Meeting Jesus on the Road ...

Sermon blogging ... Luke 24:13-35

This week I had a bit of a shock to be reminded that I had agreed to provide the worship at home sheet for my link circuit, I had of course completely forgotten, and having got back from Queen's I was thinking, its OK, the church won't need an order of service until Thursday ... plenty of time .... Famous last words ... one email and a rather intense afternoon later I found myself having written and sent in a complete worship at home sheet ... I had even sent the order of service to the church by the end of Wednesday, patted myself on the back and thought, excellent I'm ready for the weekend, time to write an essay... So of course I've ended up revisiting my sermon at least twice since then, I'm hoping this is the final version, or at least an approximation of it as I very rarely read verbatim.

I used to wonder how these disciples, who had followed Jesus, who had eaten with him and listened to his teaching, could fail to recognise him on the road. Surely they would know his voice, his mannerisms. We are told they were kept from recognising him, but not how.

Perhaps the simplest explanation is that they simply did not expect to see him there. Only three days before, they had seen him executed and sealed into a tomb. The only thing they knew for sure was that the tomb was empty. They had left before anyone had seen Jesus risen from the dead.

Maybe their eyes were closed through sadness and despair? I mean what a roller-coaster of a week? It had started full of hope with the parade into Jerusalem. The hopeful cries of “Hosanna – Save us”. Jesus overturning the tables of the corrupt money changes in the temple. You can imagine the anticipation of these disciples, likely from impoverished rural villages: Jesus was going to change everything. .... And then, betrayal by a trusted friend, seduced by money, Jesus arrested and put on trial, mocked crucified and buried. Then three days later, the tomb is empty, there are stories of angels, and yet they had left, maybe not daring to stick around to see what happens next. What would the Romans do? Had the Romans taken the body? Were they going to be next? In the world today it is easy to see how fear despair can make it difficult for us to feel hope and to see the good things happening right in front of us.

Were they too engrossed in their conversation to pay much attention to the person who had joined them. They don’t know who this man is, and yet they tell him everything. They speak of Jesus, of their hopes, of his death, of the rumours of resurrection. In a time of uncertainty and fear, that is not without risk. They do not know who is listening, or what might be done with what they say. And yet, it is in that moment of openness, of telling their story to a stranger, that Christ comes alongside them. They risk speaking, and find that they have been speaking to Christ all along.”

When I read this story, one of the most important elements is the shared journey, Jesus traveling with them, listening to everything they had to say. We don’t actually know where Emmaus was or how far they had to travel, and I’m not certain it is that important. We certainly know it took a long time, not only did they narrate everything that had happened, but Jesus also explained it all to them, going right back to the ancient prophets. He does not hurry them to the end of the story, but meets them where they are, with the questions they had, and when they reach their destination, does not force the conversation, but instead only goes where he is invited.

It was not until they sat with him around the table and saw him breaking bread, that they were able to recognise him. Maybe the more familiar setting helped them recognise the mannerisms, maybe they had a renewed sense of hope, hearing again how God had been at work over the centuries. Whatever it was, they could finally identify that warm feeling they had had along the road, the one that had inspired them to invite him in. At that moment of realisation they responded without hesitation, they got up and ran all the way back to Jerusalem to share this amazing news: Jesus is alive. 

So, what does this mean for us today?

First, how far and how fast would we run to tell someone that Jesus is alive? Are we that excited, that filled with hope, that we literally cannot keep it to ourselves? It would have been so much easier and more sensible to sleep on it and walk back the next day in daylight, but instead they ran. We know that the roads were not safe, particularly after dark, but they ignored the danger to share the good news. Are we willing to take a risk to share the good news?

Second, their hearts had burned as they walked and talked with him, leading them to invite him in to continue the conversation. What does it feel like for us to encounter Jesus? And how do we learn to recognise, as Wesley put it, when our hearts are strangely warmed, and respond to it?”

Finally, it was in the moment of breaking bread that they recognised Jesus, I wonder how often we break bread with others and fail to see Jesus in them? So, as we break bread, or share a cup of tea, with friends, family and strangers, may we learn to see Jesus in them.

Practicing this for Sunday as I'm actually playing as well as preaching (something I don't get to do as much as I'd like). I realised that I play it with more energy than many of the recordings I've heard ... personally I think it captures the excitement that caused the two disciples to run back to share the news with the others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=255ZzB5OBe8