LUKE 24:41

 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" - Luke 24:41

What does it mean that they did not believe because of joy and amazement?  They were too happy?  They were too amazed?  They could not believe that something this great could happen?  They did not want to believe that the joy that would come with You being risen was possible?

I kind of get that.  Too good to be true, right?  Things like this are not supposed to happen to me...to us.  I guess I do find myself not believing thing because of joy and amazement too.  Something is hurting in my body and suddenly it stops hurting.  That pain will come back.  My team starts to win a game they never should.  Oh, that's going to end in an L.

I think more than I care to admit I don't believe that joy should be a common emotion, and I don't think the amazing can happen - at least not to me.  But, ironically, that's exactly why You came back - to give us joy and show us the amazing is possible.  

So, let's eat!

LUKE 24:40

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. - Luke 24:40

That’s the clincher, right? Kind of your symbol! It is amazing that so many Christians hate to have You on the cross in a church, but when You wanted to prove it was You, You went back to the crucifix.

To me, I think it’s perfect - a constant reminder that our goal is to sacrifice ourselves for The Father and others. That’s our job. Your job is to raise us up.

Whoa, I’ve had those switched. I’ve been focusing so much on raising myself up, that You have had to “sacrifice” me.

Not exactly sure I know what that means, but I think there is some wisdom there.

LUKE 24:39

 "Look at My hands and My feet.  It is I Myself!  Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." - Luke 24:39

So, You did have flesh and bones when You rose.  It wasn't a spirit body.  But then, why didn't the dudes on the way to Emmaus recognize You? Was it a different type of body?  Did You look different?  And did You have the holes in Your hands and feet on that walk, and they still didn't recognize You?

And right now?  Same body?  If we ever get to heaven, will we see what they saw?  And do You ever come back now?  Like do You just pop in, or are You waiting for the Big One?

I don't know why I am so concerned with the physical appearance.  What really matters is what You did, not what You looked like after.  Maybe that's why You responded the way You did.  These guys were also focused on the physical - how this happened, was it really You?  We get caught up in things that don't matter.

You sacrificed Yourself for us.  You rose from the dead.  You gave us a chance to have a relationship with The Father - just like You.  That's what's important, not what You looked like.  But, I still kinda want to know.

LUKE 24:38

 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” - Luke 24:38

Again, did You think about, “Boo”? I could tell You why they were troubled - a person who was dead just popped up out of nowhere!

But I get the point. You want us to believe. No matter what! And remember! I think that what is happening here is not so much a lack of belief, but a lack of paying attention. You told them this would happen, and they either forgot or didn’t get it in the first place - which are both heart issues.

I know that I personally don’t forget things that are important to me - my phone, my air pods, tennis match times. Now, the not getting it is a different story, but I feel like that was almost more deflating to You. I think the theory goes - if their hearts were aligned with Yours they would have understood. Is that right?

But, if their hearts weren’t with Yours, is it even possible that ours would be?

LUKE 24:37

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. - Luke 24:37

So you’re in a room with a bunch of your buddies. You are all talking about Jesus and two guys say they actually saw Him, but He never really said who He was. It’s been a couple of days since He’s died. And then…..

Yep, I’d be startled and frightened. Anyone shows up out of nowhere, I’m freaked out a little bit. But, coming back from the dead?

It’s one thing to hear about it. It’s a whole other thing to see it for yourself. What a day that must have been for everyone!

LUKE 24:36

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” - Luke 24:36

Now that had to be a fun one! Did You have other phrases that You thought of like, “I’m back!” or “Guess who!” or “Gotcha mutherfuckers!” Did You ever swear just for fun? I don’t picture You as a swearer or maybe I do. I guess Your ultimate goal wasn’t to make people laugh or like You - that’s when I do most of my swearing.

Wow! As I type this I realize how different our visions are. You were focused on The Father and what He wanted. I wake up and think about what I’m gonna eat or drink.

I just tried asking what You wanted me to do today. You would think that would be a staple in a Christ followers life, but not so much for me lately.

