Hope Is Real 

“Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.” – Luke 24:31-34. 

The last few years have been hard financially, mentally, and physically. If your hope has waned a little bit over the last few years consider how the two disciples of Jesus felt on the walk to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-34) 

The disciples on the Emmaus road are feeling a little low. Jesus is dead, yet life goes on. The scenarios they envisioned no longer seem viable, so there is nothing left to do but go home and figure out where they go from here. Plus, with all that transpired, it probably seemed like the safest choice.

But as they walked, their new walking companion decried their lack of faith and spoke wonderful things to them from the Bible. At the end of the Luke passage, the disciples said “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” That evening after the long journey home, Jesus sat with His two disciples and did what He’d done so many times before. He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them (Luke 24:30). And when they ate, the disciples’ eyes were opened to their Savior. With them was hope Himself. And they ran back to Jerusalem to share the good news with their brothers and sisters. They went home mourning a dead Jesus but on the way, they met a living Savior.  

Hope often works that way. When things seem bleak, Jesus does His best work. But here is the thing: It is up to us to see it. We are the very reason He lived, died, and rose again. He wants us to have hope. That day, Jesus taught two of His followers, and us, to not set their hope on the uncertainty of worldly riches. Rather set our hope on God: “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17) We are on the victory side not because we have overcome anything, but because Jesus, our hope, has overcome everything.  

In Hebrews 6:17-19 Jesus is described as the hope set before us and the anchor of our souls. When the Bible uses the word hope, it does not mean mere wishful thinking. Hope in Scripture means trusting in God’s faithfulness. We have a confidence that cannot be shaken or moved because of what Jesus has accomplished.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does a hope filled life look like?
2. Through Christ, we have hope. How can that be evident in your life this week?