On The Road To Emmaus

Two travellers:

This is a great short story in the gospels and shows the value of the gospels, each picking up part of the multi faceted story and illuminating that part

In Mark 16 this story is reduced to:

12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

Lets walk with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus

Can you imagine what they must have been experiencing total defeat, they had seen Jesus Crucified and killed

They had such hopes that he was the one the Messiah, come to liberate Israel

To free Gods chosen people from the oppressor, from the occupying army and tyranny of Rome, our riots are terrible but compared to a Roman occupation nothing

But

But even after the miracles and the promises to came to this blood and death

Darkness not light

They most likely saw Jesus raise the dead, heard Lazarus speak after days in the tomb, witness the blind receiving sight and the deaf hearing again, Lepers skin restored as smooth as a babies

But

He just hung there, no flash of light no heavenly host to bring him down

No sign, no hope and so they turn and leave the other followers of this fallen Jesus and look to picking up there lives again

Many believe they were walking towards the sunset as Emmaus was to the west of Jerusalem

Talking as they went trying to understand trying to come to terms with what happened and hearts empty of hope

Jesus arrives:

Have you had times in your life when it just seemed to be pointless?

How have you felt this week with the news of riots maybe to close to home, the fear the worry were is the Lord in all this?

Something happens that you cannot understand and your left thinking why, why should I carry on why not just walk into the sunset and never be seen again

Makes you want to give up, let go, what is the point?

Don’t think Christians are immune we are not, perhaps more vulnerable as disaster when it comes as more of a shock, aren’t we chosen why us should not this kind of thing just happen to the un believers, were is Gods favour, Gods blessing in this?

Can get so caught up our selfish needs and disappointments that we miss Jesus when he comes along side us

Perhaps we don’t expect to meet with him, perhaps we are so busy looking to ourselves we fail to notice any one else in our lives, well the message today is look around you notice others as you never know

These two disciples were feeling down and dejected as they trudged back to Emmaus

So despondent that the world had not turned out as they expected and wanted

Then : 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

Jesus is there as well, though they do not recognise him

I find that interesting that the text says “but they were kept from recognizing him”

Was the sun in their eyes or did Jesus look different after his resurrection or was this a spiritual blindness, there heart were not ready to receive the Lord

Jesus is like greetings, no hello look I am risen its me bow down, no he walks with them in their lives in their circumstance's, how encouraging is that?

“What things?” :

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 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?” 19 “What things?” he asked.

I love Jesus response like, really what happen, he knows of course but does not use the opportunity to crush them with his superior knowledge and understanding but engages in love and compassion

The disciples need Jesus need his hope and light anew in their lives, but their faith is weak almost extinguished and yet the Lord comes.

For me this again just typifies why the bible is God inspired and not man focussed.

I mean could you imagine the man driven version

Big light bursting forth above Jerusalem and a roof shaking voice shouting out Jesus is risen with a shiny Jesus up on high for all to see

No God’s thoughts and ways are different, the pages of the gospels telling of encounters with Jesus after the resurrection speak of the intimacy, the closeness and of a God seeking relationship not domination