This verse, Luke 24:21, is spoken by one of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as they are talking to the resurrected Jesus, whom they do not yet recognize. It reveals their profound disappointment and shattered hopes in the wake of Jesus' crucifixion. Let's break it down:
"But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel..." This is the heart of their sorrow. "Redeem Israel" had specific connotations for the Jewish people of that time. It meant they believed Jesus was the Messiah, sent to deliver Israel from Roman oppression and establish a new, glorious kingdom. They had placed their hopes in Jesus as a political and national savior. His death on the cross completely shattered this expectation. They had assumed 'redemption' meant political liberation.
"...Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened." This highlights the passage of time and the finality they perceived in Jesus' death. The "third day" was significant because Jewish tradition often spoke of rescue coming on the third day. However, for these disciples, it just emphasizes that enough time has passed to confirm that Jesus is definitively dead and their hopes are dashed. They still don't understand the resurrection. It's a lament, almost a resignation to the end of their dreams.
In essence, this verse captures the disciples' utter disillusionment and the contrast between their earthly expectations of Jesus as a political Messiah and the true spiritual redemption he came to offer. Their disappointment highlights a common struggle: understanding the Messiah's mission in terms that transcend immediate political concerns and address the deeper need for salvation from sin and spiritual death. They believed Jesus would free them, but their understanding of what that freedom would entail was limited.
This verse, Luke 24:21, is spoken by one of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as they are talking to the resurrected Jesus, whom they do not yet recognize. It reveals their profound disappointment and shattered hopes in the wake of Jesus' crucifixion. Let's break it down:
"But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel..." This is the heart of their sorrow. "Redeem Israel" had specific connotations for the Jewish people of that time. It meant they believed Jesus was the Messiah, sent to deliver Israel from Roman oppression and establish a new, glorious kingdom. They had placed their hopes in Jesus as a political and national savior. His death on the cross completely shattered this expectation. They had assumed 'redemption' meant political liberation.
"...Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened." This highlights the passage of time and the finality they perceived in Jesus' death. The "third day" was significant because Jewish tradition often spoke of rescue coming on the third day. However, for these disciples, it just emphasizes that enough time has passed to confirm that Jesus is definitively dead and their hopes are dashed. They still don't understand the resurrection. It's a lament, almost a resignation to the end of their dreams.
In essence, this verse captures the disciples' utter disillusionment and the contrast between their earthly expectations of Jesus as a political Messiah and the true spiritual redemption he came to offer. Their disappointment highlights a common struggle: understanding the Messiah's mission in terms that transcend immediate political concerns and address the deeper need for salvation from sin and spiritual death. They believed Jesus would free them, but their understanding of what that freedom would entail was limited.