He is Risen! As we bring our Lenten devotional series “The Way it Had to Be” full circle to Easter on our church calendar, we now end up exactly where the two men’s story in Luke 24 begins: Resurrection Sunday.  For you and for me, we can see the necessity of the Cross, but “The Way it Had to Be” is something they had to learn along the Way.

Gospel writer Luke begins his retelling of this resurrection appearance with the two men walking home from the world’s strangest Passover. Their hopes were dashed, and their mood was still as dark as Good Friday. It began as a hopeless and confusing time…from dawn on Friday until Saturday’s nightfall.  

Now, here it is on their timeline and ours! Resurrection Sunday!!!  But they are depressed because there was a lot to process, they didn’t know if it was real, and they sure didn’t understand.

Where are you and I? Needing hope? Needing understanding of The Way it Had to Be? Are we rejoicing because we’ve seen the truth? We believe and are welcoming eternal life from a distance! Maybe we have doubts about how real it was. Or perhaps, we’ve grown too familiar with the Easter story, and it’s lost its magnificence in a world of turmoil.

In our story, the two men’s expectations about who God is (and who the Messiah should be) predisposed them to error. It resulted in their failing to see the Messiah in their midst, drawing them into conversation.  They had to be taught the necessity of the Cross.  That for God to do the larger work of eternal salvation, it required a bigger plan than just some earthly action of a political insurrection by a band of zealots.

Where are your hopes placed today?  A Savior or a political figure?  One who commands earthly power or One Who brings peace on an eternal basis?

Little political victories (like the one the Jewish people were awaiting as vindication), ah…they come and go—even today—but the world hasn’t changed. On the other hand, and this is astounding ….

The 30-year lifespan of Jesus,
His 3-year ministry
a matter of hours from very early morning Friday until 3 in the afternoon
culminating in His victory on the Cross…
known as His death…
and after being buried 3 days,
Jesus’ victory over the grave…changed the world…forever!

Do you know that it changed both life and death for you, forever?
Fear? Gone! Fear has to do with punishment, and He bore yours!
Death? Meaningless! He conquered it so you can, too!
Slave to sin?  Live free in Christ!  Free indeed!

If you don’t know it but you’d like to experience that freedom and victory in your life, too, it’s really easy.

This Prayer is for you: Lord Jesus, I want to know You and the sacrifice You made for me.  I want to be free from sin, from shame, from the eternal dying that people experience apart from You. Draw me near, Lord. Teach me like You did the men on the Road to Emmaus.  I praise You that You do not demand a blind faith but offer a reasoned one. You heal the blind, Lord! Show me who You are. I want to believe. I’m sorry for the ways I’ve lived that grieve You.  I’m sorry for the many times I’ve failed even when I’ve tried hard to be good. By Your mercy may I be forgiven for sins great and small. May I know Your freedom as one now released from slavery to sin. I’m sorry for the things I carry even though You have told me they’re already forgiven in You. Rise in my heart as You rose from the grave. Increase my faith so I may serve You as one who knows what it means to be forgiven! May I grow in love and in awe of You every day. For Your glory, Amen.

In the flow of the Lenten calendar, it’s Holy Saturday, Sabbath for the disciples, and the grave is cold, dark, and silent, awaiting tomorrow.  There’s nothing to say. No words. Nothing good at least.

But as we close out our devotional series for Lent, The Way it Had to Be, and in the flow of the resurrection appearance of Jesus to the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, it’s anything but silent.  Because for them, it’s already Resurrection Sunday! But these two men had been dejected because they were still thinking about Saturday’s grave. Victory hadn’t even been on their radar. All they had on their minds was the grave and death of all their hopes. They hadn’t been thinking about Resurrection; it didn’t even cross their minds until a few moments ago. 

Jesus tells them of the Cross connections to salvation!
So, what did they do? Run to tell someone!

“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.” (Luke 24:33-35)

Principle: Death was the great equalizer until Jesus was victorious over it.

Questions for further thought:

First century Church fathers wanted to put St. Peter (Simon) in a place of prominence as the rock on whom the church was built. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

Yet Simon was a common Jewish name, and Scripture records no narrative of the appearance of Christ to Simon Peter. In the verses from Luke 24 above, do we know explicitly which Simon was being mentioned? 

Cleopas was one of the two men on the Road to Emmaus.  The other is unnamed.

Simon Peter is one of the Eleven mentioned.  But among the Eleven was also Simon the Zealot (Mark 3:18). And who can forget there was also Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:21) who helped carry the Cross? 

