AfterWords: "Jesus in ... Scripture"

 

Luke 24:13-27

Sometimes, we come across a story that doesn’t end right, that doesn’t end the way we think it should or the way we expect. That was probably on the mind of the two disciples walking towards Emmaus the afternoon after the Resurrection. Of course, they weren’t even convinced yet that a resurrection had taken place.

Their minds were on the One they had lost—the One who called them, the One who worked miracles, the One who had out-argued and out-debated the religious leaders and authorities. The same One they had seen arrested, tried, mocked, humiliated, and crucified.

They were also pondering their crushed dreams—dreams of a redeemed and renewed Kingdom of Israel. They were sure Jesus would be the one to make it happen. Now, their dreams were shattered.

And, that very morning the women had added confusion to the mix by coming to the house and saying something about the tomb being empty. Was the body stolen? Was Jesus alive again? They had no answers—only confusion.

Instead of a story that endibg with justice, grace, hope, and mercy, they sensed a story ending with loss, broken dreams, and confusion. That’s just when Jesus showed up.

When he happened upon them, they had no idea who he was. They were so lost in their own thoughts or perhaps there was something different about the resurrected Jesus. Either way, they didn’t know him…and he didn’t let on. He asked about what they were discussing, and they told him—Jesus the Messiah, prophet and miracle worker, arrested, put to death…and with his death, the death of their dreams. For them, a story with a bad ending.

Jesus turned their minds around and took them on a journey through the Old Testament…from the books of Moses through the prophets. He pointed out how all of these told the story of the coming Messiah. Jesus revealed that the Scriptures revealed him. And, he showed them that the story didn’t end wrong; the story simply hadn’t ended as yet! The story would continue to play out, and the ending would be one of justice, grace, hope, and mercy.

We learn from this encounter and exchange that we, too, encounter Jesus in Scripture. Jesus speaks to us through the Bible. We need to encounter Jesus in Scripture because he comes to us as well helping us make sense of our loss, our broken dreams, and our confusion. We learn from Jesus that our story, too, will end with justice, grace, hope, and mercy. Jesus comes to us through Scripture…just when we need him.

Sunday, April 27, 2025
“Jesus in … Scripture”
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