WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

” …That same day two of them were going to a village… They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked…, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him. He asked them, ‘What are you discussing?’ They stood still, their faces downcast.” Luke 24:13-17

Sometimes we are so grief stricken by what happens in life that we can’t see anything else. These two followers of Jesus were so troubled by His death that their hopes were dashed. Had they been still, they’d have known Jesus was still present. He is with us now and we can go to Him…

WITH OUR PRESENT TROUBLES…

“What things?’ He asked. ‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Luke 24:19-21a

These words revealed their hearts: ‘He was a prophet’; ‘We had hoped’; and ‘He was the one’ They also said Jesus was handed over, sentenced to death and was crucified. In their minds, Jesus was a past tense prophet. And yet, He was alive and right there with them. Whether it was two days for them, or 2,000 years for some, Jesus is still a past tense prophet. Or, He could be your present day, risen Lord, with you right now. If this is true, WHAT are you troubled over and why? Surely Jesus, our risen Lord who defeated death, can help us with our troubles.

…BELIEVING IN HIS PRESENCE.

“…And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.” Luke 24:21b-24

First of all, Jesus had said all along He would rise from the dead on the third day. Secondly, they were told the tomb was empty and thirdly, Angels told the women Jesus was not there. That’s some strong evidence. What more did they need to believe? Why do we struggle to believe? Is it because it happened a long time ago? People have no trouble accepting other historical events. So why is it hard for people today to accept Jesus rising from the dead? If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then He is not God…, …No different from other religious figures and still dead.

“…If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32