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PONDERING AND WONDERING (LUKE:24:9-16)

REFLECTION

Pondering and wondering is the theme for our reflection. To ponder means to think or reflect deeply after witnessing an event. To wonder, on the other hand, is a feeling of great surprise and admiration caused by seeing or experiencing something that is strange and new. The resurrection of Jesus was a mysterious event that kept even His disciples pondering and wondering.

Beloved in the Lord, usually, we do not ponder and wonder about usual occurrences or things we are familiar with but when we are hit with unexpected news, whether good or bad, our limited minds begin pondering and wondering with limitless questions. This was the situation of Peter and other believers who either saw or heard about the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection, although foretold by Jesus himself, was not an ordinary event or occurrence for the human mind to comprehend or understand. It was for this reason when Peter and the other disciples were told by the women that Jesus had resurrected, we are told “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke 24:11-12) Again were also told others who were journeying to Emmaus were also pondering over the news when they were joined by Jesus. “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:13-16)

Beloved in the Lord, even in the twenty-first century people are still pondering and wondering about the resurrection of Jesus. Some have chosen to believe it others have decided to disbelieve it. Whatever you choose to believe the fact is that the pondering and wondering of Peter and other believers were cleared. This was confirmed when Peter preached for the first time after the Resurrection and Pentecost event saying “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:39-43) Beloved in the Lord, in our dispensation or generation, we must move from pondering and wondering in doubt to faith and hope. We must no longer consider the resurrection an event that did not make sense but an event that completed our faith and salvation. We are greatly admonished by the writer of Hebrews that ” without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Again, Jesus said to Thomas “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) Friend, we must go out there to proclaim Christ to the world without doubts in our minds because He is risen and interceding on our behalf until the final day of His appearing.

In summary, we have greatly admonished that, unlike believers who pondered and wondered about the resurrection of Jesus in doubt, we must live in faith and hope of the resurrected Jesus eagerly expecting His second coming and redemption.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith, and may we be empowered by the resurrection event to go into the world and proclaim Christ. Amen.