Thursday, March 31

Luke 24:28-29

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.  But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.”  Se he went in to stay with them.

Reflection

These disciples did not know who the stranger on the road was but they knew he was someone special.  He was so special that they wanted to spend more time with him.  They didn’t want their time together to come to an end. 

When we truly get in touch with the presence of Jesus in our lives we will feed on his presence.  We will not ever want it to end.  The wonderful good news is that it doesn’t ever have to come to an end because Jesus has promised us his presence at all times.  Whenever we don’t feel Jesus is with us is not because Jesus isn’t there, it is because we have lost touch with his presence.  Our goal should be to continuously nurture our relationship with Jesus so that we will always be living in his presence.

How can we be more aware of the presence of Jesus?

How can we live in his presence continuously?

Wednesday, March 30

Luke 24:25-27

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?  And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Reflection

Are we sometimes slow to believe?  Yes, that is true of all of us.  At times we can be like the foolish disciples on the road to Emmaus and we are slow to understand who Jesus is.  Jesus is the risen Lord.  Jesus is the Son of God, the anointed One, the Christ.  He is God in the flesh, Emmanuel.  He is the very presence of God among us. Jesus is our redeemer, Savior, Lord and companion for all eternity.  Jesus is our all in all.  Nothing is higher and better than Jesus.  That is who Jesus is to each of us.

Contemplate who Jesus is to you.

Tuesday, March 29

Luke 24:17-24

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  They stood still, their faces downcast.  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?”  “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.  The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 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.  In addition, some of our women amazed us.  They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body.  They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.  Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

Reflection

These two disciples of Jesus, as they talked about their hopes for who Jesus was expressed the hope that he would be the redeemer of Israel.  They had spent a lot of time with Jesus during his earthly ministry but they had gotten the wrong idea of who Jesus was and what he was going to do.  Jesus didn’t come to this world to be the redeemer of Israel.  Jesus came to redeem the entire world. 

Isn’t it amazing how we do the same thing.  We often misinterpret the mission of Jesus.  Many times we narrow down what Jesus came to do to be about our personal salvation. Sure, Jesus came to save you but he came to save everyone else as well.  If we understand that fact then we won’t be focused on keeping Jesus’ good news of complete salvation to ourselves.  We will want to share it with others because it isn’t just for us; it is for all people.

How have we often misunderstood the mission of Jesus?

How do we broaden our understanding of Christ’s work for humanity?

Monday, March 28

Luke 24:13-16

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.  They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

Reflection

As the two disciples were walking along the road to the village of Emmaus the resurrected Jesus joined them.  It is interesting to note that even when they thought they were alone in their grief over Jesus’ death that they weren’t alone.  Jesus was with them.  How many times do we think we are alone as we face difficult moments in life?  If we are honest, it happens all the time.  However, the promise is that Jesus will never leave us; he is always with us.

As Jesus walked along with the disciples they didn’t recognize him.  How many times does Jesus walk with us in the difficulties of life but we don’t recognize him or we don’t take the time to recognize him.  We must train ourselves to look for love in our lives which will show us that Jesus is with us.

How can you learn more fully that Jesus is always with you?

How can we intentionally recognize Christ’s presence in our lives?

March 27 - April 2

What Difference Does It Make?

Luke 24:13-35

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.  He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  They stood still, their faces downcast. 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?”  “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. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 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. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”  He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”  They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.  This week we are going to investigate the biblical account of Christ’s resurrection. 

Saturday, March 26

Luke 23:50-56

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action.  He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.  Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.  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.  It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.  The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.  Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.  But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Friday, March 25

Luke 23:26-49

As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.  A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.  Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.  For the time will come when you will say, ‘blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’  Then ‘They will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”  and to the hills, “Cover us!”’  For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”  Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.  When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left.  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.

They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”  The soldiers also came up and mocked him.  They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”  There was written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.