Eyes Wide Open: 40-Day Lenten Devotional Sample

It Was Necessary

“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” – Luke 24:25-27

What shall we take with us when Passover and Resurrection Sunday are behind us? What could we do, in response to God’s glorious message, that might affect others?  

Look at the experience of two Jewish men walking to their village of Emmaus after the Passover experience in Jerusalem. Had they welcomed Messiah Jesus to Jerusalem calling “Jesus save us” (“Yeshua Hoshah-na”)? Was their Passover meal a remembrance of God’s faithfulness in saving Israel from Egyptian slavery? Did they see the horror of Messiah King publicly executed? 

Walking home, they encountered Jesus now resurrected! Before they recognized him, Jesus retells the Lord’s whole redemption plan from the Hebrew Scriptures. Their hearts ignited and their eyes opened. The Messiah has come, died for sin, and defeated death!

How did they respond? They ran back to Jerusalem to tell the others. Jesus showed up again to say, He told them, 

This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:46-48)

We should encourage others in response to God’s love. Since forgiveness is gloriously displayed at the cross, we can reassure others they no longer need to be slaves to shame. Jesus asks us to extend welcome in his name to all who repent so they might find life in him.

Prayer: Father, I welcome the voice of your Spirit in my life. Use me as a vessel to call others out from an Egypt of sin and to your love. Radiate the glory of your power over death into the world around me. Make known your resurrection power through my attitudes, actions and the words you give to me.  For your glory in my Messiah Jesus. Amen.

- Written by Tuvya Zaretsky