Because He Died, We Truly Live

04/02/22 – 04/13/22

The Truth Confirmed

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/09/22

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were hopeless and depressed. Even though they had heard reports of the empty tomb, in their minds the Messiah was not supposed to suffer and die—He was supposed to conquer Israel’s enemies and set up a political kingdom for God. But now, Jesus was dead. They were downcast and heartbroken.

Read Luke 24:13-35. When these two disciples encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus, they did not recognize Him and shared the reason for their sorrow as they might have with any friendly stranger. But Jesus lost no time in rebuking their false assumptions: “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).

The resurrected Jesus challenges our false assumptions, too. Without the resurrection, Jesus is just a martyr, a moral teacher, a dead hero—or worse, a liar. The resurrection of Jesus challenges the common false beliefs of our culture—that all religions are true and equal and any attempt at morality will earn you a seat in heaven.

Once they recognized the resurrected Jesus, these two discouraged, depressed, and disappointed disciples moved from fear to courage, from pain to power, from hopelessness to eternal hope, and from depression to mission. The evidence was conclusive: The same Jesus who had bled to death on the cross before their very eyes was talking to them and standing in front of them, alive and well.

They immediately got up—it was dark outside, the day was done, the road back to Jerusalem was dangerous—but they had a mission. Fear had gone and courage had taken over. Why? The Truth had been confirmed. They wanted to share the Good News: Jesus was alive. He had risen from the dead. Indeed, God had fulfilled His promise to Israel for the blessing of the whole world.

Prayer: Lord, please reveal any false assumptions I have about You. Help me see You as You really are—and help me to boldly and unashamedly share that Truth with others. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).