randolphrichards

The pastor-scholar Dr. Bernie Cueto had posted this Easter message:

In Luke 24, two Good Friday grief-stricken disciples are walking away from Jerusalem, discouraged and disillusioned. They were grieving the loss of their Lord. They say in verse 21, “But we had hoped…” And maybe you’ve said those words too: “I had hoped the treatment would work.” “We had hoped our marriage would survive.” “I had hoped I’d feel better by now.” “We had hoped he had taken a turn for the better.” Friend, this Good Friday and Easter, don’t just hear about Jesus. Take Him home with you. Invite Him into your discouragement, your questions, your weariness. Let the One who took your place on the cross become the One who leads your life. He offers more than comfort, not a temporary fix, but a resurrection reality.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus had hoped that Jesus would improve their situation: “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Lk 24:21). They had hoped to be delivered from Roman oppression, that Jesus would free them from the cruel hand of Rome. Yet, Rome remained during their entire lifetime. In fact, it got worse. Within 40 years Rome crushed their nation and destroyed their city, leveling the Temple. For these disciples, their hopes for deliverance from Rome seemed to go unanswered. So also in your own life, you have perhaps asked Jesus to free you from an illness, a failing marriage, financial hardships, and yet, the next day arrives and your “Rome” still remains. The problem is still there. You sigh and say like them, “We had hoped that…”

Let the message of Easter speak to you as it did to those early disciples. They were looking for salvation only within the boundaries of this life. For them, “redeeming Israel” meant freedom from Rome in this life. Jesus had bigger plans. Salvation wasn’t merely deliverance from the challenges of this earthly life. As my friend Bernie said, “more than comfort, not a temporary fix.” God’s plans are bigger than ours. His viewpoint is beyond the next few decades. His goal for us ultimately happens on “the Day of the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:13–5:11). Easter is about resurrection. Jesus will return for each of us, resurrect us, and take us to the “place he has prepared for us” (Jn 14:1-3). He is risen indeed–and some day, so will we!