Why the World Needs
the Bible
Study Series on the Awesome Words of Almighty God
Luke 24:13-34
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
DATE: 7 September, 2008 AM
PLACE: BBC Ballincollig,
I.
Introduction (Psalm 119:47,48;
97-99; 103; 131; 148)
A.
New Series this
1.
God’s Perfect Word – Why the
World Needs the Bible
2.
God’s Living Word – Why the
World Does not Know the Real Jesus Christ
3.
God’s Visible Word – Why the
World Needs The Christian
4.
How to Learn and Live by the
Word of God
B.
Unlike other books, Bible
believers read the Bible through again and again. They sometimes spend hours
meditating upon a single passage, a single verse, a single phrase, or a single
word. They thrill at discoveries within its pages more than men have thrilled at
great discoveries of oil or precious metals! I wonder why?
C.
The noted astronomer, Sir John
Herschel, who made many important and vital scientific discoveries, declared:
"All human discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more
and more strongly the truths of the Holy Scriptures."
D.
The Word of God remains the
number one best seller in the literary field year after year. It amounts to
over 6 billion copies printed just since 1815. It has been printed, in whole or
in part, in over two thousand different languages and dialects. When it is
translated into a new tongue the waiting recipients are almost delirious with
joy. How can you explain such popularity for so ancient a volume?
E.
The great preacher of 150
years ago in
F.
Did you know?
1.
The Bible can be read aloud at
normal speed in just 70 hours.
2.
According to statistics from
Wycliffe International, the Society of Gideons, and the International Bible
Society, the number of new Bibles that are sold, given away, or otherwise
distributed in
II.
Message (Luke 24:13-34)
A.
The Background.
1.
Jesus prophesied about His
upcoming death, and especially about His resurrection – did anyone believe Him?
Only a few! (Luke 9:22; 18:31-33)
2.
Jesus had been crucified
3.
It is now three days later,
and four women have come running from the tomb saying that Christ’s tomb was
empty, and that angels had announced He was very much alive!
4.
No one believes them (Luke
24:9-11)
5.
Everyone starts talking about
this strange event – they couldn’t stop talking about it! Such a dramatic
turn-about if it were true! But could it be?!
B.
Rough Journey (Luke 24:13-24) -
It was just a 7 ˝ mile trek for these two men who had once been such devout and
excited disciples of Jesus the Messiah. But it was after the most traumatic
weekends of their entire lives! They are walking slow, and sorrowful!
1.
Communing (24:13,14) – These
two men were trying to talk things out
a.
There is nothing more wondrous
than the consideration of God’s word by hungry, humble hearts – even when
confused, and sorrowful (24:17)
b.
To struggle through the
promises of the Bible, and attempt to believe them
c.
To actually see those promises
fulfilled in your life, and be able to testify, God kept His word!
d.
These men were talking about
Jesus! Not religion! What a wondrous difference!
2.
Companion (24:15) – Jesus
joins in the discussion
a.
A man comes walking up along
side these two men
b.
He does not look familiar even
though He knows them both!
c.
Isn’t it wonderful to know
that the Lord shares our journey even though we are not aware of it?
3.
Closed Eyes (24:16)
a.
Why is he not apparent? If he
had been easily recognized, it would have quickly frightened them off – Jesus
wanted to draw out their joy and faith before revealing Himself!
b.
Most eyes are very closed to
the presence of Jesus Christ in our world
4.
Confused (24:17-23)
a.
About their religion
1)
Their own religious leaders,
whom they looked up to and revered, had actually crucified the only Man who ever
lived unselfishly, and perfectly!
2)
It was the LEADERS who had
murdered an innocent Man – usually, religious leaders are supposed to defend the
innocent!
3)
Their religion was in shambles
– it was a “club” that did not even want the Son of God in its membership!
b.
About their trust in Jesus
1)
But it gets worse
2)
They had actually trusted that
Jesus was THE promised prophet who would come to “save them”
3)
Thought he would physically
deliver, heal, bless the nation of
4)
They were very confused – so
many religions are STILL confused
5)
They wanted a Genie, a SLAVE,
a FAIRY GODMOTHER!
6)
They needed a SAVIOUR, and
they need a LORD!
c.
About Christ’s promise
1)
And in the back of their
minds, they remembered something about three days and three nights (Matthew
12:40)
2)
Jesus said something about
rising again after three days
3)
And now that it has been three
days, and certain women have started everything up again! We had buried Jesus,
and now we are having to go through all this again!
d.
