The Food for Thought Faithcast with Be Rob
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The Food for Thought Faithcast with Be Rob
Ep. 13- Resurrection Sunday- Jesus transforms our relationship with death by conquering it himself.
The resurrection stands as the ultimate demonstration of God's upside-down kingdom, where strength is revealed through weakness and victory comes through sacrifice. Luke's Gospel leads us through Jesus's journey from humble birth to powerful teacher, ultimately facing execution by religious and political authorities who felt threatened by his radical message that God's kingdom belongs to the poor and marginalized.
When Jesus's followers discover his empty tomb, they struggle to comprehend what has happened. This spiritual blindness is brilliantly portrayed in the Road to Emmaus story, where disciples walk alongside the resurrected Jesus without recognizing him. Only when Jesus breaks bread—symbolizing his broken body—are their eyes opened, revealing how difficult it is to grasp God's redemptive plan when it contradicts human expectations of power and triumph.
The resurrected Jesus continues to surprise by appearing physically to his disciples, even asking for leftovers to eat! This stunning detail highlights the physicality of resurrection—Jesus isn't merely a spirit but has passed through death into a transformed physical existence as "the firstborn of new creation." His ascension into heaven serves as Luke's visual metaphor for Jesus's enthronement as divine king over all creation, a role from which he now empowers his followers to share his message of love and reconciliation throughout the world.
God's kingdom doesn't operate according to human power structures—it turns them upside-down. The resurrection reveals the ultimate truth: death doesn't have the final word in our human story either. As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, we're invited to embrace this revolutionary perspective where enemies become friends, the poor are valued, and forgiveness transforms lives. Will you allow this resurrection perspective to transform how you see power, success, and purpose in your own life?
We have been looking at the story of Jesus as it is told in Luke's Gospel. It begins with the arrival of an unlikely king, born in poor, humble circumstances.
Speaker 2:Then we saw Jesus as a teacher and prophet. He went throughout Israel calling people to a radical way of life where enemies become friends, the poor are cared for, where people find forgiveness for their failures.
Speaker 1:He went from town to town inviting people to follow him and live under God's reign, in this upside down way.
Speaker 2:And he did many signs and wonders. So many Israelites began to hope that he would rescue Israel from the Romans and set up a new kingdom of peace and justice, in short, that he would bring the kingdom of God.
Speaker 1:Now, the religious leaders of the day were also hoping for God's kingdom, but to them the message of Jesus was a threat.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they had expected to gain power and prestige when this all went down. But Jesus said God's kingdom belongs to the poor, to the outsider, and that real power is serving others in love.
Speaker 1:This conflict intensified when Jesus, while in Jerusalem, disrupted the temple sacrifices and called Israel's leaders a gang of rebels.
Speaker 2:So they arrested Jesus and they had him accused before the Roman authorities of being a rebel king. He was handed over for execution, even though he was innocent. Then he was taken outside the city and put to death on false charges.
Speaker 1:This brings us to the final section of the Gospel of Luke. There was a religious leader named Joseph who opposed Jesus' execution and then requested to be given his body so he could bury Jesus in a nearby tomb.
Speaker 2:And then, a couple of days later, some women who had followed Jesus came to visit that tomb and they found it open and empty. And they encountered these mysterious figures telling them Jesus was alive from the dead. So they run away terrified. Nobody believes their report. I mean he can't be alive. They all saw him die.
Speaker 1:Now, just outside of Jerusalem, a pair of Jesus's followers were leaving the city, traveling on a road to a town called Emmaus, and they were sad and confused about everything that had happened.
Speaker 2:Then Jesus shows up, walking alongside them, but they don't know it's him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's weird. Why couldn't they recognize him?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's an odd but really significant image for Luke. They're blind to Jesus for some reason, so Jesus asks them what are you guys talking about?
Speaker 1:And they begin to tell him about Jesus, a powerful prophet who they expected would rescue Israel, but was instead executed. Some women say he's alive, which is crazy. It's all too much. We're going home, so Jesus?
Speaker 2:tries to explain that this is what the Jewish scriptures had been pointing to all along that Israel needed a king who would suffer and die as a rebel on behalf of those who actually are rebels, and then he would be vindicated by his resurrection so he could give true life to those who would receive it.
Speaker 1:But it is still not making sense. They are as confused as ever.
Speaker 2:Which leads to the scene where they sit down for a meal with Jesus. He takes the bread, he blesses it, breaks it and gives it to them, just as he did at the last supper.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is the image of his broken body, his death on the cross.
Speaker 2:And it's when they take in the broken bread, that's when their eyes are open to see Jesus. Then he disappears and the episode's over.
Speaker 1:So this is a story about how it's hard to see Jesus for who he really is.
Speaker 2:Yes, this is brilliant. I mean, how could God's royal power and love be revealed through this man's shameful execution? How could a humble man become the king of the world through weakness and self-sacrifice? It's very hard to see, but this is the message of the Gospel of Luke. Very hard to see, but this is the message of the Gospel of Luke. It takes a transformation of your imagination to see it and embrace Jesus's upside-down kingdom.
