There were two men...
Illustration
Object:
There were two men walking along. Only one is named, Cleopas, so who was the other? Some speculate that it might have been Luke, who was too humble to give his name. It could have been you or I, if we had lived back then. I remember talking with someone who I didn't recognize, but as we talked I began to see that he or she might be a powerful Christian brother who made my heart burn. Haven't we all met someone like that at one time in our lives?
When I was in a pastor's meeting where we all came from different denominations, I began to recognize some who were powerful Christians. I was attracted to them -- even though they might not have been Lutheran. We developed a bond through our common faith in our Lord. I know that I did not want to stop talking with them and planned to meet with them often. My heart burned as we conversed. I remember one professor who stood out from the others because I felt that Jesus was working in his heart -- whatever he taught. We have to ask God to give us his Spirit so we can recognize genuine Christian brothers and sisters. If we have been a true Christian in our own life, it is easier to recognize a fellow believer. The faith that my folks planted in me helped me to recognize faith in others.
One thing can affect us as it did those disciples, and that is our presuppositions. Do we also assume in our minds that no one can rise from the dead, even if some others tell us they have seen that person? We are trapped by our background, by things we have been taught, by subjects we have studied. Are we trapped by our family traditions, by what we call scientific logic?
And when we are in our own church fellowship, do we recognize Christ when we take the bread and wine at communion? Are we changed after communing? Symbols only take on meaning when we have met the one who is represented in them.
Read the book Life After Life by Moody. He tells about patients who have had an out-of-body experience when they were clinically dead, but remember meeting someone in white who welcomed them.
I had one member who had that happen. Fred said that when he was home alone and had a heart attack, the pain suddenly stopped and he floated up to see Jesus who asked him if he was ready. When he said he wanted to wait until his wife who was in the hospital died, he felt the hands pushing him back to his bed. He survived to bury his wife and marry a friend of theirs. I should add that his heart was also healed. He was a changed man and no longer feared death.
We have Jesus' promise. If we believe him, we no longer need fear death.
When I was in a pastor's meeting where we all came from different denominations, I began to recognize some who were powerful Christians. I was attracted to them -- even though they might not have been Lutheran. We developed a bond through our common faith in our Lord. I know that I did not want to stop talking with them and planned to meet with them often. My heart burned as we conversed. I remember one professor who stood out from the others because I felt that Jesus was working in his heart -- whatever he taught. We have to ask God to give us his Spirit so we can recognize genuine Christian brothers and sisters. If we have been a true Christian in our own life, it is easier to recognize a fellow believer. The faith that my folks planted in me helped me to recognize faith in others.
One thing can affect us as it did those disciples, and that is our presuppositions. Do we also assume in our minds that no one can rise from the dead, even if some others tell us they have seen that person? We are trapped by our background, by things we have been taught, by subjects we have studied. Are we trapped by our family traditions, by what we call scientific logic?
And when we are in our own church fellowship, do we recognize Christ when we take the bread and wine at communion? Are we changed after communing? Symbols only take on meaning when we have met the one who is represented in them.
Read the book Life After Life by Moody. He tells about patients who have had an out-of-body experience when they were clinically dead, but remember meeting someone in white who welcomed them.
I had one member who had that happen. Fred said that when he was home alone and had a heart attack, the pain suddenly stopped and he floated up to see Jesus who asked him if he was ready. When he said he wanted to wait until his wife who was in the hospital died, he felt the hands pushing him back to his bed. He survived to bury his wife and marry a friend of theirs. I should add that his heart was also healed. He was a changed man and no longer feared death.
We have Jesus' promise. If we believe him, we no longer need fear death.
