– Scripture:

He said, “What has happened?” They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.” Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

                                Luke 24:19–27 MSG

– Reflection:

                 Who’s Walking with You

On the Sunday after Jesus was crucified, two of His disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were so discouraged and sorrowful that Jesus was gone; their hopes and dreams were shattered. They were so focused on their great disappointment that they didn’t recognize the risen Jesus who suddenly joined them in their journey and conversation. In that incredible moment, He began to explain to them all that the Scripture had predicted about Him, how He would be crucified and rise from the dead on the third day. It wasn’t until later that day that they realized their seven-mile walk had been in the presence of the risen Savior.

Where do we go from here?

How often do we fail to recognize what God is doing during our daily journey? We become so preoccupied with addressing problems, attempting to improve our finances, managing our family, or coping with an illness that we overlook all the positive things that God is doing in the present moment. Let’s not be so fixated on what’s wrong that we fail to acknowledge that Jesus is accompanying us through it all.

Our Prayer for Today

“Father, thank you for walking with us and working in our lives every day. Help us to not be so focused on today’s challenges that we miss the good things that you’re doing in this present moment. Open our eyes as you did with these two disciples so that we can see too. In Jesus’ name, amen.”