When we ask for something the result is often quite unexpected. The crippled man was expecting alms, but Peter had neither silver nor gold for the crippled man. He had something far more valuable: healing in the name of the Lord Jesus. God gives us what we need, not necessarily what we want. The two heartbroken disciples on the road to Emmaus were broken and depressed. They wanted answers. Jesus - His appearance masked - walked beside them playfully asking questions. They related their painful tale. They had high hopes for Jesus the wonderful prophet - all dashed when he was arrested and crucified. They had even heard of the empty tomb but at this point it meant nothing to them. Jesus, exasperated by their inability to understand, patiently unlocks the inner meaning of the Scriptures to show them that it was absolutely necessary for the Messiah to suffer and die in order to enter into his glory. This was the stumbling block for early Christians - how could the Messiah suffer and die? It is also a problem for us sometimes - why do believers suffer and struggle? Luke makes it clear that the passion of Jesus was not just an accident but part of the divine plan. And so it is with us: Jesus walks unrecognized beside us to unlock not only the inner meaning of scripture but also the hidden levels of our own lives. Our own struggles are not meaningless, but prepare us to enter into God's glory.