Let Us Begin To Grasp The Implications of Serving A Living Savior.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-43; John 20:19-29

 Jesus had been taken, tried, judged guilty, and crucified, and the disciples had scattered, confused, despairing, and fearing for their lives. But Jesus conquered death and arose. He lives! This week we’ll focus on how Jesus reconnected with His beloved friends and followers, walking and breaking bread with them, reassuring them, and explaining what they should do next. We’ll begin to grasp the implications of serving a living Savior.

 

Questioning the Facts

“That same day, two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along, they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing Him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. . . . “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. . . . “Our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. Then, some women from our group of His followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said His body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, His body was gone, just as the women had said.” Luke 24:13-17, 19-24 (NLT).

 

The Scene

This interaction of Jesus with two of his followers on the road occurred on the same day as the Resurrection. We know very little about these disciples except that one man’s name was Cleopas, and the other man also was not one of the eleven. As these men were walking the seven miles to Emmaus, “they were talking about everything that had happened.” Cleopas and his friend may have taken part in the Triumphal Entry and may later have heard the crowds call for Jesus’ death. Perhaps they had witnessed Jesus’ final walk through Jerusalem and even His execution. They were discussing these events as they left the city and were returning home.

Jesus began walking with the two men, “but God kept them from recognizing Him.” Joining their intense conversation, Jesus asked what they had been discussing. At His question, they stopped, “sadness written across their faces,” and responded. Apparently, the two hadn’t been able to understand what had just occurred in Jerusalem and were still upset about what they had seen and heard.

The men rehearsed the facts and expressed their feelings about the recent events, describing Jesus as a powerful “prophet” and “mighty teacher” (Luke 24:19) who had been condemned to death and crucified. They had hoped that Jesus was the Messiah, their Redeemer. As far as they knew, however, He had died like all the other prophets before Him. So, when Jesus died, they lost all hope. These men didn’t understand that Jesus’ death offered the greatest hope and redemption possible. Although they had heard an amazing report from some women about the tomb being empty and meeting angels there, which was confirmed by Peter and John, the two travelers left the city still believing their hopes in Jesus and his Kingdom had died with him.

 

Getting Personal

1. What makes reports of modern-day miracles so difficult to believe?
2. When have you heard someone tell of God’s amazing work in his or her life? How did you feel about what that person said?
3. What would Jesus say to you today that would give you hope and life in your sadness? 

These followers of Jesus, walking sadly toward their homes in Emmaus, had read the Prophets and had heard Jesus say that “on the third day He would be raised from the dead” (Matthew 16:21). Then, on that third day after the Crucifixion, they had heard the women tell of a missing body and the angels’ message that Jesus was alive. Yet they walked in sadness, not believing the reports or bothering to find out if they were true.

Many believers respond like the two men on the way to Emmaus. We know the verses about God’s power and have our theology straight about God’s sovereignty. We may even have heard or read testimonies of God’s amazing work in people’s lives. Yet still, we wonder if those reports are true, and we pray timidly. Then, we are surprised when God answers. And when confronted with difficult circumstances, we quickly lose hope. Instead, we should remember that the God who raised Jesus wants to work in us and through us—and He walks with us.

 

Talking to God

As you pray today, shift your focus from the problems and conflicts that seem so pressing to considering who God is and, what He has done for you and what He is doing for you. 

Veerman, D. R. Life Application Study Bible Devotional.

Your Mission, If You Choose To Accept It, Is Telling People That Jesus Is Alive

  

Reading the Word

“Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to Him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them His message.” John 20:11-18 (NLT)

 

Setting the Scene

The women mentioned in the previous Scripture portion had heard Jesus’ predictions of His death, and suddenly, their memories and the facts came together. Everything had occurred just as Jesus had predicted. The women rushed to the sorrowing disciples, saying precisely what the angel had told them to say. The fact that the message was carried by women gives credibility and persuasive force to this account. No ancient person making up such a story would list women as the official witnesses. And by Jewish law, women could not give evidence.

John and Peter had run back to the tomb and Mary apparently returned with them. When the two disciples left, she was there alone, still crying. John reports that as she stooped to look into the tomb, she saw two angels. They asked Mary why she was crying. Mary answered, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put Him.”

As Mary turned to leave, she found Jesus standing there but didn’t recognize Him. Perhaps her eyes were so filled with tears that she could not see clearly.

Thinking this man must be the gardener, Mary asked if He knew the location of Jesus’ body. Then Jesus simply spoke her name, “Mary,” and she identified His voice immediately. Mary’s instinctive response was to cling to Jesus—joyous in the reunion and fearful of losing Him again. But Jesus stopped her and gave her a message to give to His “brothers,” the disciples.

 

Getting Personal

1.      What tends to keep you from spreading the news about this greatest event in history?

2.      What can you do to stay focused on your mission from Christ?

The women and then the disciples were assigned the mission of telling people that Jesus is alive. It’s our mission as well. People who hear about the Resurrection for the first time may need time before they can comprehend this amazing story (after all, the disciples had trouble believing). But we need to share this truth with joy, accepting individuals’ need to think through, to wonder, and to investigate the facts for themselves.

 

Talking to God

Take some time to remember what God has done for you personally in your life. Ask Him to help you feel glad about sharing the truth about the Savior everywhere you can.

Life Application Study Bible Devotional. 

Often we feel weak and powerless—and we are!

 

The Power

Reading the Word

"Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint" Matthew 28:1-4, (NLT).

"When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died” Mark 16:5-7 (NLT).

Setting the Scene

After the Crucifixion, the women had returned to their homes to keep the Sabbath as the law required (from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday). Anointing a body was a sign of devotion and respect, and bringing spices to the tomb would be like bringing flowers to a grave today. Since Jesus had been buried so rapidly after his death, the women had been unable to perform the anointing before his burial. They were determined to get to the burial site with their spices and perfumes.

Before the women arrived, however, another supernatural event took place—a “great earthquake.” Either the earthquake occurred as the angel of the Lord descended or was the means by which the stone was rolled away from the tomb’s entrance. The stone was not rolled back so Jesus could get out but so others could get in and see that Jesus had risen.

The Resurrection was a display of God’s mighty power. Because we believe in God, we shouldn’t be too surprised at this. After all, he created all that is (John 1:1-4); he controls the universe and beyond. How could any person or group think they could keep Jesus in the grave? The religious leaders failed to do it; the power of the Roman army and justice system could not hold him; even lack of faith on the part of the disciples couldn’t keep Jesus dead. God’s power to raise Jesus is greater than any power in the universe.

We can trust God’s promises. He is greater than all our problems or infirmities. The Resurrection assures us that Christ is alive and real.

Getting Personal

1.      Jesus demonstrated his power over sin and over death. What does that mean for you personally?

2.      How can you rely on God’s power from day to day?

Often we feel weak and powerless—and we are! But our God is all-powerful. That’s why Paul could proclaim, “He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come” (Ephesians 1:21, NLT).

Talking to God

Bring to the Lord any situations that are currently leaving you feeling weak or powerless. Thank him for the power of his Holy Spirit, and reaffirm your confidence in his sovereignty and goodness.

Pics: The Ansel Adams Gallery

Notes: Veerman, D. R.  (2011-08-25). Life Application Study Bible Devotional.