“Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing…Jesus himself came near and began to walk with them…But they were hoping that he was the one…” Luke 24: 14, 21.
This beautiful story near the end of Luke mentions friends who were returning to Jerusalem after the death of Jesus. They were discussing everything surrounding His life…His ministry…His promise…His death. They were reminiscing about the hope they previously had that Jesus was the promised One. Their disappointment and confusion were their companions as they rehashed the circumstances leading up to this event. As they were talking, they didn’t even realize that someone had joined them on their walk…a very compelling stranger who eventually revealed Himself as the Messiah. The very One who could fulfill the very dream they thought was dead.
This past weekend was one that will keep my heart full for quite some time. Six women of our group of eight spent the weekend at the beach loving, laughing and reliving snapshots of memories that have spanned over at least 45 years. We sat on our little screened in porch, ate beyond what any one should, and celebrated our time together in a large way. We talked about things we were sure would have happened…things that didn’t happen…things that did occur…and things we are looking to God to bring in our future. This morning, as I read the story of the road to Emmaus, I couldn’t help but draw parallels. As we talked about our lives one of us said that ‘the hope had been that He was the One’ to keep our children from going down dark paths if we raised them in church. Others ‘had hoped that marriages would be until death’ and ‘death wouldn’t take away our marriages.’ Others had hoped that God would intervene in illnesses…in circumstances…in relationships…in vocations. Some of us are still hoping for dreams to be fulfilled, for hearts to be restored and for circumstances to be resolved. We hoped He was the One and we are hoping that He will be the One.
But I am encouraged to know that while we were walking down memory lane Jesus had joined us. As we talked about our pain, He was there on our lips. As we listened to each other’s dreams He was listening intently already knowing the details of our future. He was there, and He is wherever you are. He will be the One to heal your loved ones on earth or in Heaven. He will be the One to walk with you and talk with you no matter where you are. He will be the One to bring resolution to that impossible situation. It will be Jesus who heals your broken heart, who will move your mountains, who will celebrate your mountaintops and fulfill your deep desires. In everything He is involved, and everywhere He moves with all of His children. He is the very One who can raise our dead dreams to life.
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:7-12.
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