April 22: O Foolish Ones, Don’t You Know?
♫ Music:
Day 49 - Tuesday, April 22
Title: O Foolish Ones, Don’t You Know?
Scripture: Luke 24:19–32 (NKJV)
And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
Poetry & Poet:
“The Theology of Doubt”
by Scott Cairns
I have come to believe this fickleness
of belief is unavoidable. As, for these
back lot trees, the annual loss
of leaves and fruit is unavoidable.
I remember hearing that soft-soap
about faith being given
only to the faithful—mean trick,
if you believe it. This afternoon,
during my walk, which
I have come to believe is good
for me, I noticed one of those
ridiculous leaves hanging
midway up an otherwise naked oak.
The wind did what it could
to bring it down, but the slow
learner continued dancing. Then again,
once, hoping for the last
good apple, I reached among
bare branches, pulling into my hand
an apple too soft for anything
and warm to the touch, fly-blown.
O FOOLISH ONES, DON’T YOU KNOW?
Many Christians (including myself) choose not to focus on the blood and gore associated with Christ’s crucifixion. However, to experience the good news of the Resurrection to the fullest, Christians must spend the Season of Lent examining their hearts, asking for forgiveness, and clinging tightly to the One who is the way to Victory.
To progress on their spiritual journey, Christians must believe that Christ has risen from the dead. The response of the Disciples who heard the women tell of the empty tomb and the vision of Angels was one of doubt. Scott Cairns’ poem “The Theology of Doubt” underscores that doubt is “unavoidable” (l. 2) and explains that the desire to understand the “Ways” of God leads to belief. Belief is reserved for those who are faithful––the ones that “the wind did what it could/to bring down, but the slow learner continued dancing” (ll.14-16). The resilient Christians who confront their doubts and seek an authentic relationship with God are well described in Cairns’ words as they progress toward unshakeable faith.
Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus illustrates Christ’s patience as he repeats from the Scriptures all the details about Himself to those who doubt the women. Caravaggio and Cairns view doubt as a valid component of every Christian’s walk and use their art to portray Christ’s patience and understanding with those who are seeking the Truth. Christ presents infallible proofs of His resurrection; however, he addresses only those who would advance the Kingdom in the future and possess the courage to acknowledge their doubts. Believers today must search the Scriptures in the same way to be armed with the evidence to squelch their doubts and to bring additional Believers into the Kingdom.
It is easy for Christians to lose their joy as they struggle to deepen their relationship with God and consider the brokenness of the world around them. However, C.S. Lewis writes these words to those who are discouraged by the world’s troubles as the Day of Resurrection approaches: “Away with tears and fears and troubles! United in wedlock with the eternal Godhead Itself, our nature ascends into the Heaven of Heaven. So, it would be impious to call ourselves ‘miserable.’ On the contrary, Man is a creature whom the Angels––were they capable of envy––would envy. Let us lift up our hearts! At some future time perhaps even these things it will be a joy to recall” (The Quotable Lewis, p. 175).
Day 49 is part of Bright Week. During this week, Christians greet one another with these words: “Christ is Risen; Christ is Risen Indeed.” It is a time of joy, celebration, and acknowledgement that progress toward greater understanding of God’s ways has occurred. Songs such as The Accord Collective’s “Road to Emmaus” moves the hearts of listeners as they rejoice in the words “Hallelujah! Christ is alive!” and replace any existing doubts with immovable belief.
Prayer:
Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only Sinless One. We worship Thy Cross, O Christ, and Thy Resurrection we hymn and glorify, for Thou art our God, and we know none other beside Thee, we call upon Thy name. O come, all ye faithful, let us worship Christ’s Holy resurrection: For behold, through the Cross joy hath come to all the world. Ever blessing the Lord, let us hymn His Resurrection; for having endured Crucifixion, He hath destroyed Death by death.
