The Necessary Journey
Wednesday’s Verses:
From Luke 24:25-26 ESV
“And(Jesus) said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’”
These men were heading to Emmaus to fact-check. Like we do anytime a narrative goes sideways. They had their when (the third day), their who (the women at the tomb), and their…breaking news bulletin…the big “lead” on why (could this finally be the One to rescue Israel?). But that lead had just been crucified.
To them, it was a tragedy. The story failed. Miserably.
What they wanted was a Jesus with transporter technology–a Messiah who would beam in, make the Romans pack their bags, and figure out global logistics overnight.
Jesus doesn’t appear to them out of thin air. First, He patiently walks them through the story–and guess what? He doesn’t suddenly proclaim, “Hey! It’s Me!” Luther called this catechizing them. Bringing them back to the story archives (aka Moses & the Prophets), and rewiring their “why.”
We Lutherans love our distinctions between a Theology of the Cross vs. a Theology of Glory. Christ’s disciples wanted the Glory upfront (the victory, the crown, the lack of a tomb). But He drew them into the Heavenly calculus: There was no miracle workaround. The Cross was part of God’s plan because it had to be that way. It had to happen so that a quiet miracle wouldn’t erase sin.
It had to happen so that the “Word made flesh” could be broken so that we could be made whole. It happened so that we would die spiritually once, so that death wouldn’t have any locked doors to keep us captive anymore.
He disappears as soon as they know it’s Him. Boom. Done. But why? So that we would know where to find Him now. We don’t need to travel Route 9 looking for Jesus riding a Harley. We don’t need to scan the E train platform at Spring Street for Jesus holding an old Life magazine.
We will find Him because He said we would. Right where two or more are gathered: in the Word and in the Breaking of Bread. He beams Himself right out of their sight so that we’d never look to shifting shadows of pietistic religious freaks looking for Him physically on this earth again. But would SEEK Him as the Risen Lord present in Glory every time we gather around the Table.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, sometimes our hearts are heavy, and the gospel feels more tragic than good news. Meet us on our road to Emmaus. Guide us to open our Bibles so that our hearts can burn. Remind us that You had to suffer so that we could have peace. And because You conquered death once and for all, no door has the power to keep us locked up again. Not even death itself. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
The photo above is licensed through Unsplash+