Friday, April 6, 2012

The Super Bowl Sunday for Christians

Welcome to a Special Edition of The Sheep's Pen!

As I was preparing to pen my regular post, something was tugging at me.  Something just wasn't right.  The topic I was preparing just wasn't clicking.  I was drawing blanks and feeling numb to the whole writing process.  As Sunday was drawing closer, I kept feeling that I should target my comments on what we know as Resurrection Sunday - or, if you'll excuse a sports metaphor - the Super Bowl Sunday for Christians!

The research for my regular post was taking me down many "rabbit trails" - no pun intended.

Finally, a still small voice spoke to my spirit and said, "Just give them the Word.  Don't explain it.  Don't comment.  Just give them Luke 24.  No bells.  No whistles.  Just leave the rest to Me."

So, here goes.  Sit back.  Go back . . . 2000 years.  Come with me to the tomb . . . 

But, on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and, as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them:

"WHY DO YOU SEEK THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?  HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HE HAS RISEN.  REMEMBER HOW HE SPOKE TO YOU WHILE HE WAS STILL IN GALILEE, SAYING THAT THE SON OF MAN MUST BE DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF SINFUL MEN AND BE CRUCIFIED, AND ON THE THIRD DAY RISE AGAIN!"


And, they remembered His Words, and returned from the tomb, and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.  

Now, they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.  But, these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them .  But, Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only, and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.

The Road to Emmaus

And, behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.  And, they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.  But, their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.  

And, He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?"

And, they stood still, looking sad.  One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?"

And, He said to them, "What things?"

And, they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him.  But, we were hoping that it was He Who was going to redeem Israel.  


"Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.  But, also some women among us amazed us.  When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was ALIVE!  

"Some of of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."

And, He said to them, "O FOOLISH MEN AND SLOW OF HEART TO BELIEVE IN ALL THE PROPHETS HAVE SPOKEN!  WAS IT NOT NECESSARY FOR THE CHRIST TO SUFFER THESE THINGS AND TO ENTER INTO HIS GLORY?"

Then, beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.  And they approached the village where they were going and He acted as though He was going farther.  But, they urged Him saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over."  


So, He went in to stay with them.  When He had reclined at the table with them, He took bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.  Then, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.  

They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" 

And, they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon."  They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace, be to you."

But, they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.  And, He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?  See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.  Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."


And, when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet.  While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"

They gave Him a piece of broiled fish; and He took it and ate it before them.  Now, He said to them, "These are my Words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."  

Then, He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And, behold I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

And, He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.  While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.   And, they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great Joy, and were continually in the Temple praising God.


So, there you have it.
2000 years ago Jesus Christ made the ultimate TOUCH-DOWN 
crossing Earth's goal line to secure the WIN  
for the SALVATION OF MANKIND.
Please enjoy this Super Bowl Sunday - this Resurrection Sunday
with no commercials. 
Perhaps, today, instead of beer and pizza, you might  
Celebrate with Bread and Wine.

How do you read it?  What do you think?


 Sharing Super Bowl Sunday for Christians this week with:
Faith Filled Fridays at Beholding Glory

8 comments:

  1. I love the post and your the art you chose...The road to Emmaus is such a powerful story! I love that He opens our eyes, to Himself in His time...wish I could trust that for those who I love and have yet to see...
    AND indeed the Superbowl Sunday for Christians- and "we are the champions", my friend- because of Him! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Were our hearts not burning within us..." May our hearts burn for our Resurrected Savior!

    ReplyDelete
  3. :) Ah yes, our Superbowl Sunday. SCORE!

    ReplyDelete
  4. God's Word will seek its mark and hit where it is needed. Thank you for allowing us to share His Resurrection touch down!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great analogy to the Superbowl! Thanks for sharing the story this way. I'm so glad for His eternal touch down to earth in coming and to death so I can be forgiven.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You can't improve on the real story. Thank you for presenting it so well. Super Bowl Sunday for Christians - I like that.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

    ReplyDelete
  7. Grateful for you, Ed - thanks for linking up at Graceful this week.

    ReplyDelete

I welcome your comments and conversation as we enter into His Story together!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...