These two men were confused
- but not for long!
5.
Considering (24:24). They were
openly debating. Oh that you and I entered into the heartaches of people lives
with some GOOD NEWS!
a.
The testimony of the four
women – there are over 100 proofs that Jesus rose from the dead: historical,
logical, testimonial proofs that are infallible!
b.
The appearance of angels –
Somebody had to roll the tombstone away – the Roman soldiers were not going to
do it, nor were they going to allow it!
c.
The empty tomb – ponder THAT
for a month of Sundays! Every other tomb has its occupant, but death could not
hold Jesus!
d.
Something had surely happened
C.
Rebuke (Luke 24:25-27) – Here
we get to the main message!
1.
After listening to all the
cribbing, and confusion, and conflict in the minds and hearts of these two
“disciples”, Jesus does not feel sorry for them, and does not apologize for them
having to go through such a “traumatic experience” – No! He REBUKES THEM BECAUSE
THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEIR BIBLE!
2.
Modern psychology comforts
those who go through hard times – Jesus says the Scriptures are our strength FOR
those hard times!
3.
Do you know what some folks
are going to get in heaven when they first arrive? A rebuke! The Lord will show
us just how little we believed His promises! Just how little we even read of His
word!
4.
The Modern “Heresy” of
Believing the Bible (Luke 24:25-27; Acts 24:14)
a.
A Christian is not someone
that just sides with Jesus, but is one who whole-heartedly follows Jesus!
b.
That means believing ALL that
the prophets have spoken
1)
Not just the good parts, or
the easy to believe parts
2)
But the Red Sea parts, and the
manna for 40 years parts, and the Six-Day Creation parts, and the laws against
homosexuality parts, and the crucifixion parts
c.
Bible believers are referred
to as “fundamentalists” for a good reason – we believe the Bible like a
mathematician believes his math – absolutely – not vaguely or symbolically!
d.
People will easily call the
Bible the “word of God” but they will not believe every word! What hypocrisy!
5.
The Value of the Bible to
Jesus
a.
He thought the Bible was God’s
perfect word
1)
Heaven and earth would pass
away before even the smallest portion of a letter of it would (Matt. 5:17-18).
2)
Jesus trusted the Old
Testament enough to use it as His only source for solving theological arguments.
So many times, His argument rested only on the significance of a single word in
the text.
(i)
In Mark 12:35-37, Jesus based
an important theological point on the second usage of the word "Lord," arguing
that the Messiah was more than just the son of David. He is Lord!
(ii)
In Matthew 22:31-32, Jesus
built His case against the Sadducees on the word "am" in order to teach the
doctrine of the resurrection of the body, which they rejected. Such confidence
in the very words of Scripture is a crucial indication of Jesus' high view of
their truth.
3)
On many other occasions, Jesus
cited Scripture as a "proof text" while debating His adversaries.
(i)
During the wilderness
temptation, Jesus quoted Old Testament texts in opposition to Satan (Matt. 4:4,
7, 10).
(ii)
Other times, Jesus responded
to His detractors by asking them, "Have you not read. . . ?" "It is not written.
...". What a waste of time if the Bible was not true!
(iii)
In Matthew 22:29, Jesus
remarked that an ignorance of Scripture caused the Sadducees to a make a massive
theological error about the resurrection.
4)
Jesus considered the Bible to
be the definitive authority in solving theological issues.
5)
He said it is the only truth
worth believing (John 17:17)
6)
Jesus referred to the entire
Old Testament both as the Law and the prophets, as well as adding the Psalms
(Luke 24:44).
7)
He said the Bible would last
forever (Matthew 24:35)
8)
He said the Bible was THE
final judge of all mankind (John 12:47,48)
9)
It was His only weapon against
Satanic attack and temptation (Matthew 4)
10)
The Bible is not simply a
time-honoured human document. Rather, Jesus called it the very command and words
of God. Humans like Moses and David penned the text, but God still spoke through
them.
b.
It was quoted by Jesus over
180 times (10% of the Gospels)
c.
The apostles in the rest of
the New Testament quote the Old testament without question over 800 times!
d.
Even Peter called the writings
of the apostle Paul Scripture (2Peter 3:14-16)
6.
Jesus now takes these two men
on a tour of the Bible through its pages with the laser of faith in every word
that it said! They slowed their pace as they walked – this two hour walk was
turning into 4 hours or more!!!
