Christ Known through Ear Alone

Third Sunday of Easter

May 4, 2014

Luke 24:16

Christ Known through Ear Alone

In the name of Jesus.

I.

They seemed to have almost all the facts at their fingertips. They knew that Jesus was a preacher of renown—perhaps they had heard Him preach in person. They knew what had happened during the past week—perhaps they'd shouted His praises with the crowds, perhaps they had seen Him hanging from a cross on Golgotha. And they knew that it was the third day since Jesus had died.

There were some things they didn't know or weren't sure about. They had heard reports of angels at the tomb—they sound uncertain on this point, perhaps because they hadn't heard the angels' report with their own ears. They had heard that the tomb was empty—they sound a bit more certain about this fact, perhaps they had been to the tomb to see for themselves. But what did it mean?

They seemed to have almost all the facts at their fingertips, except for the Last Big Fact, who was talking and walking with them. It's practically a horror movie in reverse, “Cleopas, it's Jesus! It's Jesus! Don't turn your back on Him! Don't let Him get away! It's Jesus!”

That mysterious Jesus is saying something to His disciples by purposely appearing in a different form to their eyes. He's saying something remarkable by making their ears do all the work.

† Jesus wants to be know through His Word and His Word alone. And your ears are the receptacles of this Word. †

II.

When the Holy Spirit sent His angel to the blessed Virgin Mary, we hear how her ears heard the promise. Gabriel said,

Luke 1:31

“Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. . . . The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

There have been other miracle babies, but our Lord used the natural way with Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth. Not so with the Word who is God. God sends the Word and the Word through Mary's ears is fulfilled.

At the beginning of time we hear how the Word works His purpose. At the beginning of Jesus' life we hear how the Word works. And at the beginning of His glorious return to life we hear how the Word works.

III.

The Emmaus disciples weren't the only ones who didn't see and recognize the face of their Savior. Mary Magdalene failed to see Jesus at first, but she also learned to know Him as He spoke to her.

John 20:14-17

Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus. “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”—which means “Teacher.” “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father—to My God and your God.”

Jesus told her not to hold onto what she could see, but instead sent her to His family of disciples to speak His Word to their ears.

IV.

And this is so often what Jesus calls you to do. Like Mary at the empty grave, Jesus sends us away from Himself and sends you to tell His Word to others in our family. And like Mary it is often met with doubt or even disbelief. Perhaps there's a good reason why they didn't mention Mary's report, but they didn't when speaking with that mysterious stranger on the road to Emmaus. I suppose it was unbelievable.

Luke 24:22-23

Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, and when they didn’t find His body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.

You face doubt and disbelief in these Words. This doubt starts within you. Can this full cross and empty tomb really be true? Can this risen Christ really be for me?

As pastors we see how helpless this Word seems to be.
You see couples who want the Word at their wedding who don't want the Word in their home. You see members who want to go it alone; they want to be homeless Christians, church-less Christians. You see scared souls who can't believe that the very Body and Blood of their crucified Savior can be for them. You see pastors, and mostly the one in the mirror, and a Synod that is good at being positive and creative, but not so good at confession and repentance. You see and hear a lot that can make Him, the Word of God, seem helpless.

All we know and have is what Jesus gives to us through our ears. And our mouths. And our hands. And our eyes! We sing after eating and drinking His feast the words of blessed Simeon

Nunc Dimittis, Luke 2:29-32

Lord, now You let Your servant depart in peace

according to Your Word.

For My eyes have seen Your salvation,

which You have prepared

before the face of all people,

a light to lighten the Gentiles

and the glory of Your people Israel.

We have seen Christ because His Word promises it is so. Whatever other words we hear, whatever other visions we see, we must return again and again, Sunday after Sunday, with Christians around the world, with Christians in your parish, to His Word that is preached and administered.

Like blessed Cleopas we learn sometimes slowly and oftentimes painfully that the Word is all we have and the Word is everything that we need. The tomb is empty; Christ is with you. His table is full and so are your ears.

In the name of the Father

and of the † Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.