This post had nothing to do with the verse and everything to do with it!

LUKE 24:35

 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. - Luke 24:35

I have to be honest, not great writing here by Luke.  You just spent 20 verses talking about this whole story and now you waste a verse by repeating exactly what you have just been talking about for the last 20 verses.  

But, if you read ahead.......

I guess that's like life.  Some things don't make sense, you may even consider them bad, until you read ahead.

LUKE 24:34

 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” - Luke 24:34

Wait? What? Appeared to Simon? When did that happen? I thought the dudes on the road to Emmaus were first. In fact, I thought Simon wasn’t till much later with the three peat.

But, who cares? The big thing is, can you imagine that celebration? The Emmaus dude’s stories had to be fantastic! And everyone so excited about what was going on.

It’s been a while since I was that excited about something spiritual!

LUKE 24:33

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together. - Luke 24:33

What? They went back to Jerusalem at once? I guess whatever they were going to Emmaus for was not that important.

So why leave in the first place? Let’s review. Their people had just seen an empty tomb. The ladies reported seeing angels. Emmaus was 7 hours away. But, instead of hanging out and seeing what in the heck is going on - these guys leave…..for no apparent reason!

And they are the ones who see Jesus! I guess it’s not always the smartest people that get rewarded.

LUKE 24:32

 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" - Luke 24:32

When's the last time your heart was burning?  Since nobody reads this, maybe I should ask, when was the last time my heart burned?

The last time I remember was in Cincinnati two years ago.  I was driving to the Lindner Family Tennis Center and started to think about what would happen if my car died or I got a flat tire or a bunch of other negative things.  God reminded me that He is for me and not out to get me.

Now, I didn't hear that out loud or have another person say it to me, but my heart was burning.  Sometimes you just know, and I feel like it should be more often than it is.  I feel like God is not hiding - He wants to reveal Himself to us, over and over and over.  But, like these guys, we gotta walk with Him. 

LUKE 24:31

 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. - Luke 24:31

What is the meaning of the disappearing?  Is it that it is more important that we know who You are, spending time with You after that is not as important?  That doesn't make sense.  Is it that You just wanted to assure them that it was You - once You had done that You could move on?  That makes a little more sense, since You did just explain everything about yourself to them.  Was it to cherish each and every moment we have with You because we never know when they are going to end?  Again, that's whack - we can talk to You whenever we want to.

So, these guys finally recognize You and You're gone?  Physically.  I guess that's how it is with us.  We recognize who You are, but we can't double check, ask questions, piggyback off some things that we think You said.  We just have to go on in faith - kind of like these guys did.

They knew You were risen - that was enough for them.  Now it was time for them to go on, without the physical You, trusting that the spiritual You would still be with them.

LUKE 24:30

 When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. - Luke 24:30

Big fan of communion.  That was Your thing, huh?  Of all the things you could have done to let them know it was You - you went communion.  Maybe that is why it's so meaningful - maybe we both really love the symbolism (or the actual body and blood depending on your religious beliefs.  Does that matter to You?  I guess I've never thought about how You feel about the whole thing.).

To me, it's the "do this to remember Me" part.  One, I think about what it must have been like to be in that room with You.  Celebrating one last time together, and looking back later at what happened to make that the last time, I bet they are still talking about it.  Two, obviously, what we are remembering is incredible.  Not just what You went through hours later, but everything You did was incredible!  (Look at me, pointing out to God that what You did was incredible - no duh!)

But, it has always meant a lot to me.  Whether it be Coke and a breakfast sandwich or bread and wine (almost more-so with random things because it's just You and me), it's always good to remember me.  And what a reveal! 

LUKE 24:28

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. - Luke 24:28

Were You really going to keep going without letting them know it was You? I mean I guess You never did really tell them.

And isn’t that like us, like me. You are right there, talking to is the whole time, and we have no idea it’s You. I hate to go back to A Week Away (no I don’t), but the person who encourages us, who inspires us, who loves us - You’re right there.