–––https://spro.church/prayers-during-bright-week/
Dr. Christie Curtis
Associate Dean
Graduate Chair, School of Education
Associate Professor
Biola University
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab
About the Art:
Supper at Emmaus
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
1601
Oil on canvas
141 x 196.2 cm
National Gallery
London, England
Public Domain
On the third day after the crucifixion, two of Jesus’s disciples were walking to Emmaus when they met the resurrected Christ. They failed to recognize Him, and it was only at supper, later, when He broke the bread (Luke 24:30) that "their eyes were opened" and they recognized Him (Luke 24:31). The painting depicts the moment when the resurrected but incognito Jesus reveals Himself to two of His disciples in the town of Emmaus, only to soon vanish from their sight. Painted at the height of Caravaggio’s fame, this is among his most impressive religious paintings. He brilliantly captures the dramatic climax of the story, the moment when the disciples suddenly see what has been in front of them all along. Their actions convey their astonishment: one is about to leap out of his chair while the other throws out his arms in a gesture of disbelief. The stark lighting underlines the dramatic intensity of the scene. Typically for Caravaggio, he has shown the disciples as ordinary working men, with bearded, lined faces and ragged clothes, in contrast to his portrayal of a youthful, beardless Christ, who seems to have come from a different world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supper_at_Emmaus_(Caravaggio,_London)
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/michelangelo-merisi-da-caravaggio-the-supper-at-emmaus
About the Artist:
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), known simply as Caravaggio, was an Italian baroque painter whose influence and fame spanned far beyond his short career. He was trained in Milan, Italy, and joined the art scene in Rome with his first two commissions in 1600, after which he never lacked patronage. Despite his wild personal life and death at age thirty-eight, the influence of his work can be seen in the works of other important artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Bernini, and Rembrandt. His distinctive style is characterized by thoughtful observation of the human condition, realistic depictions of emotions, and the use of tenebrism or intensely dramatic lighting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggio
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/crvg/hd_crvg.htm
About the Music: “Road to Emmaus”—Live Session
Lyrics:
Why do you walk down the road to Emmaus?
Don't you know Christ is alive?
Why are you weeping and why do you wander?
Don't you know Christ is alive?
Don't you know prophets foretold of the day?
That the Savior would be lowered into a grave?
But death could not hold him, His glory awaits.
Hallelujah––Christ is alive!
Why do you doubt Him and seek after signs?
Don't you know Christ is alive?
Why do you reach for the holes in His hands?
Don't you know Christ is alive?
Every last Thomas is lifted from shame,
When they fall to their knees and confess Jesus’ name.
Blessed are those who don't see but still claim.
Hallelujah––Christ is alive!
Why do you tarry and cover the light?
Don't you know Christ is alive?
Ask of the nations and every last tribe.
Don't you know Christ is alive?
Go make disciples and baptize all men,
For the day is approaching when he'll come again.
As his sons and daughters we’ll reign without end.
Hallelujah––Christ is alive!
Go make disciples and baptize all men,
For the day is approaching when he'll come again.
As his sons and daughters we’ll reign without end.
Hallelujah––Christ is alive!
Hallelujah––Christ is alive!
About the Composers/Performers: The Accord Collective
No information available.
About the Poetry and Poet:
Scott Cairns (b. 1954) is an American poet, memoirist, and essayist. Cairns earned a B.A. from Western Washington University, an M.A. from Hollins University, an M.F.A. from Bowling Green State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah. Cairns has served on the faculties of Kansas State University, Westminster College, University of North Texas, Old Dominion University, and University of Missouri. While at the University of North Texas, he served as editor of the American Literary Review. Cairns is the author of eight collections of poetry, one collection of translations of Christian mystics, one spiritual memoir, and a book-length essay on suffering. He also co-edited The Sacred Place, an anthology of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, with writer Scott Olsen. Cairns is currently the program director of Seattle Pacific University’s M.F.A. in Creative Writing program. Cairns has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and was awarded the Denise Levertov Award in 2014.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/scott-cairns
https://imagejournal.org/artist/scott-cairns/
About the Devotion Writer:
Dr. Christie Curtis
Associate Dean
Graduate Chair, School of Education
Associate Professor
Biola University
A native Californian, Christie Curtis specializes in grammar and writing curriculum development. Utilizing her experiences as a former public and private school teacher, she has authored student editions, teacher editions, and supplementary workbooks for grammar and writing. She has written weekly "Grammar Gems" for Biola University's Inside Story, and has provided teaching seminars for Biola's staff and faculty in her areas of expertise including grammar, sentence structure, proofreading, editing, revising, and communication. Curtis has been married for forty-seven years and enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.