[ Today's Readings ]
The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people,
how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over
to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel
After all, why should this time be different? The prophets of the past do mighty deeds. People are healed and the dead are raised. But it doesn't ultimately change things for Israel. They continued to be dominated by other nations. Is Jesus just one more "prophet mighty in deed and word" who makes a difference in the short term but none in the grand scheme?
Oh, how foolish you are!
How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
and enter into his glory?
Our hope in you is crushed by the sufferings of the world, Jesus. But you predict this suffering in advance. All of scripture points to the suffering servant who will not only suffer and die but in doing so transform suffering and death.
Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:
they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his Body;
they came back and reported
that they had indeed seen a vision of angels
who announced that he was alive.
Why, then, are we distraught as if the world is not different today than it was the day before the first easter? Why do we still continue to live as if you are just one more of the prophets, ultimately unable to make a world-changing impact?
Jesus, we need to realize who you are. You are not just Elijah or one of the prophets, but the Christ of God (see Mark 8:28-8:29). And we need to realize that you are with us. No matter who you are, if leave us alone and abandon us then we must continue to contend with the world as it is and has always been. But you do not abandon or forsake us (see Deuteronomy 31:6). You are with us always, even unto the end of the age (see Matthew 28:20).
You are with us in your word.
Were not our hearts burning within us
while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?
You are with us in the Body of Christ, the Church.
Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”
And you are especially and perfectly with us in the breaking of the bread.
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way
and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
When we know this in our core our own feet and ankles grow strong to live for you and serve you.
He leaped up, stood, and walked around,
and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God.
How can we not leap? The world is changed. Death is defeated. You have the victory, LORD Jesus.
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?” (see First Corinthians 15:54-55).
Reveal yourself to us in all the places we can find you, LORD Jesus. Help our hearts to rejoice in you.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
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