We Had Hoped
Read This Week: Luke 24
About Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus. – Luke 24:19-24 NIV
In the Gospel of Luke 24, we encounter one of the most honest and relatable moments in Scripture; a conversation shaped by disappointment, confusion, and unmet expectations. As the disciples recount the events surrounding Jesus, they say, But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. That simple phrase ‘we had hoped’ captures the tension between what they believed God would do and what they were actually experiencing. They had seen Jesus’ power, heard His teaching, and believed in His mission. Yet, the crucifixion seemed to contradict everything. Like many of us, they weren’t struggling with whether God was powerful, but with why His plan didn’t unfold the way they expected.
What makes this passage even more interesting is that they spoke these words after the resurrection had already occurred. They were living in the reality of God’s greatest victory, but still interpreting their circumstances through the lens of defeat. This contrast reveals a deeply practical truth: we can be in the middle of God’s unfolding work and still feel like everything has fallen apart. Often, we misinterpret the middle of the story. For example, we assume that delay means denial, think silence means absence, and believe difficulty means failure. Yet, Luke 24 shows us that God’s purposes are often at work beneath the surface, beyond what we can immediately see or understand.
In their discouragement, the disciples begin walking away from Jerusalem—the place where redemption was accomplished. Yet, Jesus meets them there, on the road going in the wrong direction. He doesn’t begin by correcting them, but by asking, What things? He invites them to process their disappointment, put words to their confusion, and wrestle honestly with what they are feeling. This is profoundly encouraging because it reminds us that God is not put off by our questions or unmet expectations. He meets us in them, steps into our conversations, even when filled with doubt, and walks with us until we begin to see more clearly.
The disciples had the facts: Jesus was crucified, the tomb was empty, and there were reports that He was alive, but they lacked understanding. That’s where many of us live today. We see pieces of what is happening in our lives and struggle to interpret them correctly. We often draw conclusions too quickly, assuming that what appears to be a loss is final. Yet this passage reminds us that God’s work doesn’t always align with our expectations, but always with His greater purpose. What feels like an ending may actually be a turning point, and what looks like defeat may be the very path to redemption.
Luke 24 invites us to reconsider our we had hoped moments. Instead of seeing them as evidence that God has failed us, we can view them as places where our understanding is still catching up to His plan. It challenges us not to walk away too soon, disengage when things don’t make sense, or assume silence means God is absent. It reminds us that Jesus is often closer than we realize, walking with us in confusion and patiently leading us toward clarity. If we find ourselves holding onto disappointment, we can take heart: we are not at the end of the story. We may simply be in a moment where God is doing more than we can yet see, inviting us to trust Him beyond our expectations and into something far greater than we had hoped.
We don’t have to hope. We know that He is the resurrected Savior and always wins. May we live like that.
This is what I got from God in Luke 24.In this chapter, we are reminded the stone was rolled away, so that others could see in and be persuaded that Jesus Christ was and is risen from the dead. This also reminded me how valuable we are in the Kingdom. When He was resurrected, He revealed Himself to women first, as the Risen Savior, and they were given the privilege of being first to tell others of this. Jesus wants to know we can believe without seeing with our own eyes? We must have faith and belief. If we do, He becomes more real to us. The main obstacle to belief is in our heart, not our head. Jesus left blessing His people, and He continues to commission us as His witnesses as we wait for His return.
Fourteen years ago, on Easter weekend, was the worse weekend of my life. My 21 year old son, Justin, was killed in a car accident. I was very close to my children. That Saturday before Easter Sunday, I was sitting in my driveway sobbing and wailing at God in the middle of the night. As I was crying out to Him, I cried out “I lost my son!” I clearly heard God say to me, “I lost My son.” That stopped me in the middle of my grief, as it revealed to me that God knew exactly how I felt, and I acknowledged it, which brought me comfort. God had to watch His Son Jesus suffer on the Cross. I did not have to watch my son suffer. God also told me I had to speak at Justin’s funeral. I said no, but He told me all those kids needed to hear it from me. There were 800 people there, mostly college aged kids. I and my daughter, both spoke. Over 20 people got saved, and many other seeds were planted. That verse “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, was what I held onto through all of that. God also wants us all to hold on to that verse with whatever we go through. Jesus died on the Cross so that can be forgiven, and have a relationship with God our Father. “He is risen!” Do not take that for granted.
Luke Chapter 24 Verses 5-8/31-32/45
5. And as [the women] were frightened and were bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among [those who are] dead?
6. He is not here, but has risen! Remember how he told you while He was still in Galilee
7. That the Son of Man must be given over into the hands of sinful (men whose way or nature is to act in opposition to God) and be crucified and on the third day rise [from death].
