As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we want to declare that Jesus is alive! Hallelujah!
Let's go all the way to Luke 24 now.
On the third day after Jesus was crucified and buried, very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus.
As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day."
It was then that these women remembered what Jesus had said before.
They then rushed back to tell the disciples of Jesus what had happened. But the disciples didn't believe them. However, Peter ran straight to Jesus' tomb to check it out himself. True enough, Jesus wasn't there anymore.
That same day, two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along, they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus suddenly came and began walking with them. They didn't realize it was Jesus walking with them.
Then Jesus asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?" Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days."
You see, they were talking about what had happened to Jesus, and how the priests and the religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy, and handed Jesus over to be crucified.
Jesus then said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?" Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
By the time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey, they begged Jesus, "Stay the night with us, since it is getting late." So He went home with them. As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him!
The moment Jesus broke the bread and gave the bread to them, that was when their spiritual eyes were opened. This is a 'picture' of His body broken and His blood shed for you on the cross to set you free. Free from whatever bondage that the world has bound you. Free from whatever bondage that the devil has bound you.
So beloved of God, never lose focus on what Jesus has done for you on the cross. Keep looking to Him, the Author and the Finisher of your faith. He died, He rose again on the third day, and He is now sitting in the heavenly places together with God the Father.
The two from Emmaus then told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized Him as He was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus suddenly stood among all of them!
Jesus then opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.' You are witnesses of all these things."
Beloved of God, this message is still being preached today, bringing hope to many lives all over the world. Hallelujah!
In cross-reference, Ephesians 1:17-18 says, '...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints... '
What exactly is the meaning of 'the eyes of your understanding being enlightened'? It can be translated as 'the eyes of your heart being enlightened', or it can be translated as 'your spiritual eyes being enlightened'.
Let's refer back to the two who were walking to the village of Emmaus. Their spiritual eyes were opened. The eyes of their hearts were opened. They began to see what Jesus wanted them to see. They began to understand what Jesus wanted them to understand.
So it is the same with us as believers of Christ today. He is opening our spiritual eyes right now. He is enlightening the eyes of our understanding to see what He wants us to see, and to understand the many things that He wants us to understand; the things that the world can never understand.
Let us pray:
"O Lord God, we thank You for the revelation of who You are in our lives. Let our spiritual eyes be continuously opened to see the many things that You want us to see. We have this assurance inside of us that You are the Lord, the One who is above all principalities and powers in the spiritual realm and in the physical realm. We have this revelation that we are strong in the power of Your might. Therefore, we do not fear, and we will not be affected, whatever happens in this world. Because we know we can always look to You and count on You. Our hope is in You. Our life is in You. All that we need in life is found in You. Amen."