Speaker 1:The Gospel of Luke ends with Jesus and all of his disciples together over another meal, and everyone is freaking out about his resurrected body. I mean, he is still a human, but way more.
Speaker 2:Yes, he has passed through death and come out the other side, a walking talking piece of new creation. And then Jesus tells them that he's going to give them the same divine power that sustained him, so they can go out and share the good news of God's kingdom with other people.
Speaker 1:After this, luke tells us that Jesus was taken up into heaven, which is a cool exit and all but why disappear into the sky?
Speaker 2:So in the Old Testament the skies are the place of God's throne. They're above everything.
Speaker 1:So this is Luke's way of showing that Jesus has been enthroned as the divine king of the whole world. His followers stay in Jerusalem worshiping God and Jesus, waiting for this new power. And this is where the gospel ends.
Speaker 2:Now Luke is going to write about how they receive this power and take the news out into the world, and that's what his second volume, the book of Acts, is all about.
Speaker 3:Hey guys, it's B-Rob, it's the Food for Thought, faithcast. And it is Sunday, april 20th, and I got good news for you guys. I got great news for you guys. I got great news for you guys. It's Resurrection Sunday and we're going to continue in our reading in the Bible app. Devotional Death is not the end of the story for Jesus of Nazareth as the firstborn of the new creation, which is Colossians 1, 15 and 18, which says the son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for in him all things were created, things in heaven and the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of powers or rulers or authorities. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together, and he is the head of the body, the church, he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. And that's Colossians, chapter 1, 15 through 18.
Speaker 3:Yes yes, yes, yes, and he is the heir of all things. Hebrews 1, chapter 1, verse 2 say. But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things and through whom also he made the universe. That's Hebrews chapter 1, verse 2, just basically showing you that where it says he is the heir of all things, he is showing humanity that death is not the end of our story either. It's a brutal and mysterious part of our story, but in the light of Christ we can believe that our life does not end in an earthly death. God's love carries us through and death loses its sting in the face of Jesus' resurrection promise. This is the indestructible life we celebrate on this Resurrection Sunday. We call Easter the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Three days after Jesus' execution, two women from among Jesus' disciples find out that the tombstone has been removed, the seal has been broken and Jesus' body is gone. An angelic man says Jesus has risen and he urges the women to go tell the other disciples Jesus is alive and heading north and he plans to meet his disciples in Galilee. Well, jesus does meet with his followers, showing them his wounds and letting them touch his resurrected body. According to Luke's version of the gospel, when Jesus first sees his disciples, he asked them if they have any leftovers to share. They give him some fish and he chats with them over a meal. And that's in Luke 24, verses 41 through 43. And it says and while they still did not believe it, because of joy and amazement, he asked them do you have anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it in their presence, their presence. Jesus passed through death and returned to life as a walking, talking, living human being who was hungry for some leftovers. He is the firstborn of humanity in the new creation and he tells his disciples that he's going to give them the same divine power that sustains him, so that they can go out and share the good news of the resurrection and the unending love of God's kingdom with people throughout the world. Jesus sends his disciples out to all families of the earth with good news. Everyone can join Jesus' kingdom by turning away from their fear of death and turning towards his love and following his way of life. On this Resurrection Sunday, this Easter Sunday, followers of Jesus celebrate with joy. Jesus has risen and his new creation has begun. Happy Resurrection Sunday. Happy Easter begun. Happy resurrection Sunday happy Easter.
Speaker 3:I want to thank the Bible project for the story of Jesus resurrection and how it unfolded. I'll check them out at the Bible project. Calm guys, if you want us to pray for you today, we can Just click the prayer request button down below. If you guys want to donate to the podcast, you can. If you want to be a sponsor of the podcast, you can Click the button below.
Speaker 3:I just want to thank you guys for listening this week. It's been an amazing week and we have great news today on this Resurrection Sunday. He lives, he lives, he lives. Dear Heavenly Father, almighty God, through your only begotten Son, jesus Christ, and how he overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection.
Speaker 3:Lord, I pray that everyone's life-giving spirit, that Jesus' life-giving spirit, be delivered from sin and raised from the dead. I pray that everyone who's listening right now be delivered from sin and raised from the dead through our Lord, jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit. Lord, we pray that the Holy Spirit will come and touch our lives. Lord, we pray that in these coming weeks we hold this same joy, this same glory, the same joy and glory that you gave Jesus to overcome the grave. We thank you for your gift of everlasting life. We thank you for your gift of everlasting life. We thank you for your gift of worship. We praise you. It's in Jesus' holy name, Amen and hallelujah. Thank you, guys. God bless you. We'll see you on the next episode. Jesus loves you. He gave his life for you so that you may be with God. Thank you guys, god bless.
