Latest / Eurasia Region Podcast / S1-E109 | Everyday Eurasia | Mária Gusztinné Tulipán | Easter to Pentecost

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S1-E109 | Everyday Eurasia | Mária Gusztinné Tulipán | Easter to Pentecost · Eurasia Region Podcast

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  This week we have a special edition of the Everyday Eurasia
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  podcast. Voices from across the region
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  take us on our journey from Easter to Pentecost.
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  Today we join Maria Acustinae, Tulipam, rector of EUNC.
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  As we reflect on the beautiful account of the road to emos, we
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  are reminded of a sacred truth. Christ walks with us even when
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  we do not recognise him, in seasons of uncertainty,
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  disorientation or grief, much like the disciples experienced
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  after the crucifixion. It is often in retrospect that
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  we see how near he truly was. We speak of the crucified Jesus,
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  the reason Jesus enthroned Jesus.
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  But on the road to Amos we meet The Walking Jesus, not standing
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  in glory, not seated in majesty, not even teaching from a
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  mountain top, but simply walking alongside weary hearts at their
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  pace, In their confusion, Jesus himself came up and walked along
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  with them. The Jesus who walked with his
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  disciples for three years continues to walk with them as
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  the resurrected Christ. Jesus walks on the road to Amos.
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  He walks the road to Damascus, all kinds of roads.
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  He walks where we walk. We may be walking roads that can
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  feel long and winding. These two services are over, but
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  the questions, the tiredness, and even moments of
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  disappointment may remain. Just like the disciples walking
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  toward Amos, we too may walk, burdened and confused, trying to
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  make sense of recent events. Yes, even on that road Jesus
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  strolls near. So often we walk the road of
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  discipleship unaware that the reason Christ is beside us, not
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  because he's absent, but because our eyes are veiled by routine,
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  exhaustion, confusion, or grace. Still, he listens.
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  He asks. He gently leads.
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  He doesn't wait until we have perfect understanding.
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  This is grace, the Son of God choosing to walk quietly beside
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  us, unrecognized, until our hearts are ready to see Him.
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  But it is in these moments why we are on the road, in
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  conversation, searching, learning, breaking bread, that
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  Christ draws near. These disciples knew all the
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  facts. They could recount every detail
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  what happened to Jesus, what the chief chief priest did, what the
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  women said at the tomb, what other disciples had experienced.
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  They were well informed, and yet they did not recognize him.
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  We know the events, we've heard the sermons, we've read the
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  Scriptures, but our minds are so shaped by what we thought God
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  should do, how we learnt it, how we expected it, how we imagined
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  it, that we miss what God is actually doing in the moment.
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  We know, but we don't understand.
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  And in this way we can miss the very presence of the risen
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  Christ standing in front of us or walking alongside us.
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  We want to figure it out all, and we forget to simply let Him
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  reveal Himself. It is not the information we are
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  missing, it is the revelation. Teach us Christ, not just
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  knowledge but recognition, not just hearing but believing.
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  In the process of working together, as He explained to
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  them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself,
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  something holy happens. Her hearts begin to burn again.
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  Such was the power of His Word even before they knew who He
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  was. If we too wish to see Jesus, we
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  must first listen to the Scriptures.
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  Then when the Word has made our hearts burn within us, we too
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  will recognize Him in the breaking of the bread.
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  And when we look back, we say, like those disciples were not
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  our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the
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  road. That is the question of
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  recognition. Recognition not just of His
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  presence, but of His Word and His movement within our lives.
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  Looking back, we see He has been with us all the way.
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  The road to MO's thus becomes the road back to witness.
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  The disciples go from confusion and grief to recognition and
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  proclamation. Today our hearts may burn with
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  conviction, with calling, or with clarity.
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  That burning is not just emotion, it is transformation.
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  And when our hearts burn again, we return to Our Calling, not
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  because we must, but because we cannot remain silent.
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  But for all this to happen, the disciples made a simple,
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  heartfelt request, and it has changed everything.
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  Stay with us, for it is nearly evening.
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  It was a plea born out of weariness, fear, and the growing
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  shadows of the unknown. They asked Jesus to remain just
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  for the night. But Jesus had something far
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  greater in mind. A few days later, to these same
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  disciples and others who gathered, he would speak a
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  promise that reached beyond one evening.
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  Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.
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  What they asked for was temporary presence.
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  What he gave was eternal companionship.
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  Jesus never only stays for the night.
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  He walks with us into every dawn.
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  Where we fear the darkness, he promises His light.
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  Where we seek momentary comfort, He offers everlasting presents.
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  So still today, The Walking Jesus draws near to you,
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  pastors, parents, teachers, tired and confused believers on
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  quiet roads in ordinary moments. So let us keep walking.
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  May our eyes be opened in fresh ways, and may our hearts burn
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  with renewed passion for Christ's mission, remembering
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  always the reason Christ is not only the destination, He's the
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  companion on the road. Thank you for listening to the
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  Everyday Eurasia Podcast. To find more of our Easter 2
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  Pentecost resources for individuals and small groups,
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  please visit our website euratiaregionorg.