The Road to Emmaus

July 10, 2007, 11:05 am; posted by
Filed under Articles, Mike J  | 3 Comments

Apologies should be sincere.

My last apology for my infrequent postings was sincere.

So is this one.

The difference is, I hope, that I’ll actually be better about posting more often.

To encourage me to do so, I hope you’ll pray that my pastoring and studying time is more efficient so I have more time for this worthy project.

Or you could send a love gift.

Large bills are fine.

Anyway, onto my thought for today:

The story is told in Luke 24 of a time when Jesus met two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus had risen from the dead, but these two disciples did not yet know this; they had heard that the tomb was empty, but nothing was at all clear or certain at that time.

The trouble was, in the words of verse 16, “Their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” So Jesus asked them what they were talking about, and they told him the story of the crucifixion and the empty tomb. Jesus was amazed that they still didn’t get it and began to explain the story to them. “Beginning with Moses and the prophets,” we read, Jesus “interpreted to them the things about himself in all the Scripture.” Finally, the three arrived at home, where Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them. Then, and only then, did they recognize him.

I wonder if it would be too big a stretch to see this as a model for church. I think not; Luke was that great chronicler of early church history and I think he here is laying a foundation for how we are to see the church.

Word. And Table. And then we see Jesus.

Like those two disciples, we arrive into the presence of the Lord on Sunday confused. Like them, we hear rumors of God stirring, but for all intents and purposes, the evidence points to God being dead. We come into the Spirit’s presence, call for God to be with us, but like those two disciples, we don’t even know He’s here.

But then the Word is broken open; psalms are read, the gospel is spoken, the words explained and taught, the divine Word demonstrated. And then, likewise, we come to the Table and the bread is broken, and there–finally–we see Him clearly, in the Word and the Table, in the truth and in the fellowship; there we see the Broken and Spilled Out One.

I wonder if you have thought about worship in this way: not as entertainment, not as edification, but as encounter. The kind of encounter that leaves your heart “burning within you,” as it did for those disciples on that day. Be open to the encounter of the Word and the Table.


Comments

3 Comments to “The Road to Emmaus”

  1. Aaron on July 10th, 2007 1:06 pm

    Easily one of my favorite Bible stories. For theology of the Encounter with Christ concluding in his revelation them. It is a wonderful taleof the personal relationship God longs for with us.

    On a much lighter side, I also like the story because I think it’s hilarious. Here’s the omnipotent ruler of the universe stumbling along a road with two confused men (possibly Darryl and Darryl) talking about what just happened. I think it’s rather amusing. Think how much fun God had. Waiting until he had broken bread with them to break their hearts with his presence. It was an experience that neither of the men forgot, and it was also one I’m sure Jesus never forgets and looks back amusingly on. Like a good prank, Jesus pulls a fast one. Following all the proper rules of pranking and then going beyond that by, well, revealing himself not only as the prankster but of the Lord of the Universe.

    Beats any prank I pulled. And I pulled some good ones.

  2. Mike on July 10th, 2007 2:03 pm

    It is great for that reason too, Aaron. In my daughter’s “toddler Bible,” the pictures are especially silly. It is a cool thought that one of the first things Jesus did when he was raised from the dead was to have child-like fun.

    I also like your Darryl and Darryl reference, though one of them is named as Cleopas. “I’m Cleopas, and this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl?”

  3. David on July 10th, 2007 6:05 pm

    I love that story too. How would you like to have had Jesus himself explaining his presence through all the Law and The Prophets? Wow.

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