March 29, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

It's True!

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Opening Prayer

Everlasting God, Your hope is the cord strong enough to hold my life together when everything unravels around me.

Read LUKE 24:13-35

[13] Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [16] but they were kept from recognizing him. [17] He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. [18] One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” [19] “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. [20] The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; [21] but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. [22] In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning [23] but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. [24] Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” [25] He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. [28] As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. [29] But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. [32] They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” [33] They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together [34] and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” [35] Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

What are the key points in your worldview? How has it changed over the years?

I think I understand why Jesus got so frustrated (25). After all he’d taught and shown his disciples over the past few years, and after all he’d suffered over the past few days, then to hear them say, “He was a prophet …” (19) must have been maddening. Then note how badly these discouraged disciples missed the point, “We had hoped…” Past tense! Jesus failed. It’s all over.

Why do some people have such a hard time understanding who Jesus really is? There can be many reasons, but in this case the disciples primarily saw Jesus as their national hero (21; see also Acts 1:6), and that was a problem. I have a dear friend who knows all about the Christian faith but is hesitant to believe, in part, because he feels many Christians are pushing a political agenda he doesn’t share. Of course, our Christian faith must shape our entire worldview, including our politics, but whenever we use Jesus as a means to an end we delude ourselves and confuse others. Jesus said that’s “foolish” (25).

The best way to avoid such a mistake is to understand the big story of the Bible–the story of salvation woven from beginning to end (27). Many people today assume that God’s plan of salvation began in the manger and ended at the empty tomb, but Jesus patiently explained that “all the Scriptures” pointed to him, which is why it is so important to develop the habit of regularly reading both the Old and the New Testaments. It wasn’t until they shared a meal with Jesus that the disciples recognized who he was (31). Their political and national agendas were immediately set aside. Now all they could think about was, “It is true!” (34)–and that’s still the foundation of a Christian worldview.

Apply

When did you reach the “It’s true!” moment in your walk with Jesus? How has that affected your worldview and priorities?

Closing prayer

Loving Father, I pray that Your hope may be my constant companion, because I am sunk without it.

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