We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Luke 24:21

On the day of Easter, two companions are making a journey away from Jerusalem to a village called Emmaus. It is a sad journey, evidenced in the tone of their thoughts and conversation. They spoke of the things that had taken place in these days. But it is all framed in despair: “we had

hoped….” They did not hope now, now that Jesus was dead. All of this is brought into the light of day by the Stranger who walks with them.

Sometimes we, too, are caught in the sad stories in our reflection of the things that have happened. We may want to move away from them, but the sadness and despair are constant companions. And we may fail to see or to admit how deeply we are affected by it all. But we do not

make our journeys alone. The Stranger, who hears the story of our lives, joins our lives with his. And when our hearts are burning with his promise, we go back to share the joy.

--
 

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:46

The worst nightmare to a young child is being abandoned by his or her parents. It can also be a burden to those whose parents or partner have died or left them later in life. It can be a significant burden for those who have been shut out, shut up behind prison doors or shut in to nursing

homes. Being abandoned is never pleasant. We may try to put up a stiff upper lip, but the nagging despair of forsakenness is still with us in our minds, hearts and bodies.

Jesus faced the harshest scar when he was dying on the cross. He had already been abandoned by those who wanted him crucified. He had already been betrayed and abandoned by his disciples. But now he was abandoned by his Father, the very One whose mission he was

seeking to fulfill. There was no answer from the heavens. But one thing was certain. Jesus was and is still with all of us in every moment of time when we are abandoned—even when the truth of our abandonment is exposed. But as people of the promise, we also know that this will not

be the last word.

--
 

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

for fear of the Jews … John 20:19

We like to put names on the things we fear. We like to blame them for our troubles. We might even make expressions under our breath or out loud that are insensitive to the race, gender, orientation or views of others. We’ve never really taken the time to get to know them. We may even be going

along with the crowd, like those who cried out for our Lord’s crucifixion. And worst of all, we may even think we are justified in being this way.

But we aren’t. We are just dwelling in fear. And the truth is, we may have something truly more fearful that we have never really entertained—the fear of death, even death deserved for all our sins, and for the people we have hurt in thought, word and deed. That would be finally frightful were it not for the word that Jesus speaks: “Peace be with you.” Then he shows his scars to free us from the scars of all our fears and death itself.

--
 

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

The doors of the house … were locked … John 20:19

We do not generally lock doors to keep ourselves in but to keep others out. There are many in our world whom we have locked out because we find them unimportant, uninteresting or offensive to us. We have preconceived notions that they are not to be trusted and convince ourselves so. All of this in the name of “being safe”—and who doesn’t want to be safe? But it is also a clever disguise and denial of our true feelings toward others.

What we are unaware of in all of this is how much we have also become locked in to just ourselves. Our hearts become hardened not only to others, but also to God—whose creatures we and all others are. Brothers and sisters are crying for our help, but that thought never enters

our mind as we turn the bolt. It would be damning were it not that all barriers—even the barriers of our isolated hearts—are no final obstacle to our risen Lord. Watch for the Stranger!

--
 

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,
 

When it was evening on that day … John 20:19

What is it about nightfall that the events of the day—or many days past—come back to us? What is it about these happenings that we cannot so easily dismiss or move beyond? The first disciples remembered how Jesus was arrested, tried, beaten and crucified unto death. The funeral

was over. They remembered his dead body laid in the tomb and thought it was still there, but it wasn’t. Would those who crucified him seek out them next or seek to hold them accountable for his body’s disappearance? These were their evening scars.

What are our evening scars? What are the thoughts that haunt us and makes us toss and turn at night? We often seek to deny them, to put them out of our mind. But have we considered looking at them directly; confessing what it is about them that really troubles us; praying that God will help us in this hour? It was the evening of Easter that the disciples first celebrated in the breaking of bread. God will be present with forgiveness and peace, even as we struggle.

--
 

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Psalm 86:8-13

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.
 

David asks for an "undivided heart". A divided heart can have many forms. There is the insincere heart, in which what is said out loud is not matched by the inner attitude (Psalm 12:1). There is the irresolute heart, which cannot fully commit itself (James 1:6-8). Even hearts regenerated by the Spirit and loving God retain much of their older willful resentment of his authority (Romans 7:15-25). David's goal is not psychological healing for its own sake but to "fear" God - to give him joyful, awe-filled love with his entire being. The way to this new heart is not introspection but deliberate worship. "I will praise you," he says.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Psalm 86:1-7

Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.
 

This is a psalm of King David, and he is surrounded by enemies attacking him. The psalms provide a clinic on how to face life when it seems out of control. David feels solitary, defenseless. He responds by reminding himself over abd over who God is. He most often calls God "Lord," the Hebrew word adonai, meaning "sovereign." David is drilling his own heart to remember that God is in control. Discern how many of your most difficult emotions, bad attitudes, and foolish actions come from losing your grip, at that moment, on who God is.

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,