What Now?

With Resurrection Sunday (Easter) in the rear-view mirror for another year, it is time to ask, "What now?" Churches everywhere celebrated our Lord's resurrection in special ways—Sunrise Worship Services, church breakfasts, larger than normal crowds—all with the hope that people everywhere would find Christ, receiving His offer of salvation or rededicating themselves to walking more closely with Jesus. And many people made such professions of faith.

But now what? How should we continue to respond, now that we have trusted Christ more fully? Unfortunately, many people dedicate themselves to follow Jesus more faithfully, but then simply return to "business as usual" in their day-to-day lives. So what should we do?

Two of Jesus' followers did just that: "Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him" (Luke 24:13-16).

"And He said to them, 'What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?'" (v. 17). Jesus saw their countenance and was concerned for them.

"Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, 'Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?'" (v. 18). They were bewildered. Did this man really not know what had happened in Jerusalem?

"And He said to them, 'What things?' So they said to Him, 'The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see'" (vs. 19-24). Good summary of events. That should make things clear.

But note Jesus' response: "Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (vs. 25-27).

Jesus chastised them. He said they were "foolish" and "slow of heart to believe" (v. 25). They had experienced first-hand the Lord's death and resurrection, and had committed themselves to following Jesus faithfully, yet now they were returning to Emmaus to a life that was "business as usual." Nothing had changed, but it should have!

"Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, 'Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.' And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight" (vs. 28-31). What an eye-opener! They now understood and they knew that they could not, they must not, return to "business as usual."

"And they said to one another, 'Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?' So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!' And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread" (vs. 32-35).

Immediately, these two disciples returned to Jerusalem and joined the "testimonial meeting" that was already in progress. They had learned what we all need to learn—that once you meet Jesus and recognize who He is, and once you have trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior, your life has changed. You cannot, you must not, simply return to life as it used to be. Your life must no longer be "business as usual." You must seek Jesus every day, and you must follow Him faithfully moment by moment. Amen.