Luke 24:13-18 NIV84 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" 18 They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
Have you ever tried explaining life? You can’t. It’s unexplainable. Sure there are some circumstances that are nice, enjoyable and beneficial – that we can explain. But when things go wrong, against our will, and are hurtful, we try to understand them but we can’t.
It is equally hard to explain God through our circumstances. If we just base our understanding of God through what we experience, I don’t think any of us can claim to know or understand Him. Sure, it’s easy to say “God is good, all the time…and all the time God is good” when things are going well. But the moment trials and hardship come, do we have the same view of our Lord?
This is what happened with the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, a few days after the Lord had died, and reports of Him rising from the dead were being spread. Jesus comes alongside them, unrecognizable, and asks “what are you discussing together?”
Jesus’ death was the talk of the town. And these two disciples were wondering why this man did not even have a hint of what they were discussing.
Luke 24:18 NIV84 They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
When Jesus asked them “what things?”, they started to share with him what had happened.
Luke 24:20-21 NIV84 "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
Do you sense how their bubble burst through the circumstances? Te two disciples were trying to explain everything that had happened. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed! But they crucified Him, and we had hoped he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. We had hoped. Their hopes were crushed, because of what they had seen – He was crucified and died. Then they heard news that they were confused about:
Luke 24:22-24 NIV84 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
They were hopeless and confused because of the events that they had witnessed, that they had seen, concerning our Lord Jesus. And why not? Who would not be hopeless, seeing a person you thought was going to redeem Israel nailed to the cross and die? Who would not be confused if someone said that He had risen from the dead? These two disciples, and probably the rest of them, just could not explain, could not understand, what was happening.
This is what happens when we try to explain life through our circumstances. When things are going right, we are filled with hope, because things are falling our way, and we hope and pray that they continue to do so. But the moment circumstances go wrong, and bad things happen, it is so hard to understand and complain. Our bubble is burst, and we become hopeless. We try to explain our way out, and we just can’t.
Many walk with God like that. Which is why there are some who end up walking away from Him, blaming Him for all the bad circumstances. Others continue in their trek of faith, but sadly they base their knowledge of God on their experiences and circumstances, which eventually leaves us confused.
When there are blessings, promotions, abundance and prosperity we thank God and praise Him for them. But when sickness, pain and hardship come our way we almost always ask “why?”.
Take a look at how our Lord explained all that was happening to these two disciples:
Luke 24:25-27 NIV84 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ[2] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
When the Lord began to explain to them all that had happened He did not bring them back to the circumstances that lead to His death. He brought them to His Word. Beginning with Moses and the Prophets… in our present Bible that’s Genesis to Malachi, the whole Old Testament. Let’s start from the very beginning (as the classic Sound of Music song goes), Jesus said, and let me explain to you about Me. Our Lord used every book of the Old Testament, even the books that we don’t even give a moment’s time to read, and explained to them concerning Himself.
We cannot explain God through circumstances in this world. That just won’t work. The only way to know and explain God is through His Word. What does His Word reveal about Him? Our circumstances and experiences change, some for the better and some for the worse – but this does not change who God is. And where do we get this understanding of who God is? From His Word.
It’s easy to explain who God is when things are going right. But when things go wrong, how do we explain God? His Word, His revelation of who He is and what His plans are, are what He uses to explain to us who He is. Are you blessed? God is good. Are you sick, dying, or losing money? God is good. It doesn’t change who He is. His Word tells us that.
So don’t let circumstances tell you who God is. Don’t use circumstances to try to explain to yourself, and to others, who God is. Let God tell you what those circumstances mean in your life. And it shouldn’t be circumstances that dictate your life, but God Himself.
Proverbs 3:5 NIV84 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding…
