Luke 24:8-12
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Beginning from the last verse in our previous passage, read Luke 24:8-12 noticing any thoughts or feelings that arise as you read.
Luke records three separate occasions when Jesus told his disciples about his coming execution, and on two of these occasions, he also said that he would “rise again” after three days (Luke 9:21-22, Luke 9:43-45, Luke 18:31-34). But Luke also tells us that “they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about (Luke 18:34).”
It's possible that the difference between the male and female disciples was that they followed Jesus for different reasons. For the men, Jesus was a conquering hero who would restore Israel to independence and free the Israelites from the oppression of the Romans. The male disciples had a very difficult time moving beyond this idea, so the thought that the Romans would execute Jesus simply didn’t fit their paradigm. Because they did not understand, they chose to forget.
The women probably didn’t follow Jesus out of a thirst for the re-establishment of Israel. We know that at least one of them, Mary Magdalene, was freed from demonic oppression and restored to sanity by Jesus. Others might have been healed by Jesus or they might just have found a sense of worth and purpose in him. Whatever the case may be, they were completely loyal to him and treasured the things he said – even when they didn’t understand.
Take a moment to consider why you follow Jesus (assuming you do). Do you have your own agenda for what you believe Jesus should do? Do you hold on to Jesus’ teaching even when you don’t understand what he is saying? Talk openly with him about this.
Read Luke 24:8-12 again noticing anything new that stands out.
Only one of the male disciples believed the women enough to at least investigate. This was, of course, Peter who just days earlier had denied knowing and following Jesus. This failure must have knocked the bravado right out of Peter and left him questioning everything. With his ambition of fighting alongside Jesus shattered, he was able to listen to the women and open up to a sense of wonder.
For the final moments of this time of reflection, imagine yourself in the presence of Jesus. What is your posture before Jesus? Are you making eye contact? What might this tell you about yourself and your motives for following him? What does he say to you?
Is there anything Jesus might want you to realize or do today?
What will you do about that?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
