Introduction

Good morning, family of God. It's a joy to be with you today, gathered in the presence of our Lord, ready to encounter His word afresh. We all have our own stories, our own experiences, our own heartaches and triumphs. Each of us carries a unique narrative, woven together by the hand of God. Yet, in the midst of our individual stories, we find a common thread - a shared experience of navigating the unexpected, of trying to understand God's newness, and of growing in redemption.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a passage from the gospel of Luke, a narrative that beautifully encapsulates these shared experiences. We find ourselves on the road to Emmaus, walking alongside two disciples who are grappling with the unexpected death of their Savior, struggling to grasp the newness of the resurrection, and poised on the precipice of a deeper understanding of redemption.

Luke 24:13-32 tells us: "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, 'What are you discussing together as you walk along?' They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, 'Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?' 'What things?' he asked. 'About Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.' He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, 'Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 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?'"

Grieving the Unexpected

In the narrative of the road to Emmaus, we see two disciples grappling with the unexpected loss of their Savior. They had placed their hopes, their dreams, their very lives in the hands of Jesus of Nazareth, only to see Him crucified on a cross. This was not the outcome they had anticipated. This was not the Messiah they had envisioned. Their grief was palpable, their confusion evident, their disappointment raw.

This experience of grieving the unexpected is not foreign to us. We too have faced situations that have left us reeling, circumstances that have left us questioning, losses that have left us mourning.

The first thing we notice about these disciples is that they were not alone in their grief. They were walking together, talking together, processing together. There's something powerful about community in the midst of grief. It's in community that we find comfort, support, understanding.

But it's not just any community that can provide this kind of support. It's a community of faith, a community rooted in the promises of God, a community that believes in the power of resurrection. This is the kind of community we see on the road to Emmaus, and it's the kind of community we are called to be for one another.

Secondly, we see that these disciples were honest about their grief. They didn't try to hide it or deny it. They didn't try to put on a brave face or pretend that everything was okay. They were honest about their disappointment, their confusion, their loss. And in their honesty, they found a safe space to express their grief, to voice their questions, to wrestle with their doubts.

This kind of honesty is crucial in the process of grieving the unexpected. It's only when we are honest about our feelings that we can begin to process them, to work through them, to find healing and hope.

Thirdly, we see that these disciples were open to the presence of Jesus in their grief. Even though they didn't recognize Him at first, they welcomed Him into their conversation, into their questions, into their grief. They allowed Him to walk with them, to talk with them, to be with them in their grief. This openness to the presence of Jesus is a key aspect of grieving the unexpected. It's in His presence that we find comfort, peace, hope.

Finally, we see that these disciples were transformed by their encounter with Jesus. Their grief was not the end of their story. Their disappointment was not the final word. Through their encounter with Jesus, their grief was transformed into joy, their disappointment into hope, their confusion into understanding.

Grasping God's Newness

As we continue our walk on the road to Emmaus, we find ourselves grappling with the newness of God's work in our lives ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO