He Vanished

Have you ever thought that God seems to be absent? Do you think he disappears just when you need him most? Or have you been right on the cusp of understanding God and he pulls the rug out from under you? You might not be alone.

Jesus walked with a couple of men to a village called Emmaus. We are told it was about seven miles from Jerusalem. We are not told when Jesus joined them, but it was likely not long after they left Jerusalem. How can we assume that?

We are told by Luke that Jesus started with Moses and interpreted all the prophets to these two men and explained how all of it pointed to Him. To explain all the prophecies that pointed to Himself including the reasons behind them would have taken some time. The average person walks about 2.5 to 3 miles per hour. That would have given Jesus a couple of hours to explain the prophecies.

But after they convinced Him to eat with them and He prayed, their eyes were opened, and He disappeared. They were excited and ran back to Jerusalem to tell the apostles about their interaction with Jesus. They were not disappointed He left, rather they were excited that He had shown up to begin with.

Perhaps we should be more excited when Jesus shows up and less bothered when it seems as though He is not around. We might want to remember that He said He would never leave us. He has kept His promises and will continue to keep them.

I pray we all get excited when Jesus shows up. I pray we are less bothered when it seems He is not around. I pray each one of us will seek to build our relationship with Him and see Him more often. Be excited when Jesus shows up. Enjoy being in His company. Trust that He is always with you. Build your relationship with Him.

Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

Learn from the Master

Do you like to learn new things? Is there something specific you would like to know or understand better? What if you could learn from the best teacher? What if you could learn from the one who wrote the book? Would you take advantage of that?

Some of us are continuous learners. We continually seek to know more. Others of us do not care for learning much, at least not formal learning. But learning can come in many forms. It can be formal. But it can also be informal, through reading and experience.

Personally, I can take or leave the formal education. It has its place in the world, but it is also overrated at times. But continual learning by reading and through experiences is a completely different story. Reading not only teaches us but engages our imagination. It unlocks different thought processes. We see things from a different perspective. We start imagining what we can do with our newfound knowledge.

Two men walking on the road to Emmaus received an education from the Master Teacher. The One who wrote the book taught them what it all meant. He instructed them on the prophecies and how they all pointed to Him. Talk about an education! Can you imagine? What would it be like to have Jesus explain the prophies about Himself for two or three hours? I believe it would be amazing.

Yet, we can learn from Him. He gifted us His Hold Spirit. Why? So we could learn from Him. You see, one of the things the Holy Spirit does is reveal God’s truth to us. How? First, we must open our hearts to listen to him. Second, we should pray before reading God’s Word. Third, expect the Holy Spirit to be there with us, because he is.

I pray we all open our hearts to listen to the Holy Spirit. I pray we seek to better understand God’s Word. I pray each one of us pray that God reveal the meaning of his Word to us. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Seek to understand God’s Word. Ask God to reveal it to you. Expect the Holy Spirit to be with you.

Luke 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

Dig Deeper

Have you been uninformed about events in your area? Have you marveled at someone else who was not aware of something significant that happened? Did you explain to them what they had missed? Were you fully aware of the event or did you misinterpret the significance?

Our world has shrunk over the past three decades. With the advent of the internet and 24-hour news channels, we can research and stay informed of major events all around the world. Yet, there may be times when we miss something of significance in our own city.

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem a week before His crucifixion had the entire city disturbed in one way or another. For those who were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, they were celebrating and shouting for joy. For those who were threatened by the idea of a new king coming to power and the possibility of their control would be stripped from them, they were anxious and determined to not allow Him to take the throne.

Jesus’ close followers enjoyed the moment but were very disappointed when He died on the cross. Their visions of a renewed and rejuvenated Israel went down the drain on that Friday. That is what Cleopas and his friend were telling Jesus when they encountered Him on the road to Emmaus. But Jesus was about to enlighten them.

There may be times we misinterpret what we see or experience. Often, that is due to our lack of knowledge. We see things from a distance or only superficially. To more thoroughly understand what is going on, we need to look behind the curtains to know the why. Rather than jumping to a negative or downtrodden conclusion, we should dig deeper to both understand and perhaps see the positive that will come.

I pray we all seek to know the why. I pray we dig deeper to better understand. I pray each one of us ask God to reveal to us his plan and the good that will come from the events we experience. Dig deeper. Do your research. Seek to understand. Ask God to reveal his plan. Ask God to reveal the good that is coming.

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?”

Our Advocate

If you were in trouble, how happy would you be to have someone on your side? What if that someone was regarded as the best in the world? Would you feel confident that you would be pulled out of the trouble you are in? What if I told you that person is available to you?

We can find ourselves in any number of troubling situations. They may include financial, work, vehicle, or relationships. We may not know where to turn for help. If we have broken a law, our situation may be more serious. Finding someone to help remove the trouble can be a challenge.

We know there are laws, rules, and cultural norms to abide by. A situation can be very serious if we disobey some of them, while others are less important. But disobeying any of them can put us in a bad spot. If we think we can overcome them on our own, we may be in for a shock.

