After The Cross

We call it the "Emmaus Road."

Back then, it probably did not have an "official" name at all. It was just the road that ran from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus. It was seven miles of nothing special.

That is, until two of Jesus' followers walked along that road together on the first Easter Sunday. Thanks to them, and to the gospel of Luke, the Emmaus Road has become a parable of encouragement today.

"Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them, but they were kept from recognizing Him." (Luke 24: 13-16)

What was "everything that had happened?"

Jesus had been crucified.

He was dead.

And buried.

There were lots of witnesses.

Now, some of His disciples were making wild claims, saying that Jesus had come back to life, that He had been resurrected.

The tomb was empty, they said.

He was gone!

When the first reports of His resurrection had come from a handful of women who had gone to the tomb early that morning, everyone dismissed it. After all, it was nothing more than the testimony of women who were obviously overcome with grief!

But later, Peter had also gone to the tomb and found it empty. Left behind were the linen strips that had been so carefully applied to Jesus' forehead, covering the wounds of the awful crown of thorns. But His body, put in that same spot by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, was nowhere to be found.

So, as they walked along it that afternoon, a better name for the road might have been "Confusion Road." Or "Pain Avenue." Or "Loss Lane." Or "Anxiety Alley."

Jesus had died? They had expected Him to be the Jewish Messiah who would deliver them from the rule of Rome and establish a new kingdom right then and there that would never end.

But He died instead.

Jesus had risen? They knew the Old Testament stories of people who had gone to heaven without dying first. Enoch was "taken away" by God, and Elijah rode to heaven on a chariot of fire. There was even the testimony of the young boy who was brought back to life through the prayers of Elijah.

But rising from the dead without at least the prayer of a prophet? It had never been done before.

What were they to think? What were they to do? How could it end like this? Or, had it ended at all?

Step by step they walked, the seven miles between Jerusalem and Emmaus seeming like seventy because of their heavy hearts. Suddenly, someone they did not recognize joined them. As He came alongside, He turned and asked, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

Astonished to hear that He was unaware of all that had happened, they poured out their story through broken hearts, wounded spirits and confused minds.

Jesus listened quietly. Then, He gave them a Bible lesson.

By the time they reached Emmaus, Jesus had revealed the Old Testament prophecies which explained everything.

How they loved His teaching! They invited Him to dinner, still not knowing who He really was. As the three of them sat down together, Jesus took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to them. Instantly, they saw Him for who He was! Then, miraculously, He disappeared from their presence.

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. (Luke 24:33-35)

The confusion was gone. The pain was past. The anxiety was history.

Instead, all they felt was pure joy. The joy of an empty grave. The joy of resurrection. The joy of truth.

And something else, I think...the joy of knowing that, as they looked back on it, even as they walked along that Emmaus road in their darkest moments, Jesus was walking with them, even though they did not know it.

After all, Easter isn't Easter without Jesus!

What is the name of the road are you walking down today?

Is it your own Emmaus Road of doubt and despair?

Does it seem like you have been walking down that road forever?

Be patient. Keep going.

Jesus will get you off the Emmaus Road when He is finished teaching you the lesson He wants you to learn. Until then, remember He is there, walking with you every step of the way, even when you don't know it.

The joy of resurrection and new life is coming your way! I promise.


Pastor Greg