…we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel (Luke 24:21)
In Luke 24, after the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Christ, two of his disciples were on a journey and in that journey, the Scripture records they were lamenting the death of Christ. The reason has been that it went against their expectations and hopes. As a nation under Roman rule, they were expecting a political Messiah. Indeed as Jews, they were expecting a Messiah, albeit, a political Messia. because it went against their hopes. This expectation indeed was overarching in the national life of the Jews and apart from Luke 24:21, we see it manifesting in Acts 1:6. “…when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
These disciples on the road to Emmaus make us understand in narrating their story, that they had made their hopes the plan of God. They had as it were, imposed their will upon God’s will. And that hope was shattered (v.17).
These disciples, in their experience point to what is common to many believers. We often see our wishes as God’s will for our lives and get disappointed when those wishes are not fulfilled. What Christ does to bring their hopes in line with God’s will concerning his death was to take them through Scripture and explain the events to them (vv.27; 44). After this great exposition of Scripture, their hearts were warmed (perhaps a sense of peace) and they understood Scripture.
What we need today more than anything is to see God’s plan of salvation provided in Christ. Christ is not given for the realisation of our hopes and desires. Christ is given that he will save and gather a people to himself. This realisation will indeed bring us to hope to face all that life brings our way.
Amen!
Grace and Truth 