Please see my note at the end.
Today's passage: Luke 24
Today's focus: vs. 5-9
During a time of chaos an shock, we forget. This is a phenomenon seen among new first responders. When the stakes are high, there is a moment where they freeze up and forget all their training. It is the voice of another person that snaps them back into action. The followers of Jesus are shocked that the body of Jesus was gone. The angels remind them, "Remember how he told you [...] that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day rise."
The next verse is essential, "And they remembered his words..." (vs 8).
Then we change scenes to a dusty road leading towards Emmaus. Two of Jesus' followers are talking on the road and He appears to them, but keeps His identity hidden. He reveals to them His purpose and identity by "beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (vs. 27). A little later as they are telling the others, they said, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road while he opened to us the Scriptures?" He reminded them and they remembered.
At what point did they finally recognize Jesus? When Jesus was at the table with them, they still didn't recognize Him... until "he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them" (vs. 30). The response is immediate and their eyes were opened in recognizing Him. They remembered the breaking of the bread. This is such a huge ordinance that when they retold the story of how Jesus appeared to them on the road, they inserted the part about "how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread" (vs. 35).
After they recognize Him and have a few conversations, He ends their conversation in this manner:
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures...
Let me draw your attention to some of Jesus' last words. It fascinates me that Jesus' method of proving to them that He was the Christ isn't by doing more miracles. He did that for 3 years in His ministry with them and they didn't "get it." Everyone wants to see a miracle in order to believe in God. We see from His disciples that this is not the way to do it. Jesus' method is to remind them of His Word and then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. When their minds were opened to the Scriptures and understood it, it solidified their belief in the Christ.
This is so important for us. The way that we build our faith and solidify it is by studying the Scriptures, treasuring the words that He spoke to us, and remember it. The more we read God's Word and have it in our heart, the more that the Holy Spirit can remind us. It is one of His main roles:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your REMEMBRANCE all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)
One of those things to remember is that Jesus is made known to us through the breaking of the bread. If the opportunity arises and you're safely able to do so, meet with one another, break bread, and remind each other of the story of Jesus and the commands of Jesus.
May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts and be with you and your household this Christmas. Thank you for joining me in reading through Jesus' life! Merry Christmas!
Note: There are about 6-10 of you who have consistently read the passages with me and also read my daily devotionals. If you are one of them, would you reach out to me to let me know? You may text me if you have my number, or email me at: pastorsamtruong@gmail.com Thank you!
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