Jesus is our advocate when we disobey God. We, as humans, put more emphasis on some sins than we do others. Yet, any sin we commit is the reason we needed Jesus to go to the cross. His sacrifice is the reason we can be forgiven, whether it is a more serious sin or something very minor. But Jesus not only went to the cross for us, but He also went to the cross for the sins of the whole world.

Can you fathom that? Jesus’ sacrifice covers every sin committed across all of time for every person. We do not often think about how extraordinary that is. In fact, we may even want to condemn others for their sin. Yet, Jesus intercedes for them just as He does for us. Perhaps we would be better off to think that our sins are not minor but very serious. After all, if we sin by merely taking a stick of gum from someone else without their permission, we have contributed to the reason Jesus had to go to the cross.

I pray we all know that Jesus went to the cross for us. I pray we realize the seriousness of our sin. I pray each one of us will spend less time judging others and more time thanking Jesus for forgiveness. Know you are forgiven. Seek to remove sin from your life. Obey God. Thank Jesus for your forgiveness.

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Positive Energy

Are you looking to be uplifted? Do you desire to have a positive energy in your life? Do you have an idea of where you can obtain that positive energy? Do you turn to supplements? Do you turn to caffeine and sugar? Have you turned to the source of all positive energy?

As we go through life, we can get beaten down, burned out, and depressed. We see all the bad going on in the world and wonder where the good is. We have a task list as long as our arm and feel overwhelmed. With all this inundating us we seek temporary sources to give us the energy we need.

Temporary sources are just that. They may provide a small boost for an hour or two, but then they wear off. The permanent positive energy we need can only come from God. When John says that God is light, he is speaking of the positive energy we need. We might use an analogy of the sun providing us with vitamin D. We can take supplements to get vitamin D, but the best source is to be outside in the sun. What we receive from being outside will last much longer than the supplement.

Walking in the light of God is more than simply having God light our path. It includes him enlightening us to his will, providing us with the energy we need, and opening our eyes to see our situation as he sees it. When John speaks of the light that God provides, he is speaking of all things good that God provides. When we seek his light, we are seeking more than physical light. When he eliminates darkness; he is eliminating more than physical darkness.

I pray we all seek the light of God. I pray we ask God to shed his light on us in all facets of our lives. I pray each one of us will seek the true source of positive energy rather than temporary sources. Seek God’s light. Ask him to fill you with his light. Seek the true source. Ask God to eliminate the darkness in your life.

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.

Believe the Witnesses

Are you willing to believe an eyewitness account? Do you prefer to have someone who saw the event relay to you their firsthand account of it? What if the event seems to be unbelievable? What if the person is trustworthy? Will you believe them? Do you believe the story of Jesus?

We like to hear people tell their stories. Sometimes those stories sound a bit outlandish. But if the person is trustworthy, we likely believe them. We hear family, friends, and co-workers tell us about things they have witnessed or been involved in nearly every day.

In a courtroom, the credibility of the witness is critical to proving the case. When the credibility of a witness is lacking, the case is not as strong, and additional evidence must be found or the witness is not used. Today, we seek hard evidence, and use photographs and video recordings. To prove the event took place, we piece together a variety of evidence.

John puts forth his argument to believe both him and others who were witnesses. He states that they both saw Jesus and touched Him after the resurrection. In John’s case, we also know that he was an eyewitness of the crucifixion. He saw Jesus on the cross. He heard Jesus cry out. He saw Him take His last breath. John is testifying to what he saw, heard, and physically touched.

Though we may not see or touch Jesus physically today, we can believe the eyewitness accounts of those who did. If we want physical evidence, we can seek out archeological evidence that has been discovered over the centuries. No matter what evidence we are looking for, we can find what we need to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He overcame death.

I pray we all believe the eyewitness accounts about Jesus. I pray we seek the archeological evidence we need so we believe. I pray each one of us believe Jesus is the Son of God and choose to follow Him. Believe the eyewitnesses. Believe the evidence. Believe Jesus overcame death. Believe Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 1:1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life

True Community

How tightly do you hold on to what you believe is yours? How well do you share with others? Are you more likely to hold on to a possession or give it away? Are you willing to lend things to others? If you borrow somethings, do you return it? Is your life about possessions?

Most of us work hard to earn money so we can buy what we need. We often buy, not only what we need, but many things we do not need but want. We also like to hold on to what we believe is ours. We may share with some while holding back from others.

Have you noticed that the more we acquire the less we want to share? This is not to say we do not donate to charities. In fact, there are some billionaires and millionaires who are big philanthropists. Our churches are filled with some of the most giving people in our country. But we often do not give away our possessions. We hold on to them as though they are gold.

The early believers came together and shared everything they had. They even shared their homes. They understood that all they had was a blessing from God and everything they possessed was God’s. They knew that he had blessed them with the privilege of being appointed stewards of his property for a time. They understood they were to be wise in its use and one part of the use was to bless others.

