Unexpected Part 3 | Unexpected Easter with Chris Schlotterbeck

Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. To get connected

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this message you feel called to make a change

in your life, text CHANGEME to 9700. Thank you

and enjoy the message. Happy Easter. We're so

glad you made it. If you need a seat, there's

couches in the cafe. What a morning! So it began

last night at about 10 o 'clock when I was rudely

awoken by a storm that I thought was literally

going to blow my bedroom off the roof to be quickly

informed at 5 a .m. that we had no power. Fast

forward to now 10 .30 a .m. and we are celebrating

Easter together as a community of faith. So if

this is your first time joining us, please bear

with us. As we planned on having a morning gathering

at 825 that would alleviate some of the seating

issues, and that was lost because we had no power.

So here we are together celebrating all that

God is doing in our midst. And just like you

saw on our announcements, for those of you who

didn't know, we had a Good Friday worship and

baptism this past Friday night. Where 56 people

declared that they are now following Jesus and

were baptized. I even got to baptize Andre the

Giant, which was just a personal and incredible

experience for me. So I'm just thankful that

you all made it and that you're here. I would

like to invite you all, if you would please,

could you please stand? And I would simply like

to read. Luke chapter 24, verses 1 through 12,

Luke 24:1–12

which is the reason that we gather this morning.

But very early on Sunday morning, the women went

to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

They found that the stone had been rolled away

from the entrance, so they went in, but they

didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they

stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared

to them clothed in dazzling robes. The women

were terrified and bowed with their faces to

the ground. Then the men asked, Why are you looking

among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't

here. He is risen from the dead. Remember what

he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of

Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful

men and be crucified, and that he would rise

again on the third day. Then they remembered

that he had said this. So they rushed back from

the tomb to tell his 11 disciples and everyone

else what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene,

Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and several

other women who told the apostles what had happened.

But the story sounded like nonsense to the men,

so they didn't believe it. However, Peter jumped

up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he

peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings.

Then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Holy Spirit, come. God, we're just thankful for

the morning where we can gather to celebrate

all that you do for us. Overwhelm us, change

us, and allow us, God, to become new, fresh,

and just full of your Spirit. In Jesus' name,

amen. You may be seated. So Jesus, he only has

40 days. He's risen from the dead. He's resurrected

just like he said he would do. He has the keys

to death, hell, and the grave. He defeated the

devil when the stone was rolled away. He is risen.

He is risen indeed. The women went to the tomb.

It's Sunday morning and they brought some spices,

but they quickly learned that they would not

need them because the angel said to the women,

why are you looking among the dead for someone

who is alive? Now notice the women were searching

for Jesus, but he was no longer where they thought

he was. And if we're honest, I believe quite

often in our everyday lives. we find ourselves

searching for the presence and the power of God,

but we miss it because we search for it in all

the wrong places. See, we look for the living

among the dead, and Jesus is not there. He's

risen. Why do we look for a living God in dead

places, like a dead relationship or a dead career?

Or dead social media scrolling? Maybe it's a

dead habit. Why do we look for the living God

in dead religion? Or a dormant religion? See,

Jesus is alive and he's real. And the presence

of God is not meant to be an add -on or an accessory

or a bonus. See, the presence of God should be

the fuel or the source of life for anyone. Who

is in a relationship with Jesus? See, Jesus is

risen from the dead. That marked the most important

event in the history of the world. The cornerstone

of our faith. Now think about it. He's got to

get the message out because he's only got 40

days. He's about to be taken up to heaven and

seated at the right hand of the Father where

he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Jesus has to get moving. He has to show the world

that he's alive. That they'll believe the proof

of the power in his resurrection. What should

Jesus do first? I mean, if he wants to reveal

himself to the world and let them know that he

is the son of God, that he is risen from the

dead, where does he go? What does he do? Maybe

he could gather the disciples together and host

a resurrection reenactment event at the Coliseum.

He definitely needs to get it out on social.

