Luke 24:13-35
In Luke’s account of Easter Day, early in the morning women went to the tomb with spices to anoint the body of Jesus. When they get to the tomb they find the stone rolled away. They enter the tomb and only find grave clothes. Suddenly, two men in white appear and remind the women that Jesus had told them while still in Galilee the the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.
The women did remember these things. They left the tomb and went to the disciples and told them what they had seen and heard, but the disciples did not believe them because it seemed to be like nonsense. Peter did go to the tomb and found it as the women said, but wondered what had happened.
Note that in Luke’s gospel no one encounters the risen Christ at this time as is told in the other gospels. The story in Luke 24:13-35 is told in no other gospel, but is Luke’s accounting of anyone’s first encounter with the risen Christ. Two of the disciples, only one is named Cleopas, are traveling to a village called Emmaus. As they are traveling they are talking about all that has happened in the last few days, which would include the entrance to Jerusalem, events of that week, the Garden of Gethsemane, the arrest of Jesus, crucifixion, etc and now the news of the women telling about messengers and an empty tomb. Suddenly they are aware that a man has joined them and asks them what they are talking about. They are amazed that anyone would not know about the happenings, unless they just arrived in the area.
Vs. 25 Jesus thinks of them as being foolish and slow of heart to believe the scripture. He reminds them just as the messengers had reminded the women, that the Christ suffer the crucifixion and then enter his glory. So this man walking with them starts with the books of Moses and all the prophets and shows them that all the things that happened to the Christ were in the scriptures. When they came near the village the stranger acts as though he is going farther and the two disciples beg him to at least stay and have dinner, for they want more information and conversation. He agrees to have dinner. At the table he takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it and begins to give it to them. Their eyes are opened and they recognize that it is Jesus. He disappears from their view. After collecting their thoughts they return to Jerusalem and tell the disciples that the news of resurrection is true. At this point Simon is named as one who has seen Jesus risen from the dead. They then share the full story of their experience and all that Jesus had told them.
In many ways the Emmaus story reminds us of the action at the table when Jesus institutes the Holy Communion. In your experience, how does your Communion experience align with what happens for the disciples in Emmaus? How is the Christ revealed to us more fully when we receive communion and hear the words, “This is my body broken for you. This is my blood shed for you.”?
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
This passage is a part of the Pentecost Day sermon that Peter preached when people were divided about whether the speaking in tongues and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit were genuine or the result of too much wine. The first part of vs. 14 simply sets the stage for us. In vs. 36 and following, Peter proclaims that the Jewish people, who either called for the crucifixion of Jesus or who simply went along with the action allowed or caused the death of one God had made Lord and Christ. On hearing those words many of the people “were cut to the heart” and asked Peter what they could do. Peter tells them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and believing that the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus had promised, will be given to them. The end result was that about three thousand were added to the professing Christians that day.
Often when we talk about the road to discipleship, we also name repentance for the forgiveness of sins, profession of faith and commitment under the power of the Holy Spirit to living the example of Christ. What is your experience of this?
I Peter 1:17-23
This letter of Peter was probably written about thirty or so years after the death of Jesus. The church in this time has undergone growth and changes. In these verses Peter seems to be speaking to a concern for Christian people that they live their lives always remembering that God in Christ has rescued them from an empty way of life (vs. 18) and given a life of abundance. We must be careful how we live that we do not step out of the holiness of God, to live as the world lives. We are reminded that everything we have is a gift from God, who has filled us with his love.(Romans 5:5). In vs. 23 Peter uses the language and the image of being born again, which Jesus used with Nicodemus in John 3. Peter focuses on our new birth as being a change that does not fade away because it comes through the enduring word of God. How do you understand this enduring nature, both of our new birth and God’s Word?
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
The Psalmist professes his love for the Lord because of God’s responsiveness to his needs and his rescue. In vs. 12 the Psalmist asks the question: How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? He gives several thoughts and responses. Look at each of these.
vs. 13: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
vs. 14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
vs. 17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.
vss. 18 & 19 basically repeat the earlier verses.
How would you classify or name the responses of the Psalmist? If you were going to answer the question: How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? What would be your answers?
Prayer: Holy God, bless our study of your Word. Work in us by the power of the Holy Spirit so our lives are daily transformed into to powerful living witness that will both lead us in righteousness and will cause others to see your goodness and invite them into discipleship as well. Make our lives shining examples of your goodness and love. Amen.