Scripture: Luke 24:13-35
Following His easter resurrection, Jesus began appearing
to the faithful, offering comfort, assurance, and reminders of all that He had
taught during His ministry, as well as encouragement in the new life that
awaits all who believe. In today’s
passage regarding the encounter that Cleopas and his unnamed companion had with
Jesus on the Road to Emmaus, we discover one of Jesus’ lessons that is so
vitally important for all seekers – that the differences between what we
understand through our human senses, and the truth that God would have us know
through faith, will usually stand diametrically opposed!
The two men had left Jerusalem sometime early Easter
morning. Nearly all of the faithful had
gone into hiding, for fear that the Jewish and Roman leadership would now begin
a purge of all who had been loyal to Jesus so that all hope of continuation of
His ministry would be brought to a screaking halt! But they would soon discover that while God’s
plans may experience human opposition from time to time, they can never be
destroyed, interrupted, or changed through the hostility of worldly desire!
Read Luke 24:13-18
The events of the past weekend were well known by
all, including those who were visiting Jerusalem for Passover. Passover had been that night in Egypt when the
angel of death passed over the homes where the sacrificial lamb had given nourishment
and his blood for the people’s salvation.
But Cleopas and his friend hadn’t made the connection between this holy
celebration that all of Israel, even those who lived in other areas of the
world, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice and rejoice over. It had been over a
thousand years since that night, and that same God was doing it again, but this
time through the life and sacrifice of His own beloved Son.
It would no longer be a matter of Israel’s having to
do something to earn God’s mercy – it would now be available to all – both
Israelite and Gentile– simply by faith in what the Son of God had accomplished
on their behalf. Eternal death would no
longer be a final certainty for humanity - its power had been defeated, and life
in Christ had become a Godly offering to all.
Even when the Risen Christ joined the two men on
their journey, their grief and lack of understanding kept them from recognizing
their Living LORD. And even
worse, they were reluctant to even talk about Jesus with a stranger, until He
asked them point blank - “What have you been talking about today?” And even then, their reply seems to imply
that they hoped that the stranger already knew the answer to His own
question! “Don’t you know?”
Read Luke 24:19-24
Jesus gives the men a chance to recount all that had
happened, even though fear and sorrow blurred their faith to the point that the
power of prophesy couldn’t revive the memory of all that God had told
them. Sorrow had replaced joy; fear had
risen above hope; loss had taken a greater place in their hearts than even glory
could.
Even in their proclamation that they had hoped
that Jesus was the Redeemer who Isaiah had spoken about (Isaiah 41:14), they still fell short of believing that it was true. They had “hoped” it would be, so why didn’t
they believe that He was? These two had
followed Jesus for some time – not as disciples, but certainly as His faithful
servants! Luke’s account of their
conversation with Jesus was accurate and included every major issue that they
had experienced over those past few days.
But what was it that had marred their understanding
of who this Man was? What would it take
for them to see the truth that was before them?
For Mary Magdalene it was the voice that spoke her name that triggered
the truth for her. For these two, they
would also need something from Jesus that would open their eyes and hearts to
the truth of their LORD.
Now, while we all would hope that
experiencing those things that Jesus had done – the healings, the teachings,
the miracles, His life’s work that had amazed everyone – that they would have
understood that everything they had seen those last few days was the evidence
that they so desperately needed now.
But then, what does anyone need to fully
believe that Jesus is who He said He is?
Read Luke 24:25-29
The truth of God in Christ is that He will never
leave us in our doubt if we have hope.
If it takes a word placed on our heart, He will. If it takes a word spoken to answer a doubt,
He will. If it takes a touch of
encouragement when we are lost in fear, He will. If it takes a nudge by the Spirit to get us
moving again in faith, He will. Whatever
we need to put us back on the track of God’s truth, and for the fire of hope to
be rekindled in our soul, He will without hesitation.
For these two, Jesus knew that the first thing that
they needed was to be refreshed in all that scripture had foretold about the
Gift He would be for them. And so He did
– not just a few of the passages, but “what was said throughout ALL of
scripture”. They needed to remember all
that prophesy had proclaimed about Messiah, and that their LORD
Jesus is that very One.
What do each of us need to be stronger in our
faith? Have we shared that with
God? Have we opened our lives to the
truth that Christ wishes to refill within us?
Or are we so immersed in our own preconceived and limited notions that
His truth and word are no longer a priority for us?
Maybe we just have to extend a word of welcome to
Him, and allow everything we have ever needed from God to inundate our entire
being!
Read Luke 24:30-35
The
guest has become the Host, and the scene is reminiscent of Revelation 3:20
– “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens
the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Table fellowship has always been an important
part of the Christian life. The breaking
of bread somehow has a unifying effect on the lives of all who
participate.
Cleopas
and his friend had extended the hand of welcome by asking Jesus to spend the
night and rest up for the coming day – they had answered the knock that the LORD had placed on the closed
door of their lives! Since they had
asked Jesus to join them for the night, they should rightly have been the hosts
of the dinner. But Jesus, having been
welcomed by them, was about to give them the very thing that would refresh and
renew their lives.
The
thing that they needed in order to understand and believe was to be reminded of
those words that Jesus spoke at the Passover dinner just a few days before – from Matthew 26:26, “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks,
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”. His body was with them, their eyes were
opened, and faith was once again filling them with the depth of hope
that they had always desired. The truth
of Christ was theirs once again!
Because
of the sorrow that had been burdening their hearts, the two men could only see
with their eyes, and only remember with their mind. But it was in the breaking of the bread that
Jesus opened their eyes and put the hope of remembrance back in their hearts -
right where hope always should be! And
once faithfulness was restored, He could leave them to live out the call that
had been placed upon their lives.
If
you have been living in doubt, if you have been burdened by the cares of this
world, if the things of earth are pressing you to put your entire focus on
creation instead of the One who Created it all, invite Jesus to enter through
the door that you have closed, but are now opening for Him. And when we do, He will enter, and feast with
you, and will be the power, the strength, and the hope that you have been
seeking all of your life.
This
may very well be the time for the invitation that your faith so sorely needs!!
