Sermons 2026

Text: Luke 24:13–35 

Theme: Peekaboo!

Outline
1.    Peekaboo! Jesus has sense of humor, Hides self from Disciples
2.    Reveals in Scripture and Fellowship with Disciples
a.    Same today, Reveals Himself in Word and Deed, through what we speak and say to those around us as we proclaim Him in our lives.

Sermon

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed, Alleuia!

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My dear beloved flock, the text for our meditation is the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke the twenty-fourth chapter verses thirteen through thirty-five.

Beloved lambs, I pray that you are doing well today. Have you ever played the game of Peekaboo? I am sure your moms and dads, and grandparents, enjoyed playing that with you. Someone’s eyes are covered by their hands. They are hidden and then they opening them saying “Peekaboo!” Usually to the squeals of joy from little ones. When they see a mom, dad, or grandparent again, they are overjoyed. In a way, Jesus plays peekaboo with the disciples today. He hides Himself as He explains to them the Scriptures. Jesus reveals Himself in the breaking of the bread to their overwhelming joy. Sometimes it feels like Jesus does the same to us today. Jesus is Hidden. Yet. Jesus is revealed to us. How does Jesus reveal Himself to us today? How does Jesus give us overwhelming joy today? Ponder that question as you hear the rest of the sermon. You may go back to your seats and those who love you. 

1. Jesus Hidden

On the road to Emmaus as they head back to their home, two disciples are dejected, run down, hopeless as they walk. They feel hopeless because of everything that has happened to Jesus. As they explain to their Lord, though at the time they do not realize that it is Him, they had hoped that Jesus would be the Messiah, the One to redeem Israel. And now? Now He’s been crucified, dead, and buried in the tomb. Where is their hope now? Cold and dead, lying in a tomb. So too all their hopes lie cold and dead. The disciples do not understand why these things have happened. So, our Lord lovingly explains why. He begins with Moses and the Prophets, explaining everything that was necessary for the Son of Man to undergo. Talk about an in-depth Bible Study as they walk along the road together!  

Much like these disciples, we do not always understand why things happen in our lives, especially when it comes to suffering. We have our own hopes and dreams that we desire to come true. Many people in the world dream for a larger home, better health, better government and leaders, better behavior from their spouse or children. When their hopes do not come to fruition, we become despondent and dejected. When our good health gives way to sickness and death. When our home is destroyed in an earthquake, fire, or flood, or simply needs to become smaller because of changes in life. When our kids rebel and talk back, when our spouse has a different hope than our own, when our leaders do not act in the way that we think they should act ruling over us, what happens to our hope? We become hopeless as our hopes and dreams fade away into nothingness, to the point that we wonder, “Lord, why are things going so horribly? Where are you as all of this is happening to me?” 

It appears our Lord is playing a cruel joke of Peekaboo with us. God is hiding Himself from us. If you look around at the world, you cannot always see a wonderous display of God working in His creation for His power and glory, for our good. It appears hell, death, and the devil win constantly. It appears like God is not really in control at all nor looking out for our interests and wellbeing. 

3.    Jesus Revealed

Yet, how things seem is not always the reality they are. The hope of the disciples is not cold and dead, lying in the tomb. Jesus is right there walking alongside them, even if they are unaware of it. Jesus hides Himself from them until the right time. That time is when they arrive at Emmaus. Our Lord shows a sense of humor as He acts like He is going on further. Yet, at their urging, Jesus stays with His disciples. The disciples’ surprise and joy increases when He reveals Himself in the breaking of the bread. Peekaboo! Jesus is alive! Much like the joy of a newborn seeing the face of a parent, the disciples are overjoyed. Their hope is not dead, but alive forever more! The disciples run back to Jerusalem to inform the other disciples as their hearts burn within them, hope restored.  

So too, our Hope is alive. Hell, death, and the devil are not in control. They have not won. Sin, death, and the Devil have already been defeated forever by our Lord through His perfect life, suffering, and death upon the Cross. God is still working in, and through, His creation for your good. As we confess in the First article of the Creed, our Heavenly Father cares daily for creation and for you. He is sustaining you with every breath and heartbeat that you take. He is lovingly providing you with every good thing for this body and life, unto life everlasting.  

Not only does God reveal Himself in creation, but also in and through His holy Word. Whenever we hear His word, whether in public worship or private devotion, there our Lord reveals Himself alongside us as we go throughout our lives. In the midst of our pain, suffering, and hopelessness, when it seems as though all our hope is destroyed and we have absolutely nothing to live for, our Lord comes alongside us, strengthens us, and reveals that His is right there with us as He has promised to be until the very end of the age.  Jesus reveals Himself in the means of grace, the water of Holy Baptism and in the breaking of bread in Holy Communion. Here we receive His very body and blood for the restoration of our souls, the strengthening of our faith, and the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus refreshes our souls and makes our hearts burn again through His holy Word and Sacraments.

Peekaboo! Your Lord has not hidden Himself from you. Jesus reveals Himself to you to your everlasting joy. He comes to you in His Word, calms your troubled hearts, and makes them burn again even when it seems there is nowhere else to turn. Your Hope is alive forever more because 

Alleluia Christ is Risen! 
He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard and keep your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.