God of all people, shine brightly the love we need in our hearts; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Luke 24: 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" 19 He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." (The Message)
As these two followers of Jesus walked down the Emmaus Road, one of them whose name we know was Cleopas asked Jesus if he was the only one who did not know the things that had taken place in Jerusalem. This was like asking, "You didn't know that Osama Bin Laden has been found and killed?" Where have you been these last few days? Jesus acts the innocent and asks, "What things?" The two respond excitedly about Jesus the Nazarene, calling him a prophet who was mighty in deed and word before God and all of the people and about the great hope they had in Him only to be disappointed by His having been killed and buried. Their hopes were dashed and this walk back to their home was a walk of disappointment and sorrow. Yet, they shared how some women had gone to the tomb earlier that day and having not found His body did have a vision of angels who said that Jesus was alive. They also share how some others went to check the tomb and found it as the women had said but, hear this, "They did not see him." That would have been disappointing if it ended there, but it doesn't. The two wanted to believe that angels could and did appear and more importantly, wanted to believe that Jesus could be alive somewhere and was.
Again, you and I have been there. We're beset by troubles all around and we seek answers and direction only to find it is not as we had hoped. We feel sorrow and sadness, but it's right then that Jesus appear and addresses our sadness and our questions.
What can Jesus address in your life today?
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus and speak to the questions and doubts or worries that I have. I believe You are right here and are answering and addresses my needs as I pray. And I pray in fullness of faith in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
