Scripture: Luke
24:13–35
As with Easter Sunday and last Sunday, this Sunday’s Gospel
Lesson records events that took place the day Jesus rose from the dead. In this
account we read of Jesus, who was unrecognized, joining in a conversation with
two of his disciples (these are not part of the Twelve Disciples, but part of
the large group that followed him). In that conversation he explained the
necessity of his suffering, and while we don’t have that recorded for us, it
says that he did so from the Scriptures. He was finally recognized when he
broke bread at supper, at which point he disappeared. The two disciples then ran
back to Jerusalem to tell the Twelve in joy and excitement that they had seen
Jesus. While this passage records another appearance of Jesus after the
resurrection, it also adds that all of the events around his death and
resurrection were foretold in the same Scriptures which we read today.
Teaching
In some ways these disciples are like us. They had heard
that Jesus was raised from the dead and the only way they could believe that is
by the testimony of Jesus’ witness – the women. Today the only way we can
believe that Jesus was raised from the dead is by the testimony of Jesus’
witnesses. Jesus pointed the disciples to the Scriptures to show that he was
supposed to die and rise again, the Scriptures are also where we come to know
and believe that Jesus has died and risen to save us from sin and death. And
like the disciples recognized Jesus as he broke the bread, we recognize Jesus
in the breaking of the bread of the Lord’s Supper.
God has chosen to work in people’s lives through His Word.
This is a wonder when we think about how communication can break down between
people. Yet it was God’s will for the women to tell the disciples that Jesus
had risen, for Jesus to tell the disciples about the Scriptures that refer to
him, for these disciples to tell the Twelve they had seen Jesus, and for Luke
to tell us that Jesus rose. To what end? That we, too, might believe Jesus is
risen!
Life
Are we ever like these disciples who were slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken? It is sometimes hard having to trust
God’s Word when we would like to see evidence. But we should remember Jesus’
words to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We are blessed to have faith!
Our faith hears God’s Word and it receives his promises, and
sometimes our hearts burn within us with joy, awe, amazement, or wonder at the
good news of our redemption in Christ. Those are wonderful moments to cherish,
as we are struck by God’s love and salvation. Even so, our faith is not rooted
in feelings and feelings cannot be held on to. Faith is rooted in God’s Word
because it is there that he has chosen to come to us.
Comments