This week we will look at the resurrection appearances of Jesus found in Luke 24. Read Luke 24.13-35
The journey to Emmaus is a classic passage that gets some attention most Easters. We have two disciples, potentially a husband a wife (check out John 19.25), journeying back to their home after everything happened in Jerusalem. They are downcast as they discuss all their dreams and hopes for a Messiah that didn’t come true in their eyes with the death of Jesus.
All of the sudden Jesus is journeying with them, but they can’t recognize him. Have you ever felt like you’re not recognizing God with you?
As Jesus and the disciples converse and make their way to Emmaus, Jesus opens up the scriptures to them. It’s the Bible study of Bible studies as Jesus shows and explains how the scriptures were pointing to him.
Once they arrive at their destination the disciples invite Jesus in because the day is almost over. In the evening meal as Jesus breaks bread with them the disciples finally recognize Jesus as their eyes are opened. Jesus vanishes and the disciples question how they didn’t know it was him. “Were not our hearts burning within us?” Even though it’s late, the disciples rush back to Jerusalem to tell Jesus’ inner crew.
This passage makes me wonder about times you have been surprised by God’s action in your life, times when resurrection came suddenly, out of nowhere? Sometimes resurrection works that way, one moment there is sadness, the next everything is flipped upside down.
But this passage also makes me wonder what are you grieving, what are you still waiting for to have a resurrection moment? Sometimes resurrection doesn’t happen quickly. Sometimes the transition is long and slow and over time new life and hope is revealed.
Where do you find yourself in the midst of the Easter season and a pandemic? Where has God surprised you with resurrection? Where are you still waiting for it?
Here are some lyrics from one of my favorite hymns that sketches out this story, “On the Journey to Emmaus”
On the journey to Emmaus with our hearts cold as stone—
the One who would save us had left us alone.
Then a stranger walks with us and, to our surprise,
he opens our stories and he opens our eyes.
And our hearts burned within us as we talked on the way,
how all that was promised was ours on that day.
So we begged him, “stay with us and grant us your word.”
We welcomed the stranger and we welcomed the Lord.
And that evening at the table as he blessed and broke bread,
we saw it was Jesus aris’n from the dead;
though he vanished before us we knew he was near—
the life in our dying and the hope in our fear.
On the journey to Emmaus, in our stories and feast,
with Jesus we claim that the greatest is least:
and his words burn within us—let none be ignored—
who welcomes the stranger shall welcome the Lord.
Grace and Peace to you, Amen.