Resurrection of Reason

Tuesday, March 18 2008 @ 01:46 PM PDT

God's resurrection is symbolic of His deep longing for us to awaken to reason and rise from darkness into light. One of God's most winsome attributes is His constant appeal to our intelligence - He invites us to think for ourselves. Thankfully, God always uses methods that maintain our freedom and individuality so why would we not treat others the same? Trying to convince someone to believe as we do is not our business, in fact - we ought to be encouraging our neighbor to study and weigh out all evidence before buying any idea that comes along.

From cover to cover, the Bible reveals people's  powerful ability to choose for themselves.  Just after Christ's resurrection (Luke 24), He met up with His friends on a dirt path leading to the town of Emmaus. The disciples had lost near all hope after seeing their Master put to shameful death. They neglected to lean on what they knew to be true, and caved into their depression as they walked away from Jerusalem (city of peace) and toward Emmaus (city of hot water)...

God concealed His identity as He walked and talked with the disciples, inviting them to recall all that had transpired in order for them to resurrect the truth that was buried beneath unbelief, anxiety and emotion:

"That same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked about those things, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.  Jesus asked them, "What are you talking about as you walk along?"   They stood still, and their faces were sad. One of them was named Cleopas. He said to Jesus, "You must be a visitor to Jerusalem. If you lived there, you would know the things that have happened there in the last few days."   "What things?" Jesus asked.  "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet. He was powerful in what he said and did in the eyes of God and all of the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed Jesus over to be sentenced to death. They nailed him to a cross. But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to set Israel free. Also, it is the third day since all this happened.

Some of our women amazed us too. Early this morning they went to the tomb. But they didn't find his body. So they came and told us what they had seen. They saw angels, who said Jesus was alive. Then some of our friends went to the tomb. They saw it was empty, just as the women had said. They didn't see Jesus' body there."  Jesus said to them, "How foolish you are! How long it takes you to believe all that the prophets said!  Didn't the Christ have to suffer these things and then receive his glory?"  Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures. He began with Moses and all the Prophets.  The two men approached the village where they were going. Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they tried hard to keep him from leaving. They said, "Stay with us. It is nearly evening. The day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. He joined them at the table. Then he took bread and gave thanks. He broke it and began to give it to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But then he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, "He talked with us on the road. He opened the Scriptures to us. Weren't our hearts burning inside us during that time?"  They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them. They were all gathered together. They were saying, "It's true! The Lord has risen! He has appeared to Simon!" 

Notice that once their eyes were opened to the truth that Jesus unfolded, they got up and returned at once to Jerusalem - City of Peace! They traded "hot water" for the tranquility only God can bring! What relief and exhilaration ought to spring within the heart that hears of how the Creator of the universe runs His household - on freedom!  May the truth of God's resurrection exceed a day of easter baskets and colorful candy.  Let it be the light that leads us for eternity.

S.N. Belmonte

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