Post Easter, Now What?

Squishy marshmallow Peeps, earless chocolate bunnies and left over deviled eggs in the frig. Post Easter. Now what? Do we just rummage through the calendar for another holiday or event to look forward to? What excites us for the future or even … daily? For some of us, it is the planning and anticipation that is as exciting as the event. May I be so bold in asking, what causes our insides to burn with excitement, what consumes our mind and emotions?

Post Easter.

Jesus’ resurrection. AMAZING! WONDERFUL! 　But let’s not stop there. There’s MORE! Let’s unpack this in brief summary. Stay with me, this is good! Luke 24, it speaks of the women going to the tomb, once there they find two angels who notify them that Jesus was no longer there, the gals go back to tell the others. Peter, as energetic as he was, runs to go see and confirm. Just following that, (v13) it says “Now that same day…” It proceeds to unfold the story of the two walking to Emmaus, who unknown to them at first, encounter Jesus. They are flabbergasted that this Stranger didn’t know what had just transpired in Jerusalem. They shared their disappointment, “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Going on they explained how Jesus’ body was not found. Verse 27, “Then he (Jesus) started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.” WOW, I’d love a one on one instant Bible study from the lips of the Master!

It wasn’t until Jesus was seated at their table, in their home and they accepted the bread He offered that their eyes were opened and they knew who He was. I LOVE their response, “They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 　(v32, emphasis mine)

Their hearts burning within them. I want spiritual heart burn! I want my soul, mind, thoughts, passions, desires and appetites to burn with Him and His word! The word Luke chooses to use here for ‘burning’ is very colorful. It doesn’t just mean to strike a match and light the kindling and watch it slowly give off heat. No, it RAVISHES through the wood and consumes it! It can be likened to the Hebrew word imagery found in Psalm 39:3 as King David shares “… my insides got hotter and hotter…”

Yet some would argue that the two didn’t even recognize Jesus when He shared the WORD with them. However, the author of Hebrews declares strongly, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 And Paul pens, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) To have the very Son of God, His presence and He b-r-e-a-t-h-e these words to them, teaching them, training them, THAT would cause their heart to burn. Not to mention some ‘double-edged’ dividing goin on. Notice that Jesus didn’t lay hands on them, put mud on their eyes, or have them go wash in a nearby pool. He didn’t even send them to the Priest for verification; He simply… walked with them. Walking and talking, they were transformed. The narrative says they got up at once and went back to Jerusalem testifying that Jesus was indeed RISEN.

For us? The next time we find our seat at church or open the Bible for devotion time, let’s not day dream off to another place or become bored with it. Let’s receive the bread Jesus offers, allow, INVITE Him to ‘point out everything in the scriptures’ and take a walk with Him, our resurrected Lord. May we breathe a whisper to the Holy Spirit, two words, just two life changing words… BURN LORD! With Your Presence, with Your word. Throwing our holiday circled calendar aside, be AMAZED at how exciting the word is, how exciting Jesus is.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)