In continuing the Authentic People series last Sunday, April 22, Associate Pastor Daniel Thueson gave a message on "hope". The notes that you will read are taken from Pastor Daniel's message and many quotes are his.
The passage of scripture that was presented was Luke 24:13-35. Jesus' tomb had been found empty that morning with the stone rolled away. The news had spread from the women finding the empty tomb, to the disciples of Jesus. Verse 13 says that "two of them", meaning two disciples, were going to a village called Emmaus, just a few miles from Jerusalem. While they were walking they were talking and discussing everything that had happened with Jesus concerning his death and then his body not being found in the tomb. The two disciples had hoped Jesus was the one that would save them from the oppression of Rome.They had put their hope in him only to watch him be crucified: a death that they only did to those they wanted to make an example of.
Not recognizing that this man walking beside them was Jesus, He began to tell them starting with Creation down through to the prophets of the sufferings of Christ that were foretold, and a fulfillment of the scriptures. Arriving at Emmaus, the disciples in their sorrow and weak faith, asked the stranger to stay with them and break bread. As they sat down at the table, Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks for it. He gave it to them and that is when they realized who he was. He then vanished from their sight and they got up and went back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that He HAD risen indeed!
The sadness that the two disciples felt on the road to Emmaus was gone... Jesus' resurrection was the beginning of the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:16-18) which brings about HOPE.
What are you putting your hope in today? Are you walking along the road to Emmaus being sad and weak in your faith, not realizing that Jesus is right beside you - every step of the way.... waiting for you to put your hope and trust completely in Him?
Pastor Daniel quoted this next scripture and then gave us some great insight to it. It really stuck with me as this is a favorite scripture of mine and now it means even more to me.
Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". The word prosper here in the Hebrew is actually "shalom" which we all know to mean peace. However, in this context, it goes much deeper than that. Here the word prosper means encompassing the entire range of well being. To expound more on that it means this:
Having peace between us and others,
Having peace between us and creation
Having peace between us and ourselves
Having peace between us and God
That is the plan God has for each of us! Total and complete peace.
God has given us love and hope for our path, our road to Emmaus. All we have to do is ask for Him to remove the stones that stand between Him and us. And then, continue to ask Him... every day.
We as the body of Christ can help others remove their stones by sharing our hope in knowing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
So, I ask you again: what is your hope truly in?
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