(Outline: Jesus was resurrected). Preach. Introduction: The resurrection is the foundation of our faith, Christ was resurrected and is at the right hand of the Father and will return for his church, and the Bible also says “we will be with the Lord forever”.
Many difficult situations can make the believer think that God has forsaken him, but in reality the heavenly Father never took his eyes off Jesus, in the same way God never neglects any of his children. Jesus is alive he rose…
The reality was that Jesus had died, he was no longer with them and this had saddened and discouraged all the disciples. It is very interesting to see that Jesus was walking with them, but they could not see him as such. They had forgotten the promises of the resurrection that the Lord himself had made to them.
Note: They take for granted that everything has been a failure, with thoughts like: “we hoped… we believed that he was the redeemer of Israel”, “we had hope but…” and three days have passed and nothing has happened, discouragement appears when time passes and the results we expected do not occur.
Discouragement is the result of a crisis of faith, where it has not won. It is necessary to remember that the cross precedes the glory, verse 26 (a principle that was difficult for the disciples to understand).
Note:
The devotional life strengthens us in the face of crises of faith, it gives us victory when our faith is tested, they had forgotten what the Scripture said, they had forgotten what Jesus had told them. Discouragement produces biblical amnesia in the Christian, because he forgets the promises of God; and we see the Master’s patience in teaching his truths to his disciples.
We see God in this continuous work, seeking man from the beginning. We see God looking for Adam, looking for Cain, Abraham, Israel, Jesus descends looking for the sinner, here Jesus approaching his discouraged disciples and “walked with them”, and he calls us every day to walk with him.
Jesus wants to walk with us, as Enoch walked with God, and God was so pleased with Enoch’s company that the Bible says: “So Enoch walked with God, and disappeared, because God took him.” Gen 5:24. God help us to long to walk with him, as he longs to walk with us.
Note: Faced with Jesus’ questions, they tell him the reasons for their sadness and disappointment, and he patiently listens, this is essential to restore the strength of the heart.
“rising up at the same hour…” beginning the night they traveled back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that they had seen Jesus. Imagine how they told it.
Their hope had been reborn, the Jesus movement had not ended, only a new stage had begun, now the church of Christ would be born on earth and they would be God’s instruments to bring the gospel of the Kingdom throughout the known world.