Clothesline 295 "Emmaus is our story"

The Road to Emmaus…what an amazing story! It’s Sunday evening. Two disciples have left Jerusalem, heading home, sharing their sadness. Jesus is dead, and their hopes for a new beginning dead as well. Suddenly a “stranger” catches up with them on the road. “What are you talking about?” the stranger asks. Shocked at such a ridiculous question, the disciples answer, “Are you the only person who doesn’t know what has happened in the past week?” The stranger responds, “What things?” With much pain, the disciples share the events of that infamous Thursday, that terrible Friday, and how some women claimed to have gone to the tomb this morning, only to find it empty, except for angels who said that Jesus was alive. While the disciples look amazed and confused, the stranger tells them a story…God’s love story…from the beginning. Still, one more thing has to happen before God’s amazing gift to these disciples is complete.

Coming to the end of their journey, the disciples invite the “stranger” to stay with them because it is evening, and they all need rest. They sit at a table, the “stranger” breaks bread…and they recognize him: it is Jesus! And immediately, he vanishes from their sight! “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as we listened to this stranger tell us the story of our faith?” they say to each other. Of course, their hearts burned! Of course, they recognized Jesus when he broke the bread in their presence. And taking on all they had heard and seen, they return to Jerusalem to spread the news that Jesus is alive!

We have the benefit of being on the other side of these events, but I’ve often wondered: Would we recognize Jesus if he stood beside us? Those two disciples’ journey is very much like our journey—every day—but in particular, on Sunday morning when we come together as the family of God to relive those precious moments of salvation.

The journey to Emmaus is our journey. We leave the world behind and join the family of God in a house of worship and expect an encounter with the living Christ. The disciples had no such expectation, but doesn’t Jesus always show up when we need him…when we are sad, distraught, confused, beaten down to the point of despair?

That’s why the Emmaus story is our story. When we have a need…Jesus appears. When we cry for help…Jesus appears. When it seems all is lost and we pray for an answer…Jesus appears. There’s very little we can count on in this earthly life, but one thing is clear and certain: Jesus walks beside us…always. Jesus is our Savior, the Savior of the world. And no pain, no hurt is too great for Jesus to heal. That is what keeps me going! How about you?