Why would the two men tell Simon Peter that the Lord appeared to Simon Peter if he was the very Simon both present and mentioned? Seems to me like old news since Peter would have known it already if it happened to him.

Does a Church father’s interpretation favoring Simon Peter confirm or negate Scripture, or does it just remain one interpretation?  Does this ambiguity of interpretation diminish the Resurrection in any way?

How does faith in Christ’s resurrection, being born again, negate the great equalizer of death?

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, that the grave of Holy Saturday didn’t end the story for You.  We praise You for Your victory over death!  To You be all glory! Amen!
===

This concludes our 2025 Lenten devotional series, The Way it Had to Be.

Lent began Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and concludes today as tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). Thank you for joining me and seeing “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

Today is Good Friday on the Lenten calendar.  There’s a darkness that’s unmistakable in our midst.  Even today.  Anger, violence, hatred—all things evil. Do you sense it? 

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:44-46)

It seemed like darkness had won.
That’s why the two men on the Road to Emmaus were triple D:
despondent, dejected, and depressed. 

That was Friday lingering into Saturday, but on Sunday’s Road to Emmaus, the two men encounter the Risen Lord, and He blows their minds.  They saw He had risen, and darkness had not won.  Most definitely, darkness had been conquered.

So, while it had been so dark outside in their world, they weren’t going to let Jesus go on walking the Road to Emmaus without inviting Him in—after all, it’s too dark!  Now that He’s disappeared from their eyesight, Luke 24:33 “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.” 

Even though it’s dark outside, the true Light has come, and they’re compelled to tell others the good news!

Principle: Darkness doesn’t win. Good Friday’s death doesn’t end the story. Sunday is coming!

Questions for further thought:

Why might the two men on the Road to Emmaus want to return at once?  Do you think they ran all the way back?  Talked to each other?  What made them not fear the darkness anymore?

Do you find our current political climate dark and disturbing?  How does the Gospel address it?

How does knowledge that on the Lenten calendar Sunday is soon coming make all the difference in the world?  To know that darkness doesn’t win.  To know that no matter how bad the current news may be, our eternal hope has dawned.

Prayer:  Lord God, awaken our hearts to the reality of the work You did on the Cross and through the sacrifice of Your Son. May we know that the answer to the world’s darkness is Your eternal light in our Risen Lord. Thank You for His faithfulness and forgiveness that we could never earn.  In His Name, Amen.
===

Lent began Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope your eyes have been opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

“Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.

A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 

Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 

ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.

Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.

Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.

Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.

The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.

Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.

“Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.

Jesus is gone.  The two men from the Road to Emmaus are alone with the awareness that they’d been with Jesus all along.  He’s left them now.

Let’s get some context.  For the disciples, it hasn’t even been 24 hours since the tomb was discovered empty.  Three days since He was crucified. Four, since the Last Supper with the “new” command to love one another as Christ loves us, as we commemorate today as Maundy Thursday on our Holy Week calendar. 

It was a lot to process in such a short time.

Interestingly it’s not always our head knowledge that is the problem, it’s the context, the expectations, and the ways we are trying make the puzzle pieces fit OUR ideas.  Making the Cross of Christ fit, submitting to God’s way when we have our own expectations, it’s hard to resolve so long as we hold tightly to our ideas.

The two men on the Road to Emmaus now understood that all their reasoning and confusion were resolved only by hearing from Jesus Himself, and importantly, that what had happened—though utterly confusing and shocking—was precisely The Way it Had to Be.

In the Garden of Gethsemane,
Jesus prayed and asked the Father if there was any other way.
(Matthew 26:39-42)

There was not.

Principle: Jesus’ death was the only way to conquer sin and death.

Questions for further thought:

Why wouldn’t half-measures of being a good person or trying hard to be spiritual and righteous be enough?

Once impurity (as is sin) destroys what was once pure, can purity ever be truly attained, not near zero, but actually zero (as in it never was impure at all)?

Christians often get derided for the term born-again.  How is this term the best descriptor for complete forgiveness in Christ Jesus?  Is it our righteousness we bear or His?

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, thank You that You didn’t leave the task partly finished so that the rest of the burden of forgiveness with the Father would fall on us. Thank You for the remembrance of Maundy Thursday and Your command to “Love one another” as You have loved us.  May we put aside our disagreements and our hatred of our fellow man and do what You told us to do.  What You commanded us to do.  Love one another.  If we’re going to claim to follow You.  Strengthen us for this moment when things are difficult.  For Your glory. Amen.

