"And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight. They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?'"

When you were a kid, did you ever daydream about being a superhero? Did you ever dream of being Superman, Wonder Woman? Or maybe you played Cops and Robbers, and you were the hero by the end of the game.

Let me play Junior Psychiatrist for a second. I think the reason that kids daydream, the reason they pretend to be superheroes, is because when we are young, we aren't in charge. We don't make the rules. We have little power. So we pretend to be in charge. We are the heroes -- in our dreams.

People go to great lengths to be in control, even if it means hurting someone. This is the one year anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Such unprovoked attacks have become more and more common in our country. Often, the person who carries out such atrocities claims to be misunderstood and mistreated by the world.

Other people who feel left out do not try to change circumstances, they try to escape from it. One of my favorite authors is Charles Dickens and in his story, "A Tale of Two Cities" he writes about a French doctor who is imprisoned for 20 years. Unable to practice medicine, he kept his mind going by becoming a cobbler inside that prison. For 20 years, in that small, dark cell, he could be heard tap/tap/tapping away, repairing the shoes of his fellow prisoners.

When the French Revolution came, he was released, but he couldn't cope with the sunlight, the freedom of being out in the world again. So, Dickens writes that he went home, he had his servant prepare a room for him in the attic. This room was exactly the same size as his prison cell. And every night when he came home, the servant would escort him to this room, lock him inside, and he would spend the night tap/tap/tapping away repairing shoes.

After those 3 examples, I'm feeling a little sad. Discouraged. So we need to hear about the resurrection of Jesus. The Resurrection story reminds us that God is in control -- at all times and in every circumstance. The Resurrection story reminds us that God keeps His promises -- every single one of them. The Resurrection story reminds us that God loves us and has a bright future waiting for us.

Therefore, I've titled this sermon, "The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Turns our Frown Upside Down." And a tremendous example of this is contained in what took place on the road to Emmaus.

We are told there were 2 of them, one was named Cleopas. They were frowning. They were disheartened. They had been with Jesus. They had followed Him. They had believed in Him. And now, Jesus had been arrested, crucified, and buried. Their hopes and dreams were shattered.

So they start back home, from Jerusalem to Emmaus was about 7 miles. They are commiserating together. And Jesus walks up with them on the road (they were kept from recognizing Him.) Jesus says, "What are you talking about?" And Cleopas says, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and you don't know these things that have happened?"

This is kind of a "smarty pants" response. You know how it goes when you are under stress. Dad comes home from work and snaps at mom, mom snaps at the kids. The kids kick the dog. The dog bites the mailman. These 2 are upset. Why?

Cleopas continues, "About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.…They crucified Him. We had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel."

Now, their idea of "redeeming Israel" probably centered on a political power. Maybe they had hoped that Jesus would redeem them from human misery, from poverty, from hunger, from disease. They didn't realize that Jesus had come to redeem Israel and all mankind from sin and death. They didn't realize that Jesus had already accomplished this through the cross and resurrection. So they were frowning.

But Jesus begins to speak. And their frowns begin to turn.

Jesus speaks. Jesus says, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter into His glory?" And Jesus explained everything written in Scripture concerning Himself.

Jesus rebukes these disciples. Maybe Jesus explained Isaiah 53 to them, which says, "He was pierced for our transgressions." Maybe Jesus taught them that the cross was necessary for the full payment of our sins. Even though they wanted a glorious king without suffering, Jesus showed tem that Scripture predicts a glorious King after suffering on the cross. Jesus explained the Bible to these disciples on the Road to Emmaus and their hearts began to burn within them. God's Word changes us.

It reminds me of one of my favorite Martin Luther stories, because it shows a glimpse of his wife Katie. Luther was prone to a bit of depression. And His discouragement went on for awhile, so that his wife Katie came down all dressed in black. When Luther asked her what was wrong, she said, "God died." Luther said, "You silly woman, God didn't die." And Katie replied, "From the way you've been acting, I assumed He did." Where is your hope? Where is your confidence in Your all-powerful, all loving Savior?

These men on the road to Emmaus were discouraged. Jesus changes them through the Word. As he preached, as He taught, their hearts were brightened.

When they came to their house, they begged Jesus, 'Abide with us, Stay with us, for it is nearly evening, the day is almost over." And Jesus did.

And now, Jesus is about to turn their frown upside down! He took the bread, He blessed it, and their eyes were opened. Jesus is alive! Jesus is alive! They were immediately filled with joy. Their frowns were turned upside down.

Then what happened. They couldn't wait to go and return to Jerusalem. It must have been 8-9 o'clock in the evening. It was 7 miles back to Jerusalem. They could have traveled in the morning, but they couldn't wait. They had to go and tell the others that Jesus is alive. They had to go and tell the others why Jesus had to die on the cross for the sins of the people. But how else can you respond? When you hear the message that Jesus is alive, how can you sleep through it? How can you go about your everyday business as if Jesus were dead?

Have you been walking on the Road to Emmaus? Have the circumstances of life caused a few frowns? Do you question if God really loves you? (How can you question God's love when we see the cross, when we know that God loves you so much that He sent Jesus to die for your sins?)

But we all travel on the Road to Emmaus. Sometimes our dreams are shattered. Sometimes circumstances cloud our vision of Jesus.

And do you know what Jesus promises as you walk the Road to Emmaus?

Jesus says, "I didn't come to remove that hard road, at least not immediately. I did come to walk with you. I'm going to walk with you until we're home. I'm never going to leave you."

In the meantime, Jesus invites you to open the Word. Trust the promises of God. Let your heart burn within you as you are assured that Christ's death and resurrection brings forgiveness and life.

In the meantime, Jesus invites you to dine with Him at His table. The forgiveness of sins, the strengthening of faith, the peace for daily living that is yours at the Lord's table is too special, too powerful to ignore.

O Lord, wake us up this morning. Give us eyes to see and hearts that burn. Give us souls that yearn to serve you and tell the world that Jesus is alive. When we sorrow over our sinfulness, direct us to the cross. Let us peek into the tomb of Easter. Then, before we know, seclusion, sorrow and sadness will be a thing of the past.

For, the Resurrection of Jesus turns our frown upside down.