Do I Recognize You?

Do I Recognize You?

• Luke 24:13 (NLT)

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I have a hard time recognizing people, which can be highly offensive. It is so embarrassing when someone approaches me and they can tell I don't know who they are. If I don't personally engage someone, like face to face, beyond casual conversation, I don't remember them well. If I see someone that I may have known somewhat but did not expect to see them I may not recognize them either.

Celebrities have to go to extremes like putting on a disguise to hide who they are in public. The more you are in a place the more people you usually get to know. It seems like I can no longer go out without seeing someone I know. Sometimes I don't feel like talking, I just want to do what I got to do and be out. Or I may have a bad past with someone who I want to avoid. Wouldn't it be nice to be unrecognized sometimes. Sometimes I wonder what people I know are saying about me when they don't think I am around. This is what is happening to two of Jesus followers on their way to Emmaus. Jesus, unrecognized, approaches and asks them what they are discussing. They explain that they were discussing what they thought everyone knows, Jesus "a man from Nazareth, a prophet who did miracles, and mighty teacher, was crucified, who we hoped was the Messiah."

So we see that Jesus followers did not understand His purpose, to suffer, die, and be resurrected so that the entire world could be forgiven of their sins and have eternal life. Their nationalistic pride blinded them to the truth, so they could only imagine Jesus leading a rebellion and conquering Rome and establishing His throne in Jerusalem. As the bible says Natural minded people cannot understand spiritual things.

Jesus now told them "you foolish people, don't you know the scriptures, that what you witnessed had to happen." We can be so blinded to the truth because of our own ignorance. We often only see what we want to see that goes along with what we think makes sense. Jesus, still unrecognized, broke down the biblical prophecies of what occurred so they could come out of ignorance. Hearing His wisdom and the hope He gave them they begged whom they thought as a stranger to stay the night with him. How quick we warm up to somebody when we like what they have to say. Finally after enough time with Jesus as they saw Him break bread just as He did in the upper room, they recognized who He was. It usually takes me the same, as I spend enough time with someone who I think I recognize but don't know for sure eventually the light turns on and I remember who they are, which can be quite embarrassing. 

If you are like me you probably cannot wait until the work God has begun in your life is completed and you are perfected. I dislike my flaws and I know they just irritate and even offend others greatly. I dislike that I often don't recognize Jesus at work in my life, I ignore His promptings, I pay no attention to His work, He is always there, but I don't have eyes to always see Him, therefore I miss opportunities to experience Him in new and glorious ways. Thank God for His long suffering and mercy.

Have you ever told something to someone and they thought it was too good to be true? You try to convince them but they are like, yeah right! It is frustrating especially with people close to us, for don't they trust us, haven't we proven to be credible. Two of the women had witnessed angels declare that Jesus had risen, two of the disciples encountered Jesus on the road, and talked rather lengthy, and now that they brought it to the others, they still couldn't believe. So Jesus Himself had to just show up, it was like "how much more do I have to do for you to believe me?" And when He did, they were all frightened thinking there room is haunted and they are seeing ghosts. Jesus was like, look at me, my hands, my feet, touch me, it is me, not a ghost. He now begins to eat with them, which is probably unlikely if he was a ghost, and teach them the scriptures so they can finally get it, He had to die and be resurrected for sin and death to be defeated.

Parents are often misunderstood by their children who don't always understand why they do what they do, that it is for their best interest, even if it don't make sense. It is usually after disobedience and the results thereof that they figure out what their parents were trying to help them avoid. Life isn't figured out overnight, the older we get hopefully the wiser we become it feels good when those whom we are trying to guide actually understand that and trust us at our word. It gives the confidence that we can take those that follow us to higher ground. 

Jesus trusting the disciples finally believe He is resurrected and somewhat understand why He was crucified, now begins to give them instruction what to do when He is gone. They would wait until He is ascended and as we see in the books of Acts then the Holy Spirit would descend upon them to empower them to continue what Jesus begun.

Peter and many of the disciples tried to go unrecognized, they were afraid of persecution, but after Jesus affirmed them, prepared them, and filled them with the Holy Spirit they went forward unafraid as bold witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ working in and through them. He is our disguise we don't have to be ashamed of who we were but confident in who we now are in Him. Let us never run from people but use every opportunity to display the glory of our Lord.

Funeral Procession

The Funeral Procession

• Luke 23:44 (NLT)

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Funeral's are not something I enjoy, I have only been to a few and often feel very uncomfortable especially when I don't know the individual or family that well. Trying to say the right thing and respond the right way in a situation like this does not come easy. There have been a few funerals I enjoyed because they were conducted as a celebration. The family celebrated the life of the departed, knowing their life had not ended but passed from one world to the next.

How someone dies greatly determines the atmosphere of the funeral. When who one is not assured of another's salvation or where death comes tragically a very sorrowful experience follows. Now when one dies obviously knowing the Lord in a gracious manner, it is more likely that the funeral will have a joyous atmosphere. Of course, the outlook of individuals plays a big part, whether one has a eternal or temporary perspective.

Jesus while dying in a tragic and gruesome manner, shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" He died knowing He accomplished His Father's will. Pain is still pain but when one is dying without regret there is a big difference. During funeral viewing's I have observed a major difference. Those without regret have a peace on their face, like they are glowing, while those who have regret and a fear of dying don't.

Jesus death was dramatic, their was darkness until 3pm, the earth quaked, causing the curtain of the temple to be torn down the middle, signifying that Christ death has brought forgiveness of our sins and direct access to the Father, for those who accept His sacrifice. Many of those at hand believed and were now greatly sorrowful. Greatness is often seen after someone's death more than even before, they leave a lasting impact. Jesus death brought transforming power that He could never give in His earthly frame.

Have you ever not appreciated someone until they were gone? We recently had an amazing matriarch at our church pass away and hearing her grandchildren speak at the funeral I was so touched by the words they shared. I would have loved to know her more closely while she was alive. 

Upon Jesus dying, the crowd and even some of the Roman soldiers left in deep remorse for they realized they witnessed the crucifixion of the Son of God. Not knowing the purpose of Him dying they must have felt like dying themselves. Many of them probably gave their life to Jesus after the Resurrection when the Gospel was preached.

We need to appreciate Jesus, He is alive, so let's be in fellowship with Him daily and follow His every command. 

Though Jesus had been rejected by His disciples, an unlikely person, Joseph a member of the Jewish high counsel who disagreed with Jesus being put to death, chose to assure that Jesus have a proper burial.

People make a big deal about funeral arrangements which are very expensive, as I recently experienced dealing with my Mother's death. I for one see life on earth as a temporary moment compared to eternity, one does not die, but just moves on to a different place. Just like car's need to be replaced after awhile so do the bodies that we live in. So why invest so greatly in something that can only be enjoyed for so long before it is gone? I don't want to invest in my death and I don't want to leave a great expense for my family. I want my funeral to be simple, inexpensive and just a celebration of my life on earth and of Heaven where I will reside. 

In Luke 24:1-12, Jesus tomb was found rolled aside, His body missing, and as the Angels declared, He had resurrected from the dead, just as He promised. 

Death was swallowed up defeated by the perfect sacrifice. Believer should no longer look at death with fear but with hope of a better place, where we are made perfect, and can fully enjoy our Lord and Savior forevermore. So when a believer dies, yes sadness will follow, and we will miss our loved one, but it only is for a short moment, for we will be united together again, so the funeral procession should be with celebration because of the hope we have through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.