What Do You Have to Eat?

Scripture: Luke 24:36-53

Introduction

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.  Luke 24:33–35

• Right after Jesus appears to the disciples, He says: “Peace be with you.”
• Then he says: “What have you got to eat around here?”
• Clearly, as you can see from the title, this is a BAPTIST sermon.
• We’re all about food around here.
• I want to continue to build on the reality that Jesus is alive.
• Our story today is about another encounter with Jesus in the flesh.
• This is the immediate follow-up to the appearance on the road to Emmaus.
• Yet again, Jesus is making a point to demonstrate His physical body.
• This is the third part in a series that focuses on the physical reality of the afterlife.
• I feel this is important to emphasize for a couple of reasons:

1. Jesus went to a lot of trouble to make sure He showed us this important fact.
2. I don’t think preachers make this clear enough – at least in my experience.

• So, I’m inspired to share with you what I feel is very important to know about the next life.
• Understanding the next life makes our faith in Jesus come alive.
• Let’s go back together 2000 years ago and experience Jesus and His story.
• There are three components to this story to think about:

1. The doubt and fear of the disciples
2. He made them understand
3. When the story comes alive

1. The doubt and fear of the disciples

• I find it easy to relate to the disciples because they don’t know what to do with Jesus.
• One minute He is dying on a cross and the next He’s materializing in locked rooms.
• And the whole idea that He could even be killed like a common criminal was impossible.
• It makes a lot more sense when you know the backstory and all the prophecy he had to fulfill.
• But at the time, it must have been extremely confusing and disorienting.
• When He shows up in the room out of nowhere, He greets them saying “Peace be with you.”
• Of course, they were startled and scared, only a ghost could do what He did.
• Jesus asks them why they are troubled and why they doubted that He was real.
• This was a rhetorical question because He knew exactly why they were troubled.
• How about you? How would you react?  Would you be troubled?
• Now, granted, if Jesus suddenly appeared here today, we wouldn’t think He was a ghost.
• After all, this is His house, He belongs here; honestly, I believe He is here now.
• But suppose someone you know who had died suddenly appeared in your living room?
• Wouldn’t you jump to some of the same conclusions that the disciples did? I would!!
• If someone you thought was dead suddenly appeared, what would make you think they were real? How could they convince you?
• Jesus both asked and answered His own question when He said:

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.

• This is such a key point that I can’t emphasize it enough. Jesus was, IS, flesh and bones.
• Not because I say so – because JESUS said so; over and over again.
• Sometimes, we can accept something when it’s something normal and comfortable.
• When Jesus asked for food and then ate in front of the disciples, it made things normal.
• This method is very effective for us even today.
• When we have a meal with others who we are trying to connect with, it gives us a chance to make things normal for them being around us.
• Our new Fellowship With Friends luncheons are a perfect example.
• We want to attract others to our fellowship, but it is eating food that makes us real.
• Doubt and fear are normal, and Jesus anticipates it.
• Something as simple as eating a meal can go a long way to set aside doubt and fear.

2. He made them understand

• Now that they have touched Him and watched Him eat, they were ready to hear Him.
• The lesson for us is that when we make people comfortable with us, they can hear us.
• Jesus said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
• A lot of those things written about Him were farfetched until they really happened.
• Now things should start to make sense to the disciples as He ties them to Himself.
• But what really made the difference was when He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
• That’s the challenge for us today: opening people’s minds to the possibilities of Jesus.
• At least Jesus shows us how: “What have you got to eat?”
• We all like to eat but what is it that people are really hungry for?
• Jesus tells us in Matthew 4:4 when He says to Satan:

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

• People just don’t realize how much they need God’s Word in their life.
• And by God’s Word, I don’t just mean reading the Bible.
• People need the original Word of God: Jesus Christ. John 1:1-4:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

• We need to let people know that food is good, but Jesus will fulfill your hunger.

 3. When the story comes alive

• Just like last week, there is a point where Jesus makes the story come alive.
• The way Jesus brings it alive is by passing the torch to His disciples and now us.
• He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Did you pick up from that statement that there are two components:

1. Jesus would die and rise from the dead, and
2. WE will preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

• Jesus has done His part and now the rest is up to us, his disciples.
• He appeared to the first disciples so they could be witnesses of Him.
• He tells them He is sending what His Father has promised.
• We now know that to mean the Holy Spirit who will be a helper,
• He tells them to stay in the city and wait until the Holy Spirit comes.
• We know this refers to Pentecost, 5o days later.
• He tells them they will be “clothed with power from on high.”
• His work was not done, and He is handing the work off to His disciples.
• Part of this handoff is to empower them and us to do the work.
• We don’t talk very much about the details of the power God gives us.
• Some of those gifts are speaking in tongues and healing and prophecy.
• What about gifts of youth and energy to an ageing, tiny congregation?
• The Bible doesn’t answer this directly, but there are stories of this power.
• There was the time they marched around Jericho and knocked down walls.
• There was the time the three guys survived being put in a furnace.
• Then there was the time that Norma said we have more yard sale treasures to sell than ever before. But doesn’t she say that every time?
• Jesus led them out of where they had been hiding out to the vicinity of Bethany.
• It was time for Him to go to heaven again, so he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
• After He left them and was taken up into heaven, they felt confident and renewed.
• They no longer felt afraid and worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
• And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.