Next we join two of Jesus' followers - they are walking home - probably from Jerusalem after Passover. Suddenly, they are joined by another who appears to not know what has transpired these past days. Maybe because they would have been too much in awe, maybe because they didn't see, maybe because God didn't want them to see - they did not recognize their new companion as Jesus. They begin to lament about their disappointment - "we had hoped He was the one . . . " Does this ring a bell? Are we like His followers from 2,000+ years ago? Do we often feel disappointed when He hasn't done what we expected Him to do??? The author (Nancy Guthrie) writes: "Sometimes, when we think we've got Jesus all figured out, we simply can't hear or can't see that our understanding is distorted or diminished. And sometimes we think we have Jesus figured out when really all we've done is create in our own minds the Jesus we want, the Jesus we can be comfortable with. We read the Bible and take what we want, shaping for ourselves a Jesus who is passionate about what we are passionate about, and skeptical about what we are skeptical about, condemning what we want to condemn."
Luke tells us "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27). Jesus did not start with His birth - or His sermon on the mountain. Jesus opened up Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Psalms, Hosea and Isaiah and all the way to Malachi showing His companions on the walk to Emmaus "This is who I am . . . this is why I came . . . this is the curse I came to bear . . . this is the mercy I came to show . . . I am the blessing God promised . . . I am the sacrifice God provided."
If you really want to meet Jesus in the Old Testament . . . come along with us . . . grab your book and prepare to be enlightened.
May the Lord bless you as you bless others.