Luke 24:13-35
Today's Passage: Luke 24:13-35
This is one of my favorite stories in Scripture. These undistinguished men, not of the apostles, are walking on what was probably a route home that they took often. They encounter Jesus, but they don’t recognize Him. They had been discussing what had transpired in the previous days, and shared that with Him. Their surprise that this person didn’t know about the crucifixion of Jesus reveals that news was traveling fast. They explain it all, and even that some of the women in their group had claimed to have seen the risen Jesus. Christ then starts explaining how Scripture has been pointing to this since the very beginning.
The Old Testament is a collection of historical accounts, poetry, and prophecy that makes the reader continuously ask, “Where is the one who will crush the head of the serpent?” (Genesis 3:15). From Noah, to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, to the judges and then David, all the way to the Israelites return from exile, the reader looks for and is told about the true King, the Messiah, who will make all things new.
In my reading of this passage today the phrase, “But we had hoped…” in verse 21 also stood out to me. It’s possible that they believed that Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman government and free Israel from oppression. They wanted an immediate earthly kingdom. They were disappointed that this didn’t occur, not realizing that Jesus did something even bigger.
Jesus didn’t overthrow Rome, he defeated sin and death. He didn’t become king of a nation, He is the King of the world. Isaiah 40:17 states, “All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.” Christ is above governments and ruling bodies because He is the sovereign ruler of the universe who had been prophesied about for centuries and is the fulfillment of the Scriptures.
Where do you see pictures of Christ in the Old Testament?
Written By: Kaitlin White
This is one of my favorite stories in Scripture. These undistinguished men, not of the apostles, are walking on what was probably a route home that they took often. They encounter Jesus, but they don’t recognize Him. They had been discussing what had transpired in the previous days, and shared that with Him. Their surprise that this person didn’t know about the crucifixion of Jesus reveals that news was traveling fast. They explain it all, and even that some of the women in their group had claimed to have seen the risen Jesus. Christ then starts explaining how Scripture has been pointing to this since the very beginning.
The Old Testament is a collection of historical accounts, poetry, and prophecy that makes the reader continuously ask, “Where is the one who will crush the head of the serpent?” (Genesis 3:15). From Noah, to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, to the judges and then David, all the way to the Israelites return from exile, the reader looks for and is told about the true King, the Messiah, who will make all things new.
In my reading of this passage today the phrase, “But we had hoped…” in verse 21 also stood out to me. It’s possible that they believed that Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman government and free Israel from oppression. They wanted an immediate earthly kingdom. They were disappointed that this didn’t occur, not realizing that Jesus did something even bigger.
Jesus didn’t overthrow Rome, he defeated sin and death. He didn’t become king of a nation, He is the King of the world. Isaiah 40:17 states, “All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.” Christ is above governments and ruling bodies because He is the sovereign ruler of the universe who had been prophesied about for centuries and is the fulfillment of the Scriptures.
Where do you see pictures of Christ in the Old Testament?
Written By: Kaitlin White
1 Comment
Kaitlin, this is great! Reminds me of all the times you have talked about the meta-narrative of scripture of which the climax of course is the death and resurrection of Christ. Just like these men we can have a complete head knowledge of the scriptures and still miss the point. In my experience life change happens when we start trusting and living like God actually means what he says in scripture, and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us.