Gregg DeMey 0:09
Good morning and welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the Word of God. This is Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor at the church and it's Thursday, April 4. It's the season of Easter and we are walking the Emmaus road with Jesus. Our Scripture today is a single verse: Luke 24, verse 25.
Gregg DeMey 0:27
Jesus said to the two men walking on the road to Emmaus, "How foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken."
Gregg DeMey 0:37
Sometimes I wish that there were tone of voice comments or stage directions in the Bible. If you just take these words from Jesus in black and white, "how foolish you are and how slow to believe..." they sound kind of rude. But, it's Easter evening and I can't imagine that Jesus has anything but absolute joy in his being as he says this to these two walkers struggling to make sense of his suffering death. And now, the surprising reports of an empty tomb, these words, "how foolish you are and slow to believe." An appropriate response to hearing this would be, "We're foolish? What are we missing? Connect the dots for us, please!"
Gregg DeMey 1:29
How many times has Jesus (through His Holy Spirit) come to you or me over the course of our lives and whispered, "Oh, how foolish you're being right now." How beneficial or blessed if we could humbly respond in those moments? "While I'm probably being a fool right now, Lord - show me what I am missing. Connect the dots for me." And how many times over the course of your life has the Holy Spirit gently poked at us or prodded us with a message like, "You're being a little slow to believe right now. Might it be possible for us to work together to move forward in the faith department?" And how beneficial (and blessed) the times that we can humbly respond to those promptings from the spirit. "Oh, Lord, help my unbelief. Increase my faith, shine the light of knowledge and truth on my little mind and heart." There's nothing in Jesus that is seeking to belittle these two confused disciples. Rather, with some Glee, I believe he pokes at them to elicit a genuine response - curiosity, humility - so that he can meet them right where they are.
Gregg DeMey 2:43
Let's pray. Lord Jesus, if you desire that I would be more curious and humble about your resurrection in your coming kingdom, that's right where I want to be. Lord, as we open your word and read about what you did and said after Easter, help connect the dots for us too. Shine your light in our minds and hearts for your glory, amen.