Luke 24:17-24
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
What’s going on here, surely Jesus knows what they’re talking about? Why the stealth mode, is he trying to catch the disciples out like some spiritual mystery shopper? That doesn’t feel like Jesus to me. I wonder if he’s simply doing what he has done all along, being a mentor to them, training them for the work to come. Think back to how often he’s taught them and got them trying things out. Perhaps he’s giving them a chance to tell their story to a friendly pair of ears to give them confidence and practice for telling others who want to know what they believe and are doing.
Jesus is the same today as he was then. Perhaps in prayer today try telling him your story of faith, thanking him as you do so, a rehearsal for telling others later.
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