An Easter Message from President Millard

“While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them…. But they urged him strongly saying ‘Stay with us’….so he went in to stay with them.” Luke 24:15, 29

April 17, 2025

According to the Gospel of Luke, on the afternoon of Easter Sunday, the resurrected and living Jesus appeared to two of his followers on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize him and thought he was simply a stranger who didn’t know what had happened to Jesus in Jerusalem over the weekend. So, to enlighten him, they explained how Jesus was a prophet mighty in deed and word and how the chief priests handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.

They also told him that some of the women in their group had been to the tomb early that Sunday morning and had seen a vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive. Then, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, Jesus interpreted to them all that the scriptures had said about himself and how the Messiah would suffer before entering into his glory.

When the two followers of Jesus arrived at their home in Emmaus, they urged Jesus to stay with them, so “Jesus went in to stay with them.” Then, during the meal when Jesus took bread, broke it and gave it to them their eyes were opened, and they recognized this one, whom they thought was a stranger, as their Living Lord.

During Holy Week we remember that Jesus Christ was betrayed, denied, beaten, condemned, crucified, died and buried in a tomb. And we also remember that God raised Jesus from death to life on what we call Easter Sunday and that he still lives among us today.

Just as Jesus appeared to two of his followers on the road to Emmaus, walked and talked with them, and stayed with them in their home, so we believe that the Risen Christ walks with us in our life journey and stays with us today regardless of the challenging situations we may face.

Consequently, when we go through any loss, disappointment or heartache in our lives, we should remember that the Living Christ walks with us on this sometimes painful road of life. We can trust that he stays with us, comforts us and leads us through the difficult times in our lives.

One of my favorite Easter hymns is entitled “He Lives”:

I serve a risen Savior, he’s in the world today;
I know that he is living whatever foes may say,
I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer,
and just the time I need him, he’s always near.
He Lives, He Lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He Lives, He Lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.

The Good News of Easter is that no matter what challenges we might face or what disappointments occur in our lives, our Risen Savior Jesus Christ walks with us and stays with us forever!

Thanks be to God!
Grace and Peace,
President Kent Millard