Pondering and wondering - Tōmānatu ma taumatemate

Scripture Focus: Luka 24:9-16

returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles. These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened. Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
- Luke 24:9-16 (WEB)

Study:

This passage immediately after the resurrection accounts is striking in its depiction of disbelief. The women, the first witnesses, are met with skepticism by the apostles – their report is dismissed as “nonsense.” Even Peter, known for his impulsiveness, offers a curious response: he *looks* and *sees* the empty tomb, yet leaves still ‘wondering’. This isn't a confident declaration of resurrection, but a puzzled inquiry. It highlights the immense difficulty people had grasping the reality of Jesus’ victory over death.

The story then shifts to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They’re actively discussing the earth-shattering events, yet Jesus walks alongside them, undetected. Their eyes are ‘kept from recognizing him’ – a powerful image suggesting that their grief and preconceived notions hindered their ability to perceive the truth. The resurrection isn't a matter of simply seeing proof; it's a matter of having eyes opened to a new reality. They were so focused on *what had been lost* that they couldn't recognize *what had been found*.

Application:

How often do we, like the apostles, dismiss reports that challenge our established beliefs? How often do we, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, miss God’s presence in our lives because we're preoccupied with our own sorrows and expectations? This passage calls us to humility—to be open to the possibility that God is working in ways we don't anticipate. It's a reminder that encountering Jesus often happens when we least expect it, and recognizing him requires a willingness to challenge our assumptions and see the world through a new lens.

Reflection Questions:

• What areas of your life might you be dismissing possibilities without fully considering them?
• In what ways might your own grief or disappointments be blinding you to God’s presence?
• How can you cultivate a more open and receptive heart, ready to recognize Jesus in unexpected places?
• Peter *saw* the empty tomb but still departed wondering. How does this challenge our idea of 'faith' and 'belief'?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see you in our lives. Forgive us for the times we have doubted your presence and dismissed your truth. Help us to be humble and receptive, ready to recognize you in the unexpected. Grant us the grace to see beyond our own sorrow and preconceived notions, and to embrace the reality of your resurrection power. Amen.

Tags:Luke, Resurrection, Emmaus, Disbelief, Faith, Gospel, Easter, Wonder, Peter, Mary Magdalene, Jesus, Scripture, Bible Study, Christianity, Samoan, Toetu