Imperfect Series

I have to wonder what these first disciples expected to find when they followed Jesus. The Baptist had pointed to Jesus, identifying Him as “the Lamb of God.” Our understanding is coloured by our experience, determined in great measure by what we have learned. Those earliest disciples must have expected something, but they were to be surprised repeatedly by what they found. It becomes obvious as we read the Gospel accounts that they anticipated a powerful deliverer who would put down Roman rule and restore Israel to the glory they were assured was their right. Instead, what they found was One Who would offer His life as a sacrifice because of their own sin. They didn’t want to deal with their own sin! They wanted to be on the winning team! They wanted to rid themselves of the detested Roman occupiers!

This is revealed in an incident that occurred following the Resurrection of the Saviour. Doctor Luke records what happened when the Risen Saviour unexpectedly joined a couple of disciples trudging toward Emmaus. “That very day two [disciples] were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?’ And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’ And he said to them, ‘What things?’ And they said to him, ‘Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 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 happened’” [LUKE 24:13-21].

I do believe the Master has a well-honed sense of humour. He joins these two disciples as they walk. The men are downcast, dejected, despondent; they are mournfully telling one another how unfair life has become, how miserable the world is, and all because the One in whom they had placed all their hope was murdered. Suddenly, a stranger is walking beside them. He matches their stride and asks them what they were talking about. At that, they stop and look at this man. Oh, my, but their faces are sad. Can a frown be any deeper than the one they wear? They are astonished that the interlocutor appears unaware of the reason for their sorrow. Perhaps he is a stranger to the region. Perhaps he has only arrived in town. So they began a recitation of grief, their sorrow concerning Jesus of Nazareth gushing forth.

They begin to tell this stranger all about Jesus of Nazareth, who was, they aver, a prophet. They tell how this Jesus was mighty in deed and word, informing all who heard Him as He testified about God and as He healed broken people. They told how this Jesus of Nazareth spoke as no man ever spoke and how He instilled hope in all who heard Him speak. Above all else, they had hoped that this miracle worker, this man who preached such powerful messages, this man who rebuked sinful religious leaders, would overthrow Rome, and deliver Israel!