Finding Hope in the Risen Christ
On that first Easter morning, two disciples walked away from Jerusalem with heavy hearts. Their hopes had been crushed when Jesus was crucified. But their encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus teaches us powerful lessons about faith, doubt, and recognizing Jesus in our daily lives.
What Happened on the Road to Emmaus?
As these two followers walked the seven-mile journey to Emmaus, they discussed recent events – Jesus’ death, burial, and reports of an empty tomb. Suddenly, Jesus himself joined them, though they didn’t recognize him. He asked what they were discussing, and they shared their disappointment that the one they hoped would redeem Israel had been crucified.
Why Didn’t They Recognize Jesus?
Their grief and disappointment created a spiritual blindness. Like us, they had “mountains” blocking their view:
Mountains of disappointment
Mountains of broken dreams
Mountains of confusion
Mountains that prevented them from seeing Jesus right beside them
How Does Jesus Respond to Our Doubts?
Jesus responded with both frustration and compassion. He reminded them of the scriptures that foretold everything that happened. He had repeatedly told them he would:
Go to Jerusalem
Suffer at the hands of leaders
Be killed
Rise again on the third day
Yet their preconceptions and desires had caused them to miss or dismiss these clear teachings.
What Happens When We Truly Encounter the Risen Christ?
When Jesus revealed himself to them:
Their confusion turned to understanding
Their hopelessness transformed to hope
Their hearts “burned within them”
They rushed to share the good news
They couldn’t keep quiet about what they had experienced
Life Application
This Easter story challenges us to examine our own relationship with Jesus:
Do we recognize Jesus walking beside us in our daily lives?Are we too focused on our problems to see Him?Do we spend time developing a real relationship with Him?Does our encounter with the risen Christ compel us to share the good news?
Questions to reflect on this week:
What “mountains” might be blocking my view of Jesus?How much time do I spend developing my relationship with Christ?Does my life demonstrate evidence of a true encounter with the risen Savior?Am I sharing the good news of Jesus with others?
The challenge this week is to intentionally set aside time each day to walk with Jesus – not just to ask for things, but to develop a genuine relationship through prayer, scripture reading, and quiet reflection.