The Messenger, 2004 (1-3. szám)

2004-03-01 / 2. szám

Címplatn'ö Corner by Rev. Dr. Joseph Posta

UNFORGETTABLE ENCOUNTER (Read. LUKE 24:28-52)

When we recite “The Apostle’s Creed” we say of our Lord Jesus,: “On the third day He arose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the father Almighty...”. All of which we very joyfully say and fervently believe, but the truth of the matter is, we leave out a very important truth, which is found in these words from Acts: “To whom the (disciples) He presented Himself a life after His passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days...” Luke has just been telling us about two disciples who had an amazing encounter with the risen Lord as they walked from Jerusalem to the little village Emmaus, where they presumably lived, A lot has been written and said about that Emmaus walk long ago, but not so much about what followed when these same two disciples hurried back to Jerusalem to share their joy with the others who were fearfully in a hidden room somewhere in the city. We get the idea from reading John’s account of this same incident, that the doors were shut, locked and barricaded for fear of the Jews, and what they might try to do to these disciples of Jesus. The two from Emmaus obviously knew where the others were hiding and so went straight there to tell of their incredible encounter with the Lord. But before they could tell their wondrous tale, they were greeted with these words,: The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared unto Simon. Then they began to relate what had happened to them on the road, and how the Lord had revealed Himself at their evening meal. Can’t we just sense the excitement and hear the many voices as they spoke and interrupted one another, as each one wanted to tell his part of the story? Suddenly in the midst of their excited spirit, Jesus was there, right among them. The doors were shut and locked, no one had seen Him enter, but He was there, speaking the old familiar greeting which from now on would have a new and glorious richness and meaning: SHALOM, which we translate, Peace to vou! But at the moment, the greeting of peace terrified them and frightened them. They thought they were seeing a ghost. What a Moment! What an Experience! Don’t you wish you could have been there at just that time? But you may receive the same three wonderful gifts He gave them there. For what He gave his disciples in that upper room on Easter evening He also gives to you, and if you will accept these gifts, you will discover they are precious and wonderful above any gift. What are these priceless gifts?

Christ gave them the gift of Assurance. I would suggest to you that if you could just be sure that Christ really did rise from the dead, that He is alive at the Father’s right hand praying for you, and that He is coming again in power and glory to judge and rule the earth, your life would be filled with peace, joy, hope and the deepest possible meaning. Jesus offered them a four-fold proof that He was really and fully alive. Then He invited them to confirm what their eyes could see by saying: “Handle me and see, a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” So powerful was the experience that 50 or more years later when John wrote his short little letter we call I. John, he still remembered touching the risen Christ that night and said of Him: “That which we have seen and heard and handled declare unto you...” Will you accept His proofs? Will you share the joy of the Emmaus two, and the others who met that night so long ago?

Christ gave them a clear understanding of what the Bible really means. He reminded them of His previous teaching before His death on the cross. “That all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, Prophets and Psalms concerning Me.”

Christ finally gave them a great promise and a great task. The message is clear. Christ suffered and died, and was raised again, so that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in His name to all nations. Certainly it is a message of love. But that message of love must include at its very core, repentance and remission of sin, or it lacks the depth and the convincing power of the Holy Spirit to truly change lives. They were eye witnesses to the great truth of Christ and His salvation. Their eye witness has been passed on to us, and we have learned by real and glorious personal experience that the message is true. Now we are heart witnesses to these same wonderful truths - Christ, in His birth, life, teaching, death and resurrection fulfills the revelation of God’s plan of salvation. This now is our message, and our task in this year of our Lord 2004 before Easter to make this known to our brothers and sisters who read The Bethlen Home Messenger’s news.

HAVE A BLESSED EASTER CELEBRATION!

Rev. Dr. Joseph Posta, Chaplain