The Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13ff “Walking on the Road to Emmaus”
Two followers of Jesus on the very day of his resurrection are walking from Jerusalem to a town outside of Jerusalem called Emmaus. They are having a serious conversation as they walk. Walking is a good time to have a conversation. Something about being outside and walking seems to get the mind going and the conversation carries you a long way before you have even realized how far you have gone. You may slow down or speed up keeping time with the conversation, and forgetting the movement of your legs, the swinging of your arms. Walking and talking. That’s what these two disciples of Jesus were doing later that day, on the afternoon of the first Easter. They had a lot on their hearts and minds. They needed to walk and talk. Only the two disciples didn’t know it was the first Easter.

They were intently discussing what had happened in Jesus’ arrest, mockery of a trial, and execution. And, not only that. They were talking about the circumstances of the burial, and now the report of their women friends that the tomb was empty. And, the report of other disciples who had checked the tomb and also found it empty.

This was a very important discussion for these two men who had put their hope in Jesus of Nazareth. And, suddenly, while they are engrossed in their private conversation, a man overtakes them walking on the road. What should happen is that the man should pass them by, walking at a faster pace, the way someone passes us on a walk, either because they are jogging by or walking a faster pace. And, we may or may not acknowledge or say hello, but that is as far as it goes.

But, what if the person overtaking you on a walking path, instead of saying hello and going on his or her way, what if they said: “What are the two of you talking about? You both look terribly caught up with the subject? What are you speaking about?”

Now, first of all, people may have been more willing to speak to strangers out on the road than we are. But, then again, they may not have been. As people in a culture where walking long distances was a common way to get around, they may have been a lot more used to speaking with strangers. Since they had to share the roadway with them, sometimes for several hours at a time. Sort of like if you ride the same bus on the same route regularly, or take a long bus ride and are sitting right there next to someone for several hours, you might strike up a conversation with a stranger.

But, this intruding into the intense conversation of two other people seems . . . well, intrusive. But, the two who are talking don’t seem taken aback too much for the intrusion, but more because the intruder isn’t catching on more quickly to what their conversation is about. Although they might have been annoyed. They are shaken by the big events of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution, and are not hiding their conversation about it. They may have felt if the man has been walking close to them, he had to have heard the basic content of their discussion. And, since he too was coming from Jerusalem, surely he had been hearing about the matter on the streets of Jerusalem.

But, they also might have been annoyed at the intrusion, and that is why they said: “What, don’t you know about what happened in Jerusalem? Have you been asleep for the past three days, or do you not listen or look at what is going on around you?” There is a mark of annoyance and criticism in the disciple’s response to the stranger’s question. A response that indicates that the disciple just may have taken some offense to the man’s intrusion into their conversation.

Of course, as we are reading this passage, we know that the stranger is Jesus, and the disciples don’t know that. Luke lets us in on the secret, whereas the disciples, Cleopas and the other, don’t know who this stranger is. So, we get to watch the story unfold.

Will Jesus let them know who he is? Why don’t they recognize him? What do these words mean: “They were kept from recognizing him?” Mary didn’t recognize him among the tombs. Why not? But, there, he spoke to Mary, and when she heard his voice, she knew immediately that it was Jesus. Jesus was speaking at length to these two disciples but they are still not recognizing him. Of course, he addressed Mary directly saying her name. With these disciples, he is deep in conversation, teaching them, but not addressing them personally by name. And, apparently they are listening to him closely.

So closely that the walk passes quickly, it is now evening, and they have made it to their destination – the place that they live or at least where they are residing for now. And, as it is getting dark, they offer hospitality to the man they have met on this long walk. They invite the stranger in to eat and stay overnight with them. The two disciples have a feeling they don’t want this conversation to end just yet. Something about this conversation has given them hope as they have met a new person, maybe even made a new friend. Jesus has been talking to them about how the suffering and death of the Messiah was prophecied about in the Holy Scriptures. Jesus is beginning to help these disciples understand what has happened as part of a great unfolding holy history, not as just some terrible tragedy. And, this message is apparently lifting their hearts, because they begin to treat the stranger like a friend.

And, surely they began to treat him as more than a friend. Because the stranger had exhorted, sort of scolded them at the start of his teaching: “You who are hard of heart, refusing to believe, didn’t you know it was necessary that the Son of Man, the Messiah, should suffer and die and then come into glory?!” When someone talks to you like that, they are talking to you like a teacher, like someone who knows something you do not, and who is trying to teach you what you really need to know.
When Jesus was teaching these disciples and unfolding the meaning of the events as he spoke of the scriptures, these disciples felt their hearts burning within them. That is how they described it after Jesus had left them. But, it was not until he broke bread and gave it to them that their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Did he say what he had said to the disciples at the Last Supper? It doesn’t say that he did; just that he broke bread and gave it to them. But, they knew it was Jesus, and he immediately disappeared.

