Loving God, bring peace and blessings to this dear reader in all they may face today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Luke 24: 25 Then he (Jesus) 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. 32 Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?" 33 They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, 34 talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up - Simon saw him!" 35 Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread. (The Message)
Can you imagine a Bible study led by Jesus? That's exactly what happened to these two. They hadn't "gotten it" or understood all they had learned as children and as followers, so the Master Himself, had to teach them about what Scripture meant about His life, death, and resurrection. Can you think of anyone who knows the Bible better than Jesus? That would be a Bible study that I would not want to end! And that's why these two said, "Stay for supper with us! It's getting late, no need for you to rush off!" Interestingly enough, they still did not know that this was Jesus. They probably assumed it was a learned master of the Bible, an off-duty rabbi or traveling scholar. It was not until supper when Jesus took the bread and broke it that they knew who this was! It was that ah-ha moment, the breaking of the bread, the remembrance that came to them from that fateful evening, that this is Jesus! And He disappeared. They did what you and I would do, they rushed off to tell of what they had seen and experienced!
I still remember the excitement I had as a child from my Sunday school days. Last night a pastor in his soon-to-be "new" church, my friend, Tommy Hays, and I, got a "tour" of this church's Godly Play room and were marveled at the intricate instruments of cast figures, scenes, sand box, scrolls, etc. used in the teaching of the Bible used now with children. Tommy said what I was about to say, "Where was this stuff when I was growing up?" Yet, I still felt wonder and excitement about what the Bible held for me. I remember bring frustrated on the playground by finding out that my friends did not and could not own Bibles in those days. I thought that was a sad state to be in, one without a Bible in the home to read and re-read the stories of God and Jesus and all that God did. If you could have multiplied my excitement then to the excitement these two followers had, we could begin to understand their joy. If you could multiply your excitement for what you receive each Sunday in your Sunday school or your worship service, you too, would be contagious with the joy that is ours in the Risen Christ.
PRAYER: O God of wonder and excitement, visit my heart again and again with the joy and thrill of knowing You and what You have done, are doing, and will continue to do in my life and in the lives of those who trust You. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
