J.J.

One of the more popular stories in the New Testament is the Walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-53). To set the scene, in the days after Jesus’ crucifixion, two of his disciples are walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  They were discussing the news of the day, which had been quite a rollercoaster.  Not even two weeks earlier they had witnessed, or at least heard about, their beloved Rabbi raising Lazarus from the dead and triumphal entry on a colt into Jerusalem.  Finally, their King would be taking his throne! To their dismay, Jesus had been arrested, beaten, convicted by the very people he had come to save, and then crucified on a cross alongside a murderer and a common thief!

We know one of the men walking on the Journey was named Cleopas, but what was the other man’s name?  The Bible doesn’t say.  There are some that believe it is our author, Luke.  I tend to think that that unnamed man may be a placeholder for you and I.  Don’t believe me?  Stay with me for just a few more paragraphs.

Just like these two men, you don’t have all the answers.   They may or may not have personally known Jesus, but could at least grasp that he was a Rabbi, had heard him say that he was the Son of God, and perhaps even recognized him as the promised Messiah. Like us, they would would certainly have been left angry, hurt, and confused about his crucification, and struggled with the concept of resurrection.

Just like these two men, you don’t walk alone. Traveling alone in Jesus’ day would have been perilous, so it was always wise to travel in at least pairs.  When Jesus came to walk alongside of them, even though they didn’t recognize him yet, they would have at at least known he was a kindred spirit that added to their physical security and safety.  While we may not have robbers, thieves, and wild animals to contend with on our daily commutes, there is an enemy that is prowling around seaking to steal, kill and destroy.  We have the opportunity to journey along with others on our daily walk of life. Your traveling partner may be your spouse, like minded friends at work, or church family. We also have Jesus to walk alongside you each day.  There is no excuse to ever walk alone.

Just like these two men, Jesus reveals himself to you through the sacrament of Holy Communion.  Think about it.  They walked and talked to Jesus for several hours, without recognizing him, as he explained how the scriptures foretold his birth, death, and resurrection.  Through the breaking of the bread and sharing of the wine it became clear to them who they had spent the day and evening with!  More than two thousand years later, we have the opportunity to experience the very same Jesus, the risen Christ when we share Holy Communion.

Just like these two men, you have the opportunity to say “Christ has risen, He has risen indeed”!  I won’t bore you with a Greek lesson, but the word used for indeed in the original language means truly, really, or actually. Can you imagine these two men trying to explain to others around them, without the context we have today, to explain their experience?  You too have the opportunity to share with friends, neighbors, relatives, and even strangers that Christ is Risen, to share the good news of the Gospel.  Tell all of those around you “Christ has risen. Truly! Really! He has actually Risen!”

S.D.G.