Lilac Ministries

Bible Study Lessons

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Scripture: Luke 24:33-49

Topic: A Gathering in Jerusalem


Today we followed Cleopas and his companion as they traveled back to Jerusalem, where they were greeted with stories and marvelings similar to their own. In the midst of all the excitement, Jesus appeared to them and encouraged them.

Additionally, we looked at Acts 1, where Luke continues his narration of the events that followed the Resurrection of the Lord. Here Luke recounts that both men and women prayed for the power from on high that Jesus promised just prior to what is considered to be THE Ascension. Luke 24, however, recounts AN appearance and ascension (on Easter), while John would seem to imply that THE Ascension and glorification of Jesus happened on Easter Sunday.

We noted that the affirmation of personal experiences, both good and bad, is very important. Divide and conquer is an effective tool. We become discouraged when we believe that we are alone in how we feel or in what we have seen. On the other hand, there is great encouragement in finding others who have experienced similar things. And our perspective of ourselves and of others can be transformed in a fundamental way by the knowledge that people of different backgrounds have been similarly afflicted or similarly comforted.

We spoke of the possibility of meeting one another in spirit - being able to see beyond the earthly identities of others and being able to experience, in some way, the Spirit within them. Is there a “blessed community” that reaches beyond church membership? Is THIS what is meant by “communion of saints”? Can our worship with others be more than a social gathering? Can it be a spiritual binding together of those seeking to meet Christ? Can our reading of scripture be more than an obedient exercise? Can it be a seeking out of ancient friends with similar experiences?

Several in our group told stories of where they had “seen Jesus” during the past few weeks - in the care one church member had received from others during her illness, in a conversation with a particularly motivated young man, in a time of singing with a believer recently bereaved. May we have eyes to see the Lord in the weeks to come.