Recognizing Jesus - Part III
What is it in us that insists on being able to figure out every step of this journey called life? Is it pride? Is it a desire to always be in control? Or is it simply a lack of faith? We spend so much time trying to take the raw data of our lives, crunch the numbers, and project out a determined end with our best interests in mind. After all, we think we KNOW best right? And we also think we know the heart of God. So therefore, we should be able to easily calculate His next steps and comprehend how He is bending the laws of the universe to satisfy our every desire. (It's okay to smile ... we've all been there before!) But what happens when the events and circumstances surrounding us don't make sense to us? How does that effect our focus, and our understanding of God?
As you read about the "Heroes of Faith" in the bible, it seems like they never had it all figured out. In fact, it seems like God often left them in the dark about the circumstances surrounding them so they would focus on the relationship and not predetermined results. (If this is true, it sure makes "altar calls" at the end of church services a much tougher endeavor than ever before! This doesn't sound half as good as "Accept Jesus and life will be GREAT!) But buried in this thought is a key to recognizing Jesus. Let's join the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.
Although they don't recognize Him, Jesus has just joined them on their 7 mile walk. He asks them what they are discussing. The bible tells us that at that point, they stood still ... "looking sad!" To which they responded, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" (Translation - "What you talkin' bout Willis?" or "What rock did you just crawl out from under?" or "Haven't you been watching the news?" or even "Wake up pal ... everything is falling apart around us?" And Jesus says, I believe with a slight smirk, "What things?" (STOP!!! That's a great line!) They were talking about His recent arrest and death. But catch this ... He was asking them to clarify the lens from which they viewed the circumstances surrounding them. I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE! I've sensed God asking me to vocalize my understanding of the things around me, only to discover the smallness in my way of thinking in light of the greatness of His SOVEREIGNTY! (More on that later!)
So the bible goes on to say that the two men began to tell Jesus of all that happened "TO HIM" through the lens of "their understanding." And in verse 21, they said something truly revealing. "But we had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel." Those four words are extremely powerful! At one time or another, we have all said them in moments of complete discouragement ... BUT WE HAD HOPED!" We had hoped:
That's where these two disciples are when Jesus finds them. Many people make it to this place in life and NEVER MOVE BEYOND IT! They survey the circumstances of their life, draw up in their own wisdom a REASONABLE purpose for the pain, script a solution to problem and expect God to do what they think He should do. But when their solution never comes ... game over. And they quit. They take their toys and go home! But God, in His infinite wisdom and never-ending love comes alongside to help. But the way to healing is often back into the pain of the disappointment. Why? Because healing can only come when we see things through His perspective, not ours. And good news for the two disciples ... Jesus is about to do just that!
So where are you in all this? Do you find yourself still struggling with unmet expectations on God? Are you still trying to figure out the WHYS of your past at the expense of your present and possibly your future? Good news ... you can give up now. Quite trying to make it all make sense and learn to rest in the Father. Rest in the fact that God is bigger than your circumstances and, while you don't understand, He does. And while no one else seems to understand, He does. This is the pure essence of faith. If you're humble enough to ask for His help, and if you have enough faith to trust Him, He can pull you out of your circumstances, and give you a God-sized perspective of what is really going on. A perspective that magnifies His LOVE in light of eternity and minimizes the PAIN in light of the temporary. And that's when Jesus comes into view. The real Jesus. The Jesus that still bears the nail scars in His wrists and the scar in His side. He's knows what it feels like to endure pain in the present looking towards a glorious reward in the future. After all, when the cross was directly in front of Him, He saw you beyond it. And Jesus left us the road map to healing in Matthew 26:39, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You (God the Father) will."
As you read about the "Heroes of Faith" in the bible, it seems like they never had it all figured out. In fact, it seems like God often left them in the dark about the circumstances surrounding them so they would focus on the relationship and not predetermined results. (If this is true, it sure makes "altar calls" at the end of church services a much tougher endeavor than ever before! This doesn't sound half as good as "Accept Jesus and life will be GREAT!) But buried in this thought is a key to recognizing Jesus. Let's join the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.
Although they don't recognize Him, Jesus has just joined them on their 7 mile walk. He asks them what they are discussing. The bible tells us that at that point, they stood still ... "looking sad!" To which they responded, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" (Translation - "What you talkin' bout Willis?" or "What rock did you just crawl out from under?" or "Haven't you been watching the news?" or even "Wake up pal ... everything is falling apart around us?" And Jesus says, I believe with a slight smirk, "What things?" (STOP!!! That's a great line!) They were talking about His recent arrest and death. But catch this ... He was asking them to clarify the lens from which they viewed the circumstances surrounding them. I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE! I've sensed God asking me to vocalize my understanding of the things around me, only to discover the smallness in my way of thinking in light of the greatness of His SOVEREIGNTY! (More on that later!)
So the bible goes on to say that the two men began to tell Jesus of all that happened "TO HIM" through the lens of "their understanding." And in verse 21, they said something truly revealing. "But we had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel." Those four words are extremely powerful! At one time or another, we have all said them in moments of complete discouragement ... BUT WE HAD HOPED!" We had hoped:
- ... that the doctor's report would have come back negative!
- ... that this time things would have turned out different!
- ... that this would have been my big break!
- ... that this relationship would have been the one I've always dreamed of!
- ... that they would have chosen me over the other candidate for the job!
- ... that I could have finally _______________! (you fill in the blank)
That's where these two disciples are when Jesus finds them. Many people make it to this place in life and NEVER MOVE BEYOND IT! They survey the circumstances of their life, draw up in their own wisdom a REASONABLE purpose for the pain, script a solution to problem and expect God to do what they think He should do. But when their solution never comes ... game over. And they quit. They take their toys and go home! But God, in His infinite wisdom and never-ending love comes alongside to help. But the way to healing is often back into the pain of the disappointment. Why? Because healing can only come when we see things through His perspective, not ours. And good news for the two disciples ... Jesus is about to do just that!
So where are you in all this? Do you find yourself still struggling with unmet expectations on God? Are you still trying to figure out the WHYS of your past at the expense of your present and possibly your future? Good news ... you can give up now. Quite trying to make it all make sense and learn to rest in the Father. Rest in the fact that God is bigger than your circumstances and, while you don't understand, He does. And while no one else seems to understand, He does. This is the pure essence of faith. If you're humble enough to ask for His help, and if you have enough faith to trust Him, He can pull you out of your circumstances, and give you a God-sized perspective of what is really going on. A perspective that magnifies His LOVE in light of eternity and minimizes the PAIN in light of the temporary. And that's when Jesus comes into view. The real Jesus. The Jesus that still bears the nail scars in His wrists and the scar in His side. He's knows what it feels like to endure pain in the present looking towards a glorious reward in the future. After all, when the cross was directly in front of Him, He saw you beyond it. And Jesus left us the road map to healing in Matthew 26:39, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You (God the Father) will."
To be continued ...
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