Emmaus Road

PRAYER PRACTICE

Lectio – Read today’s passage through once. Then spend some time praying and asking God to show you what you need to pay attention to in the text. Read it again. Now ask God to help you see what this text, and the part that has stood out, may mean for you. Don’t expect to get a clear word every time but always be ready to really hear from God through His Word.

DAILY READING

Luke 24:13-35

Small Group Discussion 

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Hope While Waiting

by Elaine Pierce

You thought we were done with Luke, didn't you? I will admit that so did I.....but these 32 verses in Luke 24 deserve our attention, especially the week after Easter.  

These two followers of Jesus are not named. All we know is that they have left Jerusalem and are travelling to the village of Emmaus, about seven miles away. We don't know why they left the other followers, but it is obvious that they are discouraged and downhearted.  They tell the 'stranger' they meet on their journey abut their deep disappointment that the man they thought was going to redeem Israel had been crucified. Their hopes for freedom and deliverance were gone.  

As the stranger listens to them, he opens the scriptures to them and explains to them why Jesus had to be killed, and what would happen next. Still, they don't recognize him, but they don't want him to leave, so they urge him to stay with them.  

And then it happens. Jesus breaks bread, gives thanks, and begins to give it to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. (24:30). He disappears, but they know that they have just spent time with Jesus. They rush back to Jerusalem and joyously tell the disciples about this amazing encounter.

Have you ever had an encounter with Jesus like this? You spend time in the word. You pray.  You worship with other Christians. And Jesus seems silent. You don't get answers to your prayers. Your time in the word is stale. The words have no significance. You are disappointed and downcast.  

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? " (Psalm 13:1-2)

I wonder if that psalm might have gone through their heads as they shared their disappointment about Jesus' death with this stranger. We've now been dealing with Covid-19 for more than a year, and I find myself asking God how much longer we must endure. When will we be able to worship without masks? Hug loved ones? Gather closer together and enjoy fellowship after church? I miss the fulness of worship very much, and I'm sure you do, too. And yet, I join the psalmist in saying that "I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. (v 5-6)"

Consider: God's timing is perfect, even when we don't see it that way. The men didn't recognize Jesus until he broke bread with them, and yet he was beside them for miles as they walked and talked. We may not see Jesus' hand in this time of social distancing and mask wearing, but he is with us and, as Paul says in Romans 8:28, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Thanks be to God!