Wednesday, November 11, 2009

LITN XXIV, Verses 13 - 35

13. Later that very same day, two of the disciples who were not a part of the remaining Eleven were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.

14. They were still somewhat in a state of shock from all that had transpired over the weekend, and as they walked along the road together, they could speak of nothing else.

15. In fact, they were so engrossed in deep conversation about their take on the events of the previous few days that they didn't even notice when the freshly-resurrected Jesus, Himself, came up and walked along with them.

16. But they were unable to recognize Him in His post-resurrection incarnation.

17. So He said to them, "Pardon Me, but may I ask what in the world you gentlemen are discussing so intently as you walk along?" The sound of His voice penetrated their intense communication, and jarred them into stopping in their tracks. But they just stood there for a few moments in silence with their faces downcast.

18. Then one of them, Cleopas by name, asked Him, "What are we discussing? Are you serious? You must be the only visitor to Jerusalem that doesn't know about or isn't talking about the things that have happened there in the last few days!"

19. "What things?" He asked. "Terrible things", they replied, "Terrible events...the things surrounding the arrest, trial and execution of Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet with a powerful message...a miracle-worker who was blessed by God and all the people.

20. But the Chief Priests, and those in cahoots with them, found a reason and a way to hand Him over to be sentenced to death...and they crucified Him.

21. We're devastated by the whole thing, mainly because we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And today is the third day since all of this took place.

22. To make matters worse, this morning some of our women presented us with this far-fetched story that has us totally confused. They went to the tomb at daybreak to anoint the body of Jesus,

23. but didn't find it in its tomb. They came and told us that they had seen a manifestation of spirit-beings who claimed that He was alive.

24. Then some of our colleagues went to the tomb to see for themselves, and found it exactly as the women had said. But they didn't see Jesus anywhere, dead or alive."

25. Then He said to them, "How clueless you are...and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26. Isn't it written that the Messiah had to suffer these things, and then enter into the fullness of His glory?"

27. But they had no response to His words, so, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He patiently and methodically explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

28. And this continued throughout the entire seven-mile trek, until they approached the village to which they were going. Jesus, however, just kept walking as if He were going farther.

29. But they urged Him to remain with them saying, "No...don't go...stay with us, and continue with what You were saying. Besides, it's nearly evening...the day's almost over." So He obliged, and went in to stay with them.

30. They had dinner together, and when He was at the table with them, He took the initiative and began to act as the host. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to both of them.

31. And that's when it happened. They hadn't recognized Him in His current physicality, even though He had been walking and talking with them all afternoon, but somehow here...at the table...with the bread...in the communion...they had a revelation of Him. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him in the now. But as soon as this happened, He disappeared from their sight.

32. They sat there for a moment, and then when they were able to speak they asked each other, "Wasn't it as if our hearts were on fire while He talked with us on the road, and opened up the meaning of the Scriptures to us?"

33. They didn't even finish the meal...instead, they got right up and made the seven mile trip back to Jerusalem. When they finally got there they found the Eleven and those with them, all together in one place.

34. They said to them, "Everybody...it's true! The Lord really has risen, and has appeared to Simon Peter!"

35. Then the two of them began to unfold the story of how He had appeared to them, as well. They told all that had happened on the way to Emmaus, and how that Jesus in His current incarnation was revealed to them in the breaking of the bread.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jon Scott said...

I love how you make it clear that Jesus' physicality caused them to have skewed vision and made them unable, initially, to except him as actual manifested, and resurrected Jesus in the NOW.

Christ has no specific package (BOX) to this day.

Love this translation.

karl cobos said...

Jesus in the now, like that. Like the mystery prize or gift inside cereal boxes or a birthday present, the packaging presented in many different ways, but the awesome gift inside, the same.

I have a feeling that I may have tried to sell them some of my bread if I was alive there at that time. I'm sure I would have had an oven.

word ver: ovenapr
"oh look, an oven has appeared"

karl cobos said...

Hi Bishop, just read today's AYITN (thurs) and #1 ties in well with the word on last Sunday, I think.

It says..."The same Jesus Who felt the touch of the woman with the issue of blood, and noticed Zaccheus in the sycamore tree, will always hear my cry and will leave the other ninety nine sheep to go and find me, regardless of where I am!"

Also, a miracle provision for Natasha this week happened inside of Publix. While in line she found $60 under/by her feet, which is the exact amount she needed to get her prescrition at the pharmacy! He looked at her, almost apologetically, saying, it's $60, of which she said, ok...here you go, and gave him the three twenties. Ahh, but there's more!..when she opened the package at home, instead of there being 10 pills, there were THIRTY, a whole month's supply which she needs.

Praise God for the miracles and watchcare, and for testimonies to bless, strengthen, convict and bring glory!

word ver: balin
"hey, remember Marty Balin, and that song called 'Hearts'?"

Unknown said...

Specific miracles, Karl...the best kind ever! God is fun!

Jon Scott..."no specific box to this day"...very cool.

I especially enjoyed V.31. "And that's when it happened..." It's so real, something I can hear someone say today...and leads me to back up and question, specifically, "when, what...how? How did they recognize Him?"

In relationships, there is always a moment that speaks...loudly...that becomes a defining moment...and everything changes from there. These two disciples were not at the Last Supper (I don't think)...so to me, this is reminiscent of the Gentiles speaking in tongues, Jesus revealing Himself to them in the "same" way as at the Supper to the Twelve...and they go looking for the remaining Eleven. I wonder if they all reacted with surprise to this clue that resurrected-Jesus was giving.

It is so easy to see in LITN that Love is giving those who had known the Christ--in one man--a glimpse of what they "had" known, with reminders of what they had known from the beginning, in order to cajole them into finding the way to get to the end of the Temple phase and the beginning of the full understanding of the Christ in the earth. "I'm disappearing...so you won't seek Me...but seek! The clues are ALL there!"