How Foolish Are You?

[From the sermon of April 30 on Luke 2413-45- The Walk to Emmaus]

We learn a number of things both about our Lord and ourselves in this passage about two disciples returning to their home in Emmaus.  They had been in Jerusalem for the Crucifixion of Good Friday and the Empty Tomb of Easter morning.  They are dejected, confused, feeling lost and hopeless, for they thought Jesus “would be the one to redeem Israel.”  As they are walking along and discussing these things, Jesus comes alongside them and enters into their discussion.  He says, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!  ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” ²⁷ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.” 

Jesus is emphatic that they should, and a bit dismayed that they don’t, understand the events of the last three days in the light of all that Scripture reveals about this.  Jesus’ expectation is that His disciples, know, understand and believe Scripture, and the implication is that it would be foolish not to.

 

Later in this same chapter in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus again reveals this expectation.  The disciples are gathered in the upper room, and as Luke writes, “⁴⁵ Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

We here at Holy Trinity assign a priority to our spiritual growth and maturity through the study of Scripture.  How are we doing this?  First, we are in church each Sunday to hear Scripture read and preached.  We discuss these scriptures at the Adult Forum following worship.  It would be hard to find a church that reads and explores more Scripture on a Sunday morning than this church family does.  Secondly, Bible studies take place at Holy Trinity all through the week: the ladies on Tuesday mornings; the men on Saturday mornings; and all of us together at our fellowship gathering on Wednesday evenings.  Thirdly, we encourage and support one another in seeking ways to live out our biblical worldview and allow Scripture to transform our lives.

So, how about you?  Are you here every Sunday to hear what the Lord has for you in His Word that Sunday?  Are you committed to exploring Scripture with other Christians, such as we do here at Holy Trinity every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday?   And let us not forget about our children and grandchildren- Do you assign a real priority to having them in church and Sunday School so that they also can hear, understand and come to believe Scripture?  To not do these things would be, in Jesus’ words, foolish.