Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
Two men left Jerusalem late one afternoon. Their hearts were heavy and a bit fearful as they walked. For the past few years they had been caught up in something wonderful, a move of God that was so significant that they actually believed their nation would be set free from Roman rule and the glory days of King David would be restored. But the unimaginable happened; suddenly without warning the leader of the move was arrested and executed.
As they walked they recounted all the glorious experiences they had seen, the healing, miracles and the powerful messages. Although he was a simple man, actually a carpenter from Nazareth, the most learned and powerful men could not stand up to his wisdom and power. Even the demons cowered in his presence.
They questioned how such a powerful prophet could be so brutally and mercilessly tortured and executed upon that Roman cross? And what about the tale of angels appearing to some of the women telling them he is alive? Is that true or are they so beside themselves with grief that they are hallucinating? What about us now? Have we been identified as his followers? Are we going to be arrested?
Then suddenly, as if appearing out of thin air, a stranger joins them. He listened a little and began to question what was the cause of their sadness. They were incredulous that he had not heard about all the happenings in Jerusalem so they told him the story. Then he began to tell them what is written in the Scriptures concerning the Messiah and all that would happen to Him. They were fascinated by what he was telling them.
As they neared their destination the mysterious stranger was bidding them good-bye and they both spontaneously pleaded with him to stay for the evening. They were thrilled when he agreed, as they wanted to hear more of what he had to say. They even thought God had sent him to comfort them in their sorrow.
When they came inside it was suppertime and this is when everything changed forever. The stranger took the bread and broke and blessed it, and as he did, they were both thinking this is just like the prophet used to do it. In fact, they thought, “This guy reminds us of the prophet.”
Then it happened as he finished blessing the meal; suddenly, it was if the noonday sun filled the room. The atmosphere came alive, it was if heaven came down and filled every inch of space.
Standing before them the stranger was transformed before their very eyes. He was the prophet! The women were not hallucinating after all he is alive. As they were about to jump up and embrace him he disappeared from their sight. They were stunned, rubbing their eyes and wondering was that real? Can he really be alive? What just happened?
Suddenly, calmness enveloped them and they began to remember when he joined them on the road; the peace they felt and how his words spoke directly to their hearts. They looked at each other and blurted out almost in unison, “Our hearts burned as he spoke. The prophet is truly the Messiah.”
They jumped up and hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the rest of his followers. It seemed the journey back flew by as they talked about what just happened. It dawned upon them the honor that had been given to them; after all, they were not part of the twelve. He did not even choose either of them when he sent the seventy out. They were just everyday kind of people that followed him.
None of that mattered now. They had been entrusted with something much greater and special; the good news that the prophet was truly alive and not only that, He is the long awaited Messiah!
One of them remembered His first miracle of turning water into wine and how the steward declared the best wine was served last. He remarked, “surely we were given the best wine tonight.”
The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24) is one of my favorite Bible stories. Every time I read it my heart burns a little. When I walk down the road of disappointment, heartbreak or rejection I go back to this story and find Him speaking to my heart.
I have also walked down this road many times in my imagination as if I was one of those men with Jesus that evening. I have taken a few liberties and added some of my imagination into the story in hopes that your heart will be set on fire.
Many Blessings, BW