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Reflections

Easter to Pentecost

Part 1

It is easy to celebrate a holiday like Easter and go back to our everyday life, forgetting the significance of the day. What life-changing effect did the Resurrection have on the followers of Jesus? For the next few weeks, let’s walk with them—from the tomb to the Upper Room—that the power of the Resurrection may be experienced at Pentecost.

Broken Dreams, Blind Eyes and Burning Hearts

Luke 24:13–34

The word spread quickly among the community of believers that first Easter morning. Mary Magdalene and the other women firmly declared the tomb was empty. Mary even claimed to have seen the Lord. Peter and John checked it out and confirmed that the tomb was empty, but the body was not found.

Having heard the reports, two faithful followers talked over these stories as they left Jerusalem for Emmaus that afternoon. In the camaraderie close friends have, they carefully reviewed everything they heard as if repetition would reveal a clue to unravel the mystery.

A Stranger began walking with them, but they were so engrossed in their conversation they did not pay much attention to Him until He started questioning them. Aghast that He apparently knew nothing about what had happened, they recounted not only the events, but also their broken dreams that they assumed this man Jesus would fulfill.

We can relate to these disciples, for we do not walk far in life’s journey until we have some shattered dreams. We experience broken health, dead-end careers, severed relationships, or financial disaster instead of the success we dream about. Children make choices contrary to our dreams and we live with their choices.

On our journey, we share with our closest friends, “We had hoped….” but it didn’t turn out that way. Focusing on difficulties blinds us to any good that could come from them. Like these disciples, our eyes are so much on the circumstances we do not realize Jesus is walking with us through them. When hard times come our prayer should be, “Lord, open our eyes to see what You are doing through this circumstance.”

With customary courtesy, the disciples invited the Stranger to their home. Even though He had been explaining the Scriptures to them all along the way, they did not realize who He was. As He broke bread and invited God’s blessing on it, they recognized Him. When He was gone, they remembered their burning hearts as He talked with them along the road.

Blind eyes are opened as the Scriptures warm our hearts and fellowship with Jesus enlightens our understanding. The process may take time, but it can happen if we invite Him into our homes and hearts. The resurrected Jesus will walk with us and reveal himself to us. That is one of the joys of Easter.

Point to Ponder

These disciples were distressed because Jesus did not set up His kingdom at that time in history. Was their concern for spiritual reasons or simply a desire to be released from the political oppression of Rome? From the distance of years we cannot say for certain.

What we do know is that Jesus walked with them in their distress and revealed himself to them. He wants to do the same for us today. He is concerned about every dimension of our lives.

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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