JESUS EMBODIES THE UNBELIEVABLE

Some notes and thoughts on Luke 24

There was for a time this fall that—after being so adamant for months on returning to Peru—I began to think perhaps God was actually leading me to stay in the states, to not go back. It became really confusing for me, and it felt really difficult to sense the Lord's presence with me through that process of decision-making, which was quite frustrating. Below are some notes I made while reading Luke 24 one day, and I think they are really helpful in remembering who God is and how He does keep His promises, although those promises may not always manifest as we expect. He is so much more capable than what"we can ask, think, or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20):

JESUS EMBODIES THE UNBELIEVABLE:

Some notes and thoughts on Luke 24

Verse 3

"They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."

– Note that they were seeking Jesus

– They were expecting find Him how they already knew Him

– Perhaps Jesus progressively reveals Himself to us in new forms

Verse 4

"While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes."

– “While they were perplexed about this”

– When we don’t find Jesus in the way we expect, it can be confusing

o But these ladies were about to encounter Jesus in the most impressive way yet!

o Note: if we are expecting to encounter Jesus but then feel like we don’t, just hang tight! It’s possible He’s just about to reveal Himself in a new way

§ Granted, it will likely not be in such a drastically new form as this since this is literally the story of the Gospel manifested—but is also encouragement to stay hoping and patient as we continue to wait for God to make Himself known in the daily and seasonal situations we face.

o This speaks to me where I’m at right now, uncertain of how Jesus is making Himself known to my current situations of navigating when to go back to Peru/at this point if I should go back…sigh. I’ve been perplexed. I’ve been confused. I’ve been wondering if the Lord is still here because we to be quite transparent at times it feels like He has left me on my own to figure all this out. How lonely it has felt…But, what does this story show? And what is the verse God has given me since the beginning of this season? “Wait for the Lord. Be courageous, and let your heart be strong. Wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

o So, just hang tight. Stay patient. Ask the Lord to help keep your spirit patient, hopeful, and sure, that if you don’t quite find Him in the current situation, that you will soon enough.

– “Suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes”

– Look at God’s graciousness that is non-reliant on our level of understanding and faith: even in their confusion and disbelief, He still appeared to them

– In their confusion and perhaps disappointment, they were met by something dazzling

o The Gospel is dazzling

Verse 6-8

“He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered His words."

– This was something they had already been told

– They had forgotten

– Once again, God in his graciousness: they are reminded

– "and they remembered His words”

– Lord, if there is something You have already spoken to me that I need to remember, help me to remember

Verse 9-10

"Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things."

– conclusion: Encounter God. Tell others. Repeat.

Verse 11

"But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women."

– “But these words seemed like nonsense to them”

– Sometimes God “don’t make no sense”

o But, He is God, and we are not; remember like how Jesus was not limited to the cavity of a human cadaver (which was how the women presumed they would find him), so He is not limited to our own understanding and expectations

Verse 12

"Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened."

– “When he stopped to look in, he saw only the linen clothes”

– In this case, where Jesus appeared absent where he was expected to be present, He was actually closer than ever before

o Take note of this!! Once you begin to walk with Jesus, from there on He is making Himself more known to you than ever before!!

o Interestingly enough, I was thinking on yesterday how in August/September I had done a prayer fast, and so many of my prayers were requests that God would make Himself more known to me. Yesterday, I was at my ends. Even as I thought on those prayers, I was thinking, “but I don’t feel like I’m knowing God any more; in fact, I feel like I’m understanding Him less.”

o It's hard to look around, to what appears to be His absence in the current circumstance, yet trust and believe that He is actually closer than ever before.

Conclusion: Stay Hopeful. Stay Patient.

God, please make yourself more known to me. Come and do a new work. Which I believe You are doing. But I’m hungry to see it. I’m hungry to enjoy it.