6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Wow imagine being there for that event.  I am not surprised the disciples worked tirelessly to fulfil Jesus’ final face to face instructions. However, I doubt anybody could have predicted a 2000 year plus delay in Jesus’s return. Even the disciples thought at least one of them would still be alive to see His return.

This has led me to think about the role delayed or failed expectations play in our Christian life and how this affects our faith. These are the delays in answered prayers or the trials of life that we expect to be protected from but have had to endure instead.  We have all experienced this but for some these are seemingly soul-destroying lifechanging situations that challenge the notion of a loving God. Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 as being ‘perplexed but not to despair’ and credits the ‘power of God’ as stopping him from being crushed.

This is my challenge to you for today, without minimising your own personal difficulties spend some time praying about how you might support another person through their painfully delayed or unanswered prayers.  It can be as simple as texting somebody and saying, ‘I am praying for you’.

Lord, sustain us through difficult times of unanswered prayers and show us how to support others in their time of need.

Amen!

Written by David Newton

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

What a contrast! At the beginning of chapter 24 we had women going to the tomb mourning a dead Jesus because they think he is gone. Now the disciples have just seen him really go, and they are worshipping him, and they are absolutely filled with joy that lasts. What a difference the resurrection makes!

The disciples have had their minds opened to see that all the scriptures point towards Jesus. The whole of Israel’s story has been working up to this decisive point. God’s restoration of his people, of the whole of creation, has started. It’s happening now.

Jesus didn’t finish blessing them and then go. It was while he was blessing them. And that blessing continues. As Jesus goes, the Holy Spirit comes. Not just God with us. God living in us. The story of God’s people continues as God’s restoration unfolds to include us.

Indeed, reason for worship and joy!

Written by David Cornell

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Ever seen a ghost – not I – thankfully!  But the gathered disciples in this story thought they had when they saw Jesus suddenly among them!  His immediate response to them being startled – “Peace, be with you”.  He could have said other things, like, ‘I told you I was coming back – why so startled’ or a myriad of other responses, but He goes straight to the heart, to deal with fear, concern.  Then as if to prove things He goes to the physical realities of His crucifixion to show this is real.  The emotion salve, then the physical proof.

Experts in the field of emotional intelligence tell us that our brains process information, first emotionally, then rationally.  That every rational thought comes with an emotion attached.  Assuming the truth of this research, we do well to approach situations, especially unfamiliar situations or concerning, even fear-filled situations with an approach that deals with the felt need and the emotions attached prior to the perceived rational element of a situation.  Jesus’ appeal to peace is one we each need to hear, perhaps more often than we realise.  What do you expect to hear from Jesus when faced with a new, scary situation?

Father may we experience the powerful peace that guards our hearts and our minds in Jesus!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta

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 the only one visiting Jerusalem who does 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 they did not see Jesus.” 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.

Angels have come to speak with Mary, Joanna and his mother Mary at the tomb of Jesus, early Sunday morning – to tell them “He is risen” “He is alive”.  Now later that day we find Jesus walking with two disciples Cleopas and his friend on the 7 mile journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  On this walk Jesus “carefully unveils to them the revelation of himself throughout the Scripture.  He starts from the beginning and explained the writings of Moses and all the prophets, showing about how they wrote about Him and revealed the truth about Himself.”

This 7 mile walk becomes a life changing journey for Cleopas and his friend.  They open their home to welcome Him to dinner and stay.  As He breaks bread and blesses it before their eyes, they are suddenly aware that Jesus Himself is here with them.  They are so overcome by joy at this meeting with Jesus, they walk back 7 miles to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples.

I wonder if we gather together and talk about Jesus – He might manifest Himself in our midst.   It reminds me how important it is to gather in a Connect Group with each other.  To share a meal together.  To share communion together.  To open our home and our dinner table to others.  Jesus is so often present in those moments. 

In our busy lives we can neglect what is important.  Demands scream at us; however I think the most important time is around a dinner table.  Make 2020 a time to gather with others and see if Jesus turns up!!

Lord help us to manage our time so we prioritise time with you and time with each other.  Help us to carve out time into our schedules to Make Room for others.  Come and be with us as we gather at the dinner table.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

I cannot imagine how Joseph or the women felt following the death of Jesus. They had followed him and believed in him and then they had watched him die a cruel death. It must have taken incredible bravery to ask for his body, care for it, given they would have been seen as siding with a criminal. It’s a reminder to me that even in my darkest moments, just like these friends of Jesus, God has a purpose and calling on my life that cannot be ignored. Joseph and these women did the right thing regardless of how difficult that was for them. In a world that says put yourself first, there are times when we are called to stand up for what we believe in first of all. 

Jesus I thank you for all that you did for me when you died on the cross. I thank you that you put aside your self for the sake of all the world. Help me to always act in a way that brings honour and glory to you. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen

Written by Christine Knight