Luke 24:13-21
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.
Read Luke 24:13-21 as you try to imagine the discussion between the two disciples.
When expectations and hopes lie shattered all around, the human brain seeks to make sense of the mess. These two disciples traveling back from Jerusalem are doing just that. They are deeply disappointed, and sadness casts a shadow over their faces as they sort through their memories of Jesus and the review shocking events of the past few days.
When Jesus joins them you can almost see the smile in the corner of his eyes. He knows what they are talking about, but he also knows they need their process. So he listens and waits for the right moment to spring the surprise on them. Their hopes for a Messiah are not dead – Jesus is very much alive.
Sometimes when things seem to be at their darkest, a divine surprise is right around the corner.
Stop and recall a dark time in your life. Picture yourself walking through that time and trying to make sense of it. Now picture Jesus walking with you as you process what you are thinking and feeling. Is there something Jesus wants to reveal to you now about that experience? Talk to him about this.
Read Luke 24:13-21 again.
Cleopas and his companion had been following Jesus long enough to know that he spoke the very words of God – the words of a true prophet. They had seen the Kingdom of God demonstrated through Jesus’ healings and miracles. And they had absorbed and internalized his teaching, because they recognized the authority with which he spoke. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah sent from God…until he was executed.
They did not have room in their messianic narrative for the crucifixion, and it made them question everything they had seen, experienced and believed before.
The dark tines in our lives often propel us into a crisis of faith where we begin to question our tightly-held beliefs. Questioning our beliefs is not failure – it is an opportunity for Jesus to widen our perspective and open our eyes to a larger story. When we walk the road of disappointment and disillusionment, Jesus is there with us. And if we stay with him he will, in time, show us more than we could have ever imagined.
For the final moments of this time of reflection, get still and let your thoughts settle. Recognize the presence of Jesus with you now as you quietly listen to him.
What is Jesus saying to you today?
What will you do about that?
Subscribe here to receive these guided meditations free by email Monday-Friday each week. If you find these meditations helpful, please forward them to a couple of friends.
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.
