Day 117 Bible Readings – Luke 24: 30-31 (ESV)

Joshua 11, Joshua 12, Luke 24:1-35, Psalm 71:1-8

Luke 24: 30-31 (ESV)

“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.”

In verses 30 and 31 from Luke 24, we read about the two men who had been talking to Jesus while walking on the road to Emmaus. We do not know their names and find out later that they were known to the disciples of Jesus. The two men spoke to Jesus but they did not know they were talking to him, until he broke bread with them. These men were not present at the Last Supper, so they didn’t know the significance of Jesus breaking bread with them. Biblical scholars have speculated why the two men did recognize Jesus until he broke bread with them, and some have written that there must have been something that Jesus did that made them realize who he was. Others have written that Jesus revealed himself to the two men when he broke the bread, and that’s when they recognized him

I love these verses because it shows the supernatural aspect of Christ, and how we may not recognize Jesus as being in our lives until he reveals himself to us. And when the two men realized they were talking to Jesus, he disappeared. That must have been a shock to them to have Jesus suddenly vanish from their sight. These verses for me validate the stories of angel sightings where a mysterious person shows up in people’s lives. This stranger says or does something miraculous and then disappears or is not seen again. Was it Jesus and the people did not recognize him, or was it an angel? I like to think it is Jesus showing up in life of his people, and providing care and miracles for them.

Day 116 Bible Readings – Luke 23: 40-43 (ESV)

Joshua 9:16-27, Joshua 10, Luke 23:26-56, Psalm 70

Luke 23: 40-43 (ESV)

“But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In verses 40 through 43 from Luke 15, we read about the reactions of the man who was was being crucified next to Jesus. An author of a Bible study I read wrote that this is first example of a recorded death-bed conversion. I remember reading and hearing about this man who asked Jesus to remember him while they were both being crucified, and I never thought of it as a death-bed conversion. Even at the end of his life, Jesus was always kind to sinners. Jesus told the man that he would be saved and they would see each other in paradise. In these verses we read that there is always a chance to repent and be saved before you die. God is so merciful and graceful to us that even if we wait to the absolute last minute before we truly repent, we will be with God in paradise when our end comes.

Day 115 Bible Readings for April 26 – Luke 23: 24-25 (ESV)

Joshua 8, Joshua 9: 1-15, Luke 22: 63-71, Luke 23: 1-25, Psalm 69: 29-36

Luke 23: 24-25 (ESV)

“So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.”

In verses 24 and 25 from Luke 23, we read that Pilate decided not to go against the will of the crowd and the Sanhedrin and released Barabbas who was a true criminal, and instead crucified Jesus. In one of the Bible studies I read, the author wrote that Barabbas is the only person in the world who can truly say Jesus died for me. Barabbas was a zealot who had incited a rebellion and was also a murderer. Jesus, who was an innocent man, died for the sins and life of Barabbas. The crucifixion of Christ gave us a first example of God’s plan to have Jesus come to earth and live among us and then die for our sins. And Barabbas is the living example of the sacrifice of Christ. I had never thought of Barabbas in this way before; that he was the living example  of why Christ had to die for our sins.

Day 114 Bible Readings – Joshua 5: 13-15 (ESV)

Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua 6, Joshua 7, Luke 22:39-62, Psalm 69:13-28

Joshua 5: 13-15 (ESV)

“When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.”

In verses 13 and 14 from Joshua, Joshua met a man with a drawn sword in his hand who told him that he was the commander of the army of the Lord.  The authors of my study Bible noted that this man was a “pre-incarnate” appearance of Jesus Christ. Joshua immediately knew this man was from God, and he immediately started worshipping him and following his commands. I love thinking of Christ as the commander of God’s army, and how he showed himself to Joshua and was immediately recognized as coming from God. These verses tell us that God is always ready to fight for us and will send help to us when needed. Jesus was not only willing to help us fight our battles, but he later was born on earth as a man to help us fight the greatest battle of all – our battle with our sinful nature. Christ died for our sins so we would no longer have to face the punishment of succumbing to sin, and he sent the Holy Spirit to us to help battle our sinful nature in our every day lives.