Candles of Hope

The anti-climax of the astounding and exciting years spent with Jesus was extremely devastating to His followers.  The disciples and the group of women and others, I'd say, were in shock and they were even likely depressed.  They just couldn't comprehend this culmination of events.  They'd had so much hope of Him redeeming and rescuing Israel.  

On top of that, now His body had disappeared from the tomb!  The women had seen the empty tomb.  Then angels showed up saying Jesus is alive.  Peter (& John) went to check it out and indeed found the tomb empty.  The two on the road to Emmaus, just couldn't figure it out either.  Their 'candle' of hope had been extinguished.  Their minds were such kaleidoscopes of confusion, trying desparately to understand.

Severe disappointment was combusting within them all.  And Jesus appears to the Emmaus two and their...

 " ... hearts burn within them" (v 32).  

Suddenly their eyes and minds are opened and they recognize Jesus in the breaking of bread.  The hope candle is relit.  They hurry back to Jerusalem and relate it all even as Jesus appears among them, speaking, 

"Peace to you" (vs 36).

He explains to them then that His death was not just for redeeming Israel but for all nations (vs 47).  This rescue was not as an insurrection against the Roman Empire but against the forces of evil, namely Satan's kingdom.

Their job now was to ...

" ... proclaim in [Jesus'] name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem" (v47).

This proclamation would include ...

" ... that repentance for the forgivness of sins" (vs 49).

The tumult of perplexitiy of their minds was now settling, clearing up all that foggyness of blurred thoughts.  Jesus graciously and mercifully opens their understanding through the Sciptures and then gives them their mission commission.  Furthermore, He promised them,

"I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.  But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (vs 49).

They were to be the witnesses of hope that could spring eternal* in their hearts and minds of all the peoples in all the nations to whom they would go.  They wouldn't go in their own strength but His through the Holy Spirit.

And after all that devastation of the cross with Jesus' death and 'missing' body, and the dashing of hopes, their hearts were uplifted and rekindled with the hope of Jesus.  So much so that when Jesus ascends and disappears into heaven, they do not collapse again.  Instead, 

"they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalam with great joy" (vs 52).

Jesus, the Light of the world, had lit many new candles of hope.  What else could they do but rejoice!

                                                          ~ ERC  October 2025 ~

Based on Luke 24 ESV/KJV.

Sing, O Sing, Hallelujah, -*Hope Springs Eternal, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.