On the Road to Emmaus

Luke: 24:13-35

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over 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 took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed 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 they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. Homily:

Homily

Our gospel reading today is a story that is deeply human and very familiar to those of us who desire to walk with Jesus in the journey of faith. The story begins with two of disciples who had walked with Jesus for nearly three years. Now they are walking again; but their steps are heavy, their conversation is filled with confusion, disappointment and grief. They are walking away from everything they had hoped for; walking away from Jerusalem—walking away from the promise that God’s kingdom was about to come. You can hear it in their voices. “We had hoped He was the one.” But for them, hope had died upon the cross; or so it seems. And into that heavy sorrow—Jesus Himself draws near—But they do not recognize Him. They walk with Him. They talk with Him. They tell the story that is all about Him—and still they do not see Him. That is their story. But it also is our story. There are seasons in life when Christ walks beside us—and we do not recognize him. That is their story. But it also is our story. There are seasons in life when Christ walks beside us—and we do not recognize him. Why? Why do we not recognize Jesus when He walks beside us? Could it be because like these two disciples in Luke’s gospel, we often expect some other kind of Messiah—a Messiah of power without suffering—a Savior who fixes our problems—without transforming our hearts? Sometimes we don’t recognize Jesus, because he comes by way of the strangers which we meet in our everyday routine. In the words that Matthew records in his gospel, “I was hungry and you did not feed me. I was a stranger and you did not welcome me.” These words of Jesus sometime apply to me and you. He is beside us and we don’t know it. For example, on Thursday of last week, I went to a Chinese Restaurant to get some rice for Jackie. In that restaurant, I noticed three men sitting at tables —eating and chatting. They looked worn and weathered by life. They wore oversized clothes and their beards were long and unkept. I didn’t pay much attention to them until one of them engaged me in conversation. They didn’t know me from Adam—and yet for some reason, they were interested in me. They asked questions—they listened—they lingered. After a while and for fear that the rice was getting cold, I began to take my leave. But as I walked out the door, I wondered: Was this one of those moments when Jesus was sitting across from me in the form of one of those men, and I did not recognize Him?After a while and for fear that the rice was getting cold, I began to take my leave. But as I walked out the door, I wondered: Was this one of those moments when Jesus was sitting across from me in the form of one of those men, and I did not recognize Him? Such was the case with these two men on the road to Emmaus. Jesus joins them—walks with them—listens to them—but they did not recognize Him. They were looking for glory—but they got a cross—they were looking for triumph—but were overwhelmed with grief. How does Jesus respond to their grief? He speaks words of correction. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” Those sound like harsh words. But they are not spoken in anger—they are spoken in love because Jesus refuses to leave these disciples in confusion. He knows they know the Scriptures, but he also knows they have misunderstood them. So He abruptly gets their attention—and He leads them into the truth. That is what real love does— “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” That is where Isaiah 53— which Sharon read moments ago begins to come alive: Listen to some of these words once again: That is where Isaiah 53— which Sharon read moments ago begins to come alive: Listen to some of these words once again: “Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases, yet we accounted him stricken struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Jesus unfolds this Scripture and many others before them. In essence, he is saying: “All Scripture points to me.” The Old Testament is not vague about Jesus. It is not accidental in its witness. It is precise. Centuries before the cross—God had already written the script of redemption. Which means: The cross was not a tragedy. It was God’s plan all along. And that changes everything. Slowly but surely, Jesus helps them understand the nature of his mission. He is not a failed Messiah—he is the fulfilled Messiah. And even before they recognize Him, something begins to happen within them while they are still walking with him. Later when they reflect they say: “Did not our hearts burn within us…while He opened to us the Scriptures?” While on the road, they did not yet see—but they were being awakened. And isn’t that often how God works. The heart is stirred before the eyes are opened. While on the road, they did not yet see—but they were being awakened. And isn’t that often how God works. The heart is stirred before the eyes are opened. Eventually, they reach Emmaus. They invite Him in. And at the table—He takes bread—blesses it—breaks it—gives it to them. The hands which still bear the imprint of nails now breaks the bread right before their eyes. And suddenly—their eyes are opened. Perhaps it was the familiar motion of breaking the bread which stirred their memory. Perhaps it was His voice. Or…perhaps—as the bread passed from His hands to theirs—they saw the nail prints in his hands. And in that moment, everything came together. The Scripture made sense. The cross made sense. It was Jesus— not dead; but alive— And present with them—a glorious reunion with the one they had loved and followed for three years. But just as quickly as he appears—He vanishes. Why does he vanish? Because now they do not need sight. They have understanding. And what do they do? They run back to Jerusalem. The road of sorrow becomes the road of joy. The road that led them away from hope now leads them back to hope. Jesus is alive! So what does this mean for us? It means that Christ is often closer than we think. It means that Scripture can be trusted completely. And here is the deeper truth: Because Scripture foretold Christ’s first coming with such precision, we can be equally certain about His second coming. And here is the deeper truth: Because Scripture foretold Christ’s first coming with such precision, we can be equally certain about His second coming. Just as surely as Scripture predicted His suffering—it also reveals the certainly and the character of His return. We may not know the time—But we know the manner: He will come in glory—He will come as King—He will come to gather His people. He will come to gather you and me. Our faith is not guesswork. It rests on a God who has already proven His Word is true. So our hope is secure. Our future is certain. And our waiting is not in vain. Those two disciples thought they were leaving the story behind. But they were walking right in the middle of the story. And so are we. For the same Christ who walked that Emmaus road still walks with us. He walks with us In His Word—In the breaking of the bread —in the quiet burning of our hearts—and in unexpected meetings along the paths of everyday life. And the question is not whether He is present. The question is: Will we recognize Him? On that Emmaus evening, they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread—perhaps in the motion…perhaps in His voice…or perhaps in the print of the nails in His hands.And one day—whether He comes to us; or we go to Him— we will see Him—Not by faith alone—We will see him face to face. And we will know exactly who He is. How will we know? As Fanny Crosby puts it in one of her beautiful hymns: “I shall know Him. I shall know Him. And redeemed by His side I shall stand. I shall know Him. I shall know Him…by the print of the nails in his hands”. And whether that day is soon or still to come—this we do know—He is definitely coming. And we shall know him for sure. Amen.