Maybe it will go viral. Maybe he'll go old school

and schedule an interview with Fox News. What

does Jesus do on the day he defeats sin and death?

I believe that all of us might actually be surprised

because what he does next. Is he simply takes

a walk. And this morning I'm going to invite

you to take a walk with me. And not just me but

to take a walk with Jesus. Because see on the

day of his resurrection. The day that we celebrate

this morning. With only 40 days to tell the world

that he is God. And convince them with many signs

and proof. He simply appears to two travelers.

Whose names we have never seen. I mean, Jesus,

at least go talk to James and John. I've heard

of them. But these two travelers, see, they were

just like you and me walking along on the road

of life. These two travelers were headed toward

a village called Emmaus. And what's interesting

about this town as I was studying is that no

one exactly knows where Emmaus is today. It was

such an insignificant place. in its day, that

there's no archaeological evidence that it ever

existed. So why would Jesus go to a place that

wasn't even significant enough in Jesus' time

to be pinpointed on our map today? Well, see,

I believe it's a reminder, which leads us to

our first thought here on Easter Sunday, that

the resurrected Jesus, see, he pursues us. See,

let's take a walk and join Jesus on the road

to Emmaus as we read in Luke 24, 13 through 17.

That same day, two of Jesus' followers were walking

to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem.

And let's just simply pause there for a minute

and just highlight that they're walking toward

Emmaus. And remember, Jesus died in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was, of course, the place where the

Passover feast had just been celebrated. Jerusalem

was the place where the promised Holy Spirit

was to come. But Jesus leaves that place where

the Spirit is coming to follow two people, and

we don't even know who they are. Let's continue.

As they walked along, they were talking about

everything that had happened. As they talked

and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly

came and began walking with them. But God kept

them from mechanizing him, and he asked them,

what are you discussing so intently as you walk

along? So picture this with me. Jesus, he's just

trampled sin, hell, and the grave. He made a

complete mockery of Satan, and suddenly he walks

up to these two unnamed people and asks them

a simple question, a question he knows the answer

to. And listen, you may be here this morning

and you think that you can only go on this journey

if you're perfect and without sin. You might

think that you can only go on this journey if

your life is profound and meaningful. That God

can only use somebody that other people know.

But listen, don't believe that lie because our

culture unfortunately worships the idol of fame

and importance. But the famous one, the name

above every other name, meets these two previously

unnamed travelers. And I believe this morning

he wants to meet you. It doesn't matter what

you believe, what you've done, what you've said,

where you've gone, or where you're even headed.

Jesus is with us right now. He's with us when

we're wrong. He's with us when we're moving forward.

He's with us when we're stuck. He's with us when

we're celebrating. He's with us when we're strong.

He's with us when we're weak. He's with us when

we're defeated. And notice that all these two

were doing was walking. They didn't invite Jesus

to join them. They didn't pray to Jesus. They

didn't go to church. They didn't sing a hymn.

They didn't pray a prayer. They didn't even memorize

a verse. I mean, heck, they weren't even a part

of a growth group. Even though you should be,

they weren't. All they were doing was walking.

And they were walking toward a village called

Emmaus. And if we look at our own lives, isn't

it true that daily we walk through life? We raise

our kids. We go to work. We go to school. We

travel to the store. We cook dinner. And I believe

that Jesus wants us to see that he's walking

with us. And here's the crazy thing. These two

were walking the wrong way, which leads us to

our next thought. You see, the resurrected Jesus

meets us in our despair and our disappointment.

Remember, they're going away from Jerusalem toward

an unnamed town that can't even be marked on

our maps today. And if they really believed Jesus

was going to be raised from the dead, they would

have stayed in Jerusalem. But they didn't. And

God followed them anyway to this wrong destination

because God wants us to see that grace chases

us down. Let's continue our story, Luke 24, verses

Luke 24:17–24

17 to 24. They stopped short, sadness written

across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas,

And let's pause there again and recognize. Most

scholars believe that these two people were husband

and wife. We learn that the man's name was Cleopas.

