Scripture Passage
(Paul Harvey, Of Course)
Scripture Focus“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.” (Luke 24:22-24 NLT)
Observation
The honest truth is, before I sat down to write this morning, it became clear this was one of those mornings where nothing was going to go right—where nothing was going to please me and where my negative reaction to my circumstances was going to be totally disproportionate to whatever obstacle I bumped into. I know you never have days like that, but sometimes I do.
And I knew, of course, that today I’d be reading of the post-resurrection appearances of Christ. Scripture's most victorious verses were meeting head-to-head with my bad attitude. Do *you* ever hate it when you’re wrong about something, someone (Someone) else is right about that something, and you know you’re going to have to admit it? That was my status before I ever opened up the Scriptures today.
That’s why I take some special, ironic joy in the story of Jesus’ conversation with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. I love how they think this stranger must be “the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days” (Luke 24:18 NLT). And I love the story as they retell it—particularly for what’s missing!
These disciples tell about the visit of the women to the tomb, and about their “amazing report” (Luke 24:22 NLT)—that the body was missing but that angels had announced Jesus’ resurrection. Then they declare that “some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said,” (Luke 24:24 NLT)—but there they stop!
The information they had was more complete than what they gave! What they knew about the story didn’t stop with the missing body, but rather with the angelic declaration of Jesus’ resurrection. But they stopped their story short!
So do I—all the time. When there’s something stuck in my craw that makes everything worse than it is…when I refuse to see past this moment to what God is doing in the big picture (even if I can’t see what it is)…I’m just like these two disciples who refuse to see past what they see to what heaven itself announces—“He is risen!”
Graciously, Jesus opens their eyes and they recognize the Christ. “Jesus, open my eyes…let me recognize You today!”
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