Who is this Simon?

Warrior's Arise: June 29th

Luke 24:32-35 (NKJV) 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?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

These two men walked all the way back to Jerusalem. It is a 7 miles walk! They had already walked 7 miles earlier when Jesus joined them. Luke must have been impressed since he recorded the specific distance. I'm sure they were not sauntering along. They were probably running or speed walking, as much as they could. The excitement reaching all the way to their feet! They had something to tell the eleven disciples.

When they reach them, I imagine they were about to burst with the news. However, they also could have been a little reserved. I bet there was an inner battle. They had important news to share but they had been there when the women had shared the same news they were about to share. Jesus had joined them on the road, heard all new about the horrible things that had happened. However, as soon as they share about the women coming to share exactly what the angel had said, exactly what Jesus had told Mary to tell the disciples, He cuts them off. They share it in such a way it would seem they do not believe them. Jesus rebuked them for being foolish and slow of heart to believe. Would the eleven believe them? Should they apologize to the women for not believing them?

These two men are about to burst with the news. Luke says, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then Luke goes on to generalize their entire experience with Jesus in one sentence. What Luke puts in quotes is important.

Maybe you have experienced a situation where you had information to share but it seemed too good to be true or too far fetched that you didn't think the people you were sharing with would believe you. So you look for anything or someone who you think is more important than you that they others will believe. It can be dangerous to name drop, because if that person doesn't want to be mentioned they could be upset or deny the truth when confronted.

There is something about the part Luke puts in quotes that causes me to wonder. They share with excitement, maybe even out of breath. Remember they have just had a 7 mile run/walk to verify, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Did you expect them to say the later part? "And has appeared to Simon!"

Who is Simon? We have no idea who Simon is. We know from verse 18, one of the men is named Cleopas but Luke never records the other man's name. However, if the other man is Simon and he ran back to report this with Cleopas it wouldn't be written this way. Simon was right there with him. The way it is written implies this Simon, someone else, has seen Jesus as well.

Evidently, on their hurry back to Jerusalem they ran into another disciples, remember, there were hundreds. Maybe Simon went to tell others while these two came to the eleven. All the disciples needed to know, Jesus is alive! Maybe Simon went to pack his bag to meet Jesus in Galilee. I don't know but these two men show up and tell the eleven disciples and all who were with them, "Jesus is alive, and has appeared to Simon!" To name drop, many in the room would have had to know Simon.

Maybe they felt their testimony would not be enough. Maybe they were so excited they wanted the eleven disciples to know there are others who have seen Jesus alive. Now they have heard the testimony of the women, Mary, these two men and Simon. Makes me wonder how many people Jesus appeared to on the day of His resurrection.

Father there I times I do not feel my testimony is enough. I want to share. I'm not ashamed to share about You. I want people to be able to embrace a relationship with You. It starts with salvation, but there is so much more. I ask for You to open up opportunities for me to share my testimony of Your amazing grace in my life, Your abundant kindness which leads me to repent for my wrong, and Your astounding love available every day. I pray You would come and meet with me. I ask for You to guide me to those with whom I can share my testimony. I pray for others who are out there sharing their experience with You. I ask for You to raise up evangelists all across our country and all over the earth. I pray they will share the gospel with power and love. I pray for those who can travel miles upon miles to testify of what You have done in their lives and teach what You have taught them from Your Word. I pray for You to bless them with finances to get to the different places and believers to join them in their area. I ask for You to open up the opportunity for revival to come. I am asking for Your kingdom to come and Your will be done in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.