Rejoice...The King is here

Read Luke 23:46   Additional Scripture   Luke 24:13-35   2 corinthians 5:17

The Resurrection is not an event, it is a person.

When Jesus spoke His very last words in Luke 23:46, His life on Earth ended. But His eternal reign in our lives was just beginning.

Likewise, the end of this study is meant to be a new beginning in your relationship with Christ.

The seven sayings that Jesus cried out on the cross, when paralleled with the way Jesus appeared to His disciples on the road to Emmaus after His death, are designed to be a Seven-Mile Miracle. By focusing on the significance of each of Jesus' final words, you may gain unique perspective on who Jesus is, what He has done for you, and how He wants to reveal Himself to you every day.

Interestingly enough, the very people that knew Jesus the best-the disciples that followed Jesus over the course of His life-did not recognize Him as they walked with Him to Emmaus in Luke 24.

Still in shock from the events that unfolded just days earlier, the disciples likely saw the Passover meal they shared with Jesus in Luke 22 as their last meaningful time with Him.

However, Jesus wanted to break bread one final time with His disciples to share one more parting lesson.

Jesus wanted His disciples to see that His life and death were more than a series of events. In His resurrection, Jesus wanted to be remembered at a deeper level.

When Jesus broke bread with His disciples after He rose from the grave, they realized the Resurrection is not an event, it is a person.

The way Jesus revealed this to His disciples is indicative of the way Jesus wants to show Himself to you today.

When He sat down for the only meal He'd share with the disciples after His death, Jesus took the bread, blessed the bread, broke the bread, and gave the bread to His disciples.

Every step of this process parallels the way Jesus works in and through you.

Just as He took the bread in His hands, He takes you from a place of uncertainty and brings you into a life of faith, hope, and certainty.

Just as He blessed the bread, He blesses you and favors you with a new life found only in Him.

Just as He broke the bread, He breaks you not to discourage you, but to increase your dependency on Him.

And finally, just as He gave the bread to His disciples, He gives you to the world for the sake of His glory.

These stages can be painful, but remember that God doesn't want to hurt you; He wants to reunite with you.

When Jesus broke bread with His disciples, the bread never left His hands. And when He finally stretched forward to give the bread to His disciples, they saw His nail-scarred hands and their eyes were opened to see Jesus as the risen Lord.

Jesus wants to reunite with you today. Open your eyes to see Him as the resurrected Son of God.

PRAY:

Jesus, you are powerful, loving, and faithful. I surrender my life to the daily process of following your purposes. Take me from my old ways, bless me with your grace, break me of anything holding me back from you, and give me to the world so that I may glorify your name. You are the Resurrection, Jesus, and I am forever grateful for the life you have given me. I love you, Jesus. In your name, Amen.

APPLY:

As you reach the end of this study, we pray that God has changed your heart and your perspective to bring you closer to Him. If God has stretched your faith and changed your heart in any way during this series, we want to celebrate with you.We can't wait to celebrate God's work in your life!