Photographer Ted Cavanaugh, Shoot date 03/22/2018, Publish Date 06/01/2018, Embargo Expiration Date 01/01/2019

A good first day back as we get back to a full 5 days in school for all kids. Father, I would ask for patience for all adults involved and cooperation from all our kiddos. Amen.

Luke 24:35-43 (<<click here to read the passage)

I recently read an informative online article from NPR (National Public Radio).

We’ve heard the colloquialism “The proof is in the pudding.” But did you know that that version of it is actually a new twist on a very old proverb? The original version is the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And what it meant was that you had to try out food in order to know whether it was good. … the word pudding itself has changed. In Britain, dating back centuries, pudding meant more than a sweet dessert. Back then, pudding referred to a kind of sausage, filling the intestines of some animal with minced meat and other things – something you probably want to try out carefully since that kind of food could be rather treacherous.

Upon their return from Emmaus the two followers of Jesus were sharing of their interaction with the risen Christ when without warning, Jesus stood amongst them! Though He proclaimed, “Peace be with you,” it says the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

The passage goes on to say,

“Why are you frightened?” [Jesus] asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.

Their emotions were all over the place. Yes, He had shared about all these things but just because they had heard what He said doesn’t mean they had understood it. Even standing in His presence at that moment, it still wasn’t sinking in. But the proof of the pudding – Jesus being who He said He was and doing what He did – is in the eating. In other words, seeing Him, touching Him, watching Him eat a bite of broiled fish was the proof they needed. It gave them something solid and tangible to get ahold of. The meaning of the colloquialism meant that they had to try to do that to know that what seemed too good to be true, was true!

And Jesus, glorious Jesus, was patient as always. He understood the humanity of their anxiety. It was a shock, but He helped them out in the transition, helping them to take it all in…one bite at a time.

Lord Jesus, hindsight is most definitely of great benefit. We know who You are, but there are still times when we just aren’t sure. We question the reality of where we find ourselves and how You fit into that reality. We would ask that You enable us to believe…even if we have to do it in bite-size pieces. Amen.

Jan 25th, 2021, Mon, 6:11 pm