Does Jesus Give You Heartburn? Luke 24:13-35 050414M
Have you ever had heartburn? It can be caused by spicy foods, or eating too quickly. Antacid is usually the remedy that makes it go away quickly. Of course, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart at all. It can SEEM like a heart problem, though. It's funny how many meanings the word "heart" has, even in the Bible. Usually it's not referring to the organ in your chest that pumps blood; rather it's referring to the soul--the seat of our emotions and very existence. That's what the disciples were referring to on the road to Emmaus. Their conversation prompts us to ask:
Does Jesus Give You Heartburn?
1. He lovingly reveals the slowness of our hearts.
2. His words of comfort warm our hearts.
3. Easter joy leads us to share what's in our hearts.
1. It's very common to have heart problems. They can be caused by clots and calcification in the arteries and blood vessels, malfunctioning valves in the heart that cause heart failure, hearts beating too slow or too fast, and a host of other problems. There are also a host of problems that can affect our spiritual hearts--our souls--because of sin. Does Jesus give you heartburn? He lovingly reveals the slowness of our hearts.
You pick up on that in the discussion of the disciples as they walked along. They were depressed. That emotion also comes out in their conversation with Jesus before they recognized him: 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”19“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.20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
"We had hoped...." How sad. Their hopes in Christ were dashed to pieces if he was still in the tomb. No wonder they were moping around, disillusioned. If Jesus was dead, he was not who he said he was: the promised Messiah, the Son of God. Then they were still in their sins, there was no kingdom of God in Christ, no heaven, no resurrection to glory, or anything else Jesus taught. Their faith was in vain. And what were they to make of those mystical reports from the women, and the empty tomb the other disciples supposedly saw? 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
Jesus listened to all this for only so long. It wasn't that he didn't care or try to understand. But the truth was, it was sinful because it displayed a lack of faith in what the scriptures said, and what Jesus taught about himself. He minced no words: 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.Like what? How about passages from Isaiah 53, that he was pierced for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed? All we like sheep have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. By his wounds we are healed. It even says,After the suffering of his soul,he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied... (Is 53:11).How about the first gospel promise, that the offspring of the woman would crush the devil's head, or that through Abraham's offspring all nations on earth will be blessed? The list goes on and on. All God's promises are fulfilled in Jesus, and only a risen Jesus could be the Messiah foretold in Scripture.
How often are we the same way as those Emmaus disciples? We're often foolish too. After all, sin in general is stupid. For what other reason would anyone seek comfort from alcohol or other mind-altering drugs? Why would anyone engage in habits and behaviors that are ultimately self-destructive? Why would people have affairs if they knew they'd harm the people they loved most? Why say things that can't be taken back? Why ignore the encouragements of God's Word to be in the Word, and to watch and pray so that you don't fall into temptation? See, sin is stupid. And like those Emmaus disciples, we're slow--literally, "slow in heart to believe." Being reluctant to believe is fine when it comes to sales pitches and over-the-phone hucksters. We should be cautious and skeptical. But when it comes to God and his Word? Yet THAT'S where we're often slow in heart to believe. Whether it's believing that certain things really are sinful and harmful, or believing that we're really forgiven for the awful things we've done, or trusting that all things work out for our eternal good, relying on the fact that Jesus lives and is with us all the time, or that believers' bodies will rise to glory one day--we're slow to believe. We need Jesus reprimand as much as those early disciples did!
2. It was the Word--specifically the gospel--that turned those disciples' unbelief to faith. Remember, they still didn't realize it was Jesus that was talking to them. He wanted them to understand FROM SCRIPTURE that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Then they could be comforted. Does Jesus give you heartburn? His words of comfort warm our hearts.
They did for the Emmaus disciples. They urged Jesus to stay with them because they were so intrigued by what he said: 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.29 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.Then Jesus revealed himself, and the disciples realized he was truly alive: 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.That characteristic action of bread-breaking gave him away. It wasn't the Lord's Supper, just the way he broke the bread. Knowing it was Jesus changed everything. Now they could be assured that everything Jesus said was true. Now they had hope, forgiveness, life and joy. And look at the effect on their hearts: 32 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?”Scripture and God's promises were fulfilled in Christ. That warmed their hearts. The risen Savior confirmed it.
It's the same for us. In our ignorance, sin, and unbelief, Jesus came to us in word and sacrament with his comfort. It's really true: we're forgiven of every sin, in him God is with us, not against us, he works all things out for good in our lives, he takes us to heaven when we die, and we will rise glorified on the Last Day when he comes back. To know that he loves us and never leaves us warms our cold hearts. His assurances through his Word, and in receiving his body and blood with the bread and wine are the ways he lingers with us and gives us his comfort. He still causes "heartburn" in his disciples!
3. And unlike the heartburn caused by indigestion, it's kind of contagious! You just want to share it with others. Does Jesus give you heartburn? Easter joy leads us to share what's in our hearts.
That's what the Emmaus disciples did. And they did it even though it meant taking the seven mile trip back to Jerusalem on foot, the very place from which they had just come. While it probably seemed like twenty miles when they thought Jesus was dead, it probably seemed like a few steps knowing he was alive: 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.This was good news: Jesus was alive, therefore he was the Savior, therefore their sins were forgiven, therefore they had peace with God, therefore they had the hope of heaven and of a joyous resurrection.
That's our message too. Are we willing to be inconvenienced to bring it to others? Like using our lunch break to talk to that fellow employee about religious things? Like taking a Saturday to deliver fliers at church? Like actually foregoing a personal luxury or need in order to bring a special offering for doing God's work? Like taking the risk that someone will poke fun of us, or we'll say something wrong, but talking about Jesus anyway? But when you consider what we know and believe about Jesus: he lives; he's our Savior; we have life in him now and forever--how can we not go out of our way?
It's the heartburn. Jesus lovingly reveals the slowness of our hearts to believe. His words of comfort warm our cold hearts. And our Easter joy leads us to share what's in our hearts. Then we can ask others: "Does Jesus give you heartburn too? He does me!" Amen.
Luke 24:13-35
Does Jesus Give You Heartburn?
1. He lovingly reveals the slowness of our hearts.
2. His words of comfort warm our hearts.
3. Easter joy leads us to share what's in our hearts.
18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”19“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.20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
After the suffering of his soul,he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied... (Is 53:11).
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.29 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.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32 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?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.