So we have Jesus and we have Cleo. Because that's

what his friends call him, right? Cleo. And notice,

we don't even get the woman's name. Because in

biblical times, people didn't treat women very

well. They were overlooked. They were forgotten.

But we quickly see that that's the kind of people

that Jesus likes to hang out with. The people

who are overlooked and forgotten. I mean, remember,

he worked a miracle with a little kid's lunch.

In their minds, kids didn't count. But in Jesus'

eyes, they were what was needed for multiplication

to happen. When people walked past them, he saw

them as the ones that would produce life. Jesus

pursues the forgotten. Let's continue. What things,

Jesus asked? The things that happened to Jesus,

the man from Nazareth. Remember, they're talking

to Jesus. They said, well, he was a prophet who

did powerful miracles and he was a mighty teacher

in the eyes of God and all the people. But our

leading priests and our other religious leaders

handed him over to be condemned to death and

they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah

who would come to rescue Israel. This all happened

three days ago. Then some women from our group

of his followers were at this tomb early in the

morning and they came back with an amazing report.

They said his body was missing, and they had

seen angels who told them Jesus is alive. Some

of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his

body was gone, just as the women had said. Why

would Jesus make one of his first resurrection

appearances to two unnamed people headed toward

a place that was away from the Holy Spirit toward

a place that no one could even remember? Why?

Because Jesus is pursuing us. He comes after

us, even when we're walking in the wrong direction.

And notice, Cleo and his wife, they're talking

about all the things that had happened. How the

Romans had crucified the one that was supposed

to be the deliverer, to free them from the oppression.

And remember, the Jewish... believers, they thought

that Jesus was going to set them free from Rome.

They didn't see him as setting them free from

the sin, death, and destruction from just Rome.

So they were downcast, and they were sad, and

they were walking away from Jerusalem. And apparently,

Jesus, he stops with them in their sadness, and

he steps into their sadness. And they start explaining.

to the one that they just happened to, how it

was supposed to turn out. Then in verse 15, as

they talked and discussed these things, you know

these life events, what they had just walked

through, you know the divorce, the job loss,

the financial struggle, the wasted relationship

that you didn't really know how to handle, that

stressful day, that disappointing outcome. They're

talking about all these things with Jesus. They

talked about the death and what they had put

their expectations on, their hope. And they're

right there in the middle. As they're explaining

all these things, Jesus doesn't even ask to join.

He just walks right in. He walks right beside

them. Have you ever felt like God wouldn't leave

you alone? Even if he wanted him to, like, get

away from me, God. Like you tried to turn off

your conscience and you still felt bad smoking

it or drinking it or looking at it. You tried

to turn it off, but you still feel really bad.

You're like, God, just get away. And it's one

of those things where Jesus walks right up to

us. I mean, that's what he does. That's what

he did here. He walked right up to it. But the

scriptures say that they were kept from recognizing

him. And I believe that's a reminder for all

of us that quite often we don't recognize the

resurrection that's right in front of us. See,

we often look to God in the dramatic. But this

is a reminder that he shows up in the everyday

details. He takes a walk with us. But Jesus,

you don't have time for this. You've only got

40 days. You've got people to meet. You've got

to get the good news out. But Jesus says, yeah,

I've got to get the good news out to Cleo and

his wife. I've got to show myself to them. But

again, they were kept from recognizing it. It

didn't say that he didn't recognize him. It says

that they were kept from recognizing. And how

many times have we been kept from recognizing

what God is doing right in front of us? How many

times have we been kept from recognizing the

ordinary moments of joy because we were waiting

for the perfect? How many times have I missed

a miracle because I saw the mess? How many times

have I missed the opportunity to give something

to someone else, but we're so self -centered

that we don't give it away? And God is inviting

us this morning, Easter Sunday, to change. Yes,

he's pursuing us, but what if we began to pursue

him? They didn't recognize it. They didn't see

him. And for so many of us, we don't even recognize

that our kids are growing up too fast because

we're so busy working with life. We don't recognize

that God gave us a faithful partner to love and

commit to and we get tired of the ordinary and

suddenly we're in fights that mean nothing. We

don't recognize that the people we're hanging

out with are leading us down a path that is not

abundant but is destructive. See, resurrection

begins in your life when you ask the question,

what is keeping me from recognizing the presence

of God that is right here beside me and inside

of me? Proverbs 3, 5 through 6 says, trust in

the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on

your own understanding. Seek his will in all

you do and he will show you which path to take.

