Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

 

Let me stop right there. What was wrong with their eyes? They didn’t recognize him? Seriously? These were two of Jesus’ disciples. Theologians have many explanations, but as I was thinking about it I thought, “How many times do I tune out that which is right in front of me?” I’m particularly good at filtering out crying babies, which is pretty handy on flights. Or maybe think back to your school days where your mind drifts into a long day dream and you completely miss the entire content of the class. Deeper though, think about a time when there’s been suffering in your life, in that gut-wrenching place of grief, disillusionment, and darkness. Do we really pay attention to what’s going on around us? Or maybe you’ve been extremely sick and you couldn’t care less who comes to see you. All you can think about is the excruciating pain you’re in. I’ve been told by Gold Star families (Families that have lost a service member to war) that when the notification team knocks on the door and gives the somber news shock sets in and they cannot recall anything that took place. Shock I think is a possible reason they could not truly see Jesus. When we’re in that place of defeat, sometimes nothing can move us. That’s where these two disciples are. Back to the story…

 

17 And he [Jesus] said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.

 

Imagine being with Jesus during his ministry. Seeing the awe-inspiring miracles, the breathtaking love he showed to those whom he encountered. You’ve been under Roman oppression and rule for quite some time and here’s this man, Jesus, who is powerful with authority unmatched, things hit a fever pitch as he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey and then. Nothing. He’s arrested, tortured, and killed. You’re thinking about these things with a friend and someone says, “Hey, whatcha talking about?” Personally, I would be livid, “Have you been living in a hole!?” And that’s kind of the disciple’s response...

 

18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

 

Cleopas says, “But we had hoped…” How often does that happen in life. I can think of a few years ago when Elizabeth, my wife, and I were sitting at a coffee shop in Forest Hills, NY talking about the possibility of moving back to MN. “It has to be the right time and with the right circumstances,” so we looked for the “signs” to determine a path toward MN. That day I was looking at usajobs.gov and lo and behold, a job announcement for a Bureau of Prisons chaplain position in Duluth, MN, the place where we were married, a sign! Obviously, God was showing us that now was the time, this position was tailor made for me, right? I optimistically filled out the application, collected all necessary paperwork, which is quite a lot, and submitted the application. AND…Top tier of applicants, but, But, BUT, I didn’t have enough post seminary work experience. Ugh. We had hoped. Where have you put trust in God, reading “signs” supposedly of Him, but then it all comes crashing down in spectacular fashion?

 

25 And he [Jesus again] said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together…

 

Have you ever had that feeling after meeting someone? Your heart burns within or glows and experiences this overwhelming warmth. Maybe you meet a close friend you dearly love for coffee, a beer, or just to sit and hang out, and you have that feeling of, “Wow, that was such a gift to be in that person’s presence.” You can’t put your finger on it, but something within lets you know that it was a life-giving encounter. I would say it’s the Holy Spirit who does that. He lets us know what builds up, what’s right, what we ought to be drawn to in order to live abundant, joyful, and grateful lives for God’s kingdom. He says, “This is where I am, this is where you experience the holy.” People and God act toward me and I act toward them in this wonderful dance of reciprocal coexistence and love. Jesus tells us in this encounter too how we can continue and remain in this dance. He first interprets scripture for them, so being bathed in the Word of God. To experience, understand, and see the Divine presence ebbing and flowing in our lives, we must be in the books, the texts where He reveals himself. The two disciples were downtrodden and gloomy because they could not see God in their sacred text, Jesus had to explain it to them. Do you often wonder, “Where is God in this, where are You!?” The Holy Spirit teaches and convicts to the core when we read and meditate on scripture. He brings us back into alignment with God’s will, so that we can be rooted and grounded and grow. And then in the simple act of breaking bread, Jesus shows us we can experience his presence in the things of daily life and be reminded, “Through him, all things were made.” This allows us to see everything as sacred and acknowledge it as such. Because everything indeed is sacred. And we have a choice to see it as such or to desacralize it, to profane it. Food for example is a wonderful gift with its diversity of flavors, colors, and textures. We can approach it as such or profane it, overeating or yes, even undereating because we don’t see ourselves as worthy. And of course, the bread represents the new covenant sealed in Christ’s body and blood. It is a visible physical sign of the immaterial spiritual reality that those in Christ have. We come to the table and receive Christ’s body and blood in the form of bread and wine. It’s a beautifully humbling experience.

 

So where are you in your walk with God? Can you see and experience His presence? Do you have those edifying moments where your heart glows with that relational warmth? Take time and search within. Spend time with your valued self in meditation, prayer, scripture study, and watch your life find its rhythm, syncing with God’s call on your life.