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Anything but Ordinary

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What is more ordinary than taking a walk?

I try to walk around the perimeter of my neighborhood several times a week, and it’s a very ordinary walk. It’s about a mile and a half, and I walk by homes and a park, a basketball court, and more homes.

In Bible times, walking was not for exercise. It was, of course, the main way to get around. The dusty roads could be crowded with walkers – going to market, visiting relatives, walking to temple. They even had to walk to get water from a communal well. Walking was common and very ordinary.

On one particular day, two people were walking on the road to Emmaus, a town about seven miles from Jerusalem. And as they walked they talked about the events of the past few days.

The events they were discussing were anything but ordinary. They were the most extra-ordinary events in all of human history.

They were talking about Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and His death. They were confused by all that had happened. It hadn’t been that long ago that they had left everything to follow Jesus, their Messiah. Now the One they believed to be Messiah, was dead. What now for them?

Ordinary becomes extra-ordinary

As they walked, another man joined them. And he asked what they were talking about?

They were pretty incredulous that this stranger had no idea what had been happening, and they asked him, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn’t know about these things?”

“What things?” inquired the stranger.

The two went on to explain about Jesus – who He was and what He had taught them. Then they explained how the religious leaders had delivered Him to be killed, even in the worst possible way, He was crucified.

An ordinary walk – but their conversation was about events that were extra-ordinary.

They continued their reporting. They told of women who had gone to Jesus’ tomb early that morning and found His body was gone. They had seen angels who said Jesus was alive.

At that moment, the man began to speak. “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained the Scriptures concerning Himself.”

As they were approaching Emmaus, they urged Him to stay with them because it was growing dark.

When He was at the 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 then He was gone.  

And the two went back to Jerusalem and found the 11 disciples who were all together, and “the walkers” told them, “The Lord has risen indeed.” And they went on to tell of their time with Him.

A 2,000-year perspective

Today, some 2,000 years later, we know the whole story. We know Jesus rose on that third day to provide eternal life and the forgiveness of sins to anyone who believes.

But for those of us who have been believers for a long time, for those who heard the Easter story as children, has this amazing miraculous story become “ordinary?”

Have we become numb, even complacent about the power of the story of Easter? Have we let our culture overshadow our amazement of what has been done for us?

Faith Church provides a setting to help us remember well. Good Friday services are solemn and sacred as we reflect on the pain of the cross and the significance of that horrible day. Then Easter services give us hope – hope for life now and life eternal with Jesus.

How can I change the Easter experience this year?

First, we can be sure we are prepared spiritually and emotionally for dealing with the significance of the event. That could include re-reading the Easter story in the gospels and spending time meditating on the passages (Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24 and John 18-21).

Then, once we’ve dealt with our own hearts, how meaningful would it be to share your personal Easter story with someone else? Your story might be the catalyst for someone else giving thought to the real meaning of Easter.

Planning for these services has been in the works for months. Why? Because they are important. They are important for Jesus followers and for those who have not yet decided to follow Him.

“We want lost people to have an extra-ordinary experience by seeing Jesus,” says Pastor Bob Bouwer. “We hope believers will experience a new realization that the risen Lord walks with us, even when we don’t see Him.”

A young man in his 20s came to the Christmas Behold the Wonder presentation. “I get it now,” he said. “I see who Jesus really is.”

That’s our prayer for Easter services, too.

So what is your role? Ask God with whom you might take an ordinary walk, a walk which will allow them to experience first-hand the extra-ordinary love of our Savior, Jesus.

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