Believing gives us hope and confidence.  But it is hard to fully believe while living in a world driven by getting by or getting ahead attitudes based on half-truths or almost truths as the way we see life now. Humans want to believe what we are told about a new product that will make us look good, smell better, give us confidence, and “make life easier.” But the product or person does not deliver so we have wasted time and funds pursuing it.

We want to believe in new and growing relationships.  We want to believe in the new friend who says they love us and would never betray us with talking smack behind our backs.  But then we soon learn of the gossip and are dismayed.  We want to believe family members who say they love and respect us but then betrayal occurs and our belief in them is challenged as our hearts break.  We may forgive, but our memories cause us to be cautious.

We want to believe institutions who hold and manage our investments to keep our hard-earned monies safe.  But then mismanagement causes losses and we lose trust in all institutions. We want to believe church people, knowing full well that no one is perfect.  We want to believe when they say they love us and simply want us to come be a part of their group—all for the sake of the Kingdom.  But then we discover some people just want to see what we can do for them with the goal of becoming like them, following in their imperfections, so they will feel condoned and justified. 

Jesus, The Great Physician has a diagnosis for this:  You have forgotten your “first love.”  (Revelation 2:4) Wounded but not destroyed, we look for a place to worship with those who simply believe with obedient hearts, eager to live Jesus.  We look for a gathering who know we are all a work in progress but at the same time we do not settle for merely condoning and getting by.  Instead, we strive and begin to thrive through continual examinations of our hearts, asking for God’s help to grow in His Truth while bearing the fruits of His Holy Spirit—His character traits developing in us.

We want to trust God in all life circumstances until—what we expected to happen didn’t happen.  We blame God when we do not understand.  We blame others in our pathway.  We blame circumstances and offer excuses because we humans think there is a solution for every problem, a reason for every occurrence, and an explanation that we must offer.

Hope, trust, faith and love are challenged.  For some hope is shattered.  Trust escapes.  Darkness overcomes the Light.  Love is lost.  And the greatest of these is love.

We have trouble simply believing because of betrayal, disillusionment, and despair coupled with the fear produced in our current circumstances that seem impossible to understand.  Panic sets in for what lies ahead in a world that is harsh and unkind and cannot be trusted.  We forget for a time Jesus’ words that warned us that this world is led by a dark prince who works overtime to distract and deceive, with the goal of destroying our faith in the One and Only who saved us and set us free from our sins.

But there is Good News!  Jesus appears to the dismayed, confused, and dishearten to bring understanding.  He turns dark back to Light.  He opens our eyes to see from His higher place with a Love that is deeper, greater, relentless, and completely reliable because He is The King of kings and The Lord of lords.  We recall all that Jesus taught us and with His help, we begin to put it all together.  Jesus is Truth.  There is no denying, Truth.  Truth accomplished exactly what God told Him to do.  Truth has come to set us free from this world of lies. Truth’s fire of faith and confidence burns once more within us and we simply believe.  And Hope is restored. 

Luke 24, The Message

The Road to Emmaus

^13-16 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

^17-18 He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”

^19-24 He said, “What has happened?”

They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

^25-27 Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

^28-31 They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

³² Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

On the Emmaus Road—

Notice that Jesus didn’t jump into the conversation with “Surprise, here I am!”  Instead, He asked what was on their hearts and uppermost in the minds.  Jesus knew of course, but had them go back over the details so they could hear themselves speak of what just happened.  Maybe this was a way of measuring their belief barometers as they tried to unravel the events.

Jesus asks us where we are in our faith journey by prodding us to go over what we know currently so He can lead us to Truth.  He does that with these men. Notice how Jesus led them to tell the whole story.  They tell who Jesus was with who was against Jesus.  Then their belief barometer spikes when they tell Jesus who Jesus was to them.  These confused, perplexed, brokenhearted men shared how all their hope was in Jesus, but now He is gone—even His Body is gone!  They are not only confused; they are hopeless without Jesus!

Ah, a great place to begin! Jesus walks beside them and guides them back to Truth as written by the prophets.  Jesus began with Moses, showing them that ALL of scripture is and always has been about Jesus!  When Jesus speaks, we are drawn to the One who is Truth because we long for Truth—we’re empty without Jesus!

Upon breaking bread, their eyes are opened, and they see Jesus!  And there He is—The living, breathing Word of God, the Word who became flesh and walked among them, the One who died and rose again, defeating death and has the scars to prove it, is sitting and breaking bread at a meal with them.  They see Him as the One who saved them just as He said He would.  Hope is restored as Jesus reveals Truth. 

Ah, and when He spoke, “did you feel the fire within us as He opened up Scripture to us?”  Yes, Truth has a way of doing that.

“This is my Son with Whom I AM well pleased”— “Listen to Him.” –God (Matthew 17:5)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, (Turn from the world)

Look full in His wonderful face (Focus on Truth)

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim (Truth replaces confusion)

In the Light of His glory and grace. (Truth is revealed and forever is Truth)

Lord,

Thank you for Your Word. Thank you, Holy Spirit for opening our eyes to the Truth your Word reveals to us each day.  Cleanse our hearts.  Remove all obstacles between you and us.  Renew our minds.  Transform our behaviors as a result.  Turn all confusion to holy confidence in You.  Refresh our souls with your new mercies, fresh for each new day.  Restore the joy of your salvation at work within us.  Thank you for saving our souls. Thank you for being with us always.  I believe.  I simply believe.

In Jesus Name, Amen