Devotionals

Hebrews 11:1-3

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

After a caterpillar forms a chrysalis, it stays inside for a time while the process of metamorphosis occurs, while the dormant DNA of the butterfly causes change. Ultimately, the time comes when that protective shell of the cocoon is too constricting — the butterfly within must break free! Can you call to mind a time when you needed encouragement to break free from comfort so that you could grow and change? How can we encourage ourselves and others out of our comfortable places so that we may truly bloom?

Caterpillars cannot fly, they can only dream to fly. It must believe it can fly and in that belief it must commit to change, it must undergo metamorphosis, leaving itself vulnerable for a time. The caterpillar needs faith, a conviction of flight not yet seen…this is all risky and perhaps unnerving, but it is work that will produce beautiful results. What are your dreams? How can your faith help you achieve those dreams?

When our worldviews are disrupted by new information, can we see a new opportunity for growth? What if our faith could be the energy we utilize to strive for a future that isn't here yet? Can we wholeheartedly believe that it IS actually possible for miracles like the end of hunger, and the abolition of poverty to happen? Can we be liberated from institutionalized entitlement, and from the fear of death?

Luke 24:28-49

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us[a] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 While they were talking about this, Jesus[b] himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”[c] 37 They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.[d] 41 Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,[e] 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah[f] is[g] to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses[h] of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

This verse might seem like nothing much, but I wonder, where was Jesus initially heading? While we will never know what Jesus intended destination was, we do know something important about Jesus. When we ask him to change course, he will stay with us. Reminds me of the hymn, “Tarry with me.” We can ask the Lord to wait with us!

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 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?”

When the risen Jesus is revealed to people is fascinating to me. From Mary in the garden, to the Disciples on the coast, to here at dinner Jesus is often misidentified before a sudden and dramatic reveal. When do our hearts burn? Could it be Jesus? Or just indigestion?

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

It's a haunting tidbit of information when they say, “the eleven.” It's a deadly reminder of the betrayal of Judas and of his suicide from shame. There is deep meaning and significance to the number 12- 12 tribes, 12 precious stones on the high priests breastplate, in fact almost all ritual items in Judaism came in factors of 12. 11 is wrong. It's broken and incomplete. The good news of Jesus appearance reaches them in this broken state, promising healing and restoration.

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 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.”

I don't know what I would think if someone suddenly appeared in a room with me with no warning, but I'm fairly certain I'd be both startled and frightened. Jesus offers proof here of his identity in order to calm them. This is important for us as Christians since one of the early claims was that Jesus didn't rise as a body, only a spirit. We don't believe in a spiritual heaven, we believe in a bodily heaven because Jesus rose in his body!

40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

Those words, “everything must be fulfilled,” send us right back to the beginning. Before people started writing what would become the Bible, people who followed The Way of Jesus (capitalized because that is what they called themselves as a group) were still using the Old Testament, reaching back to find proof in those Scriptures that God planned from the beginning to resolve the sin of the garden in Jesus Christ.

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Jesus says here, “This is what is written…” but in my searching I could not find where. Rather, it looks like Jesus is mixing together verses from all over the Old Testament to create a single thing. Parts of this quote are found in Isaiah, Exodus, Psalms, and Genesis. Or is Jesus quoting something we don't have? No matter what Jesus means by this, we claim this phrase as God's promise and plan for all creation starting at the beginning and moving out from Jerusalem to the ends of the Earth.