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
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.
Then they told what
had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the
breaking of the bread.
·
Last week, we heard the Gospel story
about “Believing Thomas.” I always take some comfort from that story. If one of
the twelve could have his doubts after having walked so far and so long with
Jesus and still was accepted by Jesus, well, the same would hold for me!
·
We also heard John’s words about why
he wrote his Gospel: …these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is
the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in
his name. It’s a wonderful thing to know that
what was written was written for us.
·
The same holds true with our story
from Luke today.
·
The story unfolds first in
disappointment and sadness, with two disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus,
a walk of some 7 miles/11 kilometres. Jesus approaches and joins them,
unrecognized.
·
They’re surprised when he tells them
he doesn’t know what is going on, yet he explains the scriptures to them and
tells them how it applies to the person they had hoped would be the Messiah.
·
As evening fell, the two invited
their unknown companion into the house for supper. It appears that the roads
were not safe for a traveller at night, so inviting this person in was good
manners and an assurance of safety.
·
We all know what happened at supper.
When this stranger blessed and broke the bread, they knew who he was. With
that, he vanishes.
·
The two race back to Jerusalem to
find the community there in a joyous uproar over the resurrection of the Lord.
The two from Emmaus add their experience of how he had been made known to
them in the breaking of the bread.
·
Here Luke is doing what John had done
in his words on the resurrection appearances. Here, in relating the experience
on the road to Emmaus, Luke is writing to all those who would follow Jesus but
were unable to see him with their own eyes. Luke is writing to us.
·
Think about it a moment. Is there
anything around us that looks anything like the Emmaus experience? What does
the experience consist of?
·
Disciples gather and hospitality is
offered, the Scriptures are opened and explained, the bread is broken, and
Jesus is known to be with the assembled disciples. Then they go out and tell
the good news of the Risen Christ.
·
One group of Christian teachers would
say that the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus was unique and
peculiarly their own.
·
Another group holds that the
experience of the disciples there is the experience we all have or can have. In
a number of ways, the outline I spoke of a moment ago is the outline of the
service of the Lord’s Supper – Gathering, Studying the Scripture, Breaking the
bread, Going out to share the good news or to be the good news. It is the way
that the church, gathered in worship, experiences the presence of the Risen
Christ. I doesn’t matter where that gathering is; when disciples gather, the
Gospel proclaimed, the bread broken, and the cup shared, Jesus Christ is
present.
·
What happens next? Luke tells of
Jesus appearing to all the disciples in Jerusalem and giving them the mission
of proclaiming repentance, forgiveness, and faith to all nations.
·
What happens next for us? Same thing!
This is still our mission and our message today. It doesn’t change and the
world still needs it. Christ is with us on our mission and that makes the
biggest difference.
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