Cross Connections (Lent 40, 2025)

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!
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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.