An Unexpected Traveling Partner

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. (Luke 24:13-35, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Every time I write one of these devotionals I spend about 80% of the time researching and 20% writing. It helps me understand the passage better if I know the context in which it was written, and I don’t want to tell you something that isn’t accurate. Today is no exception, so let me give you some idea of the religious and political climate surrounding our passage and how timely it is for us today: 

• Last week we observed Holy Week which is paralleled by Passover in the Jewish calendar. Jerusalem would have been packed with people who traveled to the Temple for the festival commemorating when death “passed over” households with doorways were painted in the blood of a sacrificial lamb, sparing each obedient family the death of their firstborn son. We began Holy Week with Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem for Passover week on the back of a young donkey while crowds hailed Him, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna” (Save us, we pray!) but the festivities took a strange twist when Jesus not only observed the Passover tradition but embodied the Sacrificial Lamb. His entry and initial days in Jerusalem were spent fulfilling prophesies and, frankly, making religious leaders mad, which probably left the disciples swinging between righteous indignation and sheer terror. They loved being in the entourage of the King, but they had a popular kingdom in mind.
• Three days ago was Good Friday, the day Jesus was arrested, tried and crucified. He tried to prepare His followers for what was coming (Luke 18:31-34 for example) but it was beyond their comprehension. On Good Friday, we commemorate Jesus’ roughshod run through the Jewish courts system that ended with Him being mocked, beaten and despised, dying on a cross like a common criminal in a scene that literally split heaven and earth. The modern term Good Friday is probably a mispronunciation of the German words for “God’s Friday” but His sacrificial death certainly turned out “good” for us in the long-run.
• Yesterday we celebrated His resurrection with Easter, remembering the dumbfounded excitement of a small group of women who went to prepare His body for burial but saw instead a neatly folded shroud and a pair of ethereal messengers to state the obvious: “He is not here! He is risen!” The women ran back to a group of sorely disappointed followers to tell what they’d seen, or more to the point, what they had NOT seen, and Peter and John went to the tomb to see for themselves. This is where we pick up the story.

Later that day, two of them were leaving Jerusalem and walking the road to Emmaus. Which two were they? Named are: 

 

Cleopas (24:18) Cleopas isn’t mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, but he may actually be Clopas, AKA Alphaeus, father of James the disciple and husband of Mary (“mother of James” v10) who was among the women who found the tomb empty. This has some merit because Alphaeus reportedly had a home in Emmaus and he may have been making the 7mile trek home, dejected after Jesus’ death. I’ll go with this theory.

 

Peter (referred to as Simon in 24:34 and as Cephas in 1 Corinthians 15:5). Peter was the same guy who had boldly jumped to Jesus’ defense during His arrest, then three times denied knowing Jesus during His trials but ran to the tomb that morning, confused by what he’d heard. Hot shot… show-off… loved Jesus dearly.

 

Jesus somehow “appeared” walking alongside them (I wish I knew what that looked like!) and listened to their conversation for a few minutes before joining in. They didn’t recognize Him and He drew their true feelings out with His questions.

 

Jesus: What are you guys talking about?

 

Cleopas: Are you the only guy in town that hasn’t heard what happened to Jesus of Nazareth?

 

Jesus: (chuckles under His breath) Do tell!

 

Cleopas: He was a prophet, He was legit and we thought He was the Messiah, coming to save Israel and get us out of this mess, but not anymore. They killed Him…tried Him on trumped up charges and crucified Him outside of town. I guess that’s a warning to anyone else who might offer himself as our next “savior.” It’s been three days and not only is He dead but someone moved the body so He can’t have a proper burial. Some of the women-folk went to prepare the body but it was gone…they came back with a nutty story about two guys in glowing clothes telling them He is alive. Pete here went to check it out and he doesn’t know what to think. I’m just tired—I’m going home.

 

Jesus: Wow guys, you’ve forgotten your Torah classes! Allow me to refresh your memory.

