Regained Hope

But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

Luke 24:21

How do we regain hope, when the source is gone? We place our hope in many things, do we not? Some of those are good things, and some not so good. Yet all of the things in which we place our hope may be snatched away, and then what? How do we regain hope then? This was the situation of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Christ was gone, never to return, so far as they knew. He was their great hope, ‘We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.’ Instead, they observed His condemnation and crucifixion. In deciding to leave, they in essence, said, ‘There is nothing left to do, we might as well just go home. ‘ In the midst of their despondency, Christ gave them hope. He met them on that discouraging walk, ‘Jesus himself drew near and went with them.’ They did not recognize Him at first, but, He was beside them every step nonetheless. So He does with us. Notice, Christ draws near, and walks with us and shows Himself to us.

Christ does not always reveal Himself to us plainly right away. With these dear ones, He drew Himself alongside them and first offered a few well placed questions, then He fully revealed Himself, by means of the Scriptures. He offers to us the same content to consider. ‘And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.’ Christ preached Christ from the Old Testament. Never allow anyone to rob you of the blessing of seeing Christ in the Scriptures from the beginning to the end. The words of the disciples in the passage express their renewed hope and desire for their Savior, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” As Christ shows Himself to you, your heart will burn, as did theirs. Christ then grants our desire for more of Him. As we seek Him, we shall never be thirsty again.

Another observation in this instance, is Christ’s gracious patience with the disciples. Christ, being mannerly, awaited their invitation and then graciously granted their request. In doing so, Christ waited for their desire for His presence to surface. ‘They urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us…”‘ As a result, He did. Christ does the same with us. ‘Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.’ If you want more of Christ, He will not hold you at arm’s length. The disciples were so excited, they returned to Jerusalem immediately and as they excitedly told the others of what they had seen and heard of Christ, He appeared to confirm their testimony. Christ will also confirm our testimony of our time with Him. Christ has a way of showing others that you have been with Him. See, Saint of God, if He will not do it for you.

Oh God of Grace,
All our hope is in You.
show us Christ,
And renew our hope today.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice