| Sermons |
The Rev. Dr. Dennis E. Morey, Pastor
Sermon: "REQUIRED MEMBERSHIP"
Scripture: Luke 24:13-35
On this third Sunday
after the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord, we read this remarkable
story of two disciples traveling home.
Luke doesn't try to describe the resurrection, but he lets eye witnesses
to the resurrection tell the story.
In these verses we can get a glimpse of just how confusing those times
must have been.
There were rumors that Jesus was alive again after his death and burial.
Some were in disbelief. Some were hoping for the best. Some were
utterly over-joyed at the news as they recalled the times Jesus
spoke about his death and resurrection while others were just confused.
This was a subject being discussed not only in the secret places where the disciples were hiding, but also out on the street.
Rumors were flying.
The Romans were afraid they had been ineffective at securing the tomb.
It was the disciples' fault the body was missing. The guards dozed off
and they stole the body.
The Disciples were being accused and they afraid their location would
be discovered. Arrests would be made and they would die.
The Jews were afraid that Jesus was alive again and they worked to spread
the rumor that because of the incompetence of the Romans and the fact
they didn't care about the Jews and the troubles they faced, the drunken
soldiers sent to guard the tomb had allowed the disciples to sneak in
during the night and steal the body.
In this scripture,
that first Resurrection Sunday was coming to a close.
Two men who had been in Jerusalem for the Passover were now on their way
home, to Emmaus. The picture hanging above the fireplace in the North
Entry of this church is painting of that journey. Look at it today before
you leave.
In those days it was always good to travel with a companion or in a group for protection and since the sun was going down it would soon be even more important. These two men were going home.
They had seven miles or so to walk.Of these two Luke describes as disciples, only one is named – Cleopas – perhaps, because he would have been well-known to those who would have been reading this Gospel account from Luke.
The name Cleopas ("renowned father") is a Greek name, though was probably used as an equivalent to the Semitic form "Clopas."
Clopas, we read in John 19:25 is named as the husband of one of the Marys who was present at the crucifixion. If Cleopas of today's scripture and Clopas are the same person, then this resurrection appearance on the road to Emmaus happens to the father of Simeon, who is later head of the church in Jerusalem.
That aside, these two believers were on their way home. The 7 mile distance diminished quickly as they engage in conversation. As the sky was growing darker and their conversation was even gloomier.
It was such sad news. Jesus, the one they believed to be God's Anointed, the Messiah, had been killed. How could such a thing happen? Then there were the rumors of his resurrection. If there was just some way they could know for sure.
Suddenly from no where another traveler caught up with them and sort of butted in the conversation. "What are you guys talking about?"
There were many people in that city during the Passover and this whole business of what had happened to Jesus had been the topic of many conversations. Had the news not come to the ears of this man?
They are astounded that someone could be walking from Jerusalem and not know what had been happening. They recounted the whole sad story of the wonders of Jesus' life and the tragedy of his death to their new walking companion.
Then the One who had joined them began to talk about the prophets and Jewish history explaining that what had happened was foretold by the prophets.
When they got to town, their traveling companion acted as if he intended to travel on. The other two convinced him to stay all night. It would be very dangerous to travel alone at night.
He went into the house with them. When they sat down to supper, Jesus took a loaf of bread and gave it to them, and suddenly it all made sense to those two men. They recognized Jesus. Then Luke tells us that Jesus disappeared.
Those two men were so excited. Their despair turned to delight. They could not just sit at home. They decided to go as fast as they could back to Jerusalem to the place where the sad little band of disciples was hiding. They had to tell them this Good News.
The night, the dangers, the distance, their being tired, leaving in the middle of supper, none of that mattered. They had to get to the disciples. They had to tell this Good News. They were a part of this thing that God was doing and being with those who shared a history with Jesus was the most important thing on their mind.
Where does this scripture bring us as Christ followers in our day?