Most of the early preaching of Jesus as the Son of God included many references to the Holy Scripture of that day, and explaining how Jesus coming and death and resurrection were part of God’s Holy history with Israel. Those who were grieving the death of Jesus experienced the miracle of his presence among them; the one they thought was dead was not dead, but very much alive, alive in a way that no one else had ever been alive.

For these two disciples on the Road to Emmaus, it was a matter of letting a stranger in on their conversation and listening to what he had to say. It was a matter of offering to this man who had joined their walk and their discussion – hospitality. . . a place to rest and eat a meal. That conversation with the stranger had awakened their hearts when their hearts were hurt so badly with disappointment and grief. As one said, “We had hoped that he was the Messiah to bring deliverance to Israel.” We had hoped . . . Those are some sad words. And, Jesus caught them right there, and began to teach and open a new way of seeing and believing and living.

Why didn’t Jesus just say: “It is I! I am Jesus. My God and Father has raised me from the grave. I am alive. Death could not hold me; sin could not break my communion with the Father and with all who honor God.

Certainly Jesus made more direct appearances to Mary and to the 11 disciples. But, here, he taught. He discussed. He was intent on bringing about a real understanding of how this could have happened and how this was really part of the work of God to bring help and healing and salvation to the world.
Jesus knew that there was a power in Holy Scripture when that scripture is interpreted in the Spirit of God. There is convincing power and healing power and hope in the Holy Scripture when it is understood in the Spirit. It awakens a spiritual knowledge that strengthens the heart and mind and makes a person able to think in a holy way, to understand new things.

Instead of simply giving those hungry what they yearned for, he taught them how to satisfy thei r hunger on their own. As the saying goes: “If you give a man a fish, you will save him from hunger today; if you teach a man to fish, you will save him from hunger for a lifetime.”



Once he had done so, Jesus departed from them. I get the idea from these passages about Jesus’ appearances after the resurrection, that he wasn’t looking for praise and worship. And, I’ll say a bit more about that in a minute. He was there to bring peace and hope and knowledge for the way ahead. He was very matter of fact.
We might have thought he would have said some lofty words like: “It is I. The first and the last, the one who was killed, but now who is risen. Or “They thought they could overcome the Son of God, but the Father has raised me up and the world will never be the same. Draw near to me and experience the power of the risen one, the one who glows with the power of the Father,” etc., etc. But, Jesus apparently didn’t say things like this at all.

He said: “Mary!” She said, “master!” He said: “hurry, go tell my disciples to go on to Galilee where I will meet them!” He said: “Don’t be afraid. It really is me. Now, could you give me something to eat!” He said: “Why haven’t you listened to what the scriptures have said about the Messiah? Listen to me now!” He said to Peter: “Peter, do you love me more than these? Then, feed my sheep.”

Jesus is the great teacher of our souls. Jesus was preparing them for what was ahead. He was consoling their hearts and strengthening their minds. And, he was still the Son of God, and he was still giving glory and all about glorifying – not himself – but God, his Father. Jesus, the teacher of our souls. Jesus, remaining the humble one – who says he is with those who are naked, and sick, and in prison, and thirsty and alone.

But, how can we have an experience like these disciples who were walking on the Road to Emmaus? How can we come to experience that teaching of Jesus that makes the heart burn within us? How can we experience that presence that lifts us to new levels of hope and praise? If we become deeply involved in conversations at our church in trying to understand the scriptures and God, then a stranger might just come into our midst, and join our conversation, and suddenly we begin listening together to a voice that is greater, to an understanding that is deeper. It may come through words you say or that I say or that a visitor says, but at times when the time is right, when the hunger is deep, it comes from God. Jesus has said, “wherever two or three gather in my name, there I am.” That is what happened on the Road to Emmaus.

It might happen in Sunday School; it might happen in Bible Study; it might happen around the dinner table or on a walk with a friend. Where people seek to understand God together, something happens . . . that is where people are truly seeking that understanding.

They were deep in discussion and deep in grief, but they were speaking of Jesus , trying so hard to understand Jesus’ way. And, he joined them. They had no idea that he would but he did. That’s what happens in the Church of Jesus Christ when we truly seek understanding, when we read the scriptures with open hearts and with minds hungry to understand. That’s what happens where we have honest discussions, not simply saying what we think Christian people ought to say, but saying what we really mean. Where two or three are gathered, there I am. Let it be, O God, let it be, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

I close with a "Protestant" version of the Beatles song, "Let it Be."

When I find myself in times of trouble
Holy Jesus comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
He is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. Yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Holy Jesus comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Lyrics from Beatles “Let it Be,” changes mine in language from Mother Mary to Holy Jesus (I bet Mary wouldn’t mind at all)

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.