Maybe you think Easter is over and it is time to move on. But if we are going to fully understand the gifts of Easter, we need to look at what Easter is all about. Jesus has some incredible gifts He wants to give us, if we will accept them.
Last week, we discovered wonder as our gateway to God. The week before that, we learned our last breath here is our first breath there, making the veil between the two very thin. Today, we will look at the gifts of Easter.
There is a story in Luke Chapter 24 about these two guys walking down the road to Emmaus. They are confused and afraid because Jesus is dead and the tomb is empty. On top of that, the women are telling these crazy stories about angels and Jesus being alive. I think we’ve all been on this road before, where we find ourselves grief stricken, perplexed at our situation, and fearful of the unknown.
Death is a scary place. But when we recognize the gift Easter gives us, we see into those thin places where wonder can carry us into the presence of God and our last breath here really is our next breath there. Jesus’ death gives us new life. And we no longer have to fear the unknown.
Thus begins our lesson from Luke 24:13 -24 AMP.
“And they stood still, looking brokenhearted.”
(I have condensed the passage, but recommend reading it in its entirety and reflecting upon it.)
“And then, that very day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing it, Jesus Himself came up and began walking with them. 16 But their eyes were [miraculously] prevented from recognizing Him.
… it is the third day since these things happened.
25 Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to trust and believe in everything that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and [only then to] enter His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and [throughout] all the [writings of the] prophets, He explained and interpreted for them the things referring to Himself [found] in all the Scriptures.
…29 But they urged Him [not to go on], saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day has just about ended.” So He went inside to stay with them. 30 And it happened that as He reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were [suddenly] opened [by God] and they [clearly] recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us…?”
Our whole Christian calendar marches toward Easter morning, as we raise our voices, to sing “Christ the Lord has risen today.” However, the disciples are still numb, confused, and mourning the loss of their teacher and friend. Easter is a culmination of our faith. It is what helps us believe that death really has lost its sting. But, for those closest to Him, the knowledge of who Jesus is has not yet been revealed. They thought Jesus was their Messiah. Now, He is dead and his body is missing. They are in the thin space between belief and knowledge, the promise of a future and the reality of where they are. They are caught between knowing and not knowing. Unbeknownst to them, God was still developing their faith. And developing ours as well.
Most of us have been on this same road, caught between knowing and not knowing. Our lives quickly get flipped upside-down and we find ourselves living in the in-between. Here is where God grows us and strengthens us. It is here that we begin to understand who God is in our lives. The disciples did not have the privilege of knowing the rest of the story. They were in that thin space between life and death and life again, between believing and knowing.
God is in the in-between. God is the One who fills in the gap between believing and knowing. As these two guys walked the road, Jesus joined them. They didn’t recognize him, but it does not matter. He was there all the same. Just like He is walking with you whether you know it or not. These are the gifts of Easter!
Let us pray;
God of the in-between places, comfort us. Forgive us when we do not recognize You. Help us to trust You are always with us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Going Deeper: Before you read the scripture, spend some time in prayer. Ask God to reveal to you something new. Take a deep breath in through your nose for a count of four, hold it for a two-count and then let it out slow and controlled through your nose. Do this a couple of times to center yourself. Then, open your eyes and read the text. As you read, pay attention to any words or phrases that pop out to you. Just notice. You may want to jot them down for later reflection.
P.S. Leave me a comment below because you know I love to hear from you. Share this message with a friend or on your Facebook page. -M
