Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. Luke 24:13-35 NIV
Resurrection morning brought to the followers of Christ something very different than they could have ever imagined. After a week of devastation and heartbreak how could their minds ever be prepared to go to his tomb and find him missing? The natural mind would wonder who took him? But the angelic visitation quickly made the women realize that all that Jesus had promised to be, He really was! He was their Messiah. He was alive.
As the day continues and the word is spreading Luke 24 tells us about two of his followers who decided to head out of town. We don’t know why but can assume that after the events of the past week, any normal person would want to be as far away from Jerusalem as possible. Maybe it was just to clear their heads and to consider all they had just faced. Regardless, as they start toward Emmaus, Jesus, the Risen Christ, joins them on their journey. He steps into their place of grieve, confusion and uncertain future and walks the road with them. They do not know who He is, but share their struggle and the events they have just walked through with Him. He engaged them and they opened up about their confusion and disappointment. Upon arriving in Emmaus, the day was almost over and they then invite Him to come and spend the night with them. He responds to their invitation and in doing so, they sit down to break bread together. It is in that moment, they realize, Jesus is with them. Their eyes are opened and they see what they could not see prior to this very moment.
This brings my heart to three considerations. 1. My inability to see Christ does not mean He is absent, it simply means my vision is veiled. 2. While He walks with me, He desires for a personal invitation into my present moment. 3. Inviting Him into my moment makes way for a deeper fellowship and true revelation of Him in my life. It is in this place He can reveal to my fearful heart that the Risen King is in my midst.
While our world faces much uncertainty, I would challenge you to embrace the truth that He walks with you. To invite Him into your uncertain moment and future, and when you do, watch what He reveals of Himself in your life as you seek to break bread and enter into deeper fellowship with Him.
Maybe, like the men who pondered the unfolding of their daily events, we will say, “were not our hearts burning with us as he walked with us on the way!!”
Comments(3)
j.Holmes says:
April 18, 2020 at 12:32 pmThe day that changed everything…
If that day had not come, we would have no choice. Our fate would have been sealed. But it did come…we have a choice…a choice to choose…to choose Life.
We can be so rebellious…we want our own way…in our own time…to enjoy ourselves. In such a present darkness, we do not know True Life. We do not know the Way to find it. Finding the Way changes everything. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
This is truly a heart search. God knows our needs and if we would only examine our lives, we would see countless times that God would try to get our attention. My own life has been riddled with instances that change everything…and I am no longer the same. Such instances as nearly being hit by a coasting truck, by the love and kindness of a family, by sharing your home with a thief on the run, by an encounter with another Christian, by hurting the very person that is helping you…., my heart is torn, stretched, crying…searching…
Yes, sometimes we think “where is God?” If you have made God your refuge and strength, Be assured that He cares for you and that His promise is that He would never leave nor forsake you. He makes all things new!
Sue Holmes says:
April 18, 2020 at 1:45 pmTHE DAY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
A few thoughts …
Who were “two of them” – The women had gone to the tomb that morning with the prepared spices to anoint Jesus body. They found the tomb empty, encountered the angel & returned to tell “the Eleven and to all the others” (Luke 24:9).
The “two of them” were a part of the second group – “the others”. If the NIV & so many other interpretations are correct, Luke gave primary significance to the Eleven (the original 12 – Judas). The ‘others’ were not a part of the inner circle of disciples who had been with Jesus since the beginning of His ministry.
Why is it important to establish their identity? It gives hope to so many today who question their value in God’s kingdom. Our enemy (aided by the world) takes great delight in beating us down & attacking the mind. This passage emphasizes Christ’s desire for all to come to a full knowledge of Him as Paul had conveyed to the Ephesian believers (Eph 4:13). Not just the ‘in crowd’. When He said, “whosoever will” He meant it.
“but they were kept from recognizing him.” – Why? I have often wondered why God would keep these disciples from recognizing Christ at a time when they were at their lowest. I believe this again portrays the how much God values even “the least”. He didn’t want these two to know about Christ … He wanted them to KNOW Him. And this is what He wants for each of us.
How often do we (I) despair because we can’t ‘feel’ God’s presence with us? I think this scripture bears truth to the verses in Isaiah 41: 10-13 that say that says that He IS our God, He will strengthen, help & uphold us AND Hebrews 13:5 that asserts that our God will never leave us or forsake us. He is present in our worst circumstances.
It was & is in spending time in God’s presence (whether we ‘feel’ Him there or not) that we come to know Him. It is only in ‘abiding in the vine’ that we can produce the fruit that is to be expected of that Vine.
(In this I am preaching to myself)
I found it interesting the answer these disciples gave when Jesus asked them what they were talking about when they referenced the events that had just taken place in Jerusalem. “He was a prophet” … “we had hoped that he was the one” … “some of our women amazed us” … “but they did not see Jesus.” “He was a prophet” – first, they spoke in past tense. “We had hoped” – their hope was gone. They did not see Jesus.” These disciples, like so many today, were relying on their physical eyes to see the risen Saviour rather than relying on His words of promise. I can attest that “Standing on the promise” can be most difficult when our hope is gone. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12) Their hope had been shattered because it was based only on what their physical eyes could see. Before I vilify these two, I am reminded that Thomas (one of the ‘Eleven’) had the same issue. He needed to see the wounds for himself before he would believe.
But God’s love & desire for these two & for us is so much greater. He wanted them to know Him as Peter did.
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” “ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13 – 16)
He wanted the same encounter for these two as the Samaritan’s at the well who had heard the woman’s story but wasn’t satisfied until they heard Christ Himself, “We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Saviour of the world.” (John 4:42)
There is no replacement for spending time in God’s presence … whether we ‘feel’ Him near or not.
“Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread” Just a few evenings before He had gone through this with the disciples, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
What a powerful personal reminder for them!!! And for us!!! “My Body given for you.” It spoke to the personal nature of the relationship that our Saviour wants with each one of us.
It spoke to me that these disciples had URGED Jesus to stay & spend time with them. How often do I URGE Him to abide. He doesn’t want to be top priority in my life … He wants to be my only priority.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. The ground had been prepared by a heart that urged His presence, embraced His words & received Him.
As Christ said to His disciples when explaining the parable of the sower & the seeds …
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear
Tracy says:
April 27, 2020 at 12:05 amI wonder how many times, I’ve walked down certain “paths” and not recognized His voice. Ignored the promptings, stirrings in my spirit.