===

Lent began Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope you’ll join me and be prepared to have your eyes opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

“Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.

A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 

Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 

ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.

Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.

Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.

Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.

The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.

Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.

“Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.

Continuing in Luke’s narrative from chapter 24, Jesus has just up and vanished.  Gone. Suddenly the two men who recognized Jesus now acknowledge that they’d felt it all along.  They’d experienced conviction of sorts, but couldn’t quite put their fingers on it.  Now that they’ve awakened to the reality of Jesus, they know what they’d felt were burning hearts of conviction.

“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?'”
(Luke 24:32)

God’s Word has a way of doing that, but to be fair, there was no Holy Spirit given yet.  On the other hand, they’d had Jesus with them and His Spirit is the Holy Spirit.  

Principle: The Holy Spirit will convict the world about being in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8)

Questions for further thought:

Does the Holy Spirit convict only Christians or only non-believers?
Jesus said, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in Me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” (John 16:7-11)

How does the Holy Spirit prove to the world and teach Christians differently?
Jesus continues, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:12-13).  How did the men on the Road to Emmaus experience that?

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Thank You, that Your Holy Spirit remains on earth with us and in Your followers, and we can know the truth by what He teaches. Thank You that we can hear Your voice guiding us. Train us to hear You clearly so we might do Your will.  For Your glory, Amen.

===

Lent began Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope you’ll join me and be prepared to have your eyes opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

“Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.

A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 

Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 

ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.

Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.

Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.

Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.

The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.

Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.

“Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.

The two men on the Road to Emmaus had been joined in their journey by a stranger (who unbeknownst to them was Jesus Himself).  They ask Him to stay the night because it was too dark to journey further.  They sit down to a meal, He gives thanks, He breaks bread, and then poof!  He’s gone.

Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him,
and He disappeared from their sight.

As I read this, I always wonder was it like a “Beam Me up, Scotty” Star-Trek kind of thing? A blink? A gradual transparency until He vanished? A zap and a puff of smoke? Was it the kind of event that made them question if they’d actually seen anything at all?  Sometimes we’re never told this kind of detail because, I guess, it isn’t really that important that we know how He disappears.  It isn’t the point. What was important?

Principle: Jesus wants us to continue believing even when we can’t see Him.

Questions for further thought:

Why do you think it was significant that He didn’t just keep walking the Road to Emmaus or vanish before they recognized Him?

People frequently want a sign. If only God would show up, write it across the sky, burn a bush in their front yard and speak through it, etc. Why do you think God does not do that anymore?  (Read Hebrews 1:1-2 and John 16:12-15)

Prayer: Please, Lord Jesus, increase our faith so we may see You clearly. We want to know You and the Father’s will for our lives. Help us to walk with You daily and see You in our midst.  We love You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

===

Lent began Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope you’ll join me and be prepared to have your eyes opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

“Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.

A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 

Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 

ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.

Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.

Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.

Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.

The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.

Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.

“Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.

“But [the two men] urged [Jesus] strongly,
‘”‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’” (Luke 24:29)

It had been a very long day.  Our entire devotional series “The Way It Had to Be” takes place on Resurrection Sunday.  It began, as you recall, “that same day” when some of the disciples encountered the empty tomb, and angels had told women witnesses that He was alive.

Ever had one of those long days that is so eventful
that it seems like years have passed, not hours?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. No wonder these two men were talking through it.  Jesus is with them now—even though they still don’t know He’s Jesus but there is a feeling of reassurance His wise teaching brings. It confirmed what has already been hinted:

… that all of this was the plan … not a mission failure.

The long, long day is nearly over, and they don’t want Jesus to feel He must go on alone after dark, so they strongly urged Him to stay with them. ” So He went in to stay with them.  30 When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.” 

Principle: God’s work continues into eternity.

Questions for further thought:

During Jesus’ ministry He said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4-5). Could the Light of the World have easily gone on (or disappeared) …or was there still work to be done at the table of fellowship with two men He’d met on the Road to Emmaus?

How was the table fellowship of a communal meal a fitting end to Jesus’ resurrection appearance to these two men? 

It is unlikely these two men witnessed the Last Supper which was intimate and only with the Twelve.  They might have seen Him give thanks and break bread before on any number of occasions of His public ministry.  But even if they didn’t, what does it say about His authority in prayer that might have opened their eyes?

