Luke 24:13-35
Rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I am sure you have had the same experience as I have, you are in the store or some other public place and you run into someone you know but fail to recognize them until prompted. I do not mean the situation where you are deliberately avoiding them, you truly don't recognize them. The meeting is out of context from your normal association with this person. I have done it and sometimes have acknowledged someone and that person didn't recognize me at first.
Of course, that may have been an attempt at avoidance on their part.
Many years ago, we were on a vacation and one of the stops was Niagara Falls. On the Canadian side, I noticed a coworker in the crowd. I walked up to him and said, "Shouldn't you be at work." He looked at me blankly as if to say who are you. After a minute or two, he put the pieces together and we both had a little chuckle about such a chance meeting.
In those instances, our perception is skewed. Typically, we are self-absorbed or focused on something that filters our perception of our surroundings.
I'm sure you are going to be shocked to learn that there is more to the Gospel account than just two disciples traveling along the road and meeting Jesus.
Remember this event happened on the same day that the women found the tomb empty. You might think that the disciples would be full of joy. Jesus has risen from the dead. He has defeated death. However, they are sadden by His death and focused on their lost hope that Jesus would free Israel from the Romans. The Jews were certain the Messiah would be a military and political leader.
Jesus draws near to the disciples on the road and engages in their discussion. After they share their laments, Jesus responds, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then He proceeds to interpret the scriptures for them.
He drew near to His grieving disciples and explained the scriptures yet they still didn't recognize Him. Jesus knew they lacked understanding, He literally says as much by using the word foolish meaning lacking in understanding.
As the three near the village, the disciples invite Jesus to stay with them. Actually, it's more like pleading than just an invitation. The interpretation of the scripture has taken root in their hearts. They want to learn more.
Jesus agrees to stay with them. They sit down for the meal and some interesting things occur.
Jesus takes the bread gives thanks, breaks it, and begins to distribute it to the disciples. This is highly unusual; the custom was for the host to break the bread. Jesus essential is saying; I'm the host, I'm serving you. Clearly, He makes the point He is not just any guest.
The disciples recognize this is not a stranger it is Jesus! Then Jesus vanishes as their hearts accept Him. In great joy, they rush back to Jerusalem to tell the others.
To travel the seven miles from Emmaus to Jerusalem on foot late in the day is a lot of excitement.
There are so many underlying lessons here but I'm just going to zero in on one thought the care Jesus showed for His grieving disciples.
Out of 40 days left to fulfill His work on earth, Jesus spent at least an afternoon with these two disciples consoling them. That's a considerable amount of time to expend on these two men. Nevertheless, He gladly does so to teach them and us an important lesson.
Jesus was with them in their time of need. Although the two were doing the right thing as far as encouraging one another, discussing all that they had witnessed, and helping each other put all of the details together. They missed something very important.
In fact, every one of us falls into the same trap as these men. We constantly try to rely on our own wisdom failing to look for God's wisdom. Jesus gently reminded them of what was missing, going back to scripture for answers. They were so absorbed in trying to rationalize the events in human terms that they had forgotten what scripture said about the Messiah.
How often are we caught up in a problem or perceived problem and wrestle to find the answer ourselves? Perhaps we endure sleepless nights over this one issue. Our natural inclination is to imagine the worst and dwell on it.
We might consult a friend or coworker on a troubling issue, but the discussion quickly becomes kibitzing. Either we don't like the advice received or we just aren't listening and reflecting on the advice. We probably pray about the situation expecting an immediate answer. Still though we are trying so hard to work the problem we aren't listening for an answer, maybe we don't truly believe we will receive an answer. After all, it is all about me.
It's hard for us to keep our priority straight and consult scripture for answers instead of relying solely on our own means to resolve problems. I remember one institution I worked for where the people were so divisive that I really began to hate them. The worst of it was that it wasn't just peers or upper management; it was some of them plus my subordinates. I finally wrote in the corner of the white board in my office Matt 5:44 (But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,). It was in the perfect place because it always caught my eye and it kept me from lashing out at them.
Fortunately, that experience only lasted 18 months. It was a valuable lesson about God's care for us and about human nature. One of many lessons about the dark side.
Perhaps the more important lesson of God's care for us is that He does draw near and waits for the invitation to help us just as the disciples invited Jesus to stay with them.
Just like the disciples, Jesus is near us. He waits for us to turn to Him and invite Him into our lives. He wants to help in times of need and rejoice with us in times of blessings.
You may ask why I don't know He is there.
The answer is either we don't look for Him or take time to listen for Him or to consult His Word. He's there we just don't recognize Him. Our perception is skewed by our human wisdom. We don't readily accept His divine wisdom and authority. Our sinful nature tries to filter out His presence. The issue is never a matter of His presence, but rather our awareness of His presence.
When the disciples became aware of His presence, they were converted. The joy that came out of that conversion was so great that they couldn't wait to share it with others. As I said earlier there is a lot of excitement if you are willing to drop everything to travel seven miles on foot to share the message.
Please pray with me. Lord let our eyes and ears be opened by the Holy Spirit so that we can feel His gentle presence in every moment of our day. We want to experience the joy that the disciples did, a joy that moves us to want to share the good news with everyone.
In the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
