Beyond the Weekend: Road to Resurrection
The Passion of Jesus defines the events leading up to Easter and is the biggest holiday season celebrated by Christians around the world. The milestones of this season include Jesus’ Triumphal Entry, Good Friday, and Easter. But why do the events of Jesus’ Passion matter? Do they even have significance in our lives today?
In this 3-week series ROAD TO RESURRECTION leading up to Easter, Sr. Pastor Aaron Buer will teach about the biblical and cultural significance of the events of Jesus’ Passion and share the impact of Jesus’ sacrifice for our eternity.
Week 1: Matthew 21:1-11
Week 2: Matthew 27:45-53
Week 3: Luke 24:13-35
We Had Hoped
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
“The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.” Luke 24:20-21
Read: Luke 24:17-24 Listen: Luke 24
TODAY'S MESSAGE
Jesus walks with these two disciples and learns they are downcast about what happened. They even admit they “had hoped” Jesus would redeem Israel. These words capture their heartbreaking disappointment. Psalm 34:18 says “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” This story seems to illustrate this same character quality in Jesus. He would later challenge and teach these two. But here, he walks with, listens to and cares about these disciples as they travel.
Jesus’s interaction with these two reveals something about God’s character. As Psalm 34:18 says, God is close to those who have lost hope and are brokenhearted. It was true in ancient Israel when the Psalm was written, and it was true on the road to Emmaus. It’s still true today in the situations we face. Some of us may have hoped our marriage would improve, we would be out of debt, that test results would be different, or a job would be a good fit. Whatever we are facing, God is with us, close to us and cares for us.
TODAY: Memorize Psalm 34:18 and bring it to mind during the coming days and weeks. May this Psalm remind you of the character of God. He is with you, he is close to you and cares for you.
JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
Read Exodus 4. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Note how Moses represents God to the people, how God hears them and speaks through Moses.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
