"On the Road with Jesus"

Here's the video link if you'd like to watch the sermon:
http://vimeo.com/93994951

Meditation on Luke 24:13–35

May 4, 2014

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       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.

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   I have missed you! It’s good to be back home with my church family again!

   Jim and I were away for a few days to rest after a busy Lenten season.  We decided to go to Rochester to visit with our friends Ken and Marylynn.  We brought our two dogs, Molly and Mabel, with us. They love to ride in the car! Melvin the cat stayed home, though, with our son Jacob, who was tied up with schoolwork. We stayed at a hotel for two nights and enjoyed dinners and suppers with our friends. We went to the movies one night and attended their church on Sunday morning. On our way back home, we stopped in Mankato to see our son, James, who attends Mankato State. 

    What was the best part of our vacation?  When the rain stopped and the weather was pleasant enough that we were able to go for long walks with Ken and Marylynn in their neighborhood. And it’s funny, Molly the sheltie, who is 12, is usually tired out after one circle around the manse and church parking lot. But she was perky and energetic—like a puppy—for the walk in our friends’ neighborhood, around curves, up steep hills and down slopes. She even did a little dance when I held up the leash for a second walk on the same day.

    As we walked, we talked about many things—family and pets, movies and television shows, jobs and school, our church and faith. I can’t recall everything we said, but I remember the peace that we shared.  How comforting it was to be with other believers, fellow travelers along our journeys of faith.

 ***

    In our gospel reading today, we join two of Jesus’ followers along their seven-mile walk from Jerusalem to their home in the village of Emmaus. They had gone to the Holy City for the annual pilgrimage for the Passover, but this year’s festival was not like any other.

     The passage that comes immediately before the walk to Emmaus tells of the discovery of the empty tomb—first by the women, whom no one believe, then by Peter, who only sees the empty tomb and the linen cloths. He isn’t there to see and talk with the angels who appear to the women who come early in the morning to anoint Jesus. Peter goes home “amazed at what had happened,” meaning he isn’t able to understand it all!

    But Cleopas and the unnamed disciple who encounter Jesus on the road—without knowing that he is the risen Christ—haven’t seen the empty tomb or heard from angels. They have only heard the stories others have told.  Still, their hearts are fully engaged in this discussion. They are not talking in a detached, intellectual manner in which scholars might compare schools of philosophy. This discussion in which Jesus enters is one in which two believers are passionately seeking answers to questions that are challenging everything they thought they knew about life, death, God, and salvation! They are deeply disturbed and can’t stop thinking and talking about what happened—struggling to make sense of it, just as Peter and the other disciples are struggling to understand.

        When Jesus asks them what they are talking about, at first they are so overcome by emotion, they can’t say anything at all. They stop walking and just stand still, looking sad. Finally, Cleopas responds incredulously, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?!”

      What does all this mean for their faith in the one whom they call “a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,” the one whom they had hoped would be the one to “redeem Israel”?

     What does it mean that Christ’s tomb is empty?!

     What if the women aren’t just telling idle tales—and the angels really had come? And Jesus is alive?!

        Jesus answers their questions by taking them to the same place we go with our faith questions—God’s Holy Word.  He begins with Moses and the prophets and interprets to them “the things about himself in all the scriptures.”

***

     What is so touching to me about the walk to Emmaus, which is found only in the gospel of Luke, is that these are ordinary people on their way home to their little village when they encounter Jesus on the road—coming to meet them in their grief and distress. These aren’t any of the important 12 original disciples. This isn’t another story about Peter, James, Andrew, or John. One of the walkers is “Cleopas”—and this is the only place we find this person in the Bible. Scholars really don’t know who this person is. We don’t know if Cleopas is male or female, old or young.  We know even less about the person walking with Cleopas; he or she is not named at all. This reminds me of the gospel of John, who often refers to one of the “disciples” not by name, but only as “the one whom Jesus loved.”

    And like the John accounts that include the unnamed disciple, it is easy to place ourselves into this story. We are all ordinary people, pilgrims traveling the hills and valleys of our journeys of faith.

     How often have we been upset, sad or confused when something unexpected happens—or something we expect to happen doesn’t—and it challenges our faith? Is God truly sovereign, always in control? Does he really love us all the time, even when we are unfaithful to Him?  How can He use all things—even terrible things—for His glory and our good?

      We don’t have the Lord’s eyes to see and understand, unless He opens them for us—just like the two disciples on the road with Jesus whose eyes, “were kept from recognizing him.”  That is, until “something” stirs the two disciples to urge Him to stay with them. I think that “something” is the peace of Christ—His gift to all believers. They are drawn to the Lord and the peace they feel when they are with Him. And that evening, when they are at the table, Jesus takes bread, blesses and breaks it, and gives it to them—and they know! Their eyes are opened. He is made known to them in the breaking of the bread—just as He makes himself known to us when we come in faith to the Lord’s Table for “Communion”—to be made one with Him and the whole Body of Christ.

    Friends, it is so much easier, and so much more joyful, to walk our faith journeys side by side, carrying one another’s burdens—encouraging and being encouraged by our brothers and sisters, lifting up one another in prayer.   Just as Jim and I were encouraged by walking and talking, praying and sharing meals with two of our Christian friends.

    And the peace we shared? I am sure it was the peace of Christ!

    The empty tomb and the resurrection appearances are proof that He is alive! Jesus is the One whom God sent to redeem us from our sins, the one sacrificed for our sakes and resurrected to show us the way to everlasting life with Him!

    And God’s Word assures us that He is with us always, though we may not always have our eyes “opened” to His presence.

     On our way home from our trip, I thought about how I sensed Christ was with us all along and drew strength and comfort from His presence—just as the two disciples in Emmaus realize after Jesus vanishes.

      And they say 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?”

Let us pray.

Holy One, thank you for revealing yourself to us by Word and Spirit. Thank you for your love! Thank you for opening our eyes to the truth—so that we recognize our need for Jesus to redeem us—and all the world—from our sins. Forgive us for our doubts and, at times, for our rebellion or spiritual laziness. Show each of us the path you want us to take and strengthen us to walk as you direct. Lead us to encourage one another in the faith—to talk and walk and eat together, to pray for one another and carry one another’s burdens. Keep us from disappointment and grief when things don’t go as planned or as we want them to go and when we face hardship and pain. Help us to be patient and to trust you when we don’t understand. May we feel your peaceful, comforting presence with us always. Stir us to be faithful, though we may not have eyes yet to “see.” Give us hearts that burn with your love and gratitude that moves us to share the gospel in words and deeds. In Your Son’s precious name we pray. Amen.