With Jesus On the Road
Today The Most Remarkable Journey takes us on the Road to Emmaus. The Road where two men walked along with Jesus.
Once again on this journey, Jesus reveals so much about Himself and what we are to do in response. Which is always great news for us.
After Jesus went to the cross and was in the tomb for three days, He was raised from the dead. This was something He had been telling His disciples and followers that they couldn’t quite grasp. Of course, us having hindsight it seems so clear.
Today, however, I want to journey on that road with you. Often times when reading the Bible, I imagine myself being right there in the story. Today, I am going to attempt to do that with you as we bring this story to life. We are going to have to use our imaginations a bit. Even if you have read this a thousand time, I want us to look at the perspective of being there on that road with Jesus first hand.
The Two Men
We have been followers of Jesus. We were just in Jerusalem and witnessed all that had happened. Mary returned from the empty tomb telling us that Jesus was gone. We’re a pretty tight-knit group. My friend and I stayed pretty close to Jesus and the disciples.
I’m Cleopas and this is my friend and we have to tell you about this amazing journey with Jesus.
We were traveling on the dirt road back home. Our faces barely off the dusty ground because our hearts were in turmoil. The events that had just taken place over the past three days were heavy. We are about to take that 7-mile journey back to Emmaus. We were physically, emotionally, and spiritually empty. Helplessness and hopelessness were settling in deep.
Our hope had come but now He was gone. Completely gone. Not even a body to remember Him by.
We had hoped for this Jesus to save us. To rescue us from our oppressors. We have been with Him for quite some time and we realize that He is sent from God. But then just like that, it is over. He is over and no trace of Him to be seen or heard.
On the Road to Emmaus
Our feet are heavy as we walk along this road. Leaving Jerusalem means we leave it all behind. The life we had grown to know and seemingly understand.
Then along comes a man. It is if he just crawled out from under a rock. He asked us what we’re talking about.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” Luke 24:17 (NIV)
Is this man for real? How can anyone not know about this? I mean the ground shook, it grew dark in the middle of the day for hours, there was an uproar in the city. We can’t even pull our faces out of the dirt. It’s Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth.
He was well… amazing doesn’t even begin to describe it. He was a prophet. You would not believe the things He could do. The miracles were only the beginning. And the way He talked was pure power.
But He made them nervous. Their way of life, their traditions, their religion was all put into question. So they took Him. They had Him arrested and they hung Him on the cross. Our Savior. Our Hope and Redeemer. Let’s just say, He wasn’t redeeming us from up there or so we thought.
Who is this Man?
Then this man joined us on the road and you wouldn’t believe it, He called us foolish. Then did the most remarkable thing. He opened up Scripture to us.
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:27
You know I have heard this before, but never like this. I mean everything that was concerning Jesus was laid right out there in the open for us to see and understand. Yet we still didn’t notice. This man walking along the road with us. Who was this man?
We weren’t quite sure who He was but we didn’t want Him to leave. We wanted to hear more and we wanted Him to stay. Although our appetites were quite full from all that we were hearing, we asked Him to stay and eat with us.
I mean come and stay. Anything. Please just tell us more about Jesus and the prophets and the psalms. It’s getting dark. Just stay we urged Him.
He Broke Bread
He decided to stay. Oh, you wouldn’t believe our joy! We went into the house and we got Him some bread. He raised the bread into the air. Prayed to God the Father. Broke the bread and gave us a piece.
It was like our eyes were split right open. All of a sudden we saw Him. It was Jesus. As soon as we recognized Him, He was gone again. Out of our sight but not out of our minds.
We cannot tell you how excited we were. We got up. Ran that dirt road, even though it was quite late, all the way back to the disciples.
We had to tell them. We had to tell the others. He was here. And to us. I can’t believe He walked with us all that way. I can’t believe we didn’t recognize Him. We must have looked so silly. Heads down and telling Him everything about Himself.
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?” Luke 24:39 (NIV)
Peace Be with You
He came back! We saw Him! We know He is alive! Peter had already seen Him and Mary had told us all that had happened with the angels. As we were standing in the room talking with the disciples, He appeared. Just like that. Doors locked. There He was right in the middle of us.
Peace. That is what He offered us. Peace. The Hope I thought was going to be a faded memory, well Hope showed back up. He showed us His hands and feet and He ate with us. Now I have so many people to tell. He is here and He is alive!
Personal Reflections
- Have you had a time in your life when Jesus was walking right beside you and you didn’t recognize Him? Maybe you only saw Him after the fact.