We do not have to give everything away. However, we cannot be stingy, holding onto everything tightly. It is less about the physical and more about our attitude. The more we come to realize that everything belongs to God, and we are made stewards by him, the more likely we are to use what he has blessed us with to bless others.

I pray we all understand that everything belongs to God. I pray we know we are privileged to be stewards for a time. I pray each one of us asks God to change our attitude toward possessions. Know God owns everything. Thank God for your blessings. Be willing to share your blessings with others. Ask God for wisdom in your sharing.

Acts 4:32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.

Empty Grave

Three women (Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome) went to minister to the body of Jesus. It is apparent they did not know that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had done so on Friday (John 19:38-42). These ladies were also concerned with who they might get to roll the stone away.

However, when they arrived, the stone was already rolled away. They encountered someone looking like a young man as they entered the tomb. They were told that Jesus had been raised from the dead and that He was not there. Jesus had already started to go show Himself to others after His resurrection.

I dare say none of us have ever seen someone who has been resurrected from being dead. We have gone to funerals, said our final goodbyes, and had no thought the person would come back to life in a few days. So, we can only imagine what it would be like to go to the cemetery, find an empty grave, and to be told the person was both alive and no longer there.

The significance of the empty grave cannot be overstated. Christianity is the only religion in all the world who has a risen Savior. No other religion makes such a claim. Not only that, but within two to three decades after the resurrection, some of the apostles and other followers were being martyred for their belief and faith in Jesus’ resurrection. May God bless us with a faith that strong and that compels us to tell others of His resurrection.

I pray each one of us will ask God to strengthen our faith. I pray we see the empty grave as an amazing sign of God’s power. I pray each one of us are willing to tell others about Jesus’ resurrection. Know the grave is empty. Know that Jesus is alive today. Ask God to increase your faith. Tell others about Jesus’ resurrection.

Mark 16:5-6 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.”

Overwhelming Fear

Have you lived in fear? Do you know what it is like to lose all hope? Have you experienced the pitch-black darkness, whether from the elements or on the inside? Are you in darkness now? Would you like to get out of the darkness? Have you turned to the One who can bring you out of it?

Being in the dark is not fun. It is downright depressing. We can be filled with fear in the dark. When hope has been lost, we no longer have anywhere to turn. Our darkness may be the physical dark, or it may be a dark place we are in. Either way, fear can set in.

I can distinctly remember being in the pitch-black of night. I was doing field training in Okinawa. We set up a defensive perimeter and were in fighting holes awaiting an attack. We were in the jungle on a hillside. The jungle canopy blocked all light that would have come from the moon and stars. I could not see my own hand held within a few inches of my face. In the quiet, the smallest sound is as if it were the loud pop of a snare drum. Though I knew it was an exercise, I was thinking about what else was in the jungle.

Our fears can spiral out of control, just like it did with the disciples after Jesus had been crucified. They were holed up in a house with doors barred. They were shaking like leaves on a tree. They were afraid they were next. Their fear drove them to think they were more important than they were, and that the Jewish leadership was hunting them down. The Jewish leadership didn’t want them. They had already gotten rid of the ringleader. They figured all His followers would scatter in the wind.

I pray we all release our fears. I pray we don’t allow fear to spiral out of control. I pray each one of us will reach out to Jesus when we find ourselves in a dark place and ask Him to bring us into the light. Let go of your fear. Hold onto your faith in Jesus. Ask Him to bring you into the light.

John 20:19a When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews

Forsaken

Have you been forsaken? Have you had people turn their back on you? Have you been pushed aside or shunned? Have your family or close friends pushed you away? Did you feel dejected? Were you so far down in the dumps you thought you would never get out again?

Having people you trusted turn their back on you can hurt deeply. Being shunned by family or close friends can be depressing. Being ignored or pushed away can make you feel all alone. The effect can last a long time, perhaps a lifetime. It may change how we relate to others.

Jesus felt all of that and more. Try to imagine it. He is the Son of God. The Holy Spirit was in Him. He is the second person in the Trinity. But at that moment, the Father and the Holy Spirit left Him all alone. He was in excruciating pain. He was seeking comfort from the Father. Instead, He received nothing. The connection between Him and the Father was cut.

We know why He did it. He knows why He did it. Our failures are too many to count. As the Psalmist says, our sin is ever before us. Since God cannot be in the presence of sin, Jesus had to be the perfect sacrifice so that we can be cleansed and come into the presence of Almighty God. But knowing why a hard thing must be done does not make it any easier.

When we feel rebellious. When we just want to do what we want to do. When we want to return to our favorite sin. We need to remember what Jesus went through, the feeling of being left alone, Him being forsaken by the Father. Perhaps if we remember that, we will rethink committing the sin we have in our heart.

I pray we all think about what Jesus went through. I pray we put ourselves in His shoes for just a few minutes. I pray each one of us will decide to step away from our favorite sin. Put yourself in Jesus’ shoes. Think about His feelings on the cross. Thank Him for taking your place.

Mark 15:33-34 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”