Luke 24:1-35 ~ going farther

Eucharist Window. Stained Glass is sand pummeled, beaten, stained, fired, beautifully & diligently made to the glory of God.

Luke 24:1-35

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Each time Scripture for Today Blogspot has a biblical reading with some archaeological proof, it is a joy. Yet each archaeological site or artifact always has a skeptic or an opposing view point. It is difficult to have an object with complete proof. If you look all over Jerusalem today, you would see churches over the declared site of many important occasions of Jesus' life. There is not definitive proof of a physical resurrection for Jesus Christ. There are reliable historian references to eye witnesses of Jesus' life. There are two millenniums of changed lives, giving service and love to God Almighty, enabling mankind to do what isn't done by kings, governments & agencies of charities. There are miracles not explainable by chance or circumstance, by those who have sought the Lord.

The Church of Jesus Christ has had mighty victories. And famous defeats crowed over by enemies of the Church, in every century. The enemies of the Church are not new. Because the Church is not man, forgiveness from God and His people allow what a man-made structure could not do; carry on in hope of the saving power in Jesus Christ. Only love can defeat darkness.

John 3:16-21
“For God so loved the world, [Or For this is how God loved the world] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Where is the proof? In each of us the proof must come from you and Your Creator. What do you believe? Jesus told us we would find if we knocked, looked and sought diligently. He said we would be invited in, to have Him dwell in our souls and He will be our salvation.

One night, years ago, I had enjoyed the company of Christians, and clung to my doubts. Yes, the people around me had faith, but this faith was filled with unknowable aspects. Surely the people surrounding me had the same doubts, but this cheerful faith was just a bit false. Gradually it dawned on me, this was not false. A priest asked us that dark night, where did we stand in our faith, did we believe? I cried out to the Lord and knew the love of my Father. My life has changed forever with God's love; I am a believer, a child of God in Jesus Christ. The light shone in the darkness.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [ Or for so it pleased you well] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

We returned home from our Easter service; our guest, preaching, used to be a drug smuggler until one night a gunfight caused the realization he had become a monster who did not deserve heaven. His faith, time in church, had given him friends who would still speak to him during his drug dealing years, but it had gone no further. He found Jesus Christ in a youth mission and the love of God has changed his life from drug dealer/smuggler to youth minister attending seminary to spread Jesus' love. The doors of the church, the heart of Jesus, remained open & waiting for this man to seek, to knock, to seek diligently, to go farther.


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