Carpenter Diem (Because Jesus Was a Carpenter and Is Now Preparing a Home for His People)
The resurrection of God the Son, Jesus Christ, is crucial to the Christian faith. In Luke 24:13-35, we read of the resurrected Savior walking the road to Emmaus. This specific geographical reference reminds us of the absolute accuracy of God’s Word in all areas. In verse 27, Jesus begins to teach from the Old Testament; He not only walked the talk but also talked the walk! This passage does not reveal the exact Scriptures Jesus employed to teach these journeying believers, but we do know that He fulfilled the entire Old Testament (Matthew 5:17,18). Fulfilled prophecy is one of the major reasons that we can be certain that our faith in Jesus is not misplaced. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
In thirty-nine daily writings, we have traveled with Jesus through the Old Testament. In Luke 24:36-53, Jesus returned to the disciples in Jerusalem. In verses 44-45, He teaches again from the Old Testament, leading into the Gospel message (verses 46-49). Jesus died for our sins, rose the third day as He had predicted, and offers full and free forgiveness forever for all who place faith in Him. Unlike these disciples, we are not direct “witnesses of these things.” However, we have ample evidence, including fulfilled prophecy, upon which to base our faith. Moreover, we have been granted the gift of God the Holy Spirit indwelling each Christian (verse 49). Note that the last act of Jesus before He ascended to heaven was to bless His people (verses 50-51). Our Savior never stops saving us! May we be filled with His “great joy.”