On this day I celebrate the death and resurrection of my Lord Jesus Christ. Christ has paid the price for sins and has risen from the dead. He took upon Himself the sin of mankind, while on the cross, and then rose the third day to give us new life, as scriptures prophesied. This is not just a good story but one that is true in every way. The Lord God that we serve is alive and still living inside of every person that believes in Him now. About two thousand years ago did Jesus live in Jerusalem, lead a perfect and spotless life, and then die for our sins on the cross. And the story does not end there, as it would for every other person that lives and dies. This is because Jesus was not only man but God also. In His holiness and almighty power did He rise from the dead and conquer death. And this knowledge was not a secret or some fairy tale that only a few people knew. For Jesus appeared to 2“above five hundred brethren at once”. Among these people he was seen by Mary, two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Cephas, 2“then of the twelve” apostles. Lastly, Jesus appeared to Paul and then Ananias, who helped give his sight back through the power of God. Each one of these occurrences was momentous in nature, for they saw the resurrected Christ. You can just imagine how that visitation of our Lord was and how it must have strengthened their faith. The same can be said for your own occurrences with the Lord. This can in dreams, visions, voices, through His Word, in prayer and while in His presence. You know the times when the Lord was near. You may not have seen His face but You know that He lives because of His presence and the impact He has made in your life.
Now let us look into the details of one of these great visitations of Jesus after His resurrection. More specifically we will look into when Jesus appeared to the two men on their way to the 1“village called Emmaus”. I love every manifestation of the Lord to people after His resurrection but this one really touches my heart in this moment. It says that as the men talked to each other about the empty tomb and what the women experienced it really got them thinking. So as they were wondering if it was true that Jesus had risen from the dead or not, the Lord Himself appeared unto them. However, 1“their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” This meaning that either God allowed this to happen or they themselves were doubtful and therefore could not recognize Him. They did walk the road with a very sad complexion, so His appearance could have been too good to be true. Their grief could have been too strong to bear the thought that He was with them now. Now, as they told Jesus what had happened to Him, Jesus did respond and said, 1“ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Could you imagine having this be done for you? To see how God sees Himself in the scriptures would be amazing. So they got to the village and Jesus blessed bread with them. This is when their eyes were opened and they said that their hearts did burn within them and they finally knew that He was there with them. As this happened after Jesus abode with them, I pray that you will seek the Lord also and abide with Him now. He is waiting.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray every person on earth will one day understand what You did for them on the cross. That You paid the price for their sins willingly that they might find mercy and grace. This sacrifice is the greatest of all mankind. You took upon Yourself our sins that we may be forgiven. And because You rose from the dead, we have new life. Every person can have hope in the resurrection and that when they die, they will rise also with You in heaven. There is no greater gift on earth than eternal life with You, Jesus. Everything I’ve ever wanted can only be found in You and Your presence. I know now that what this world offers is temporary and what I need is eternal. So all my treasures are found with You, my Lord. You are my delight and what I strive to be like in life. May my life live out to please You in every way. This I pray that the Holy Spirit will ever be with me and guide my path. Keep my strengthened all my days that I may not fall victim to sin and death. Shield every temptation, that I may always be filled with Your love and avoid the guilt and shame of this world. But with everything Lord, I know that my flesh is weak. I pray that in these difficult times that I fall, that You will come and lift be back up again. You are my Savior and I need Your help in good times and bad. I love You lord. You are my rock and my firm foundation. There is hope in Your promises. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Luke 24:1-33 (KJV)
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
21 Corinthians 15:1-8 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
