Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Luke 24:21 But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
SOLID HOPE
"We had hoped" -- what a world of misery is contained in those words of the Emmaus disciples! When we lose our forward look, we lose the strength to go on. That is why those who have pinned their hopes to earthly riches, or health, or friends, or other material things are in such despair when these things pass away. Not just any "hope" is worth hanging our heart on.
But where can a solid, secure future be found, a hope that will impel them all the way back to Jerusalem without supper? Not merely from the experience of seeing Jesus with our own two eyes, because our eyes can be fooled. These disciples did not even recognize Jesus when they first saw him.
Nor did Jesus tell them to look hard at Him, or ask if they recognized Him. He wanted them to remember what the Bible said! And from all the prophets since Samuel, Jesus showed those disciples how God was still in control. God had not failed! Jesus had not failed! Both victory and also suffering were promised to the coming Christ in those ancient writings. This is what made their hearts burn with joy and with new hope. This Bible Truth made sense out of all that they had seen in the past week, but had not recognized.
They could not get enough of this stranger's Word, and invited Him in. Then it happened! He was no longer the guest, but the host (as He had been all along). Suddenly He was gone! But this time their hope was not gone with their vision, for it was firmly grounded in the Word of God.
