January 30, 2020
Luke 24:20-24
The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;  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.  In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.  Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
New International Version (NIV)
Hope leaks.  Have you noticed?  I saw it in a picture of a woman sitting in the rubble of her home, destroyed by an earthquake.  She was wondering whether there was any hope for her and her future.  No spoken words are recorded.  But her eyes ask the question.

What happened to our hope?  Where did we lose it?  Two of Jesus’ disciples lost their hope when Jesus was crucified.  While the other disciples gathered to worship and wonder and wait, they quit.  On a seven mile walk to Emmaus they were joined by a stranger who wondered at their sadness.  They told the stranger how Jesus had died.  “We had hoped that he was the messiah.”  Hope was now in the past tense for them. 

Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”  Which of your hopes has not come true?  How does it make you feel about the future?  I sent my dad a picture of my granddaughter Josie and said, “The future is this bright!”  “Very bright,” he responded, admiring his great-granddaughter.  Years ago I realized the “future is as bright as all the promises of God.”

By their own words they confirm their choice to lose hope.  Women from their group had gone to the tomb and heard that Jesus was alive.  Apostles had returned saying the tomb was empty.  Something had happened.  Why were they heading home?

The stranger on the road to Emmaus started with the Old Testament and taught the two disciples that the Messiah had to suffer.  By the time they reached their home, their hearts were burning inside them.  At their request the stranger stayed and when he broke bread they realized he was the risen Lord of life.  They had been walking with Jesus right after the grand opening.  The stone was rolled away to open the tomb.  Then Jesus opened the scriptures to them.  He opened their eyes to see him and then he opened the minds of the other disciples to believe. 

Have you been to the grand opening?  An empty tomb shows us a risen Lord.  The Lord of life has opened the tomb to give us a brand new life.  As we read his word today, I pray that he will open our eyes and our minds as he teaches us until our hearts burn within us, and we rediscover our hope.
Pray with me:       
Father, show us today where we have lost hope and given up.  Open our eyes to see Jesus, the risen Lord and ruler of all.  Then fill us up with hope again.  Give us a confident expectation about the future you have planned for us.  Say to our souls, “There is surely a hope for you and it will not be taken away.”  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  
Join us in memorizing the Word.  Scripture for this week:    
Matthew 5:9-10
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan.  Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG 
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week.  In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year.  Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.  
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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