Thoughts for the Day

The Walk to Emmaus

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. 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?’ 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, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 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. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 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. 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.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 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. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 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?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

There are many more 'Resurrection appearances' of Jesus in the New Testament, than what we call the 'Stations of the cross', that is the events that occur in the week leading up to Jesus' death. How many is debateable, and different theologians argue for different numbers. In the last year my present home church commissioned artwork and worked as a congregation with an artist to look at these moments, which included the experience as late as Saul's experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9.1-9). Our church hall now has the collage work made by different groups from the community from which the artist created his finished pictures that now hang in the church itself.

One of the interesting points to note in the resurrection meetings is that Jesus is not always recognised immediately. Mary thinks he's the gardener, and Cleopas and his friend in today's scripture reading from Luke's Gospel only recognise him when they eat a meal together. We don't know why Jesus is not recognised, he obviously looked different in some way, and we know that Mary was told not to touch him because he had not ascended to the Father.

But in that intimate moment of breaking the bread perhaps it reminded them of Jesus feeding the 5,000 people. Suddenly their disappointment and shattered hopes made sense and they recognised Jesus. They were so sure, that despite the long day, they immediately travelled back some seven or more miles to tell the disciples of their experience. Here they discover that Jesus has also appeared to Simon.

Let today let us join together with confidence to repeat the words said in our Easter services: "Christ is Risen! Alleluia!"

Risen Lord,
may we sense Your presence in the small,
intimate moments of our life,
as well as during the earth shattering experiences
that occur to us,
and may we learn to expect Your
involvement in our daily life.
Amen.