See, when we try to search for God with our own

understanding, And we say, well, I'll start my

journey when I understand. Listen, you're never

going to understand. That's just not how God

works. Resurrection begins when we acknowledge

that God is in control. And we stop looking past

all the incredible blessings that we're given

each and every day. And we recognize that Jesus

is walking right along with us. Which leads us

to our next thought. The resurrected Jesus meets

us in the scriptures. Continuing in Luke 24,

then Jesus said to them, you foolish people.

So not only does Jesus not invite himself on

the walk, but now he listens to them and he calls

them out. You foolish people. You find it so

hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in

the scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that

the Messiah would have to suffer all these things

before entering his glory? Then Jesus took them

through the writings of Moses and all the prophets,

explaining from all the scriptures the things

concerning himself. So Jesus quickly, and not

necessarily quickly, because a seven -mile walk,

that's a long walk, walks them through the scriptures.

He begins with Moses. He goes into the prophets.

And he's explaining to them and us. That this

entire book that we're to read every single day

all points to Jesus. From the beginning to the

end. It's all about Jesus. And now he's standing

right in front of us. He broke it down. He broke

it down in a way that allowed them that as they

walk this journey, as we walk through life together,

we can see our story in the midst of this book

that we read every single day. But it requires

faith. And it requires for you to jump in the

story. As you jump in the story, as you step

out in faith, as you hope and desire more of

God in your life, you grow as you go. Notice

these two unnamed travelers that Jesus chooses

to meet with. They begin to grow and change as

they walk down this seven mile dirt road to a

no -name town that isn't even on our maps today.

And my challenge to you this morning on Easter

Sunday 2025 is keep searching for the presence

of God. Every single day. And as you search for

it, as you read the scriptures, allow the scriptures

to change and make you new. Hebrews 4 .12, for

the word of God is alive and powerful. It is

sharper than the sharpest two -edged sword, cutting

between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.

It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

I mean, the Bible that we read is alive and active.

It will make you scream. It will make you wince.

It will convict you. It will make you wonder.

I mean, just listen. Just listen to the book

of Deuteronomy. It will make you wonder. But

as we wonder and as we second guess, God, why

is all this in the Bible? Why, why, why? Remember,

it all points to who? Jesus. When the word of

God is alive in you. When Jesus shows up on the

road and meets you in your sin, your choices,

your mistakes, it frees you from your sin and

it makes you celebrate. Which leads us to our

final thought. See, the resurrected Jesus makes

himself known to us. Luke 24, 29 and 32. Jesus.

acted as if he was going on, but they begged

him, stay the night with us since it is getting

late. I mean, as you read through this section

of the scriptures, as Luke tells us this story,

I mean, it's just amazing to think what was going

through Jesus' mind. It's like he's playing games

with these two. He wasn't even going to stop

and meet with them. He acted as if he was kept

on going, but they begged him, no, don't leave.

And see, as we... our interests, as we read the

Bible, as we step out in faith, as we pray for

others, our faith only grows but we have to be

willing to step out. We have to be willing to

go on the journey. So he, meaning Jesus, went

home with them and as they sat down to eat, he

took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke

it and gave it to them and suddenly their eyes

were opened and they recognized him. And at that

moment, he disappeared. And they said to each

other, didn't our hearts burn? Now notice, Within

us as he talked with us on the road and explained

the scriptures to us. Didn't our hearts burn?

Burning hearts. So Jesus goes in and stays with

them. He sits down. And remember, he's the same

God who sent the angels to the tomb. Right? And

told the women, he's not here. He's the God of

the dramatic. But he's also the God of the details.

