Word@Work Luke359 - Luke 24:33-35
Published: Wed, 05/18/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
JOY IN KNOWING THE TRUTH
Luke 24:33-35 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread. (NIV)
The first Easter Sunday started with sadness for those who loved Jesus. The empty tomb brought anxiety, and reports of Jesus being alive were disbelieved. But by evening it was all different. The two disciples who lived in Emmaus rushed back through the darkness to tell the Eleven (Judas Iscariot, one of the original twelve Apostles was dead) that they had seen Jesus. By that time Simon Peter had encountered the Lord, and so had Mary Magdalene and Mary the wife of Clopas (Matthew 28:1-10). At least five people had met the risen Christ, and the others believed them.
The truth mattered to them. The disciples were not interested in illusions. Their early morning assumption was that Jesus was dead; any other conclusion would have to be demonstrated beyond all doubt. And it was not just a single piece of evidence which convinced them. All sorts of information came together to convince them that Jesus was alive.
The cloth strips which wrapped the dead Jesus were still in place although His body had gone from inside them. The angels reminded them of Jesus' predictions of His resurrection. And words from the Old Testament, which they would have been taught as children and heard in the synagogues, finally made sense when Jesus talked to the couple from Emmaus. Finally they recognised Him when He took the role of host in their house and broke the bread. How did they know it was Him? Was it His voice or His uncovered head as He prayed? Was it the nail marks in His hands? The Bible does not say. But it says that they knew without any doubt that He was Jesus. Nothing less would have propelled them on a seven mile journey to Jerusalem in the dark, to share their joy.
There is no formula for recognising who Jesus is. He makes Himself known. Looking back, most Christians see how He has used a wide variety of circumstances and people to draw their attention to Him, inform them about Him and enable them to recognise His call on their lives. But three threads are common to all: Biblical information about His identity and saving work, the Holy Spirit's call to repentance and faith, and a personal certainty of knowing Jesus. That mutual knowing, which is the essence of all true relationships, is also the mark of true faith in Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me ..." (John 10:14). If you know Him, treasure Him and grow in the relationship. If you do not know Him, click on www.crosscheck.org.uk to get the Biblical information and ask Him to help you to recognise Him. When you do, you will want to share the joy of knowing Jesus.
Prayer: Loving God. Thank You for the joy of mutual relationships, and especially the privilege of knowing Jesus. Please forgive me when I live as though He does not know me and I have no association with Him. Please restore to me the joy of Your salvation to sustain me and overflow to others. Help me to witness that Jesus is alive, at work and in my community. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The first Easter Sunday started with sadness for those who loved Jesus. The empty tomb brought anxiety, and reports of Jesus being alive were disbelieved. But by evening it was all different. The two disciples who lived in Emmaus rushed back through the darkness to tell the Eleven (Judas Iscariot, one of the original twelve Apostles was dead) that they had seen Jesus. By that time Simon Peter had encountered the Lord, and so had Mary Magdalene and Mary the wife of Clopas (Matthew 28:1-10). At least five people had met the risen Christ, and the others believed them.
The truth mattered to them. The disciples were not interested in illusions. Their early morning assumption was that Jesus was dead; any other conclusion would have to be demonstrated beyond all doubt. And it was not just a single piece of evidence which convinced them. All sorts of information came together to convince them that Jesus was alive.
The cloth strips which wrapped the dead Jesus were still in place although His body had gone from inside them. The angels reminded them of Jesus' predictions of His resurrection. And words from the Old Testament, which they would have been taught as children and heard in the synagogues, finally made sense when Jesus talked to the couple from Emmaus. Finally they recognised Him when He took the role of host in their house and broke the bread. How did they know it was Him? Was it His voice or His uncovered head as He prayed? Was it the nail marks in His hands? The Bible does not say. But it says that they knew without any doubt that He was Jesus. Nothing less would have propelled them on a seven mile journey to Jerusalem in the dark, to share their joy.
There is no formula for recognising who Jesus is. He makes Himself known. Looking back, most Christians see how He has used a wide variety of circumstances and people to draw their attention to Him, inform them about Him and enable them to recognise His call on their lives. But three threads are common to all: Biblical information about His identity and saving work, the Holy Spirit's call to repentance and faith, and a personal certainty of knowing Jesus. That mutual knowing, which is the essence of all true relationships, is also the mark of true faith in Jesus. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me ..." (John 10:14). If you know Him, treasure Him and grow in the relationship. If you do not know Him, click on www.crosscheck.org.uk to get the Biblical information and ask Him to help you to recognise Him. When you do, you will want to share the joy of knowing Jesus.
Prayer: Loving God. Thank You for the joy of mutual relationships, and especially the privilege of knowing Jesus. Please forgive me when I live as though He does not know me and I have no association with Him. Please restore to me the joy of Your salvation to sustain me and overflow to others. Help me to witness that Jesus is alive, at work and in my community. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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