8. And they remembered His words.
31. When their eyes were instantly opened and they [clearly] recognized Him, and He vanished (departed invisibly).
32. And they said to one another, Were not our hearts greatly moved and burning within us while He was walking with us on the road and as He opened and explained to us [the sense of] the Scriptures?
45. Then He [thoroughly] opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures.
~When Darkness Fades Away~
God Is Saying To Me:
Your eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, which is Me. I reveal Myself to you. My grace has helped your aching heart and burning desires to respond with glee. I say I am with you because I gave Myself so you can be set free!
What This Means To Me:
When I give my spirit to God through acceptance of faith in Christ, the yearning and desire to know God more and more deepens as I allow Him to calm the chaos and feel me with peace and understanding. My eyes and heart were once blinded by the world, but now I see and understand more with each waking day, celebrating and praising His holy name.
******Father God Also Gave Me This Insight******
~I Am Alive~
God Is Saying To Me:
Don’t look for me. I am not there. The stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty. I was moved in the night but you don’t know where. My body isn’t there. I’m alive! I’m alive. The lamb (Me) that was slain is alive with all power in My name. I’m alive! I’m alive! Forever, I shall reign. I’m alive! I’m alive! They crucified me on Calvary but I Rose in victory! I’m alive! I’m alive! I conquered my enemies and put them under my feet with all power in my name. I’m alive! I’m alive! Heaven’s Gates are opened wide. There I stand with arms wide open. You’re forgiven! You’re forgiven! I’m alive, yes, I’m alive!
What This Means To Me:
Jesus knew His assignment which was to give His life to eradicate sin for all humanity. He loves me and always greets me with open arms, and light shining through His eyes and heart. He loves me! He’s alive in my heart by humble faith with each new day. He’s alive in my heart! (John 3:16) Thank you God that You are alive and your Holy Spirit guides and protects me because You are alive! You have forgivin me and You ❤️ me! ❤️❤️❤️
Are you born again?
Have you been made new—given a new life, a new awakening from God?
Or are you still asleep… still living, but not truly alive?
Because there is a kind of life that looks normal on the outside—but inside, something is missing. Something is not connected. Something is not alive.
And the truth is, death does not have victory over the believer—because Jesus has already overcome death. So then what is real death? It is not just physical. Real death is separation from God.
And a person can live their entire life saying no.
No to God.
No to truth.
No to His voice.
And over time, that “no” becomes a direction. And that direction leads to separation… to loss… to carrying every hurt, every burden, every unmet longing—into eternity apart from Him.
But there is another response.
There is the moment where a person says yes.
Yes to Jesus.
Yes to the truth.
Yes to the hand that is reaching out to them in love.
And when that happens, everything changes.
You are born again.
You are made new.
What was old begins to pass away, and something new begins to take hold.
Your eyes begin to open—you once were blind, now you begin to see.
You are no longer alone—you now have access to the Father.
There is help. There is direction. There is life.
And this life is not just for later—it begins now.
You can walk with God.
You can experience His presence.
You can receive His peace, His joy, His contentment.
And the world cannot give that.
The world does not offer that.
There are people living separated—striving, searching, never fully satisfied.
And there are those who, through Christ, are alive—connected, walking with God.
And this is what we have been called into.
Not just to hear it—but to respond.
Not just to understand it—but to live it.
To rise up, through Christ, into the life that God has made available.
To walk in it. To grow in it. To receive from Him. To live as sons and daughters.
And what begins here does not end here.
We rise with Him here and now…
and we will rise to Him fully in the life to come.
1. You Must Be Born Again
This is not optional. This is not a suggestion. This is not one path among many. Jesus said to Nicodemus—you must be born again. Not improved. Not cleaned up. Not more disciplined. Born again.
You were born once of the flesh—that’s your natural life. But there must be another birth, a birth of the Spirit. Something has to happen inside of you that you cannot manufacture. It’s not behavior modification—it’s transformation.
A person can be around truth, understand things, even agree with it—and still not be born again. Being born again is when the Spirit of God brings you to life on the inside—where everything begins to change.
2. Rise Up Out of Death
The call is clear: Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead…
This is not talking about physical death—it’s talking about a condition. A person can be living, moving, functioning—and still be spiritually dead, separated from God, disconnected from the source of life.
But the call of God is not to remain there. It is to rise up out of that condition. To come out of separation. To come out of that place where something is missing, where something is not right, where there is no true life inside.
You were not created to stay in that state. You were created to rise—to come out of death and into life, here and now.
3. Live in Heaven Now—and Continue With Him Forever
When that life begins, it doesn’t wait until the end—it starts now. There is a real connection with God, access to Him, a life lived in His presence through the Spirit.
