“Now That You Know, What’s Next?” (Easter)

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

It had all happened so suddenly – first, that strange Passover Seder, then Judas’ abrupt departure from the meal, then the trip up to Gethsemane, with that great horde of temple guards and priests, the arrest, and then the unthinkable – Jesus, their Rabbi, their LORD – tried and convicted and beaten and crucified. And to think that it had only been a week since that grand day when the people greeted them with Hosannas and palms!
It had been too much for most of them, and they had gone into hiding. Some retreated to the Upper Room where they had spent those last few hours with Jesus, while others immediately left Jerusalem to find some quiet, out of the way place to hide. And then, to compound the issue even further, the women had found his final resting place empty this morning! What could possible happen next?

Read Luke 24:13-19a

These two men – Cleopas and his unnamed friend – had decided that the streets of Jerusalem were just too hot for them, so they headed out of town. Emmaus would be about a one day walk, so that would be their destination for the night. After that, who knows? Tomorrow would tell.
The topic of conversation, possibly for many on that same road, turned to the events of the past few days. But there was one man who seemed oblivious to the times, and asked them what they were talking about.

For just a moment, put yourself in Cleopas’ sandals, and consider how you would answer the question – “What things?” Where do you begin? Do you tell this ignorant man who Jesus was, what he taught, what he came to mean for your life? Or do you take a more cautious approach, realizing that this might be a hit man for the Pharisees, looking for anyone who acted as though they were disciples of the now dead Rabbi. They were already scared stiff, so their answer would be a little cautious.

Read Luke 24:19b-24

“We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel”, but apparently he wasn’t, because now he is dead, and his body is missing. They take a risk, though, and let the stranger know that they had hoped that this was Messiah, the long awaited one that the Prophets had spoken about; but they also let it be known that they now see that they had been mistaken. The two had heard Jesus’ teaching many times, but now they were doubting the truth of his words. They had walked with him, sat with him, ate with him, listened to him, believing that he was the One. But now they weren’t so sure – the final act of this play didn’t work out the way they expected that it would.
Do you hear the dejection, the utter hopelessness in their words? Not only is their teacher dead, but his body is missing! It was not only sacrilege, but it was the one final act that made their loss complete. Its over! Our mission is done! Our life has been wasted, and we have nothing to show for it.
When life no longer has purpose, what’s left? Jesus had been their life for quite some time, but the tragic end of his ministry left them wondering how they could ever begin again. Loneliness, depression, anger, fear – they were being flooded with emotions that they never knew they had, and now had no control over, and they were just sick about it.
"How could you not know about this marvelous man?” Or did he?

Read Luke 24:25-29

The prophets had foretold everything about Jesus, and yet, so few could see the prophesy in him. (e.g. Isaiah 9, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 3:1-7, 12:10-13, Malachi 2:17-3:5, etc.) They had to begin wondering just who this stranger was, and how he had become so knowledgeable about Messiah. What a rabbi this man was, and how blessed they were to have met him that day. And during the hours and the miles that they walked together, they were treated to a discourse on Messianic prophesy. And it had to be wonderful!
Just think – getting to spend hours with the Lord as he related every word of scripture that had ever been written about him - about his mission to the people of earth, about his great promise in life for them! And even with all of that, it still hadn’t hit them that this was Jesus Himself, but they seemed to want to hear more. And as they reached the village, they invited the man to join them for the night. And, surprisingly, he did.

Read Luke 24:30-35

This stranger was such a learned man that the two readily gave him the seat of honor at table, and he proceeded to give the blessing on their meal. And in the breaking of the bread, they came to know who this really was.

The Lord had been revealed to them – not as a spirit, but as a living man. They knew, without a doubt, that he had been murdered, they knew, without a doubt, that he had been sealed in that dark tomb, they knew, without a doubt, that his body had disappeared, they knew, without a doubt, that this man was special, but they never put it all together until that moment at the table.

Jesus was alive. Jesus was alive! JESUS WAS ALIVE!!! And then he was gone again. But this time, his disappearance was different. He had risen to new life from the darkness and finality of the tomb, and life for these two men gained a whole new purpose that they had never felt before! The joy returned, the hope returned, the sense of ministry returned with an intensity that they couldn’t even begin to describe!

They now knew, without a doubt, that Jesus Christ was the Living Messiah, the Incarnate God, the Eternal Hope for their lives, and suddenly, the despair that had plagued them for the last few days was lifted, and life just glistened with the possibilities.
They look at each other across the table, speechless for a moment, and then the dam broke. “What do we do now? We have to tell someone! The disciples! The other believers! Everyone! We have to let them all know!”
It was getting late at night, and the road back to Jerusalem was long and rough and uphill all the way. Nighttime travel, for the hardy, or perhaps foolish, few who would venture out on those roads in the dark, was dangerous. Not only was the road narrow and rocky, but there were thieves and murderers at every bend in the way. But now, none of that mattered. They knew that the Lord was alive, and they just had to tell everyone. They told the people in the inn, they told the people in the village streets, they told every person they met on the road, and as they retraced their seven miles of steps, I like to believe that the Glory of God surrounded them, and lighted their every step, and was so brilliant, that not a single thief dared to accost them.
They flew “on wings like eagles”, as Isaiah 40:28-31 puts it, and there was strength and power in every step they took. Weariness? They were tired when they sat down for the evening meal, but it had left them long ago. Uphill? It didn’t matter! Seven miles? Who’s counting! They now knew, and they had a singular vision. They had to let the other believers know that they had seen Jesus, and he was alive!

Have you met the Living Lord as you have been traveling through this life? What was it like? Was your despair lifted? Was your hopelessness wiped away? Were you given a new outlook on life that was unlike anything that you had ever known? It certainly was for Cleopas and his companion, and it must be for you, too. If the experience was only “so-so”, then I suggest that you go back and meet him all over again.
The two men felt the presence of Jesus when he was opening the scriptures to them, and they came to understand him like they never had before. This wasn’t a simple relating of scripture, but a revealing of the Word. Is the Word revealed to you when you read scripture? If not, change your time of reading, to that of studying.
When the men experienced Jesus, they invited him to join them for the night. They thought that it would be a normal evening meal and overnight stay, but it turned out to be far more than that. Have you invited Jesus to join you in the simple and routine things of your everyday life, and not for just for an hour (or so!) on Sunday morning? If not, give it a try.
For these two men, the fullest realization of Jesus came when they received the broken bread at his table. We receive the “Broken Bread” all the time in Holy Communion – do you see Jesus then? If not, why not?
These men, even though the hour was late, even though they were tired from their day’s journey, even though the way back to Jerusalem would be filled with perils beyond their imagination, they had to go! They knew the truth, and they knew what they had to do with it. Are you prepared to take a risk to let others know that Jesus is the living Lord, that he rose from the grave to bring new life to their lives, that in his great and fulfilling love, they, too, can live with a purpose that is beyond anything that they could ever create for themselves?
He lives for you, you know. Do you know that now? What will you do about it? Will you live for him?