Difference between revisions of "Sermon for April 12th, 2020"

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Luke 24:13-35

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus on the Road: Emmaus

Today's scripture passage takes place on Easter Sunday, the day that Jesus Christ rose from the grave. But unlike the part of the Easter story we are most familiar with, it doesn't take place at the empty tomb or in the garden. It takes place on the road to to a town just outside of Jerusalem called Emmaus. The two disciples in the story are leaving the great holy city where God was believed to have lived. They are leaving in despair and sorrow, all their hopes and expectations shattered. They are on the road, headed to their homes, perhaps unsure of what comes next.

I think we can identify with that. We are not celebrating Easter today in the place or in the way we are most accustomed to. We're all on a new road together, and we are faced with new anxieties and challenges that just a few weeks ago hardly seemed possible. So the first thing we can learn from today's scripture is that Easter--and our encounters with the risen Jesus--don't always happen in the places or the ways we might expect... but they still happen, and they still have the power to transform our sorrows into joy!

Now, the earliest Christians did not call themselves "Christians." They had another name for their movement. They called themselves the people of the road. The Greek word for road is ὁδός (hodos), which can also mean the way, the path, or the journey. The double meaning, I think, was intentional. Faith (and life) is a journey, a process that takes time. It has a beginning and and end, but most of it takes place in the middle. Like the disciples in today's story, we come to recognize Jesus when we travel on the road with him.

So for this week and the next two weeks, we'll be talking about some of those "on the road" encounters with Jesus that we find in the scriptures. Here at First Presbyterian Church, we sometimes describe ourselves as a church for wanderers. Wherever you are on your journey--whether you've walked this road for decades, or whether you are just starting out, we want to walk with you on that journey.

In verse 14, we read that the two disciples (one who is named specifically, one who is not) are "talking with each other about all these things that had happened." Here too, I think we can identify. I don't know about you, but a good portion of my day and my online conversations are filled with talking about the latest Coronavirus headlines, the latest changes and developments in our world, many of which are frightening.

Jesus comes along the two disciples, and at first they don't recognize him. He asks, in essence, "so what's up with you guys these days?" And they stop, dumbfounded at the question. Imagine if someone emailed or messaged you this week, saying, "So, what's new? How's life? You having a good time at work?"

Ummm...haven't you heard about what's going on?

No, tell me about it.

And so the two friends "educate" this stranger about all that has happened. Here's the second thing I want us to take note of: Jesus patiently listens to their sorrow, their fears, their anxiety. Yes, clearly he DOES know what happened, because it happened to him! But he takes the time required for them to let it all out. God knows what we're going through, but he still cares enough to listen. He still wants to hear it from us.

After they're all done, Jesus says to them in verse 25, "Oh how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!"

I don't really think he's being harsh or judgmental with them here. I think he's being playful. He's teasing them in the way he often would with his disciples. But he's also gently reminding them that what seems overwhelming to us is not overwhelming to God. If you look at things the way the world does--or your friends, or the headlines--you will probably be discouraged. But God, and the scriptures, offer a different perspective, a wider perspective.

Verse 27: "Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures."

The third thing we learn from this passage is the value of our sacred stories, our scriptures--which speak to us from the ages with wisdom and perspective. They were written by people who have walked difficult paths before us, and they were inspired by a God who knows our destination.

And yet still, at this point, the two friends do not recognize their Lord. Verse 28: "As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.”

Two important things here: When Jesus walks with us, he does not force himself upon us. He offers wisdom and insight, and then goes on his way. If you want more than that, if you want to recognize him for who he is, if you want to get to know him, you have to invite him into your life and into your home.

The other thing is just as important. These two friends, seeing that night is coming, show kindness to a complete stranger and invite him into their home. That's exactly the kind of love that Jesus had taught them, when he said to his disciples that "whatever you do to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done to me."

If you want to please God, if you want to know and recognize Jesus, then learn to see him in the face of those who are in need. I can hardly think of a time in our lives when there have been more people in dire need of help--will we see them? Will we recognize them? Will we help them? Or will we let Jesus keep on walking into the night?

Inside their home, the disciples break bread with Jesus, and it is in that familiar moment that "their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight."

• Road encounters: sense of continuity and discontinuity
• Resurrected Jesus is both unrecognizable and recognizable.

• End result of the encounter is a compulsion to SHARE their experience with others.

• We are all on a new road together. Where is Jesus in our midst?
• The road is the same, but we don't walk it the same way.
• We sometimes run full throttle down new roads, trying to get somewhere we can know, we can *be.* Let Jesus interrupt you, though and change your course.