Resurrecting Hope

I watched with anger as the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to expel two young black men from their elected seats in the legislature for the “grievous offence” of calling out the Tennessee legislative body’s inaction against gun violence.  These brother’s “crime” was joining in protest with citizens who were at the Tennessee State Capitol following the mass shooting massacre of 6 people at the Covenant School in Nashville.  As we experience this Holy Week, we live in a world where we can still see and viscerally feel the injustice and hatred that crucified Jesus on Calvary’s cross. But we can also feel, just as acutely, the Hope that the resurrection gives to those of us who are followers of Jesus.  As devastatingly disappointing as Good Friday was for His disciples, Jesus restored their hope and joy as He walked with two of them on the road to Emmaus.  He opened their eyes to the truth that He’s not dead, He is risen.  And He still restores the hope and joy of all those who take up their cross to follow Him.  I pray that whatever disappointment and setbacks you may be dealing with right now, that they will be superseded by the Hope we have in Jesus. And as you walk with Him may your eyes be opened to His resurrecting power.  Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.  (Luke 24:13-16) “Where two or more are gathered together in My name, there will I be also”.  Here, Luke allows us to see the physical manifestation of that often repeated phrase.  Jesus joined these disciples without them recognizing who He was. Jesus walked with them as they discussed all of the events that occurred in Jerusalem with regard to Jesus from Thursday through Resurrection Sunday.  They discussed what all these things could possibly mean.   The Lord is with us when we gather in His name. He gives us peace, wisdom, direction and guidance if we invite Him to join us. 

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 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?”

“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. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” (Luke 24:17-24) This was still Resurrection Sunday and the horror of Friday’s crucifixion was still fresh in the disciples minds.  When Jesus asked what they were discussing, the sadness and depression that they were feeling showed on their faces in response.  They wondered how anyone could have been in or around Jerusalem for the last few days and not been aware of Jesus’ arrest, sentencing and crucifixion.  Make no mistake , this was big news around Jerusalem and an estimated million+ people there were buzzing about it. The disciples expressed that Jesus, in addition to being a great prophet, demonstrated power both in what He said and did.  They had hoped that He was the one who would redeem Israel.  But now their hope was wavering.   They had heard the report of the women, Peter and John that the tomb was empty, but they were not convinced that Jesus was raised from the dead.   Even those of us who know Jesus’ power can sometimes forget who Jesus is and what He can do! 

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. (Luke 24:25-27; 30-31) Roughly half of all the prophecies in the Old Testament are about Jesus. The prophets spoke hundreds of times about Jesus, including about His suffering, His death and His glorification.   Jesus talked these disciples through the prophecies to show them that what had happened to Him had been foretold and fulfilled. As Jesus sat down with them at the table, His actions of taking the bread, giving thanks, breaking the bread and giving it to them, triggered their recognition of Him.  Their eyes were opened to Jesus… and their Hope in Him was restored!   Jesus please open my eyes to see your resurrecting power working in the midst of my troubles!

The gospel author Luke makes us privy to an encounter between Jesus and two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus on resurrection Sunday.  Their disappointment and waning hope was evident as they grappled with whether or not Jesus is who He said He is.  But this story reminds us that when we gather together in his name, Jesus shows up.  And regardless of the circumstance we may be facing, Jesus is the Hope that helps us through it.  Because of the resurrection, we know that Jesus is who He (and the Bible) said He is.  And we also know that He has all power to defeat any enemy.  So in the midst of our troubles, we lift up our heads to focus on our Lord instead of our problems… then we can see Jesus’ power and the resurrection of our hope!

Blessings, Rev. Glenn 

Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God. ~ Psalm 42:5

Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;

and the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The LORD Almighty, he is the King of glory. ~ Psalm 24:9-10