Monday 15 October, 2012

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “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. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

In reading this passage I was trying to imagine what it would have felt like to have been one of those two followers of Jesus – the agony of the last three days, the disappointment, the questions.  And then I was trying to imagine what it would have felt like to have Jesus himself explain the Scriptures to me.  I was almost jealous of those two men as I read the passage – imagine Jesus himself, the Son of God, walking along and explaining the Bible!  He would know everything there was to know and he would be able to explain some of those “tricky bits”!  Wow!  How lucky were those two disciples!  But it struck me – I do not have to be in a certain place at a certain time to have Jesus explain the Scriptures to me – I have his representative here, on earth, the Holy Spirit, available to explain the Scriptures to me all the time.  How lucky am I!

I need to remember that when I read my Bible, it is there to be explained to me by God himself.  It is not just a book about God, but it is being explained by God as I read – as long as I have a heart willing to listen.

Lord, help me to keep an honest, open, listening heart when I read your Word.

Written by Ps. Jen Irving