Prayer:   Thank You, Jesus, for Your Holy Spirit who makes things known to us that we’d never know apart from Him.  Thank You that Your promised Counselor can be present with any number of people simultaneously and He makes Your presence real and personal. We ask, Father, for You to cause us to yield more of ourselves to Your presence every day and do this for Your glory. Amen.

===

Lent began Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope you’ll join me and be prepared to have your eyes opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

“Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.

A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 

Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 

ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.

Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.

Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.

Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.

The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.

Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.

“Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.

The final week of our Lent Devotional Series “The Way it Had to Be” resumes tomorrow after today’s Palm Sunday Sabbath rest to meditate and worship. Today, reflect on the Hosannas He is due now and forevermore.

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John. 12:12-13)

“Don’t force your Christianity on me!”  Yeah, if you’re a Christian and you try to be faithful in sharing the Gospel, you’ve probably heard that a time or two.  Christianity isn’t a religion of force but an invitation to relationship.  We get that from Jesus Himself, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

The two men on the Road to Emmaus saw it and experienced it firsthand. 

“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.” Luke 24:28

He wasn’t doing it to fake them out, but He was awaiting their invitation to continue along with them.

Principle: Jesus never forces Himself into our lives.

Questions for further thought:

What historical human events make people think Christianity is a religion of force?

Should humanity’s failings be the measure of Christianity or the behavior of Christ Himself?

God invites us to His forgiveness at the empty tomb, yet Jesus stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to invite Him in.  How is invitation full circle in Christian doctrine?

Prayer:  Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You walk with us and extend the Father’s standing invitation to receive You as our Savior.  Yet You humbly accept our invitation to come into fellowship with each of us individually.  We praise You for the individual freedom of will to acknowledge You, yet You relentlessly pursue humanity because Your precious Image is at stake.  What a treasure it is to be made in Your Image! May we be forever grateful!  Amen.

===

Lent began Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope you’ll join me and be prepared to have your eyes opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

“Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.

A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 

Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 

ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.

Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.

Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.

Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.

The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.

Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.

“Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.

Remembering that Jesus is speaking with the two men on the Road to Emmaus and showing Himself in the Scriptures (which at the time were Moses and the Prophets) here is another one to which Jesus may have pointed. 

Daniel 7:13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)

Unlike some other times in which a “son of man” language is used (particularly Ezekiel), here in Daniel’s vision, the one who is like a Son of Man is “coming with the clouds of heaven.” That’s Jesus’ return. He is led into the presence of God the Father (the Ancient of Days) and is given all authority and a Kingdom that never ends.  He receives worship (something only God can do).

Principle: Jesus is the Son of Man foreseen in Daniel 7:13.

Questions for further thought:

Find all the indicators in the passage above that this is referring to a scene only possible in heaven.

The Jews were expecting a political leader to vindicate them as God’s Chosen People and restore all things to them. Jesus had something better in mind. 

Luke 19:9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

Even after His death and resurrection, the disciples’ expectations were still problematic.  Acts 1:6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You fought the greater battle against death itself and won a righteous battle over evil, sin, and death.  We praise You that by Your sacrifice we can have that eternal victory applied to us by faith!  Continue, Lord, to mold Your followers into Your likeness and may we look forward to Your Return in Your perfect timing.  Amen!

===

Lent began Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and will continue until Resurrection Sunday, Easter (April 20, 2025). I hope you’ll join me and be prepared to have your eyes opened. I know mine have been in writing this series, “The Way it Had to Be.”

The author gratefully acknowledges Grok XI for assisting with this year’s pictures.
Technology can be amazing.

If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2025 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals continue to minister, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

“Seeing His Love with New Eyes” was the topic for 2024 and it explored looking at God’s love beyond the superficial and trite notions of love. They are archived beginning February 14, 2024.

Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.

A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 

Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 

ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.

Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.

Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.

Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Our Lent 2020 devotional series offered prayer points surrounding “Be Thou My Vision” and were aimed at helping us to see God for who He is. The full set of devotionals are archived beginning February 26, 2020.

The theme for 2021 Lent Devotionals was how to live between two worlds while waiting for Christ’s return. Into the gap between the City of Man and its fixation upon sin and the City of God with its demand for holiness, two words minister peace: But God. Praise God for His intervention! They are archived beginning February 17, 2021.

Revelation in 40 devotionals for 2022 offered 40 vignettes, scenes, concepts, and thoughts to inspire us to read the Book of Revelation as it is written and to go deeper. They are archived beginning March 2, 2022.

“Created to Display His Image” explored what it truly means to be made in God’s Image and the profound significance of that fact. They are archived beginning February 22, 2023.