- Jesus offers Peace. What do you want to trade today for the peace that He can replace it with?
- We are told by Jesus in the story of the woman at the well that He gets His spiritual food from doing the will of His Father and sharing scripture. (John 4:34) Where do you get your hunger satisfied?
- Does your heart burn within you when you spend time in the Scripture? Do you want to tell someone about it?
- What has this story revealed to you about Jesus and what has it revealed about yourself?
- Do you ever wonder if it is all really true? I think it is a common feeling but one that can be debunked by spending time with God in His Word like He did with the men on the Road to Emmaus. How do you replace doubts and uncertainty with truth?
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Thank you for sharing this, Jaime! How are you doing? It’s 2018 already, wha?!?
So glad you are here, Meghan. I am doing well. Thanks for asking. I hope you are having a wonderful 2018 so far. I am right there with you, I can’t believe how fast time flies by. I really hate to blink.
I just love the story of the Emmaus Road, and I’m not sure whether this makes me a heretic or not, but I have wondered whether those two travelers could have been a man and his wife. Cleopas is named, but I wonder if the other traveler could have been Mrs. Cleopas, so one Easter season, I wrote a little play where she’s sweeping the floor of their house and the two are talking about the glorious truth that the resurrection changes everything — which is absolutely true no matter who those 2 travelers were. 🙂
I created a little notecard binder to help me with the doubts and lies I was believing. On one side I wrote the doubt/lie, and on the other I wrote a scripture that combated that lie with the truth. It was such a helpful way to remind myself of what Jesus says about me, not what Satan tries to get me to believe!
I’ve always loved reading the stories people create from the bits and pieces we’re told of accounts in the Scriptures. It truly places us in the moment with them and puts flesh and blood on people who seem a bit more flat when we don’t see life through their eyes. Thanks for doing this here today, Jaime. I also love the personal reflections you’ve included at the end. These too bring more depth of insight to this true story of our Lord’s mysterious resurrection appearances and encounters. Thanks for the linkup!
I love this perspective! It really places you in the story! I also love your questions. My heart absolutely burns when I spend time in His Word, at His feet! There have also been times, He’s walked beside me but my eyes were focused on where I was headed rather than He who led me. Thank you for this great post!
Even when we do have moments of hopelessness, thankfully this is true: “The Hope I thought was going to be a faded memory, well Hope showed back up.” Thanks for sharing this encouragement with us, Jaime.
I love these re-tellings of the Scripture stories, because I think it helps bring so much more understanding when we can “place” ourselves in the story alongside the main characters. And what a joy that must have been when their “eyes split right open!” Thanks for this great study today. Blessings to you!
This Jesus Journey? I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!
This was so great! I loved reading it like a journal being written. I have come to enjoy reading the word of God in this way and get so much out of it when I feel as though I’m there with them. What a wonderful post!
I once put a baby boy I was keep over my shoulder, he was only 6 mos old but said Jeeessus very plainly, I was so awed but I should have turned around. I have read many accounts of children and a few credible grownups who have, even my Yorkie kneels in prayer. I believe He’s close to us. I read a beautiful line this week, that we may not always be aware of being in His presence but He is always aware of ours. Praying we all walk with Him in 2018 and beyond.
sorry, keeping…
This 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 And even the questions at the end speak volumes without even requiring answers, more rhetorical than anything else. How often am is Jesus right there and as much as I claim to love Him, I don’t even recognize Him.
Jesus sure did bring a peace that is impossible to explain and so wonderful to experience. Beautiful words! Thank you!
What a fun and enlightening perspective! It gives a greater depth to the scriptures we read when we put ourselves in the story. Your question- “Have you had a time in your life when Jesus was walking right beside you and you didn’t recognize Him? ” Um…YUP! I used to read this story and think to myself, “how on earth could these men be walking right next to Jesus, and NOT recognize Him?” But then, the truth is- I do this often.
Thank you for the reminder to pause and really take into account that God is walking with me, in the everyday! 🙂
Great post, Jaime! I love how you put us right there. I do love to study His Word and my heart does burn on many occasions. But there are also those times when I read because He has asked me to and trust that the fire will come with time. Thanks for sharing and hosting. Have a great week!
Oh, I’m sure I have many of these experiences. Not seeing Jesus at work or the blessings because I’m too busy worrying or complaining. Thankful that He works in my life all the time. Thanks for this reminder!