We are all familiar with Jesus dying on the cross, being raised from the dead, and appearing to Mary Magdalene, but have we missed the details of how God’s people were heartbroken because they had a different ending to this story of Jesus.
In Luke 24 we see Cleopas, and another receive a question from Jesus with scars.
“What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?”
They were walking to Emmaus with very sad hearts and Cleopas answered Jesus with these words: “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
And Jesus said, “What things?”
Jesus listened to Cleopas say these words, “…we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.”
Jesus stopped the conversation and said these words: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
Jesus had strong words for his disciples before He died and again, we see the same because of unbelief.
And we read how beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Then they invited Jesus to stay in the village and He did.
And, we pick up in verse 30:
“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and sblessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.”
The last time he had broken bread was at the last supper and now He breaks bread again.
The scene changes in John 20:20 – perhaps that’s where Jesus went.
We read about how the disciples were hiding in fear for the sake of the Jews…
and Jesus walks right past the door and appeared before them.
The first words out of His mouth are: “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Do you see what I see – He declared peace. Then he breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. But wait, we clearly see these words in Acts 1:1:
“He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father which he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
First, He breathed on them, and now we find Jesus speaking about being baptized with the Holy Spirit.
I think we need to cry out for the work of the Spirit in our lives.
We need Jesus to breathe on us.
We need the baptism in the Holy Spirit as the Father promised us.
We can’t ignore what Jesus was saying and doing as He ascended back to Glory. We can’t be like Cleopas and the other disciples.
My worship got louder as I read:
Luke 24:50 “And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Praise God, many believed Him because they could see Him. Praise God for those who believed and have not seen Him.
Throughout the Bible recieving the breath of life is important. Adam and every man that has lived recieved the breathe of life
and as we transition from earth to Heaven the breathe of life is our final expression of His presence. the Spirit of truth
dewells within us to teach us all things and directs us to the Father. Yes every Believer needs the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.