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April 14 Daily Devotional

We Trusted

Frans Bakker

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel. —Luke 24:21a

Bible Reading

Luke 24:17–24

Devotional

Two men walk on the way from Jerusalem to Emmaus. The day is far spent and evening approaches. Their lives are far spent as well and they walk in dismay. The light that shone in their lives, set some days ago. What they thought would lead to a magnificent future came to an abrupt end. As a king, Jesus made His glorious entrance into Jerusalem, the multitude had cried out “Hosanna,” and His exaltation seemed to be at hand. But these voices had hardly died away, before He permitted Himself to be bound, stricken, spit on, and derided. What was the end? The tree of shame! Death and the grave! The stone rolled in front of the grave to seal the tomb of Jesus was the final act that stole the hope of these two men who now walked alone to Emmaus.

Is it any wonder that they are sorrowful? They placed their hope in Jesus, but now He lies in the dust of death. They placed their hope on a man who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Now their hope has disappeared and they are baffled. To what can one cling when the only truth falls away? Who will give life when the only fountain of life has stopped? Some time ago their confession was “we trust,” but now it is “we trusted.” The men trusted that Jesus would redeem Israel, God’s people. Instead of redeeming Israel, He did not even redeem Himself. Instead of showing Himself to be the Mighty One, He became the prey of a most shameful death. Who is able to live without hope? Hope gives life, for as long as there is hope, there is life. And with the absence of life, hope is lost.

As the two men walk, they cannot be silent. They speak to one another of Him to whom they gave their lives. And they speak to a stranger who comes alongside them. They have to tell of Jesus’ rise and fall to explain their sorrow. They were especially disappointed that He did not accomplish what they had hoped. “We trusted...; we thought...; we supposed...; we expected...” With these words, the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus suddenly seems to fill with people. Many have once hoped and thought, but have been disappointed in their expectations. To hope is pleasant and sweet. Blessed is he who has fixed his hope on the Lord God in this life. Yet, how differently the way can go from what God’s people expect! How many unanswered prayers they think are unanswered because they weren’t answered how they wanted! How many heaps of rubbish they may see right where they had thought something was going to be built! In our eyes, from our perspective alone, many things are disappointing. A great number of travelers clearly accompany the men of Emmaus. They go their way in sorrow and without hope. There is that vexing question: “Where is the God in whom you trusted?” Unknown to them, their hope walks by their side.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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