Lent Devotionals will resume tomorrowafter today’s Sabbath rest to reflect, refresh, and worship Him. “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their […]
Jesus had a following in large part because of hope. Faithful Jewish people were looking for the Messiah as Scripture had promised. They were awaiting God’s vindication and His promise of restoration. They had many layers of hope built into a Messianic expectation, and it was largely a political expectation. Luke 24: 21 But we […]
“The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him.” (Luke 24:20) Normally, that would be the end of a biography. Birth, life, notable achievements, death. Boom. The End. Not Jesus. But at this point in His discussion with the two men on the Road to Emmaus, […]
These two Jewish men on the Road to Emmaus were headed home after the Passover. Thinking that Jesus was just a fellow traveler, they open their discussion to include Him. They state Jesus’ credentials as a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and men. Then, not knowing Jesus’ religious or political affiliation (because […]
“All the people” knew it. That’s what the men on the Road to Emmaus believed. Jesus didn’t do His ministry in secret. It was a public ministry full of miracles and teachings that made Him powerful before God and all the people. It underscores the power of witness to the spread of the Gospel. Principle: […]
“He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God” (Luke 24:19) Without Jesus’ asking them explicitly “Who do you say I am?,” He gets them to verify what they had learned about Him. They knew He was a prophet not just in His words, but in His deeds before God. They knew His […]
Throughout His ministry, Jesus asked who people said He is. It was an opportunity for expectations to be corrected. Matthew 16:13-16, Mark 8:27-29 and Luke 9:18-20 all record the questions “Who do people say I am? Who do you say I am?” The crowds had multiple ideas involving primarily prophets, but Peter’s confession was, “You […]
Lent Devotionals will resume tomorrowafter today’s Sabbath rest to reflect, refresh, and worship Him. “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All Your works praise You, LORD; Your faithful people extol You.” (Psalm 145:8-10)
“Jesus 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 here in these days?’ ‘What things?” He asked.’” (Luke 24:17-19) I find myself thinking […]
The two men walking on the Road to Emmaus assumed everyone in Jerusalem had heard about the events. What is remarkable and what the Scriptures don’t indicate in this scene is that Jerusalem likely had residents numbering around 120,000 men (according to Josephus) but the numbers swelled nearing 3-4,000,000 during Passover as Jews were commanded […]