Jesus' disciples were an exclusive group who had experienced life with Jesus for three years, night and day. They had been there when the crowd wanted to stone Jesus and they all escaped. They had been there and experienced the miracles of Jesus. They had listened to the profound and yet simple teachings of Jesus.|
They would never be able to return to their occupations and their old way of life and leave behind what they had experienced together. They would never be able to blend in again into the general population.
Now in this scripture the believers' circle is widening. Those two who were there for part of the story are now ready to join those who have experienced the wonder of the presence of Jesus.
They knew that Jesus was alive. They were believers. They were now welded to the group and in need of the companionship of other believers.
They made the decision. They went the distance. They joined the disciples.
In our day we have joined a group called "the church". There are some who claim that church membership doesn't mean all that much.
They say, "You can be a Christian and not belong to a church or even go to church for that matter."
Yet the Bible doesn't speak of any solitary Christians, those who are not a part of any kind of believer's group.
Rick Warren says, "While our relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private."
In I Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul says that believers form parts of the body of Christ. No one member of the body is more important than another and when each member of the body does its job the whole body is blessed.
Often we think being a church member is like being a member of the country club, which affords us with special privileges. You may belong to a book club that gives out coupons for discounts and admission to special events. A senior citizen bank club that allows you the privilege of going on a bus trip or no monthly bank fees is enjoyed by some depositors of certain banks.
Being a member of the symphony club or the university booster club says that you are allowed the privilege being one of the first to purchase the best seats for the most popular concerts or ball games. You have paid the price, now you get the privilege.
Often in our day the question is asked, "Why should I be a church member? What benefit will I enjoy?" Those who look at church membership as affording them special privileges are usually disappointed and soon look for another church.
Anyone who is an active member of a church can tell us that being a church member is about special opportunities to serve. Opportunities to vote, to teach, to hold an office, to bear part of the responsibility for the work and ministry of the congregation, are all part of being a member of a church.
Church membership is about privilege, the privilege not of being served, of discounts and the best seats, but privilege to serve.
Those two men who experienced the presence of the risen Christ returned to Jerusalem that night with the Good News of what they had experienced. They joined themselves to the disciples for the privilege of being a part of that Good News and whatever that may have meant.
It is my guess that those two men did not return to Emmaus on Monday morning, to the jobs they had for many years, and the life they had built. They joined themselves to the disciples and their work. Read on in Luke and you will see that while they were telling their story, Jesus appeared to all of them behind closed doors and told he was going to send the Holy Spirit, and they should stay in the city until that happened.
Being a Christ follower includes belonging not just believing. Those two on their way to Emmaus had experienced Christ, now they belonged with those who shared the Good News.
The church was Christ's invention. He knew that we would be stronger together than we could be individually. He knew we would live closer to his teachings if we had each other for encouragement and support.
As members of this part of Christ's Church we are here first to share what we know about the Good News of the resurrected Jesus and to enjoy the privilege of doing our part, the part God has for us to do.
We are here to experience life together, the good, the bad, and the unbearable for the benefit of the Kingdom of God.
We are here because God has chosen us. We are a part of God's family. We are here for one another. We experience joys, sorrows, and life together. We pray for each other and support each other in life's challenges.
Together we understand we are parts of the body of Christ. No part of the body can live on its own. Once outside the body it shrivels and dies. We are called to be together. Being attached to the body is not optional. Membership is required.
Because we are a part of this group of believers we want to be there for one another. We want to share good news, and we want to share what our faith means to us. That is what it means to be a church.
While it is true there are some among us who are "faith giants" there are also some beginners.
In patience with one another, we are privileged to do our part to move the ministry of Christ forward. Having my way, getting everyone to agree with me and adopt my personality, is not anyone's goal.
Our goal as Christ-followers is primarily to focus on the privilege of sharing the Good News of God's love, how it has touch our lives personally and how we can share that story. AMEN.
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
"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. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but din't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 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.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 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?"
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.
(From
the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible.)
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