REFLECTIONS

Journey to the Cross—Telling the Story

    They watched in awe while Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives. So entranced by the sight, two men dressed in white joined them unnoticed. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

With that they dropped their eyes and gathered themselves to return pensively to Jerusalem and the upper room where they were staying. Events of the week passed through their minds along the way. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, the supper they shared, Jesus prayer in the garden and his arrest there. Joy by his resurrection and appearances to them over the forty following days blocked their minds from his excruciating death they witnessed.

Back in the room where they were staying, Mary the mother of Jesus, his brothers, and others joined them in prayer. They reflected on Jesus’ final instruction: “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Those parting words might have rekindled Cleopas’ story of the walk to Emmaus with his companion. [They] were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” (Luke 24:14-17)

Along their walk, they told about Jesus, not knowing who they were telling it to. They told the story as part of their own—how they found Jesus, followed him, learned from him, found hope in him only to watch him die on the cross “And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.” (Luke 24:21-23) He has risen. He lives!

Seems like a simple way of telling the story—as personal witnesses with stories from our own “Emmaus“ walks through this world! Only, we know what the Emmaus walkers didn’t.

Jesus is walking with us.

 You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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