Luke 24:13-35 - Going Emmaus!
13 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. 14 They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. 15 In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. 16 But they were not able to recognize who he was. 17 He asked,"What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?" They just stood there, long- faced, like they had lost their best friend. 18 Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said,"Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?" 19 He said,"What has happened?" They said,"The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. 20 Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. 21 And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. 22 But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb 23 and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus." 25 Then he said to them,"So thick- headed! So slow- hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? 26 Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?"27 Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. 28 They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on 29 but they pressed him:"Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done."So he went in with them. 30 And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. 31 At that moment, open- eyed, wide- eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
Food for soul! From nonsense to sensible
"And we had our hopes up that he was the One!"
These are the words of these two men; words of regret, of loss. The whole situation is just meaningless; it has no explanation. Their hopes and dreams were shattered. There is only regret. That is before Jesus came. Many times we are like these two men. We have issues that look meaningless, without explanation. Whenever we approach life and its challenges, whenever we face our problems without Jesus, we are bound to be like the two disciples: confused. Yes, even followers of Jesus can and do get confused.
Notice how Jesus started at the beginning in order to make sense of things! The gospel says that, "Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him."
Our life only has meaning if and when it is seen, not a peacemeal, not as a segment, but as whole. Unlike some parts of our life, our whole life is full of meaning. This is what Jesus did. He started from the beginning, explaining part by part all about his life. And as he did so, the meaning of life became clear and clear. With Jesus life is meaningful; he makes our nonsense become sensible; our meaninglessness become meaningful; our night become day; our sunset become dawn; he makes us see our problems and crises as opportunities; he makes life come out of death.
Your life is not meaningless but meaningful. "Don't you see that these things in your life had to happen? Are you so thick- headed! So slow-hearted?" Let Jesus into your problem and your problem will cease to be a problem but a prospect. Look at your difficulties through the eyes of Jesus and your difficulties will turn into opportunities. Try it. Find time for Jesus. All by yourself with Jesus.
13 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. 14 They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. 15 In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. 16 But they were not able to recognize who he was. 17 He asked,"What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?" They just stood there, long- faced, like they had lost their best friend. 18 Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said,"Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?" 19 He said,"What has happened?" They said,"The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. 20 Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. 21 And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. 22 But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb 23 and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus." 25 Then he said to them,"So thick- headed! So slow- hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? 26 Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?"27 Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. 28 They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on 29 but they pressed him:"Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done."So he went in with them. 30 And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. 31 At that moment, open- eyed, wide- eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
Food for soul! From nonsense to sensible
"And we had our hopes up that he was the One!"
These are the words of these two men; words of regret, of loss. The whole situation is just meaningless; it has no explanation. Their hopes and dreams were shattered. There is only regret. That is before Jesus came. Many times we are like these two men. We have issues that look meaningless, without explanation. Whenever we approach life and its challenges, whenever we face our problems without Jesus, we are bound to be like the two disciples: confused. Yes, even followers of Jesus can and do get confused.
Notice how Jesus started at the beginning in order to make sense of things! The gospel says that, "Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him."
Our life only has meaning if and when it is seen, not a peacemeal, not as a segment, but as whole. Unlike some parts of our life, our whole life is full of meaning. This is what Jesus did. He started from the beginning, explaining part by part all about his life. And as he did so, the meaning of life became clear and clear. With Jesus life is meaningful; he makes our nonsense become sensible; our meaninglessness become meaningful; our night become day; our sunset become dawn; he makes us see our problems and crises as opportunities; he makes life come out of death.
Your life is not meaningless but meaningful. "Don't you see that these things in your life had to happen? Are you so thick- headed! So slow-hearted?" Let Jesus into your problem and your problem will cease to be a problem but a prospect. Look at your difficulties through the eyes of Jesus and your difficulties will turn into opportunities. Try it. Find time for Jesus. All by yourself with Jesus.
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