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“…but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.”
-Luke 24:21-
(Read Luke 24:13-35)
Saturday afternoon we attended my son Kaden’s high school track meet in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The meet had gone well, Eagle Valley High School was winning races, jumps, and throws. The last race of the day was the 4x400-meter relay race. It is a tough race of speed, endurance, courage, and heart. For 400 meters, one lap around the track, each athlete gives everything they have to help their team succeed. The Eagle Valley team is one of the best in the state of Colorado, and the four runners were warmed up, stretched out, and ready.
The gun went BANG, the runners launched into full stride, and the crowd cheered on their favorite school. Eagle Valley was doing well, it was a tight race as the first runner completed his lap and handed off the shimmering baton to Jonathan, the runner in second position, but tragedy struck. Jonathan fell hard, really hard onto the rubber track. The crowd gasped as the other schools ran ahead. For Eagle Valley, it appeared as though the top team was done. It was the last race of the day; it was time to go home.
That must have been how the followers of Jesus felt as they were walking home from Jerusalem. It had been an indescribable Passover festival, one like no other. They thought Jesus was the Messiah, but he was crucified and now he was dead, his body was gone and so was their hope. St. Luke tells us their faces were “downtrodden.” The two devoted men were walking home sad. Just a week earlier their hearts were filled with so much joy and peace, but now they were consumed with grief. So they walked home gloomy because they didn’t know the rest of the story.
Along came Jesus, (yes the crucified and Risen Lord), who walked up next to them. They didn’t know who he was at first, but later Jesus revealed who he was, not just in his words, but in the sacrament.
“How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
- Luke 24:26-27
Jesus reveals who he is in his Word, then later at their home breaks bread just as he had done days earlier - they knew it was him! The once downcast men, now quickly return to Jerusalem filled with joy because they know the rest of the story.
In life, we don’t always know the whole story, but we do know what God promises. He promises forgiveness, grace, and hope in the most desperate of times. Jesus told the disciples he would suffer and die, and be raised to life again. In fact, when we are “downtrodden” our loving Lord comes up close and reveals himself in His Word and His Supper, and we too are filled with joy.
Oh my, I forgot to tell you how the race ended! I think it is important for you to hear the rest of the story…
After tripping and falling, Jonathan refused to be done- in fact, he ran faster than ever! With all his strength, courage, and might he ran around the massive oval passing one runner, then another, and another! A stranger standing next to me said, “I can’t believe what I am seeing!” Jonathan ran so fast when he handed that shimmering baton to the third runner, his team was in second place! After witnessing such a heroic run, the final two runners of the relay had no choice but to win. As the final runner crossed the finish line, the crowd roared as the athletes gasped for precious oxygen to feed their exhausted bodies. Eagle Valley High School won that race and their team went on to win the trophy for the entire track meet! If you went home too early you missed the rest of the race- you missed something special.
I know at times, you think all is lost. Like the men on the road, we forget that our Lord promised trouble in this world. May I encourage you today to wait for the rest of the story? Christ is still Risen and death’s stinger has been broken off. Jesus did not crawl back into the tomb …. the tomb is still empty! May the joy of your salvation in Jesus snuggle in your heart again this Wednesday. He will come again and soon we all know the rest of the story. Rejoice your Savior is Risen!
See you Sunday as we walk the Road to Emmaus and continue our series The Tomb is Still Empty. I can’t wait!
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