My talk today is part three in a series called Mysteries of the Resurrection

So, the story begins on the worst day in history. It was Friday when Jesus was crucified. The disciples were devastated. Their dreams were crushed. They didn't understand.

They retreated behind closed doors and tried to make sense of this "colossal failure."

On the third day, on Sunday, something strange happened. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, Joanna, and Salome went to the tomb. They were going to finish the burial process for Jesus.

But that depressing scene turned into the greatest mystery of history. The tomb became a crime scene.

Mystery one: the mystery of the missing stone. Who moved the stone? Who chased away the elite Roman guard that was stationed there? Who broke the seal of the mighty Roman Empire placed across that stone?

Mystery two: the mystery of the missing body. Where is Jesus? Who peeled off 70 pounds of sticky grave clothes and laid them neatly on the limestone slab? Who removed the shroud from his head and folded it so neatly? Where did he go?

The women ran back to tell the disciples. Peter and John ran to the tomb to check it out for themselves. Jesus is gone! Where did they put his body?

The core disciples race back to their place in Jerusalem, desperate to process what's going on.

Meanwhile angels appear to the women and say he is raised from the dead. They race back to tell the others.

Then Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, and she races back to tell the others.

Then this happens:
"That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, 'What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?' They stopped short, sadness written across their faces." (Luke 24:13-17)

The Mystery Guest
This happens on a late Sunday afternoon. The camera focuses on two men, Cleopas and an unnamed companion. They are walking away from Jerusalem.

Don't miss the weight of this moment. They aren't just taking a hike; they are retreating.

They are leaving the scene of their greatest trauma. Jesus is dead. They're going home. As far as they are concerned, the Jesus chapter of their story is finished.

They are crushed. It says "they had sadness written across their faces." The language implies a heavy, gloomy, downcast state. They are suffering from profound cognitive dissonance. They believed Jesus was the Redeemer; his brutal death proved (in their minds) that He wasn't. Their world has collapsed.

Jesus let them down. God let them down. Dreams dashed. Hopes crushed. Hearts broken. Forget it; I'm going home.

Into this heartbreak steps a Stranger. A Mystery Guest. He asks what they are talking about. And this sets up one of the most ironic exchanges in the entire Bible.

The Layers of Irony (The Narrative Tension)
"Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, 'You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.' 'What things?' Jesus asked. 'The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,' they said. 'He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people.'" (Luke 24:18-19)

Don't miss the brilliant double irony written into this scene.

Irony A:  Cleopas stops. He looks at this Stranger with total disbelief. "How can you be so clueless? Have you been living behind a rock? (!)"

"Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

They are asking the Main Character of history if He has read the news. They are lecturing the Victim on the details of the crime. They think the Stranger is clueless about current events.

So like annoyed parents talking to a toddler, they tell the story of Jesus... to... the clueless guy... who actually is Jesus!

"But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago." (Luke 24:20-21)

I think we have the three saddest words in any language right here: We had hoped...

We had hoped... to be rich by now, married by now, healed by now, have kids by now, to be retired by now, to win a game by now, to have an offer by now, to run a business by now.

The Bible is so real. We had hoped... but our hopes were crushed.

We had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah... to them that meant the Powerful Warrior King who would cast off the yoke of Rome and make everybody prosperous... BUT his life was cut short and he died.

We had hoped... but dreams don't always come true.

I'm trying to imagine the look on Jesus' face. He's fighting to keep a straight face. Stroking his beard. Listening intently. Oh, really? Wow! How did I miss all that. That's so depressing!

But then they say... not so fast sir. It doesn't end there; there's more:
"Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said." (Luke 24:22-24)

"Wow, really?" says the Stranger.
"Yes, really!" say the men.

Do you see the irony here? There's another one. It's actually an irony wrapped in an irony with an irony layered on top.

If you don't know what irony is, it's when you get the opposite of what you expect to get, and it's kind of funny.

You don't expect people to be explaining all about Jesus, literally to Jesus, so that's kind of funny.

But the irony within that is that when they explain to Jesus about Jesus they actually accuse him of being clueless!

I wonder if up in heaven these two men are still getting teased about this golden moment of comedy.

But here comes the deepest irony layered on top. Just who's the clueless one?

"Then Jesus said to them, 'You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?' Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:25-27)

This is the pivot point. The Stranger takes over. He is about to prove that their "tragedy" was actually a "strategy" written in heaven to redeem the world.

And here's the kicker: You should have known, he says. It's been there for you all along.

Why Believe?

Jesus essentially gives an apologetics seminar on the road.

Why should we believe the Resurrection is true history and not a fairy tale?