“The Seven Next Words of Christ: What Are You So Concerned About” - Luke 24: 13-34 Devo

May 7th, 2017

Devotional

“The Seven Next Words of Christ: What Are You So Concerned About” - Luke 24: 13-34

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “What are You Discussing?” - Luke 24: 13-17

On the same day as Jesus’s resurrection was proclaimed by the women who went and found the empty tomb, some of the other followers of Jesus were making the seven mile journey to Emmaus. It was a long way to walk and they had a lot on their mind - chiefly the death of Jesus and what the women had to say about Jesus’s body now missing. They were so caught up in their own grief, shock, and conversation that they failed to notice that someone else was walking along with them until he spoke up - asking them what they were discussing. 

One of the words I would use to describe Jesus’s followers at this point was hopeless. They didn’t know what was going to happen next to them. They were sacred and grief-stricken and probably felt helpless. At times we probably feel like these disciples to, which is fine, until it blocks us from recognizing Jesus amongst us. 

What do you think the men talked about on their way to Emmaus?

Tell of a time that you failed to recognize Jesus. What blocked you from recognizing God at that time. 

Prayer: Jesus, we know that sometimes we fail to recognize your presence amongst us. We get so caught up in our own circumstances that we are blind to your movement in our lives. Remove the blinders from our eyes and spirits we pray. Amen. 

Tuesday: “But We Had Hoped” - Luke 24:18-21

The men responded to Jesus’s question (since they didn’t recognize that it was Jesus) by telling him what had taken place - how Jesus, the mighty prophet had been crucified. They shared how they hoped that this wasn’t how it would end. How they hoped that Jesus would have been the Messiah. 

Of course, Jesus was the Messiah, or Savior, just not in the terms they were expecting. They wanted someone to ride in on a horse and use his might to overthrow the Roman occupation - instead they got the Savior of the world who conquered sin.

Sometimes our expectations of how we want Jesus to act can get in the way of seeing Jesus’s hand in our life. We want Jesus to do something very specific and when the answer to our prayer is “no” or “not yet” we feel that Jesus has failed us, instead of seeing that our expectations are not meant to limit Jesus’s saving power in our lives. 

What do you think “we thought he was the Messiah” means?

Tell of a time that your expectations of Jesus tried to limit him. How were God’s plans in that moment better than yours? 

Prayer: Lord, help us to set aside our expectations so we can see you as you truly are. Set us free from placing limits on your power and love. May we truly pray “your will be done”. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ But They Did Not See” - Luke 24: 22-24

Not only do w sometimes let our emotions and expectations get in the way of recognizing Jesus in our lives, but sometimes we want what other people have. The disciples told Jesus (who they still didn’t recognize) about some of the women’s experience at the empty tomb. They told of the vision and the angels and their message to proclaim that Jesus was alive. But some of the men wanted that experience for themselves, only when they arrived at the tomb they didn’t see the angels or Jesus.

God gives different people different gifts in the body of Christ to build up the body and to aid us in the message that we all share in proclaiming, that Christ has conquered the grave. We start to stumble when we want the same gifts and visions of other people, instead of celebrating with them how God has gifted them for the mission. 

I was recently at an event where spiritual gifts were being discussed and the speaker said one of her pet peeves was when people would come up to ask her about certain spiritual gifts to which she would always ask “do you have that gift?” If the answer was no, then she would tell them that they really need to find what their gift is and invest in learning about that particular gift instead of dwelling on the gifts of others. 

When have you missed seeing God at work in your midst?

What is your spiritual gift or vision? How is God working through that gift?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the variety of gifts and visions that you give us as the body of Christ. Allow us to celebrate the gifts of your spirit in each of us as well as building up the giftedness of others. Forgive us for the times when we have been jealous of other people’s gifts instead of celebrating how you are using them. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Thursday: “How Slow of Heart” - Luke 24: 25-27

Jesus then rebuked the disciples, pointing out their foolishness and that they are slow of heart. He tells them the stories of the scriptures, pointing out how what the prophets proclaimed aligned with the life of Christ as well as what had just happened with the death on the cross. He interpreted the things about himself in scriptures.

One of the most common reasons that we are blind to the movement and presence of Christ in our lives is because we don’t know the word of God. We know what other people have told us are in the word of God. We know what other people have said about the word of God, but we haven’t read it for ourselves and allowed God to speak to us through it. We need to allow the word of God to dwell in us so we can use it to recognize the mighty ways of God here and now.

How do you see God more clearly when you read the word of God?

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we aren’t people of your word. We don’t know your word or let it dwell in us. We allow other people to tell us what they think is in your word instead of truly studying it for ourselves. Open up our eyes and ears so we can understand what you have to say to us today. Amen.  

Friday: “Their Eyes Were Opened” - Luke 24: 28-34

The disciples offered to the stranger walking along the road with them the ancient gift of hospitality. They invited him in for a meal and to stay the night, as it was getting dark. As Jesus blessed and broke the bread for their meal, their eyes were opened and they saw Jesus for who he was the entire time he was with them. The bread acted as a bridge between their recognition and understanding and their propelled them out, like the women, to share in acts and words and evangelism. 

We too are called to share the good news of Christ though our hospitality, actions, and words, which is sometimes easier said than done. Yet we are all to share the good news that “the Lord is Risen Indeed” and how that message has changed our lives.

How does communion help us recognize and respond to God?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of the blind being able to see, especially when the blindness of our hearts is removed, O precious Lord. Now, in our sight, send us out to help remove the blindness of other hearts so your name can be made known. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Seven Next Words of Christ: Peace be with You” - Luke 24: 35-43 and John 20: 

Family Activity: Make a poster of pictures and words that remind you of how Jesus is moving in the world today. Then hang the poster somewhere you can see it as a reminder of Jesus’s presence with you every day!