God Is With You: Dealing With Fear, Discouragement and AnxietySample

REINTERPRETING THE CROSS

One of the challenges for us as believers is capturing the testimony of victory and resurrection in the moments where events seem to speak the exact opposite. We can draw comfort in the fact that it was no different for the disciples during the actual resurrection. In the above passage, we hear the confusion that is at war in the disciples’ hearts. They hear the various reports concerning the resurrection of Jesus and deeply want to believe but are conflicted between two testimonies, “The things that have happened”(vs.18) and the testimony of the resurrection. It is at this moment that Jesus walks in on the conversation.

Wow! Aren’t you grateful that God is not afraid to reveal Himself to us even the midst of our confusion; He is merciful to come down to us in the middle of our disbelief!

Notice what the disciples said in verse twenty-one “we had hoped (Past tense) he was the one”! The “things” that had “happened” (the crucifixion) had thrown the disciples’ faith into a state of disarray. The disciples were interpreting everything (and Jesus himself) through the events that had transpired. This is what made Jesus's response even more powerful!

It is not just that Jesus revealed himself but rather it is how Jesus revealed himself. The “opening” of the disciples’ eyes is not where the revelation began. Jesus began with the scriptures! Jesus began interpreting the events that had happened through the scriptures! As Jesus talked and went through the scriptures the disciples later testified how their hearts burned as within them.

We need to begin with the scriptures! And allow the scriptures to interpret the events around us rather than give the power of interpretation to the events! As we do, I believe our hearts will burn with hope and faith rather than being consumed by confusion and fear!

Life Application

Give God’s word priority in your day by beginning your day with the scriptures and trust God to reveal himself through it.

Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to the scripture. Let me see the happenings in the world around me through the lamp of your word. And let my heart burn with its testimony!