April 10, 2023

Today's Reading: Luke 24:13-35

Daily Lectionary: Ex 15:1-18, Heb 9:1-28

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. Luke 24:30-31

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.  Christ is risen! Saint Luke recounts that on the Sunday of the Resurrection, two disciples of Jesus were going from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were overwhelmed with all the news of hearing about the angel’s announcement that Jesus was alive (v. 22ff) but still had doubts about the Resurrection. They were so immersed in their sadness and confusion that they could not recognize the risen Jesus in the person walking alongside them.

Do you notice how Jesus deals with these disciples?  There, without any fuss, Jesus appeared to them and walked with them, his conversation helping to alleviate their fears.  But then He speaks plainly with them “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”  Luke 24:26-27, Jesus joins them as they go along their way, but He also speaks to them plainly about how the Scripture points to Him.  Soon He will be ascending to His Father and removed from their sight.  Later as He sits with His disciples, He takes bread, blesses it, and breaks it.  It isn’t until Jesus breaks the bread and vanishes that they realize they have seen the risen Lord Jesus.  But why does Jesus speak and break bread and then disappear?  There were so many more questions, so many answers needed, and so many fears to be calmed.  Jesus speaks, breaks bread, and then disappears from their sight to show them how He will be with us always to the very end of the age.  The Word and Sacraments are how He will work with HIs church after the Ascension.  Later Luke tells us in Acts chapter 2 that the early disciples followed this pattern of Jesus revealing Himself to all the world.  “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  Acts 2:42

You may find yourself like these disciples, full of questions and doubts.  Is this Jesus real?  Did He rise from the dead?  Or you may have more significant fears concerning yourself, your family and friends, this world, and our daily darkness and decay.  But take heart; Jesus meets you in this life every time you gather around His gifts that are given to you. Just like those first disciples that Easter Sunday, Jesus He reveals Himself to us every Sunday as Scriptures and the Eucharist are spoken and distributed by Jesus through your pastor.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Here would I feed upon the bread of God, Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heav'n;  Here would I lay aside each earthly load,  Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiv'n.  LSB 631 vs. 2

- Pastor Kent Schaaf is Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Little Rock. AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.