…beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.’—Luke 24:27b
 
I commend the entire New Testament history of the two disciples’ walk along the Road to Emmaus to each of you. Find this history in Luke 24:13-35. This is one of my favorite histories in the New Testament.
 
Now, there is so much going on in this account, as there is in all Scripture, but let’s focus on one point: understanding the Good News about Jesus in Scripture!
 
See the two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They are discussing what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem: Jesus’ rigged trial, His flogging and brutal beating before crucifixion, His death on The Cross, His burial, and, the puzzling account of the women, Peter and John regarding Jesus’ Empty Tomb. This is when Jesus joins them, but they do not recognize Jesus, and Jesus asks, ‘What are you discussing?’ As if Jesus did not know!
 
After the disciples tell Jesus what they have seen and heard, Jesus 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?”’ Jesus rebukes these two but Jesus does not leave them hanging. After Jesus rebukes them, Jesus teaches them, ‘‘…beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.’
 
When you read this account, you see that the disciples are sad, their faces are downcast. This makes me think of so many people right now. Are you sad? Is your face downcast? Do you feel like things are not going your way?
 
Take heart, dear brothers and sisters! Let not your faces be downcast! Do not be sad! You are blessed with The Holy Spirit. Jesus is with you, always, just as He promised (Matt. 28:20). You are not alone!
 
Just as Jesus walked with the disciples to Emmaus, Jesus walks with you through The Holy Spirit. Jesus talks with you, through His Words in Scripture. Your hearts burn with the love, mercy, grace and peace of God because of the Good News of Jesus’ perfect life, Jesus’ final, all atoning sacrificial death on The Cross and Jesus’ glorious resurrection from death to eternal life on the third day!
 
No matter your situation today or tomorrow or any day. COVID-19, loneliness, financial problems, or any other pain, know that God the Father has adopted you into His family through His One and Only Son, Jesus! You know this Good News because The Holy Spirit opens your hearts and minds to this Good News through all of Scripture, beginning with Moses, the Prophets, the Psalms and the New Testament!
 
All of God’s Promises have been answered, for YOU, in Jesus! Thank you, God! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Holy Spirit! Amen!
 
Almighty God, through your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, you overcame death and opened to us the magnitude of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before you in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28)
 
Thomas knew about death.  As the saying goes, “death is a part of life.”  Thomas (like you and me) attended funerals, heard the sad news of an acquaintance’s death, and maybe even saw someone die.  When we hear of someone’s death, we’re sad…but it’s not shocking.  We don’t doubt it.  We don’t demand proof.  We simply accept it.
 
But Resurrection is an entirely different matter.  There is no common saying “Resurrection is just a part of life.”  We don’t attend Resurrection parties for our friends; nobody hears of an acquaintance rising from the dead, nobody ever saw a dead person get up and start doing regular, normal live-person things.  To hear of such a thing is confusing…shocking…something that demands proof.  And so, Thomas demands proof.
 
No matter that Thomas knows of three people who Jesus raised.  The 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow at Nain, and Lazarus were all raised and Thomas knew about it.  But Jesus raising from the dead?  This was too incredible for Thomas to believe.  Thomas could not wrap his mind around such a thing.
 
And so, in his love, Jesus comes to Thomas to give him the proof that he needs.  Jesus overcomes the natural limitations of Thomas’ mind and shows him the mark of the nails and spear.  Jesus approaches Thomas and speaks to him.  He allows Thomas to touch his physical body and his wounds.  Later, Jesus would eat a meal in front of Thomas—something dead people have a very tough time doing. 
 
Jesus demonstrated his Resurrection to Thomas and calls those blessed, who believe without examining wounds or plates of food.  Jesus comes to Thomas to reveal the truth of his Resurrection, and the Holy Spirit comes to you to do the same thing.
 
The Holy Spirit comes to you by the Word and the Sacraments to show you that Jesus is God who really, physically died on the cross…and who really, physically rose again from the dead.  The Holy Spirit gives you faith and teaches you that you receive the riches of Jesus’ Resurrection.  The Holy Spirit fills you with wisdom that supersedes the intelligence and experiences of Thomas.
 
Jesus loved Thomas and didn’t want him to be ignorant of the greatest, most blessed event in the history of the world.  Jesus also loves you and so he sends the Holy Spirit to you so that you would know, believe, and take joy in the blessed Resurrection of your Lord.
 
Almighty God, through your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, you overcame death and opened to us the magnitude of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before you in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.
 

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.
                                                            --Psalm 51:10-12
  
King David wrote this familiar hymn (which we sing in our worship services) when he realized the depth of his sin.  David had an affair with Bathsheba, lied about his deeds, and killed Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.  We sing this hymn because we recognize that David isn’t exactly the only one who has sinned and made his heart unclean.
 
We also have unclean hearts that are unacceptable to God.  We have inherited sin from our first parents, Adam and Eve.  This inherited (original) sin makes itself known in our sinful words and actions.  Your sinful heart cannot remain in God’s presence.  God cannot stand sin.  You deserve to be cast away from God’s presence eternally.
 
And yet, God does not cast you away.  Instead, God casts away his Son, Jesus.  Jesus cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Jesus was cast off and forsaken by God because Jesus took upon himself all your sin…and its consequences. 
              
Through Jesus, you are cleansed and made new.  As you have been given faith, you are now re-created in the image of Jesus Christ.  God has listened to David’s prayer (and your prayer).  Through Jesus, you have the forgiveness of your sins.  God has created a new, clean heart within you.  God has given you his Holy Spirit, who dwells within you.  God strengthens and upholds you because of the death and Resurrection of Jesus.

O God, you justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner.  Graciously assist me by your heavenly aid and evermore shield me with your protection, that no temptation may separate me from your love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb…the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.”
--Matthew 28:1, 5-6
 
Easter Sunday is the chief holy day of the church year.  It is more significant than Christmas, Pentecost, the Ascension, and Good Friday.  On this day, the Church celebrates because Jesus (just as he said) conquered death.  Death cannot hold Jesus.  Jesus was dead for three days, then rose again to eternal life.
 
In the book of James, we are taught that the Devil knows that Jesus rose from the dead, but the Devil does not celebrate this fact.  The Devil trembles because of the Resurrection. 
 
This is quite a difference between the Church’s reaction and Satan’s reaction to the same event—the Easter Resurrection of Jesus. What is the reason for this difference?
 
Simply, faith makes all the difference in the world. 
 
It is very interesting to know that a man from Nazareth was crucified and then rose again form the dead…but faith transcends mere intellectual acknowledgement.  Because you have been given the gift of faith, the Resurrection becomes a celebrated event for you!
 
For you Jesus rose from the dead and gives you the hope of everlasting life.  Jesus rose from the dead for you so that you would have the forgiveness of your sins.  Jesus defeated the Devil for you.  His perfect blood was shed for you.  For you, Jesus has restored the relationship between you and your heavenly Father.  Peace, wisdom, righteousness, and comfort are all for you and given to you.
 
Faith—which you receive by the Word and Sacraments—is like the hands that grasp on to all the riches of the Resurrection.  By faith you take hold of them and make them all your own.  Therefore, we celebrate with shouts of Alleluia, trumpets, and joy.  Jesus has done it all perfectly and he has done it for you.
 
O God, for our redemption you gave your only begotten Son to the death of the cross and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy.  Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before you in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.