7.
Through the pages of Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Psalms, Daniel, Hosea, Malachi Jesus took these two men (Luke
24:27)
a.
He showed them Himself in the
promised seed of Eve who would defeat the devil
b.
He showed Himself in the lambs
that covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve
c.
He showed Himself in the
worship of Abel instead of in the good works of Cain
d.
He showed Himself as the Rock
in the wilderness that supplied water for all 2 million of the Israelites in the
desert
e.
He showed Himself in the Manna
f.
He showed Himself as the cloud
by day, and the fire by night
g.
He reminded them of Himself in
the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego
h.
He showed Himself as the
Ancient of Days, and the stone from heaven in Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams in the
book of Daniel!
8.
Oh how the trip seemed too
short to contain all the light these two men were getting from this “Stranger!”
D.
Revelation (Luke 24:28-31)
1.
After the 7 ˝ mile walk, the
two men attempt to enter the home they were staying in that night, and had to
force Jesus to come along with them – prove they really wanted this Man around
(still not knowing it was JESUS)
2.
They invited Him to stay and
eat with them, which He did
3.
And it was when He broke the
bread, and blessed it, that they finally heard THAT VOIVE, and saw THOSE NAIL
SCARRED HANDS, and they FINALLY BELIEVED!
4.
And then He vanished!
E.
A New Race
(Luke 24:32-34)
1.
They had walked 7 ˝ miles –
took them all afternoon
2.
But when they finally realized
that Jesus was REALLY alive, and that they had just spent the afternoon with
Him, they left their dinner, and RAN back to
3.
They called it a “heart burn”
that they never got over!
III.
Conclusion
A.
How the Bible was Written
(2Peter 1:21)
1.
By the Holy Spirit of God
2.
Over a 1500 year span (from
1400 B.C to A.D. 100) – that’s across 40 generations of time
3.
By about 40 authors from many
walks of life (i.e. - kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets,
statesmen, scholars)
4.
In different places (i.e. -
wilderness, dungeons, palaces)
5.
At different times (i.e. -
war, peace, famine, storms)
6.
In different moods (i.e. -
heights of joy, depths of despair)
7.
On three continents (Asia,
Africa, and
8.
In three languages (Hebrew,
Aramaic, and Greek)
9.
On stone, paper, and hearts!
10.
Can you imagine what it would
be like trying to get 40 different men (from varying walks of life, with sundry
intellects, positions, personalities, professions, environments, etc.—separated
by as much as 1,500 years in time) to write on some other theme, such as
pol¬itics, medicine, or even religion, then bind their conclusions to¬gether
into one book? What a mass [mess] of conflicting opinions you would have. To
achieve harmonious unity in such a book under such circumstances is absolutely
inconceivable. Not so with the Word of God! Here is perfect, absolute unity and
harmony. That is why we call it THE WORD OF GOD and not of men!
B.
God Means Just What He Says
There are some
who believe the Bible, And some who believe in part,
And some who
trust with reservation, And some with all their heart.
But I know
that its every promise Is firm and true always;
It is tried as
the precious silver, And it means just what it says.
It is strange
we trust each other, And only doubt our Lord;
We will take
the word of mortals, And yet distrust His word;
But, oh, what
light and glory
Would shine
o'er all our days
If we always
would remember
That He means
just what He says.
—A. B. Simpson
C.
The Wonder of the Redemption
It Offers! David declares: "The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul"
(Ps 19:7).
1.
It convicts us all of sin!
a.
It goes right to the heart and
explodes all myths and lies therein! Professor William Lyon Phelps of Yale
declared: "[The Bible] ought to have written on the cover, 'Highly Explosive.
Handle with Care.' It is the book which by the dynamite of its message has
lifted empires off their hinges and turned the course of human events. It has
put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree." That is
what Paul was saying in Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power [dynamite] of God unto salvation to everyone that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
b.
This dynamite is never
evidenced more clearly than in its power to produce conviction in the heart of
sinners. Sidney Collett tells of a missionary to
2.
It Converts the Sinner (James
1:21)
3.
It Conforms/Transforms
4.
It Comforts the Broken
5.
It Calls – for absolutely ALL
to follow Jesus
D.
Get into our Bibles like never
before! Get in AWE of them once again! Know your Bible! Believe your Bible!
E.
It is impossible mentally and
socially to enslave a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the
groundwork of human freedom. —Horace Greeley