The Higher Power We Need

 

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.
¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
¹⁹ “What things?” He asked.


“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; ²¹ but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place

²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 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. 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.”



²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
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.



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?”
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.  Luke 24:13-35  New International Version (NIV) 

 

Divorce devastated me. I had grown up as the child of divorced parents and vowed that my children would never know that pain. Now my hope of building a happy family was destroyed. But as I turned to God in my heartbreak, 
I was inspired to be the best single father I could be. Eventually my children came to live with me full time, and I was blessed to see them thriving and happy. Then



I married a woman who shares my faith. Her love and wise partnership brought me healing. Together we have a healthy blended family.

The devastation I experienced at the end of my first marriage cannot compare to what the disciples must have felt when Jesus was executed. Not only was their teacher and friend gone, but so was their hope that he would restore their nation to powerful independence.
But just as my sorrow was transformed into happiness, the disciples’ grief and disappointment was replaced with joy when Jesus was raised to new life. Christ is greater than our most debilitating sorrow. When our aspirations are crushed, he offers us the power of the resurrection, raising us up to renewed purpose, meaning, and joy.

 

The Author - Clifford Rawley (Missouri, USA) - from The Upper Room

 

Thought for the Day - Christ calls us to new hope and life.

Prayer

Help us, O Christ, to find in you the strength to overcome sorrow and the hope that will never disappoint. May we bear fruit that honors you. Amen.
 

Prayer focus - Those going through divorce