This is what it means to have heaven touching your life now. Peace, clarity, direction, relationship with God. The Spirit of God in you, giving you access to the Father.
And it does not stop here. Scripture is clear—when we leave this body, we are present with the Lord. What has begun now continues fully then.
So there are only two paths: to remain separated and carry that separation forward, or to be brought into life and carry that life forward.
PODCAST
This Week in the Life: Luke 24
The Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405message.wav
Luke 24 — When Jesus Reveals Himself
Can I just ask you something from my heart…
Have you ever had a moment where you thought,
“I really thought this was going to turn out different…”
“I thought God was going to do it another way…”
And deep down inside…
you found yourself saying,
“I was hoping…”
What I See About God’s Heart
When I read this… I don’t see a distant Father God.
I see a Father who lives His children and loves to reveal Himself. Through Jesus His Son.
What I feel Him saying is:
“You’re not alone in this… I’m right here… I’m walking with you.”
That’s His heart. That’s Jesus’ Heart.
That’s what I see!
He doesn’t stay far away when we’re hurting or confused… when we don’t understand.
He is right there.
What I See Happening Here
after Jesus was crucified.
And when I read this part… I can feel it.
There’s these two disciples walking away…
and I see disappointment all over them.
They actually say:
“We were hoping…” in (Luke 24:21 AMP)
And I just stop there because…
how many times have I said that?
“We were hoping it would be different…”
“We were hoping this would work out…”
What Stands Out to Me — Jesus Comes Close
What touches me the most is this…
As they’re walking away…
Jesus comes and walks right with them.
And when I read that, I think—
how many times in my own life…
have I been walking through something…
and didn’t even realize…
He was right there with me.
Not far.
Not waiting.
Right there.
What I Notice — He Starts Speaking
Then Jesus starts talking to them…
And I love this part because He doesn’t just comfort them—
He speaks truth to them.
“Slow of heart to believe…” (Luke 24:25 AMP)
And I feel that… not as correction.
but love.
Like He’s saying,
“Come on… let Me show you…”
And He begins to walk them through the Scriptures…
And I see this so clearly:
everything was always pointing to Him.
This Is the Part That Gets Me — The Burning
Later they say:
“Were not our hearts burning within us…” (Luke 24:32 AMP)
And this is where it hits my heart.
Because I know that feeling.
When God is speaking…
and something inside of you just starts to come alive…
You can’t always explain it…
but you feel it.
That’s Him.
What I See — Then Their Eyes Open
And then… it says their eyes were opened.
“Their eyes were opened…” (Luke 24:31 AMP)
And I noticed something…
It didn’t happen at the beginning.
It happened after:
He walked with them
He spoke to them
Their hearts started burning…
Then they could see.
And This Changes Everything
When they realize it’s Him…
they don’t keep walking away.
They turn around.
Immediately.
And I love that.
Because that’s what happens to us too…
When we really see Him—
everything changes. Every time I get a revelation it’s a wonderful feeling inside my heart❤️
This is what hits me always, every time something happens!
Knowing Jesus is always walking with us… even when we don’t realize it.
He speaks… and something starts to awaken inside of us.
Our hearts begin to burn…
and then suddenly…
we see. We know
And when we see—
everything changes
Even when I’ve felt like I was walking away… even feeling alone.
He was still walking with me.
And when I let Him speak to my heart…
something inside of me starts to come alive again and again.
And then I realize..
He was with me the whole time.
It’s a wonderful feeling inside knowing He is always with us! Thank you Jesus ❤️
Prayer you can pray From your Heart
Father God,
Thank You for being so close… even when I don’t see You.
Thank You for walking with me through everything.
Open my heart to hear You more… and let that fire burn inside of me again.
Open my eyes to recognize You… right in the middle of my life.
I’m so thankful Father God that you’re always with us, always ready to help us, but we do need to thank you. Talk to you. Listen and respond.
Thank you that we get to have this life with you and be with you forever and ever!
So thankful that you bless us all the time. Thank you for your love Father God, Jesus and your Holy Spirit.
I love you.❤️
This week in Luke chapter 24 I have a song
Risen
Oh Lord, this is the day. Oh Lord, this is the day. Oh Lord, this is the day you have Risen Your love is pure you died on the cross and on this day you rose from the dead your spirit lives forever. Your spirit lives in our hearts oh Lord, we are blessed because we know you we are trusting in you wanting to live your ways. You are the light in the darkness. You are the peace, joy, loving, father we need throughout our day amen
Wow, our Lord is amazing, what he sacrifice so we could be free. Thank you Lord for your forgiveness and teaching us to forgive others