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12 January 2008
Word on the Web
This week, Word on the Web brings you stories of hope from the Bible. We are also encouraging you to log onto Church Army's Bringing Hope, Living Hope appeal website, to submit your own stories of hope about yourselves and others you know and to read what others have written.
Cleopas - Luke 24:13-27
That same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a town named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking about everything that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and began walking with them, but they were kept from recognizing him. Then he said, "What are these things you are talking about while you walk?"
The two followers stopped, looking very sad. The one named Cleopas answered, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what just happened there?"
Jesus said to them, "What are you talking about?"
They said, "About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet who said and did many powerful things before God and all the people. Our leaders and the leading priests handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he would free Israel. Besides this, it is now the third day since this happened. And today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb, but they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said that Jesus was alive! So some of our group went to the tomb, too. They found it just as the women said, but they did not see Jesus."
Then Jesus said to them, "You are foolish and slow to believe everything the prophets said. They said that the Christ must suffer these things before he enters his glory." Then starting with what Moses and all the prophets had said about him, Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures.
They came near the town of Emmaus, and Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they begged him, "Stay with us, because it is late; it is almost night." So he went in to stay with them.
When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them. And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. They said to each other, "It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us."
So the two followers got up at once and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven apostles and others gathered. They were saying, "The Lord really has risen from the dead! He showed himself to Simon."
Everything was hopeless. All their dreams were shattered. Just when they'd seemed about to be fulfilled.
The man and his wife walked home disconsolately. Why had God allowed it? They hadn't noticed the stranger till he drew alongside and asked them why they looked so sad. Hadn't he heard? Clearly not. It was a comfort to tell him all about it. Even the hysterical rumours about his ghost talking to Mary that morning.
He obviously knew his bible well. They listened in amazement as he reminded them of scripture after scripture which chimed with everything Jesus had said to them. It made sense. But ......
They'd reached the turning for their village, and the stranger was going on. It was getting late, so they pressed him to stop with them. They wanted to hear more.
They looked at each other in amazement. The bread was lying there, broken - they couldn't have been dreaming! But he'd vanished! How could they have failed to recognise him? They grabbed their coats and hurried back to the city to tell their friends the good news.
Lord Jesus, hope of the hopeless, draw alongside us when we are desperate, and give us the faith to trust you. Amen
Written by James Archer
Word on the Web
This week, Word on the Web brings you stories of hope from the Bible. We are also encouraging you to log onto Church Army's Bringing Hope, Living Hope appeal website, to submit your own stories of hope about yourselves and others you know and to read what others have written.
Cleopas - Luke 24:13-27
That same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a town named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking about everything that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and began walking with them, but they were kept from recognizing him. Then he said, "What are these things you are talking about while you walk?"
The two followers stopped, looking very sad. The one named Cleopas answered, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what just happened there?"
Jesus said to them, "What are you talking about?"
They said, "About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet who said and did many powerful things before God and all the people. Our leaders and the leading priests handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he would free Israel. Besides this, it is now the third day since this happened. And today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb, but they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said that Jesus was alive! So some of our group went to the tomb, too. They found it just as the women said, but they did not see Jesus."
Then Jesus said to them, "You are foolish and slow to believe everything the prophets said. They said that the Christ must suffer these things before he enters his glory." Then starting with what Moses and all the prophets had said about him, Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures.
They came near the town of Emmaus, and Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they begged him, "Stay with us, because it is late; it is almost night." So he went in to stay with them.
When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them. And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. They said to each other, "It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us."
So the two followers got up at once and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven apostles and others gathered. They were saying, "The Lord really has risen from the dead! He showed himself to Simon."
Everything was hopeless. All their dreams were shattered. Just when they'd seemed about to be fulfilled.
The man and his wife walked home disconsolately. Why had God allowed it? They hadn't noticed the stranger till he drew alongside and asked them why they looked so sad. Hadn't he heard? Clearly not. It was a comfort to tell him all about it. Even the hysterical rumours about his ghost talking to Mary that morning.
He obviously knew his bible well. They listened in amazement as he reminded them of scripture after scripture which chimed with everything Jesus had said to them. It made sense. But ......
They'd reached the turning for their village, and the stranger was going on. It was getting late, so they pressed him to stop with them. They wanted to hear more.
They looked at each other in amazement. The bread was lying there, broken - they couldn't have been dreaming! But he'd vanished! How could they have failed to recognise him? They grabbed their coats and hurried back to the city to tell their friends the good news.
Lord Jesus, hope of the hopeless, draw alongside us when we are desperate, and give us the faith to trust you. Amen
Written by James Archer
