Well-Known Christians - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Luke 24:13-35

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.”

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 some Well Known Christians

Mother Teresa - A Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick in India.

Martin Luther - A German theologian who is credited with initiating the Protestant Reformation.

Billy Graham - An American evangelist who preached to millions of people around the world and is considered one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century.

C.S. Lewis - A British author and theologian who wrote many books, including "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Mere Christianity."

Pope Francis - The current leader of the Catholic Church and one of the most prominent religious figures in the world today.

Rick Warren - An American pastor and author who founded Saddleback Church and wrote the best-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life."

John Wesley - An 18th-century English preacher and theologian who founded the Methodist movement.

There are local names as well, in this area if we were to call names like Hobbs, Veasey, Warren, Winfield, and Pierson, that would mean something to the members of this church. Some people are famous some are not, but we join the scriptures looking at 2 people on a walk to Emmaus and they run into the most famous person in Christianity of all, but they don't recognize him. 

The Walk to Emmaus is only in the Gospel of Luke a walk by Cleopas and another unnamed disciple. 

Jesus meets some of his followers as they are on the way to a small village from Jerusalem. It’s not a short walk, so it wasn’t a short talk, as you’ll see in the text.  Jerusalem is anywhere from 7 miles to 20 miles away from Emmaus. The passage begins with two people who had been among the disciples who were looking for Jesus at the empty tomb. We don’t know why they are going to Emmaus, perhaps it was their hometown? The movement toward Emmaus is probably not as significant as the movement from Jerusalem.

A. The reunion with Jesus (24:13-16): These two believers are joined by the Savior.

1. Their discussion (23:13-14): They are talking about the Crucifixion.

2. Their darkness (24:15-16): Neither disciple recognizes the stranger who joins them. (Out of Context)

B. The request from Jesus (24:17): He asks why they are so sad.

C. The reply to Jesus (24:18-24)

1. They tell him their problem (24:18-21): The Crucifixion has dashed their hopes that perhaps Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Messiah!

2. They tell him their puzzle (24:22-24): Some women found his tomb empty and were told by two angels that he has risen!

D. The rebuke by Jesus (24:25-27)

1. Their ignorance of the Scriptures (24:25): He says they have forgotten the prophecies concerning his death and resurrection.

Luke leaves us wondering but it’s possible that Jesus reminded them of passages like Deut. 18:18 that says 

“I will raise up for them a prophet, like you among your people, I will put my own words in the mouth of the prophet who shall speak to them everything that I command.”

Or he might have reminded them of Isaiah 53:13-14 that reads: See my servant shall be exalted and lifted up…. And many were astonished at him…

Or Isaiah 53 that reminds us that he poured out himself to death, was numbered among the transgressors yet bore the sin of many….

2. His interpretation of the Scriptures (24:26-27): He now reviews for them all the Old Testament passages which speak of him.

E. The recognition of Jesus (24:28-35)

1. The meal (24:28-31a)

a. The invitation (24:28-29): The two disciples invite Jesus to join them for a meal.

b. The revelation (24:30-31a): After he prays, Jesus distributes the bread. At that moment they recognize him!

We can find Jesus in places all the time and not recognize him. 

Jesus lives and abides with us and can be found in us… but not just us… the churches is not an exclusive club. No, Jesus meets us where we are…. Sometimes in the most unexpected ways… …sometimes in the most unexpected people… sometimes out context…

2. The miracle (24:31b): He suddenly disappears out of sight!

3. The meditation (24:32): They reflect, "Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"

4. The mission (24:33-35): The two disciples now return to Jerusalem and report all this to the apostles!

The Toughest Commandment - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 28:1-10

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

As I grow older, I stay in touch with the fact that I must face some tough decisions. Challenging because I understand that regardless of my emotional state, I must see the situation through. That means I have made big choices in my life, even though I was scared out of my mind doing them. Deciding to go to college in Texas, purchase a house, start a business, get married, and have children are all scary things on the surface, but I went forward with them, and my life is better for me taking that leap of faith. 

