That Jesus rose from the dead is surprising, but he doesn’t stop there. Jesus is constantly surprising us! He keeps showing up in the most surprising of places!
There is a marvelous line in the second verse of the Easter hymn “Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen” which goes as follows:
Walking the way, Christ in the center
Telling the story to open our eyes;
Breaking our bread, Giving us glory:
Jesus our blessing, our constant surprise.
Jesus is risen and we shall arise:
Give God the glory! Alleluia!
-Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen (Lutheran Service Book 474)
“Jesus... our constant surprise!” I cannot think of a better word to describe the work of God in our text today. It is utterly surprising. I mean, we find Jesus, hiding in plain sight of some of His followers, and then, just when they are surprised to see Him, He disappears! Now, we did not expect that! But, as we will see, that is the nature of the Gospel. It is always a surprise, a constant surprise!
In our post-easter preaching, Jesus is constantly showing up in the most surprising of places. But, there is a certain sense in which we should not be totally surprised.
A couple of years ago, my wife and I planted some fruit trees in our yard. The tag on the trees told us they would bear fruit. My wife told me they would bear fruit. I expected them to bear fruit. But, I am not going to lie, when I went out a few months after planting those trees, I was completely surprised to see the amount of fruit on the branches! I do not know what I was expecting, or why I was surprised, but there it was, just as I was told.
This Sunday’s text finds two people on the road to Emmaus having a similar experience. As we will see, they are surprised by a visit from Jesus, but they really should not have been. Yet, the way Jesus shows up certainly is surprising!
To preach this text, I would start by recounting the surprising nature of Good Friday and the Easter Sunday reports. Focus, first, on how Jesus’ death was a surprising disappointment to the Emmaus travelers. “We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel” (24:21). Then, recount with them the surprising and baffling events of Easter morning and how the reports from the women “amazed” them (24:22).
Once you have set the stage, show how Jesus then surprises them with His presence. First, we are all surprised to see how they are kept from recognizing Jesus, perhaps due to their unbelief. But, over the course the conversation, Jesus begins to open their eyes to His surprising presence. There are three places Jesus surprises His disciples.
First, in the scriptures. Jesus leads the most incredible Bible study in the history of the world. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (24:25-27). Jesus surprises us by showing up on every page of the scripture! Here, you will want to discuss with your congregation the Christological nature of your Bible, and how we are to read it with Christ as the focus.
Jesus surprises us by showing up on every page of the scripture!
Second, note what Jesus did with the scriptures. He not only explained how He was on every page of the Old Testament, but He also interpreted these texts to them and opened the Scriptures for them (24:32). That is, He preached to them. Jesus shows up in the preaching of the Word. He enters our ears to make His way to our hearts through the hearing of His Gospel (see Romans 10:17). In preaching, Jesus surprises us by showing us how the scriptures about Him are for you and your salvation, because, surprise, surprise, Jesus is for you and your salvation!
Third, Jesus, though looking like He is going further, is urged to stay with the travelers. There, “He took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight” (24:30-31). Surprise, surprise! Jesus revealed Himself to them in the breaking of the bread. Now, I am sure we can debate whether this was the Lord’s Supper or not. But, regardless of the nature of the meal Jesus shares with these disciples, in the Sacrament you take this week, He has certainly promised to be in the bread and wine with His very body and blood to surprise you with His presence and gifts.
That Jesus rose from the dead is surprising, but he doesn’t stop there. Jesus is constantly surprising us! He keeps showing up in the most surprising of places! Although, we should not be all that shocked because He always shows up where He promises to be: In the scripture, in the preaching of the Word, and in the Lord’s Supper. What is more, He shows up with gifts to give! Surprise, surprise! The risen Lord is present with forgiveness, life, and salvation.
This week, rejoice in preaching Jesus, our constant surprise! God bless you in your preaching.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on Luke 24:13-35.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Luke 24:13-35.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
