Perspective



Pray: Dear Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Blessed be Your Name for You are God above all gods. In You alone do I put my trust, for in You alone lies the power to save. May my day be spent focused on You and Your will in my life. Help me to praise You with my words, honor You with my actions, and serve You by loving others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Read: Luke 24:13–27
http://www.esvbible.org/Luke 24:13-27

Think about It: It is probably a bit odd to consider a reading from Resurrection Day during the Lenten season, but that’s okay. It’s not like we don’t know the end of the story! Today we read about what happened to the disciples of Jesus very shortly after His resurrection. As the story goes, two of the followers of Jesus, only one of whom is identified (Cleopas) are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. (Some believe that Cleopas was husband to one of the Marys who had discovered the empty tomb earlier in the day.) They are, of course, discussing the events of the previous three days just like we would have done. For His circle of friends, the death of Jesus would have been the only topic of discussion. And they were deep into a mystery for the tomb of Jesus was empty! They were confused and heartbroken. As they are walking along they are joined by a stranger who seems to know nothing of the very difficult events of the recent past. You can almost hear the voice of Jesus quietly asking them to explain what has taken place. Patiently, He waits for them to tell Him what is on their hearts. After basically asking Him if He’s been under a rock (pun intended) for the last three days, they pour out their grief as they tell Him of the death, burial, and now mysterious disappearance of the Lord. Then we are   witness to a miracle! 

It is interesting that Jesus chooses to keep their minds shadowed about exactly who He is. Jesus is going to use this as one of the greatest teaching moments in the history of the world. Had He appeared to them, allowing them to know it was Him, the moment would have been lost completely. Their excitement at the resurrection of Jesus would have overshadowed everything else and they would not have been in the place to hear what Jesus needed them to know. Instead, Jesus has allowed them to express their grief, share their story, and build the stage for what He wants to tell them. It is time for connections to the prophetic promises of the Old Testament to be made. 

Jesus waits for these two followers to be ready to hear. He listens to their perspective of the events of the Passion and the crucifixion. He graciously lets them lead the conversation. While He does chide them for their lack of faith, He also takes the time to explain God’s plan of salvation to them. Our understanding of His path is always the goal for God. While He made reprove and admonish where we are in need of such, He still pursues His desire that we know and understand Him. His Word is there so that we can learn of Him. Just as those two distraught followers were instructed by Jesus, so are we as well, through the power of His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
  
Pray: Let the earth now praise the Lord, Who has truly kept His word
And at last to us did send Christ, the sinner’s help and friend.
What the fathers most desired, What the prophets’ heart inspired
What they longed for many a year, Stands fulfilled in glory here.
Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord . . . LSB 352

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