Dejected Disciples

Easter is about two miracles, not just one. The first and most important miracle relates to what God did in Jesus by raising Him from the dead. The second miracle relates to what God wants to do in us because of what He did in Him!

On the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), two disciples were headed home. Things had been tough lately. Life hadn't turned out like they had expected. God seemed absent when they needed Him most. They had put all their faith, hope, and love in Jesus, but He was dead. Dead Messiahs leave dejected disciples. That morning, their lives were characterized by:

Depression. They had lost everything. Like deflated balloons, they could do little more than crumple on the ground in defeat. Their depression was evident on their downcast faces. (Luke 24:17)

Despair. Their dreams had been shattered. They had trusted in God, but He had let them down. "We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel" (Luke 24:21).

Confusion. They had heard reports claiming the tomb was empty and His body gone. This can't be true. Can it? (Luke 24:21-24)

Has life been hard for you recently? 

Perhaps you've trusted in God, but God just hasn't performed like you thought He would. Joining these two disciples on the Emmaus Road sounds almost appealing. Misery loves company. Perhaps, like them, you'd like to pack your bags, call it quits, and go home.

Don’t give up.

Friend, the risen Christ wants to meet you today and do in your heart what He did for those two discouraged disciples so long ago. Give Him permission to:

Open your eyes. "Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him" (Luke 24:31).

Grant you understanding. "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself" (Luke 24:27).

Set your heart on fire. "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32 ).

Send you forth with world-changing news. "They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem… saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen'" (Luke 24:33-34).

Christ Within Us is a Miracle

“True religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation in the divine nature ... It is Christ formed within us.” - HENRY SCOUGAL (1650-1678)

Originally published in Face to Face by Stan Key, Francis Asbury Press, 2019