We all will have to face significant life decisions if we have not already. Friends and colleagues have moved across state lines to take new jobs. I know people who decided to go back to school, to get married, to get married a second time, people who were faced with major medical decisions, to have surgery, or to take a loved one off life support. Some have decided to go to therapy or go back to therapy.

Some people got the courage to speak up to their boss or apartment complex manager about unfair treatment; there are people I know who walked away from well-paying jobs to pursue a passion or calling, people who are learning to live without their spouse or parent because of an untimely death. Some people chose to run for public office or take a dangerous job in public safety, like a police officer or firefighter. No matter the circumstances, life is full of making tough decisions and making some decisions when we are scared.

We come across some people facing tough choices while they are scared in scripture today. We join the text on the morning of Christ's resurrection, looking at the two Marys. 

Obligatory PSA

-Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute

-The women preached the first Easter Sermon 

Neither Mark nor Luke, nor John mentions the earthquake; in their narratives, already the stone has been rolled away before anyone arrives at the tomb (cf. Mark 16:4; Luke 24:2; John 20:1)

The two Mary's went to the tomb after the Sabbath.

- Their routine has been interrupted by an event that changed the world

Do not be afraid is a common command in scripture, but it is easier said than done. 

Fear is replaced by a promise.

In Matthew, the women are not only the first witnesses of the empty tomb, but they also receive the first appearance of the risen Christ. 

When you step out, Jesus will meet you where you are. The two Marys followed a challenging commandment and got to see Jesus before they finished; they were willing to take the first few steps and saw a risen savior before they had even finished following the command. Miracles come with instructions, and the instructions are not for God; they are for us to understand and appreciate what is going on.

The stone is rolled away so that the people can look in. Seeing the empty tomb is a step that helps the disciples understand what has happened. Seeing a risen savior without an empty tomb leaves room for alternative explanations, such as they imagined it. The empty tomb gives a way for a concrete understanding.

We have trouble with "Fear Not" because we are afraid of so much. We fear the deaths of loved ones, serious illnesses, not having enough money for retirement, business failures, climate change, mass shootings, terrorism, and criminal activity. We see so many threats to our well-being that we can hardly believe it when we hear, "Fear not!"

But the words that the angel spoke to the women on Easter morning are also meant for us. "Do not be afraid," he said. "I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:5-6). The very worst thing that could happen — the death of God's Son on the cross — has now been overcome by the resurrection. Darkness has been replaced by light, and death has been replaced by new life.

"Then go quickly and tell his disciples," said the angel. "'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him'" (v. 7). The angel's promise is that Jesus is going ahead of us, always ahead of us. We do not need to fear the future because Jesus is in it. He calls us forward and promises to meet us in what lies ahead.

"Fear not!" because we have a risen Lord who has overcome anything that can hurt or destroy us. Because Jesus has been raised, we do not have to be afraid.

I serve a risen Savior; He's in the world today 

I know that He is living, whatever men may say 

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer 

And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! 

He walks with me and talks with me 

Along life's narrow way 

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! 

You ask me how I know He lives? 

He lives within my heart

Betrayal - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 26:14-30

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

One of the most painful experiences we may ever face is betrayal. We have been betrayed; it is a fact of life that if you have never been betrayed, count yourself blessed and keep saying good morning. 

There are some infamous traitors in history. Many of these are political spies, and in the United States, this list includes Benedict Arnold, Aldrich Ames, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Robert Hanssen, and others.

The betrayal of Julius Caesar by his friend Brutus still shocks history students. Other infamous names have emerged more recently, such as Alfred Redl, an Austrian military officer who, during World War I, sold sensitive information about the Austrian army to Czarist Russia. Or, Harold Cole, a British soldier who betrayed the French resistance and is considered one of the worst traitors of World War II.

Since betrayal is a central human theme, the so-called classic literature is full of it. Such as Iago from Othello, who was Othello's trusted advisor but hated him and made him think his wife was having an affair. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Fernand Mondego falsely accuses his best friend Edmond of treason before having him imprisoned for 14 years. He also steals Edmond's fiancée, Mercédès, and marries her. 