Because we learn that Jesus walks with us everywhere

we go. The Bible says that while he was at the

table with them, he took bread, right? And he

broke it. And as he broke it, right? As he's

in the midst of our conversations over dinner,

as he's in the midst of our conversations with

our coworkers, right? Jesus suddenly is there

with them and their eyes are opened. Their eyes

are open. And I believe that as we step out in

faith, as we talk about God, as we reflect on

the spiritual side of us, God makes himself known

to us. But so many of us are afraid to talk about

God because we don't think we know the Bible.

You don't have to know the Bible. You just have

to read it. You have to apply it to your lives.

You have to allow it to change you. Jesus takes

bread. He breaks it. And many scholars point

this to, now remember, these two unnamed disciples,

they wouldn't have been in the upper room, they

didn't see the Last Supper, but scholars believe

that these two were probably either at the feeding

of the 5 ,000, right? And they saw when Jesus

broke the bread and multiplied it, suddenly their

memory was kind of urged, like, whoa. But ultimately,

scholars point to, when he reached out and handed

them the bread, they saw the marks in his hands.

And you say, well, why didn't they recognize

the marks or the beaten body as they were walking

on the road? Because you have to remember that

this is Jesus' resurrected body. We just read

about him disappearing. He goes to and from.

We're going to learn quickly later in Luke that

he just appears to the 12 disciples out of nowhere.

Hi, guys. Then he walked through a door. That's

our resurrected bodies. But as he takes pride

and he hands it to him and he blesses it. Suddenly

they recognize him and they realize that Jesus

has been walking with them all along. Their eyes

were opened. This is very similar to what happened

in John chapter 20, verse 14 to 16. She turned

John 20:14–16

to leave and saw someone standing there. It was

Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. Dear woman,

why are you crying? Jesus asked her. Who are

you looking for? She thought he was the gardener.

Sir, she said, if you have taken him away, tell

me where you have put him and I will go and get

him. Mary, Jesus said, she turned to him and

cried out, Rabbani, which is Hebrew for teacher.

And notice when Mary recognized him, Jesus called

her by name. Jesus calls us by name. And not

only does he call us by name, but he pursues

us. He pursues us. When we're walking in the

wrong direction, away from God's call in our

life, away from God's abundance in our life,

not only does he pursue us, but he calls us by

name, and the Holy Spirit desires for transformation

to take place. And unfortunately for many of

us, it's unexpected. I mean, let me be honest

with you. Two hours ago, I was sick on my stomach,

ready to cancel all of these gatherings. Literally,

I was recording a video that said our Sunday

morning gatherings were canceled on Easter. But

remember, we're the hippie church. We're going

to celebrate Easter next Sunday because a calendar

doesn't tell us when to celebrate Easter. I was

all planning on celebrating Easter next Sunday.

And then Rhett ran out the front door as I was

about to speak. And he said, the lights are on.

Right? So for those of you seated here this morning,

I want you to know Jesus desires to make himself

known to you. And it doesn't matter if you're

running in the wrong direction. It doesn't matter

the choices you've made. It doesn't matter if

you don't even believe. He is pursuing you. And

he desires to make himself known to you. And

when he makes himself known to you, the transformation.

It's incredible, Luke 24, 33 to 34. And within

the hour, they were on their way back to Jerusalem.

