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May 4, 2003
3rd Sunday of Easter
Luke 34:36-49
Pastor Ben Berger

Jesus Stands Among You

Tell me if I'm wrong. I think there are at least two things that everyone wants at some point in life: peace and purpose. Am I wrong? NO? Then we're in luck because I know just where you can find peace and purpose for your life, if you want it - Jesus. Jesus appeared to give peace and purpose to his people. I want you to remember that. Jesus appeared to give peace and purpose to his people. I hope that you haven't forgotten Easter. It was the same day that Jesus rose from the dead that he appeared to his disciples to give them peace and purpose. Today he appears to you. Jesus Stands Among You 1) to give peace to your minds and 2) to give purpose to your lives.

Have any of you ever lost a loved one? Can you remember (or at least imagine) how you felt the days following that loss? I can remember losing my mom. The days following were full of memories…and questions…and doubt…and anger…and all kinds of emotions. I was all stirred up inside. That's what the disciples were feeling on Easter. They were still dealing with the death of a dear friend. Then they heard all of these rumors that Jesus was alive. Mary had reported seeing and talking to Jesus. Peter and John ran and confirmed the empty tomb. The Emmaus disciples said they talked with Jesus. The disciples couldn't believe any of it; they didn't know what to believe. So, Jesus himself came and stood among them. And, Jesus stood among the disciples to give peace to their minds.

Giving peace to the disciples wouldn't be easy. Jesus recognized the turmoil in their hearts, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?" Jesus, who was supposed to be dead, just showed up out of nowhere. The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost; they were terrified. Jesus had to convince them that he was alive and that he was really the one standing there among them. He pointed to his hands and feet. He encouraged them to touch him. He ate in front of them. He offered them the truth, and with it peace.

Jesus offered peace to the disciples in two ways. First, The disciples got to see their friend again. Their sadness, their questions, their anger - all gone now. But, more importantly, the disciples found peace because they now had proof that Jesus was the Messiah that they were looking for and hoped he was. They now had salvation. Their hope was fulfilled. It's that second peace that Jesus also offers to us.

What would your reaction be if God himself stood among us right here and right now? I think there are two possible reactions. One - you could be afraid. You could be absolutely terrified. And you should be. God is your Judge. He knows all of your sins and ought to condemn you to hell for everyone of him. Two - you could be happy to see him. You could be excited to finally be with your Maker and Savior forever in heaven. So, which is it? Are you afraid of God? Or would you be happy to see him?

Fact is, God himself does stand among you. Jesus himself stands among you right here and right now, in his Word. And, he stands among you to give peace to your minds. Unfortunately, too often we take his presence for granted. He's always here so it's not special. That's too bad because that's exactly why we don't have peace in our lives. I'm not talking about peace for a moment or a day's rest. I'm not talking about a vacation from the kids or the parents. I'm talking about real, lasting peace. Jesus stands among you to give you that kind of peace.

He gives you that peace in his word. In this word Jesus shows you that the one standing among you is your God and Savior. You have the eyewitness factual testimony that Jesus Christ died on the cross. You have the disciples' faithful testimony that three days later Jesus rose from the dead. Still today the tomb stands empty. If you accept that testimony as true and in your heart believe the promises attached to it, you can't help but to find peace. God says that because Jesus died your sins are forgiven. God says that because Jesus lives you too will rise from the dead and live. That's peace and Jesus is standing right here to give it to you.

I know that we have all kinds of things to stir up our hearts and our minds. Maybe we have lost a loved one to death like the disciples. Maybe we have any number of other problems from loneliness, to depression, to bad grades, to bad jobs, to family crises, to health problems. But, all of those things end with death. Death is our real problem - physical death and eternal death. Jesus solved both. He removed the possibility of eternal death when he died for our sins. He transformed physical death into eternal life when he rose from the dead. Peace for all of those other problems flows from having peace with God and death. Does that mean that the other problems and pressures of life won't bother us? No, absolutely not! However, as we deal with all of those other things, we have an underlying peace that no one and no problem can ever take away.

With this eternal, lasting peace that Jesus gives as he stands among you, your life will take on a different direction. Your life will take on a different purpose. Jesus appeared to give peace and purpose to his people. Say it. Jesus stands among you to give purpose to your lives.

Let me skip to the end of the story and then back up. Seeing Jesus dramatically changed the disciples' lives. What they had heard, what they had seen, was so great and had so great an impact, they could not possibly keep it to themselves. They had found a new purpose for their lives. Jesus summed it up, "You are witnesses of these things." That became their purpose in life. Let me show you how Jesus led up to that.

First, Jesus taught them - actually he reminded them of what they had already been taught. After Jesus finally calmed them down, he reminded them of the words he spoke while he was still with them. "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." Each of the disciples had been taught Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms as children. The read it, they learned it, they memorized it. As adults they lived by all of the rules they learned while waiting for the fulfillment of all of the promises. It was time to take all of their head knowledge and move it to their hearts.

Next, "Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." They finally began to realize the importance of all they had learned. It was about Jesus. He was the Christ who died and rose. He was the one who whose name would bring repentance and forgiveness to all nations. Now the disciples had proof that what they learned was true.

That changed their lives. They became witnesses. These guys didn't have any special quality or training; they didn't meet any special requirements. They were simply witnesses telling others what they heard and saw. And that's all they wanted to do. Yes, they had other responsibilities. They were married with families and jobs and friends. They took care of those things I'm sure, but all they really wanted to do was tell people how Jesus Christ, his death and his resurrection had changed their lives. That was the purpose Jesus gave to their lives.

What's the purpose of your life? Is it to make money, to raise a family, to help others, to be the best you can be? Those are great and you need to take care of some of those things, but if that's all you're striving for or if you haven't found a purpose for your life, you've missed the point of Easter.

Like the disciples most of you learned the Scriptures as children. You know the stories; you know the answers. As adults many of you are living by the Christian rules and waiting for Jesus' return. But do you see the importance of all you have learned? Has your head knowledge moved to your hearts? Right now, your resurrected Lord stands among you to show you that what you have learned was true.

He is the Christ, the very one who died on the cross for your sins. The marks on his hands show it. He is the Christ, the very one who rose from the dead three days later. The empty tomb proves it. He has passed on eyewitness testimony to verify it. Now you are the witnesses. The message of Easter changes lives. Jesus rose from the dead to change your life. If Easter hasn't changed your life, keep going back. If it has, begin to live with new purpose. Jesus sends you out to be his witness.

How will you fulfill your purpose? It doesn't have to be hard. You don't need to meet any special requirements - well, maybe one. You need to keep Jesus close. You have to keep learning and keep seeing the proof and truth of God's word. Keep Jesus in your life by staying in his word. Then, be a witness. Live with the peace that God has given you and be ready to tell others about it. Find a way to watch out for your fellow believers. Throw a flock party. Invite the people below or above your mailbox to a dinner party - even if you don't know them. Meet one new person every week and learn and keep in touch. Visit with someone at least 30 years younger or older than you are. Come up with your own ideas. Just remember the message of Easter: Jesus appeared to give peace and purpose to his people.