Mystery Journey
Life’s journey is a mystery. We meet a stranger. He opens the Scriptures to our understanding. He can be a mystery until we break bread. Who’s the stranger? What’s the mystery? Let’s find out in Luke 24:13-35.
Luke 24:13 says, “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.”
A road led west from Jerusalem through trees and fields to a warm spring and a town called Emmaus. Its ruins are still there inside a national park. The resurrected Jesus met two disciples on that ancient road. Do we recognize Jesus on our travels? They did not, at first.
Luke 24:15b-16 “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”
They thought Jesus was a stranger. Is He a stranger to us? Do we not recognize Him? Sometimes, those closest to Jesus do not recognize Him, distracted by things of this world. Yet, in the midst of all the paths life takes us, Jesus is there gently walking with us.
Luke 24:25-27 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Are we also foolish and slow of heart? Jesus expounded to them the Scriptures about Himself. Yet, they failed to recognize Him until later. He also talks with our hearts as the Holy Scriptures are read aloud, through creation, and through our consciences. Yet, how often do we recognize Him?
Luke 24:28-32 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
The guest became the host. Jesus blessed and broke the bread, then their eyes were opened and they knew Him. Does this picture our lives? Does Jesus journey with us? Does He open the Scriptures to us? Do our hearts burn? Are our eyes opened as the bread is broken?
Luke 24:33-35 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.” Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.
An original definition of the word sacrament was simple. It meant “a visible sign of an invisible grace” according to Augustine of Hippo, or as many still teach today, “all of life is a sacrament.” The Eastern Orthodox call these sacraments mysteries because we see one thing and believe another.
Let’s pray to see God’s invisible grace in the world around us. For instance, communion bread is far more than a mere symbol. It is a sacrament, a mysterious invisible grace. In it Jesus is revealed to us. In it, the mystery is revealed that the Lord is risen indeed?
Our lives are a journey to Emmaus. Along the way we meet a stranger who walks with us and opens the Scriptures to our understanding. As we partake of the communion bread do we begin to appreciate who that stranger is and the Good News that He brings?
Readings:
Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Are repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit a promise for us alone, or our children too?
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 What is this cup of salvation? What does it represent? Why is the death of God’s faithful servants so precious?
1 Peter 1:17-23 Why do we live out our lives as foreigners? Were we redeemed by silver or gold? If not then what? Of what seed are we born again?
Luke 24:13-35 in Rhyme
Two were going to Emmaus
And Jesus drew near to discuss
But they didn’t recognize Him
And asked why they sounded so grim
Cleopas asked, haven’t you heard
And He asked them what was the word
So they said, a Prophet is dead
We hoped for redemption instead
Crucified, yet our women say
That He’s alive again today
Then Jesus said, Don’t be so slow
The prophets spoke, and you should know!
Then He expounded their writings
And all about the Good Tidings
And they invited Him to stay
Breaking of bread did Him betray
And they said, “Didn’t our hearts burn
When to the Scriptures He did turn
So they went to Jerusalem
Found the eleven and told them