And guess what else - You can do that through us. We can be the person walking along others explaining who You are - maybe not by going through the Scriptures, but by how we say things and what we choose to say. (That’s kinda depending on if we let You in!)

In these times, You really are the hope, which means we are the hope if we let You be the hope. You are right there whether we recognize it or not.

LUKE 24:27

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. - Luke 24:27

How great would that be!!! Listening to You break down You - that would have to be the greatest conversation ever!

Carlos breaking down his tennis game, MJ explaining his thoughts in clutch moments, St. Francis talking lifestyle, Survivors of stuff….I’m just trying to think of what I’d rather listen to the You breaking down You. Honestly, I don’t think any of those would compare.

I guess the better question is, why don’t I do that now?

LUKE 24:26

 "Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?" - Luke 24:26

High renown or honor won by notable achievement.

Magnificence or great beauty.

I would say saving the world from sin and allowing every person to have a relationship with God is notable.  And as far as honor, I'm just taking a stab here, but I bet You are the most honored person in heaven.  But, I also feel like as you were walking, the magnificence and beauty could be felt and possibly even seen.  This version of yourself was the best version.

However, when it says "His glory" I'm going with A.  The suffering, all the things You went through, the glory comes in the honor you received from The Father.  That really was the goal, wasn't it?  Yes, You loved us.  Yes, You wanted what was best for us.  But, the clincher was that You wanted to please The Father.

I'm not there yet.

LUKE 24:25

 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" - Luke 24:25

Did You say that in an angry tone?  In a joking tone?  In a matter of fact tone? 

I can't see You yelling at these guys; although, You did go over this and I bet You were a little disappointed when they still didn't get it.  At first, I thought You were joking, but I don't think this was sarcasm; especially after all of the other stuff You said.  I really think You might have just said this like as a fact.  They were foolish.

And they were....from a spiritual perspective.  You said You would rise three days later.  Your body was gone - easy one!  But I forget sometimes.  I also don't always think spiritually when out of the ordinary things happen.  So, were they foolish?  Probably, but I am definitely foolish too.  You already knew that.

LUKE 24:24

”Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” - Luke 24:24

How about this for a metaphor? The companions see an empty tomb but they didn’t see Jesus. These guys are walking next to Jesus, but they don’t see Jesus.

They were talking about people asking, Where is God?” in A Week Away. The light in Lenny - there He is. The brother that encourages you - there He is. The boomer that makes all this happen - there He is.

I mean these guys literally had Jesus next to them, but we miss Him a lot too. Sure, He is in nature and the Bible and a lot of stuff, but Max helped me realize - God does his best reveal in people!

The people who are reading this today - there He is!

LUKE 24:23

“but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.” - Luke 24:23

I wonder, is this the first time any of them had seen angels? And why does Luke say, “a vision of angels”? Can you not see actual angels in this world?

Mary’s angel was in a vision. Joseph’s too. But weren’t there actual angels that stayed in a person’s house. The shepherds saw angels.

Now I’m wondering- was that just a vision too? Can we see heavenly things on earth? Was Jesus just a vision too these guys? But You ate. People touched You.

This separation of heaven and earth is kind of fascinating. Was Jesus the only being who could go back and forth? Is there an actual separation, and if so, why?

Darn you Luke! Why did you add “vision”?

LUKE 24:22

 ^“In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning” - Luke 24:22

Verse guy or gal - why stop there? It literally says “but didn’t find His body” right after “morning. Were they trying to just give emphasis to the fact that it was the women went? Then, they would have stopped after “us.” Were they trying to keep us in suspense? Pretty sure not too many people are blogging about Luke verse by verse. Was “early this morning” important?

Maybe that’s it. Did these guys leave after the women got back? Did they hear about the empty tomb and then take off for their walk? Without even checking it out? (Spoiler alert: they left after other people checked it out too.)

Now I’d really like to know what was happening in Emmaus!