OzThoughts – Wednesday, 15th April 2009

OzThoughts – Wednesday, 15th April 2009

A friend sent me a simple Easter cartoon drawn by Phil Selby a couple of years ago. It shows a man and woman, early Christians, kneeling before a simple table with a cross on it. Jesus, wearing his crown of thorns, puts his head through the doorway and says “ Hey hey! Guess who’s back from the dead!” (To see it click here: http://bigeyedeer.wordpress.com/2007/04/06/happy-easter/

I imagine their surprise was very much like that of all the followers of Jesus, particularly the two who were walking to Emmaus when Jesus came up to them. They were so busy discussing al that had happened they did not recognise Jesus. Read how Luke tells the story:

Luke 24:13-35 (The Message)
13-16 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.
17-18 He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"
They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"
19-24 He said, "What has happened?"
They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."
25-27 Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.
28-31 They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
32 Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"
33-34 They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!"
35 Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.
Prayer:

Heavenly Father I will have a busy day today, but help me not to miss seeing you in the places I go and in the people I meet. I pray, too, that people might see Jesus in me and in the things I do. Amen.


[Listen: Brass Band : http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3939.mp3
or
Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_115.mp3 ]

I set out a pilgrim sad at heart
To walk a lonely road;
Doubt had marr’d my simple trusting,
Doubt a future ill forbode;
And as I pondered o’er my grief,
My shattered hopes and unbelief,
A Stranger to my soul’s relief,
Drew near and walked with me.

Chorus
Jesus himself drew near,
Jesus himself drew near,
When alone on the road,
Oppress’d by my load,
Jesus himself drew near and walked with me.

I deign’d not to raise my drooping eyes,
Nor sought to learn his name,
Tho’ his voice, like heav’nly music,
Set this heart of mine aflame.
He seemed to read my every thought,
To know the pain my fears had wrought.
And with His gentle words He bought
An atmosphere of peace.

The shadows of evening fell apace,
New dangers lay ahead;
But, with my Companion walking,
I no longer felt their dread.
I begged him ne’er to quit my side,
With me to constantly abide;
In gracious tones my Lord replied
‘My peace I leave with thee.’
Author Brigadier A R Wiggins.
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