Daily Dose of Hope
September 26, 2025
Scripture - Luke 24:36-53
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are so amazingly grateful for your grace and love. Forgive us for the many times when we fall short, when we betray you, when we fail to be loving or faithful. We want to grow stronger, Lord, but we can only do so through your power. Lord, help us hear your voice. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, hear our prayers... In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. This is the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. Today, we are finishing up our deep dive into the book of Luke. We are focusing on the second half of Luke 24.
The men from the road to Emmaus had found the other disciples and shared their experience. It's beginning to sink in that something extraordinary has occurred. And just like that, as the disciples are gathered, Jesus appears before them and says, "Peace be with you."
A couple things to note. We know immediately that Jesus' body is different. He has both a human and spiritual body. He came into the room without using a door (that isn't normal), but he also later asks for food. The risen Lord has a body that is different from before. Jesus also shows them his scars. They could touch the places the nails were driven into his body. It showed, once again, that this was really him. He was real – he wasn't a ghost or angel. He is physically resurrected and yet, something is also supernatural about him.
His very first statement to them is also fascinating. Peace be with you. They have experienced anything BUT peace over the last few days. They've dealt with grief, depression, anxiety, uncertainty, and probably even anger. But now, Jesus is saying that he is bringing peace. There is something about the presence of Jesus that brings peace. In fact, Jesus is intrinsically linked to peace, which he provides not in a worldly way but as an internal state of peace with God and tranquility amid life's problems, a gift secured by his sacrifice and available to those who have faith in Him. He is the one that provides the peace that passes understanding, it's a peace that only makes sense connected to him.
In a manner similar to what he did with the men on the road to Emmaus, Jesus then proceeds to walk them through the Scriptures. He shows where this had been prophesied and how God had a plan all along. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law. Jesus was the one that the prophets had been talking about. Jesus was the one that God sent. And while he had done this in other ways during his ministry, he now totally had their attention. Their minds were opened and they began to see.
I once had a Messianic Jewish rabbi tell me that he can share the Gospel message just using Old Testament texts. He says there is so much in the Old Testament that points to Jesus, he feels confident using those scriptures alone to provide evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Lord of all. That is essentially what Jesus is doing here.
How comfortable are you with the Old Testament texts? I would challenge you to look up the many places throughout the Old Testament that speak to Jesus coming to redeem the world. It is essential that we know the Old Testament to truly understand the New Testament.
We finally have the ascension. Jesus tells them to wait for the helper that is going to be sent (which we know is the Holy Spirit) and his body literally ascends into heaven. And we know that he now sits at the right hand of the Father. He is Lord.
What does it mean to you that Jesus is now sitting next to the Father? How does this affect your understanding of the Trinity? How does this affect your understanding of Jesus' work in the world?
Who is Jesus to you?
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
