiful of acts.

You may not get what you want but you can take care of what is lost.

You can speak well.

You can stand out, take a risk and be courageous.

You can show wonderful attention.

You don’t have to wash your hands you can get them dirty.

Losing the vote can bring the best out of you.

When the sun stops shining

Luke 23: 44-49

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

 

When the sun stops shining it has often let people in fear of what is happening. One famous day known as ‘The Dark Day’ took place on May 19^th 1780 in New England, USA. To this day historians and scientists continue to argue as to why the sun stopped shining on that day. The region was deeply religious and so they believed that it was a fulfilment of an apocalyptic prophecy.

We are people of the light and we know the light shines in the darkness. But there are significant events that take place when the sun has stopped shining.

When the sun stops shining it heralds anew promise from God that He makes with us (Genesis 15:12-17): “As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him… When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.”

When the sun stops shining the lamb is sacrificed for the Passover meal. (Deuteronomy 16:6) “There you must sacrifice the Passover in the evening, when the sun goes down, on the anniversary of your departure from Egypt.”

When the sun stops shining, judgment falls on those who have not walked with God, (2 Chronicles 18:34) “All day long the battle raged, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died.”

Has the sun stopped shining on you today? Is that how you describe what has just happened to you? Well just wait … it may mark the most significant event of your life.

It could be the start of a new PROMISE from your God.

It could be Christ’s sacrifice is seen clearly in you.

It could be the day of vengeance of your God.

There will come a day again when the sun will stop shining and on that day we will be start our journey home. (Joel 2:31) “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” And (Amos 8: 9) “In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.” Why? Because He will make all things new again.

As Jesus breathed his last, committing his spirit to the Father, he had completed the plan of salvation. It was seismic and the sun stopped shining.

Today you may wake and your circumstances are such that God has stopped the sun from shining over your life. If that has happened then your God is doing something seismic. Wait for Him. He hasn’t finished yet. The Son will come.

In your darkest hour … it’s not over.

Luke 23: 35-43

“The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” ³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” ³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. ³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

In your darkest hour people will be watching you. They will stand and stare at your humiliation or they will walk on by, passing their silent judgment. You know what they are thinking. You are guilty. Something must have brought this on. Some peer at your wounds and some turn in disgust.

In your darkest hour some will sneer at you. It usually comes from those who have managed to put you in your place. They have won. They rule. They have taken away your vibrancy and your voice. They are no longer angry with you. They don’t need to be for it has given way to a patronising superiority.

In your darkest hour some will mock you. They will take what people have said about you, words that even you may not have said about yourself and taunt you with them. If you are. If. The enemy launches his doubt over you. As heaven is silent, as the sun leaves the sky, the thoughts are raging, where is He? Where has He gone? Why has He left me?

In your darkest hour some will insult you. Those who curse are in their own dark world. They are in their own pain. They are dealing with their own sin. They have no idea of your story. They just see the headlines over you. They don’t see that your darkest hour came about as you loved and served and gave your life to others.

In your darkest hour you will meet the exploiter, the enemy of your soul.

But that’s not all that is happening.

For in your darkest hour you will see encouraging signs that God is waiting. You may not feel His presence but He has not forgotten you. There will be someone. Maybe the unexpected. There in the darkness, someone who needs you again. God hasn’t stopped using you. Even now, even in these late stages, an opportunity to tell someone about paradise. Heaven is in sight. Our real home. Look around, listen out to the lost, someone is crying, they need you to notice them, to remember them. The mission isn’t over. Dry your eyes. Reach out once more. It’s not over yet.

Simon Whitley

Luke 23: 32-34 “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

Do you remember where you laid your life down?

We get our word ‘excruciating’ from the Latin word for torture from the crucifixion.

4 words.

‘They crucified him there.’

There is pain today. Incredible pain.

The joy comes in the morning. Incredible joy.

It looked like they killed Jesus. It looked like a terrible defeat.

We know that’s not the truth.

Today I conduct the funeral for one of my Pastors. A young man, vibrant, full of potential.

It looks like his life has been taken from him. It looks like the disease has got the victory.

That’s not the truth.

What happened was the Author of Life called him home.

Simon Whitley surrendered his will to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well done good and faithful servant.

For the Simon’s of this world …

Luke 23: 26-31

As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

 

Simon set out from his Jewish community in North Africa for the Passover pilgrimage totally unaware that he would return with a story that he would never have imagined.

Luke has constantly been telling his readers that the Jesus’ call is to take up your cross and follow him. It was Simon who modelled this.

I hear the word ‘calling’ so much. I am called to do. I am called to be. I am called to lead. We are not short of making bold claims either. ‘God has called me to …’

All that is good. But let’s talk more of the call to pick up the cross and follow him.

Little did Simon realise that day when the cross beam was placed on his shoulders that 2,000 years later people would still be talking about him.

We don’t know why Jesus could not carry his cross. Of course the Roman flogging and the torture had been a death itself, so he was weakened by that. Perhaps he knew Simon was in the crowd. If he knows where all the fish are and if he knew what people were not only whispering but thinking, then it is not beyond the possibility that he knew Simon had arrived and he would be dragged from the crowd to model something that he had been teaching his disciples many times. The road to the cross is the road of surrendering oneself to the purposes of God even if you had other hopes and plans. Simon modelled the life of humility as he followed behind Jesus.

So here is the picture.

The crowds of people. Many who liked a crucifixion; many who saw another rebel leader and movement coming to an end; many in support of the religious leaders who had brought this to an end.

Amongst the crowd were the women mourning and wailing as one does at a funeral. They are crying over the failure of this leader. He had been so kind and had touched their world but now huge disappointment fell on them, their kind world was over.

Then there is Jesus. He knew that he wasn’t deserving of this death. He wasn’t the dry tree which was ready for destruction. He was a green tree. He had come to bring them the Kingdom. He had come to heal and to help them. If this is what they do to the green tree, what will happen to the genuine dead leaders? How much more will their destruction be?

Where are the 12? We’re not sure exactly where they are. But what we do know is that they are not following Jesus.

Then there is Simon.

The Simon’s of this world model Jesus. They follow Jesus in such a way that they not only carry their own cross but they carry the cross of Christ. Carrying your own cross is to lay down your own hopes and dreams. But to take the cross of Christ is to share in his sufferings. It is to wash feet of those who will betray, deny and desert you. It is to learn silence when every defensive desire wants to rise within. It is knowing when to take the lower ground and risking people thinking you have done wrong when all you are doing is showing humility. “Why isn’t God rescuing him?” It is knowing when to take the higher ground and not dive into the stupid arguments and divisions that so many base their life around.

When you have found such a Simon then you know it is possible for you also.