These days we’re all looking for something to be ‘normal,’ or ‘as usual.’ Nothing, it seems, is normal anymore. I often wax eloquent with my neighbors about ‘when things get back to normal, I look forward to…..’ But frankly, and perhaps frighteningly, we don’t know when ‘normal’ will return and what that new normal will be. It may take several months if not years for life to be like it was before 2020. And even then, there will be inevitable changes none of us would have expected.
Jesus’ disciples find themselves in a predicament somewhat similar to our day in Luke 24. The story is told of Cleopas and a traveling companion as they leave Jerusalem and head towards the village of Emmaus. They happen upon a stranger who turns out to be the risen Lord Jesus, but they don’t know it yet nor will they until he breaks the bread in their midst. The stranger draws out of them the sad news of the last few days - how their rabbi and friend Jesus of Nazareth was condemned to death and crucified. They had hoped that this Jesus was the Messiah, the one who would redeem Israel thus casting off the heavy yoke of Roman rule and inaugurating a time and place where Israel could live and worship in freedom. But it wasn’t to be. In fact, as of that morning, they didn’t even know where his body was (wait for it, wait for it).
But instead of pulling the veil back from their eyes and saying, “It’s me! I’m risen!” In a swell of joy and triumph, the stranger, Jesus, scolds and teaches these men what the Scriptures - that is the Law, Prophets, and Psalms, our “Old Testament" - had to say about the Messiah. A new normal had dawned upon Israel, indeed upon the whole of creation, but Jesus took the time to re-orient these disciples’ perspective so they would know how to frame all of history. He did this because life would never be the same as it was before his resurrection. (I’ll get into the rest of the story Sunday.)
Similarly, in our day we would do well to prepare for life not to return to as it was before this coronavirus crisis. To be sure, we’ll get to worship together again, go to concerts, and sporting events, shake hands and hug and the like. But we’ll never quite be the same. But what will not have changed? The reality of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who suffered and died and rose on the third day will still be the fixed point around which the universe turns. And he will still be the reality to which all of Scripture points and the one invites our attentive contemplation.
I know these days are hard, but I pray you’re able to behold Jesus in the Scriptures. He may seem like a stranger now, but sure enough he will make himself known to us especially in these strange days that seem anything but normal.
Jay+