“Then
beginning with Moses and all the prophets, Jesus interpreted to them the things
about himself in all the scriptures.”
~Luke 24:27 (NRSV)
On two separate occasions in Luke
24 we find Jesus expounding the history of God and the significance of his
resurrection in the expanse of Knowledge. He is helping the disciples
understand the context of his resurrection—the most momentous event in history
making all the bad history right again through grace. He is making as plain as
possible the ideas of redemption and they have come to pass that very day.
Not only has he died for their
sin, he’s been raised again to new life that they might, too, enjoy the
fullness of redemption back to the Father.
Revelations On The Walk To Emmaus
As with us, when God silently
accompanies us, Jesus walks with two men who are travelling to Emmaus, about
seven miles from Jerusalem.
They don’t notice him immediately. When they do, because he enquires about
their discussion, they explain the drama of previous days concluding with a
recollection of the resurrection.
Jesus then presses the fast
forward button and brings them to an abrupt understanding of who he is and the
significance of all these events.
The completion of all the
prophesied events of the Incarnation is, at this point, coming to a rapid
conclusion; only Pentecost stands at a relative distance—the receipt in the
disciples of the Holy Spirit. Humanity has now been reconciled in the
much-prophesied redemptive act. From the inception of creation, through the
fall, and through the history of Israel, all of this has relevance,
now, in the crucifixion and resurrection.
How The Truth Is Made Plain To Us Today
We have the biblical Word, today,
in which to believe regarding the truth. We who believe God believe the Bible
that Jesus proclaimed as inerrant. Everything in it, by faith, we accept as
truth. We can do this because the Pentateuch, history, wisdom and prophets are
respectfully authenticated within the New Testament.
And the subject of faith is where
truth is most cogent. We’re approved by God by our faith: 1) to accept the
chronicled truth; and, 2) to act in accord with the morality of that truth. By
faith we trust God, taking him at his Word.
The resurrection of Jesus, as a
truthful event in the history of creation, is linked with the crucifixion. One
doesn’t occur without need of the other. One proves that new life stands
forward of an old life ruined by sin.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
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