There they found the 11 disciples and the others

who had gathered with them who said, the Lord

has really risen. He appeared to Peter. So think

about it. These two unnamed travelers, which

many scholars believe the husband and wife, Cleo

and Mrs. Cleo, they had just walked seven miles

to an unnamed town that's not even on our maps

today. But as soon as they recognized that Jesus

was alive, what did they do? Within the hour,

they quickly turned around, and I believe they

ran back to Jerusalem. And understand this, because

it's not written here, but this is truth. Returning

to Jerusalem in the middle of the night was probably

the most dangerous trek they ever could have

taken. From wild animals to thieves. to death

and destruction facing them, it didn't stop them

from going and sharing the good news. Jesus makes

us uncomfortable. And my question to you this

morning, are you willing to experience the resurrection,

even if that means following him somewhere that

doesn't make you feel comfortable? Which leads

us to our simple action steps this morning, experiencing

the resurrection. Our first step in experiencing

the resurrection is, church, you have to acknowledge

his power. Philippians 3 .10, I want you to know

Christ and experience the mighty power that raised

him from the dead. Are you willing to step out

in faith and experience the abundance that God

has for you? My challenge to you this morning

is stop putting God in a box. Open your eyes

and your ears to the reality that Jesus is pursuing

you. And not only is he pursuing you, but he's

right beside you walking every step of the way.

Ephesians 3 .20. Now all glory to God who is

able through his mighty power at work within

us to accomplish infinitely more. than we might

ever ask or think, which leads us to our next

step. We have to seek him through worship, prayer,

and scriptures, Colossians 3 .16. Let the message

about Christ in all its richness fill our lives,

right? Fill our lives. How do our lives get filled?

By reading and understanding the scriptures,

by applying it into our lives. Teach and counsel

each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with

thankful hearts. Now, why would we do that? Why

would we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual

psalms to God with thankful hearts? Because that's

when this presence of God is active and moving

amongst us. He's changing lives. He is drawing

us close to him. But my challenge to you this

morning is we're about to sing psalms and hymns

and spiritual psalms back to him as we celebrate

Easter this morning. Are you willing to let go?

Are you willing to let go and step out? And quite

possibly head towards an unnamed town on an unnamed

journey, pursuing Jesus and desiring the best

for him, which leads us to our next step. You

got to surrender to his power, 1 Peter 5, 6 through

7. So humble yourselves under the mighty power

of God. And at the right time, what's he going

to do? He lifts you up in honor. Give all your

worries and cares to God, for he cares about

you. you are you willing to lay down your cares

and concerns of this world to pursue the presence

of God in your life see when we lay down the

cares and the concerns and the worries and the

doubt and the frustration and the negativity

and we allow God's spirit to wash over us then

we truly become the people that he desires but

it's a choice It's a choice to turn around and

go the other way. It's a choice to pursue him

and desire the best for your life, which leads

us to our final step. Church, you need to expect

the impossible. Matthew 19, 26, Jesus looked

at them intently and said, humanly speaking,

it is impossible. But with God, everything is

possible. And let's not take that out of context,

church. Hold on. Let's not take those words out

of context. Those words spoken by Jesus were

challenging the people that even the richest

people can make it into the kingdom of heaven

if, if, if they choose to follow him. If they

choose to surrender. If they choose to lay it

down. If they choose to pursue him. And it's

the reminder, because quite often it's about

us pursuing him. It all starts with Jesus pursuing.

He is pursuing you this morning and desires to

be in a vibrant, everlasting relationship with

you. Will you stand with me this Easter Sunday?

Now, as many of you know, we pray a simple prayer

here in our community of faith every single Sunday

because we believe God brings people into our

midst that are distant and far from Him or of

walking away from Him. Maybe some of you can

identify with Cleo and his wife and you're walking

in the wrong direction. Jesus is pursuing you

and inviting you to come back to Him, to turn

around and to run towards the Spirit so that

you'll be filled with the Spirit at that day

of Pentecost. Amen? So pray with me, church.

Jesus, I'm broken. I'm full of doubt, shame,

regret, sin. Change me. I believe you're God's

son. I believe you died for me. Make me new.

Set me free. Fill me with your spirit. Help me,

God, to serve others and pursue you in Jesus'

name. Amen. Now listen, if you prayed that prayer

for the first time, let me know on your way out.

High five me, hug me so that I can encourage

you and give you some next steps. But here is

your opportunity to experience the presence of

God. We're going to sing back to Jesus and be

thankful for all that he did for us, that he

pursues us even when we're headed in the wrong

direction because his power is resurrecting me.

Amen?