 

Narrator: And beginning with Moses and the Prophets He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning the Messiah… 

 

The Seed of the Woman, whose heel was bruised.

The blessing of Abraham to all nations.

The High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The Man who wrestled with Jacob.

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

The voice from the burning bush.

The Passover Lamb.

The Prophet greater than Moses.

The captain of the Lord’s army to Joshua.

The ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer mentioned in Ruth.

The son of David who was a King greater than David.

The suffering Savior of Psalm 22.

The Good Shepherd of Psalm 23.

The wisdom of Proverbs and the Lover of the Song of Solomon.

The Savior described in the prophets and the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53.

The Princely Messiah of Daniel who would establish a kingdom that would never end.

 

Cleopas: Impressive! Hey we’re almost to my house, want to stay for dinner?

Jesus: Well I was going to pull an all-nighter but, sure. Can I serve you? I’ll say the blessing!

 

Narrator: When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. (Again, I wish I knew what that looked like!)

 

Cleopas: I knew something was different about that guy! It’s like my heart was on fire when He spoke, tingling when it recognized truth. When did you know it was Him, Pete?

 

Peter: I had a feeling early on, but didn’t want to jump to any conclusions. (A little disciple humor, there. Forgive me!) Then when I saw the marks on His hands when He gave us the bread like He always did, it was a no brainer.

 

Cleopas: Hey let’s go tell the other guys! Race you to Jerusalem!

 

Narrator: And apparently Peter won, because the other disciples reported “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon (Peter).” Show off!

 

 

RANDOM APPLICATIONS (or "if the shoe fits, wear it"):

• Cleopas and Peter had separated from the others in a time of great disappointment. Do you find yourself doing that? Though it’s not ideal to isolate from other believers in a crisis, Jesus still met them there.
• Through His questions, Jesus skillfully played along with the conversation, encouraging the men to reveal their hearts. Whether we’re moving expectantly in hope or walking away in disappointment, Jesus longs for us to tell Him our hearts. Even though He already knows, it’s good for us!
• The disciples felt their hope had been disappointed when in reality their hope was fulfilled in a greater way than they could have ever dreamed. Their hope was misguided—they wanted a political king but Jesus offered something better. Do you ever find your faith has stalled because your hopes are pinned to a lesser dream?
• They didn’t see Jesus because they didn’t expect to see Jesus. Do you expect to see Jesus in unusual places? In the hungry and poor? In the orphan and widow? In the prisoner, the alien and the oppressed? In the lonely, sick and the misfits? How about someone with different political or sexual or religious beliefs than you hold?  How about your own family?
• Jesus reveals Himself to us in other people through the Holy Spirit. It is easy to miss Jesus when you’re walking through difficult times, but don’t miss the very people who are meant to be part of your divine encounter story! Who has been speaking life into your journey? Do you stop to listen?
• We must leave room for Jesus to explain scripture in a way we’ve never considered. Our Redeemer reveals Himself to us through the truth of scripture reinforcing the experience we have on our unique road. And when experience and scripture co-mingle we participate in a holy moment, like the moment when Cleopas’ and Peter’s eyes were opened and they saw what they’d been missing.
• When we have our eyes opened and recognize the hands of the resurrected Jesus in the breaking of the bread, it changes the way we celebrate communion! When we remember His kindness to us, it’s a privilege to be bread for others, to show what Jesus is like by our service and our compassion. Next time you take communion, consider how you might be Jesus to someone else.

 

 

WHO AM I?

I’m Leigh Anne Bland and I’m fresh out of pictures that I’m willing to let you see of me, but I did find this in a search for images of the Road to Emmaus. 

 

I mentioned in the devo several times that I’d like to see how Jesus appeared or disappeared. That’s why I like this painting so much… I like the idea that Jesus can be playful, sneaky, and even downright slippery when He needs to be. Just when we think we have Him figured out He can pull a quick change and appear to us in a way that disarms our sensibilities. I like that about Him. He’s never boring and He’s rarely safe. This is my prayer: Don’t leave me behind. Keep on surprising me.