Series: The Mvmnt
Message: Four Ways to Be
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Reflection: Japhet De Oliveira
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Purpose: Jessyka Albert
Editor: Becky De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin today in prayer. Ask God for understanding through the Holy Spirit and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Acts 2:42–47 in the English Standard Version (ESV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: Luke is the only Gospel writer to share the famous story of Jesus walking, after His resurrection, on the road to Emmaus, and he intentionally adopts the Greek storytelling method popular to this time and culture. This method involved removing key details, allowing the reader to connect the dots only at the completion of the story—with some questions remaining unanswered altogether. When I get to heaven, my long list of questions for Luke will include, “Who were these two people?” and “Why give one name and not the other?”
If we use our imaginations, as Luke would have intended his readers to do, we can perhaps draw some conclusions about the couple Jesus encountered on the road. What if we followed tradition and assumed that they were on their way home? What if they were not two men (as women were also disciples)? What if they were one male and one female disciple—a married couple? They were intimately connected to the eleven apostles. They knew where the upper room was (Luke 24:33). The Cleopas in Luke is perhaps the same person as the Clopas referenced in John 19:25. His wife, Mary, was at the foot of the cross. This might well be the same Mary who was the sister to Jesus’ own mother Mary. Put all these details together, and this could mean that Jesus encountered his very own aunt and uncle on the road to Emmaus! Wouldn’t that be amazing? The story is rich on so many levels, not least in terms of how it ends, when Jesus breaks the bread and the pair recognize Him.
The early Church broke bread together often. Not just to eat together, but to celebrate communion together as well. They met in each other’s homes and ate together regularly. They worshipped together and reminded each other of what Jesus had done and continued to do every day in their lives. The Gospel was retold simply through people of faith living in community.
Perhaps you noticed before just how many encounters Jesus had which revolved around fellowship and meals. In fact, he was accused of spending too much time in this way (Luke 7:34). These accusations did not stop Jesus from cooking fish on the beach and waiting to meet with Peter after the resurrection. A meal with community brought Peter to a place of strength and open accountably (John 21). Within fellowship and around a table, there is space for good conversation with Jesus. This was true for the early Christians and true for us today. Eating meals with each other is important. Having a meal with Jesus (communion) is essential.
Recalibrate: If Jesus broke bread with you today, what question would you need to answer?
Respond: Pray for a heart responsive to Jesus’ call.
Research: How often should we celebrate communion together?
Recharge: Wonder/Adventure/Purpose
In everything I do today Jesus, can we wrap it in how much you love this world? Jesus loves the world and all of us in it. Take time with your child to admire nature together.
Sometimes sharing is tough. Have you ever thought about how sharing something, maybe cookies or candy, just spreads the joy around? How much better is it when we spread love around? Love is the sweetest thing and God designed it to be shared. Guess what? Love never gets smaller, and when it’s shared it gets bigger! Jesus does that!
Last week we talked about how important it is to do things together. Life is so much better when you share it with others What’s something you can invite friends to do with you? Go for a walk, play a video game, make dinner . . . ?