Peter Pettigrew, a.k.a. Wormtail, of the Harry Potter books, betrayed Harry Potter's parents to Lord Voldemort and then framed Professor Snape for their deaths. In The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmund, the youngest Pevensie brother, betrays his siblings and all of Narnia for a bag of Turkish Delight.  And in the Godfather movies, Fredo betrayed his brother, Michael Corleone, almost getting him killed.

There was betrayal before historical figures and fictional characters, and we see betrayal throughout the Bible.  Abraham betrays Sarah by telling people she is his sister because he is scared he would get killed. Jacob betrayed Esau for his birthright, then Jacob's Uncle Laban by tricking him into marrying his older daughter Leah before Rachel. Joseph's brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. David's son Absalom betrayed him in an attempt to take the throne. Delilah betrayed Samson, the list goes on.

In Matthew 26:14-27:66, we witness the ultimate betrayal of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was sold out for 30 pieces of silver by one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot. Judas was not the only person to betray Jesus; Peter and Pilate did too. Judas betrayed Jesus for what seemed to be greed, Peter betrayed Jesus for what appeared to be cowardice, and Pilate betrayed Jesus for what seemed to be political gain. Judas got 30 pieces of silver; Peter got away from a crowd that figured out Peter was with the man they were crucifying, and Pilate could have stopped the kangaroo court but did not get involved to keep his political ambitions intact. 

At the Passover meal, Jesus knew someone would betray him, and he said so; he told the disciples that one of them would surely betray him. All the disciples asked Lord, is it me? The only one who did not say Lord is it me was Judas; he said Rabbi instead of Lord in the text. Rabbi instead of Lord is a slight difference to some but a big one when you realize that Lord in the text means personal relationship, and Rabbi in the text means professional title. Judas was using outsider language in an insider meeting. When someone wants to distance themself from you, the language will give it away first. Later in the text, Peter is repeatedly asked if he knows Jesus, and he lies three times before the rooster crows. Pilate washes his hands of a situation he knows is not right. 

People will change how they talk to you and how they talk about you, and then they will stand by while other people do you wrong. Jesus willingly gave himself even though he knew what would happen and continued his mission. 

We must look backward to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Jesus endured the ultimate betrayal, yet He did not respond with anger or retaliation. Instead, He willingly sacrificed Himself to pay the price for our sins. When we face betrayal, we can find comfort in knowing that Christ understands our pain and that His sacrifice has given us the hope of eternal life.

We must look forward to the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. In Revelation 21:4, we are promised that in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no more pain, no more tears, and no more sorrow. While we may face betrayal in this life, we can take comfort in knowing that all things will be made right one day.

We must look inward and do self-reflection. It is easy to focus on the other person's wrongdoing and ignore our faults when betrayed. However, we must remember that we are all sinners needing God's grace. We must examine our hearts and ask God to reveal any areas where we must repent and seek forgiveness.

We must look upward toward heaven. In times of betrayal, we may feel alone and abandoned. However, we must remember that God is always with us and will never leave or forsake us. We can find comfort in knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally and will guide us through even the darkest valleys.

Finally, we must look outward to the whole church and the rest of the world. We may be tempted to withdraw and isolate ourselves when betrayed. However, we must remember that we are part of a larger community of believers and are called to love and serve others, even during our pain. As we extend grace and forgiveness to others, we reflect the love of Christ to a world that desperately needs it. Forgiveness is not a free pass; we still operate wisely; we just understand that we don't have a heaven or hell to put anyone in ourselves.

As we consider how to respond to betrayal, remember that we do not walk alone. We have a Savior who understands our pain, offers us hope, and calls us to love and serve others. May we respond to betrayal with grace, forgiveness, and steadfast faith in the One who was betrayed for us.

Jesus knew that he would be betrayed and pressed forward anyway. Our sins are forgiven, and we are all welcome at the table.