(July 31, 2024) Robert McQuillan shares ‘post Calvary’ thoughts…  

Ever recall Luke 24:28-29, those two interesting but often overlooked verses? Let me remind you of the scenario…

Two disciples were so disheartened and discouraged when they began their Emmaus road journey but had been greatly encouraged by a mysterious stranger who seemed to know everything. And they hadn’t recognised Him as the risen Christ!

Now on approaching the village this mysterious stranger had ‘… continued on as if He were going farther’ (porrhotero…  a greater distance).

And they strongly urged Him not to travel on but to ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ Over versions tell they constrained Him… (parabiazomia… to force contrary to one’s wishes, to compel).

Where was Jesus going to go on to share good news about His messianic reality, His resurrection and His power over death? Perhaps Jappa, where He hadn’t been before?

And what if those blessed disciples had overcome their tiredness from that three-hour journey from Jerusalem, had not worried about physical refreshment and personal comfort, and had travelled further with this mysterious stranger who had explained so much of scripture to them, brightening their day and causing their downers to vanish?

Challenges
The  reality was that they hadn’t recognised this mysterious stranger was Jesus! Didn’t even ask His name. Yet here was Jesus risen from the grave and freshly filled with resurrection power out to accomplish more achievements before going off to His new address in heaven! He had already done so much for them on Calvary, and now on that road and was wanting to move on as He still had much to do for others.

 But… this was still the Jesus who cared for individuals as well as the crowds, and graciously He consented to stay with them, at least to reveal more over a meal. It was during this mealtime that their eyes became fully opened and the penny dropped that they actually recognised Him as their risen Lord! ‘Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road…?’ they exclaimed (v32).

The ISV reads, ‘Our hearts kept burning…’ I often wonder what else Luke could have written if they’d moved on with Jesus. Perhaps Luke’s gospel would not have ended with chapter 24!

So often Jesus urges us to ‘move on’ in His resurrection power — Holy Spirit Acts 1:8 power— to know more  about Him, His ways and His supernatural might. To get out of our comfort zone — comfort boat if you like — like the challenged Peter who dared walk on the water with faith in Him. To stretch ourselves beyond our current station and dare believe we can achieve more for Jesus and His church, His kingdom!

And in doing so experience more personal joy and satisfaction as we dare to move into new areas of service for Jesus. Maybe it’s sharing Him with unchurched, unsaved people ‘out there’ or assisting some department of our current spiritual church-home, sharing our testimonies and our faith journey, or asking the pastor if we can help with his visitation list… or moving on to some Christian organisation. What words of fire is the Lord whispering in your heart? Perhaps are burning there already?

Constrictions
We can get so tied up in comfort zones, pettiness and foolish criticism, lack of faith and trust, only recalling ‘yesterday’s glories’, deceptive tunnel vision, tricky lies of Satan, not feeling equipped or valuable enough, self-needs, complacency, ‘local kingdom myopia’ and other sidetracking constrictions that cause us to want to stop where we’ve reached and just rest — and not just for a night!

And all the time Jesus is wanting — requiring — us to travel farther! In a way, this reminds me of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Now I know that many have moved on… praise God for their accomplishments! But… how far have I travelled, progressed? How far have you?

I hear from individuals and churches that 2024 has proved an interesting year to date as they’ve believed God is still in charge despite continuing world darkness, escalating crime especially by young folk, shootings, war threats, casualties, and illnesses. But Jesus requires that we keep trusting Him whatever each new day brings!

He commanded that ‘As long as it is day we must do the work of Him who sent me’(John 9:4a). And why? ‘Night is coming, when no one can work’ (9b). By the way, Jesus used a word we don’t like to hear— ‘work’… ergazomai, to toil. But where would Christianity be if the early church and Jesus’ followers since hadn’t toiled (Or our nation, creative inventers and their discoveries, and such be if people hadn’t toiled?).

Come August 1 we only have 155 days of 2024 left, 210 gone already! What does Jesus want you — me — to travel on to, move into now? We’ll only know if we listen for the Holy Spirit’s gentle voice and then dare leave our comfort zones and travel farther on with Jesus… whatever the cost and be like Peter daring to trust His Lord and get out of the boat (Matthew 14:29).

Convictions
In my own lifetime there were times when I foolishly stayed put in relative security — and missed out! Hallelujah for that evening when I heard the Spirit gently speak to my heart: ‘Robert, will you trust your Lord… and dare go farther whatever the cost?’

Challenged? Slightly scared? Oh yes! But I did dare follow Him into what seemed dark nights ahead (still am!). I learned to watch for, to listen for, the Holy Spirit giving me many more moving on instructions and experiences over many decades since. Life has become so exciting and greatly rewarding, even in dark times. My Lord has never failed me! I just hand everything over to Him (Psalm 55:22; Phillipians 4:6-7; 1Peter 5:7).

It’s obviously important to Jesus that we learn to go farther with Him whether we’re called ministers or just ‘one of the flock.’ Actually we’re all ‘ministers’ with abilities whatever they may be (2Corinthians 3:6… competent ministers, so no excuse!).

Constraints
That road to Emmaus led on to Jaffa (Joppa)… Peter was constrained to go there working miracles and sharing the good news (Acts 9:36-43).

Emmaus is a  Semitic word for ‘warm spring’ and the Greek variant of the Hebrew word and place-name for hot springs. Those two previously disheartened disciples were certainly warmed in their hearts… (kaio… set on fire) and they hotly spring into action!

Cleopas and his mate were constrained to promptly go on! But their immediate going on was to go back to Jerusalem and proclaim the risen Christ to the waiting eleven disciples. Maybe Cleopas was even constrained to rush home and tell his wife Mary who had stood faithfully at the cross watching Jesus die for the sins of humanity (John 19:25).

The point is that they got on with the business of proclaiming that Jesus was alive! May we—

• Not try to restrain Jesus.
• Hotly desire to go farther.
• Know the Holy Spirit fire baptism (Matthew 3:11), not just water baptism.
• Fulfill scriptures such as Colossians 1:10 ‘… and please Him in every way.’
• And may Jesus not be a mysterious stranger to us!

So then — what’s your current ‘new’ destination? Are you game? Are you constrained? If so, praise God that the blessed Holy Spirit will help you!

‘The day’ is not over… and Jesus will be pleased!

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Dr Robert and Pastor Maureen McQuillan’s links are OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook
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