Road to Emmaus

At the end of Luke, we join a two disciples of Jesus walking on the road to Emmaus, going away from Jerusalem towards Galilee. They were talking with each other about all the things that had happened.

What could they have been saying to one another?
What were all the things that had happened?

Just a week earlier, they were walking with Jesus when he had ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey, like a king! This also happened to be lamb selection day for the Passover feast.

The people of Jerusalem came out and welcomed him into the city with palm branches shouting "Save us!", celebrating much similarly as they had done a couple hundreds of years prior. That time, a group of young men, came in a violently overthrew the oppressive regime saving the nation from the dominating empire. Maybe this time Jesus, King, would save the nation from a dominating empire, Rome, like before!

...Jesus wept! Why?

Later that week, these same disciples of the Rabbi Jesus, reclined together to celebrate Passover. Passover, also the first of seven days of unleavened bread, is a reminder of when God passed over the Hebrews before when they were slaves in Egypt, saving them and freeing them from an empire!

God promised them salvation, freedom, redemption, and to make them his own.

This Passover, Jesus stood up, blessed God for the bread, the bread reminding us of the time that those slaves in Egypt were being freed, and said that this bread is his body? Why? Why is his body that bread? He also blessed God for the cup, the cup that reminds us of God's salvation, freedom, redemption, and that we are his, and said that this cup is his blood? Why? How is his blood that cup?

Then their rabbi was arrested and tried and put to death as a criminal by the priests and leaders of Israel. This new king who the people claimed would overthrow the current leadership and free them from an empire was silenced by those currently in power.

We find these two disciples walking back to their homeland.

Can you see them discussing these things?
Can you see them wrestling with these profound questions?
"We had hoped that he would be the one to liberate Israel, now he is dead, executed by our leaders."

Things didn't turn out to be the way that they had expected, hoped for. Now, they were leaderless, directionless and asking themselves, "What now?"


But this story, this leader, this rabbi, this king would be different.

These two young men walking on a dusty road to a city named "hot spring".
Could they hear the words of their rabbi saying, "I am living water."?

Another man catches up with them, walking down that road. This man begins to ask them questions much like their rabbi had early. The two don't realize that it's Jesus. (And if we are honest with ourselves, we probably wouldn't expect to see a friend after watching them be killed and buried.)  Jesus starts asking them questions!

"What are you talking about as you walk along?"

They answer,
"Are you the only one in Jerusalem that doesn't know the things that have been going on the last few days?"

What things?

They go on to share everything that was happening.

Jesus finally responds, saying,
"Foolish people! So unwilling to put your trust (chutzpah) into everything that the prophets spoke! Didn't the Messiah have to die like this before entering his glory!?!"

Then starting with the Torah and all the prophets, explained everything to them concerning himself, the Messiah.

What do you think Jesus shared with these disciples who were heading home, putting up their bags, because things turned out to not be what they expected?

Do you think Jesus talked about Eden?
Do you think Jesus explained how Abraham walked with God and God provided the sacrifice?
Do you think Jesus talked about Exodus and the original Passover?
Do you think Jesus explained, that this time, the Messiah's blood and body is for the salvation, freedom, redemption, and making all peoples God's people?
Do you think Jesus told them how empires come with violence and destruction and domination to better their own rulers and people?
Do you think Jesus reasoned with them about Israel's exile in Babylon and the prophets' hope for a new Exodus?
Do you think Jesus explained to them that this time, this Exodus, would be more than just freeing a people from under an oppressive empire?
Do you think Jesus pointed out that the salvation, freedom, and redemption of God's people, everyone, could never be won with violence but with anti-violence, sacrifice?
Do you think Jesus let them know that this new kingdom is bursting forth, starting that day?
Do you think Jesus reminded them that this new kingdom wouldn't happen over night?
Do you think Jesus told them that this new kingdom starts in Jerusalem but would spread to the ends of the earth on their footsteps?
Do you think Jesus let them know that this new kingdom is for everyone?
Do you think Jesus warned them that future generations would maim, kill, and conquer in his name?
Do you think Jesus gave the most profound, earth shattering sermon that was and will ever be given?

What I would give for that one moment in history just to walk behind them listening to every word.

These three reached Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, as the sun was setting. The two disciples invited Jesus to join them for a meal. Jesus stood up, blessed God for the bread in the same manner that reminds us of the time that those slaves in Egypt were being freed as he did several nights prior.

Their eyes were opened.
They were walking with Jesus the whole time.
Didn't our hearts burn inside of us as he spoke to us on the road, opening up the Scriptures to us?

They got up at once and ran back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples.
Jesus is alive!
Things aren't what we expected; they are so much better!