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The walkers are back. You see them
walking in most neighborhoods. There is nothing like
breathing fresh air on a brisk walk. Spring provides the
opportunity to talk with the walkers and neighbors out
in their yards. The conversation is always interesting,
catching up on family news, and sometimes commenting on
local or national news. We might even speak of matters
of faith. Spring is a welcome relief to the winter
months of remaining indoors.
It was the afternoon of Easter.
Two believers were walking to the village of Emmaus.
Their walk was a nice leisurely one. As they walked
they were discussing the events of the weekend, how
Jesus was crucified. They were filled with grief and
sadness. Talking about what happened helped them deal
with their grief. There are times when you just need to
talk with someone to help make sense out of what has
happened. There are also times when you have to listen
and be supportive of others.
As the two individuals were walking
and talking a stranger joined them. We are told that it
was none other than the risen Lord Jesus, but the
believers did not realize who it was, “their eyes were
kept from recognizing him.” I’m frequently asked why
these two followers did not recognize Jesus, as if in
his resurrected state his outward appearance had somehow
changed. Others suggest that maybe they never looked at
his face, but kept their eyes on the road. Scripture
claims that they were kept from recognizing him on
purpose, for a reason. The believers invited the
stranger to join them in their journey. They were
welcoming to him.
The stranger, who of course is the
risen Lord, asked, “What are you discussing with each
other while you walk along?” A good way to enter into
conversation with others is by asking questions. One of
the believers replied in disbelief, “Are you the only
stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that
have taken place there in these days?” The believer
assumed everyone who was in Jerusalem knew what had
happened and could not believe that this stranger knew
nothing. There is a certain irony present; Jesus, of
course, knew better than anyone else what had transpired
that weekend. To further engage them in conversation
Jesus asked them, “what things?” They told him how
their hopes were dashed with the death of Jesus, “we had
hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel,” they said.
In their understanding it was the chief priest and
leaders who were responsible for Jesus’ death. What was
most disturbing was before they set out they were told
of the women’s discovery of the empty tomb and
encountering angels. They were still grappling with
what all this meant, still trying to make sense out of
the events.
The risen Lord said to them, “Oh,
how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe
all that the prophets have declared!". And then he
proceeded to teach them, beginning with Moses,
everything that had been foretold about the messiah.
He interpreted the scriptures in such a way that made
sense to the believers. They could not have had a
better teacher. Their conversation must have continued
for a while longer.
When they arrived at their
destination it appeared as if the stranger would not
stop but continue on his journey. The two believers
urged him, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening
and the day is now nearly over.” And he agrees. When
it came time for them to eat, the risen Lord Jesus,
“took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to
them.” Suddenly their eyes were opened and they
recognized the identity of the stranger they spent
several hours walking with.—it was the Lord Jesus. His
words reminded them of several days before in the Upper
Room with the disciples where Jesus broke bread and
shared the cup with them. The very moment they
recognized him Jesus “vanished from their sight.” This
stranger was no stranger after all—but was Jesus the
risen Lord.
The two believers could hardly
believe their experience. “Were not our hearts burning
within us while he was talking to us on the road, while
he was opening the scriptures to us?” Without further a
due they got up and headed back to Jerusalem to tell the
others of their encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.
What might have been a nice leisurely walk not became a
jog back to the city. Cleopas and his companion found
the others telling of their conversation with Jesus on
the road and how he taught them from the scriptures
concerning the messiah. They spoke of the moment of
recognition when he “took bread, blessed and broke it.”
It was at that moment that they realized the person they
were traveling with was none other than Jesus. Then he
vanished from their sight.
After their encounter with the
risen Lord their eyes were opened and their hearts were
warmed. The same is true for us after we encounter
Jesus we see the world differently. Our priorities
change, from being self-centered to focusing on others.
What once seemed so important no longer does. When we
spend time reading and studying our Bible are hearts are
warmed. Perhaps that has been your experience in a
Bible study, small group, or Sunday school. Jesus
reminds us that, “For where two or three are gathered in
my name, I am there among them.” (Matt.18:20)
Some questions remain. Why is
Cleopas the only believer identified? Some suggest that
maybe he was traveling with his wife or another believer
possibly even a disciple. Another question is where
exactly is the village of Emmaus? Biblical
archeologists have not found the village. They have
focused on a couple of other places thinking it might
have been Emmaus but remain unsure. Was the distance
covered seven or eighteen miles from Jerusalem? Those
are questions for which we do not have any definitive
answers.
I do, however, have a theological
answer. The second believer is not named on purpose
because it is us, each one of us. We are on the road,
talking, enjoying our walk, when suddenly, unexpectedly
Jesus walks beside us, our travel companion. Notice
that the two believers were not at church or worship but
were going about their daily business when they
encountered the risen Lord. Jesus appears to us often
when we are just going about our daily business, when we
strike up a conversation with a stranger, or are given a
new insight. For the same reason the actual village has
never been found, because it is right here were we live,
work and go to school. Any time at any place can become
meeting ground with the Living Lord Jesus. Emmaus
becomes our story.
Most importantly, Jesus comes to
us. Jesus has a way of finding us, of calling us to
follow him.
In a few minutes you will be
invited to the Lord’s Table. Communion is another way
that Jesus is present with us. Like the two believers
on their way to Emmaus our eyes are open when we eat the
bread and drink the juice. The Emmaus experience
transforms our communion from a memorial service to a
fallen hero to a celebration that Jesus is alive and is
in our midst.
Amen.
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