Luke 24:13-35
My favorite part about "The Road to Emmaus" is that only one of the two men is named. His name was Cleopas. Who was the other? One theory is that it was Luke himself.
I have a different theory. I think that the other one is you.
In yesterday's sermon, I gave my people "Five Signs That You Are on the Road to Emmaus." I will nutshell them here.
You don't have all the answers. The two men were followers of Jesus and believers in Him. And yet they had questions about His death and now possible resurrection. As a Christian, you still have questions, often about the more difficult things in life.
You don't walk alone. The two men had each other to walk with. You have other Christians and your congregation. And Jesus. He came and walked with those two men. He comes and walks with us. "Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus"!
He opens to you His Word. "They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?'" (32). He simplifies the Bible by showing us that it's all about Him, and especially His death and resurrection for our salvation. Let, therefore, your heart burn with love for His Word! And amid life's questions, we have the most important Answer: God's love in Jesus!
You see Him in the Sacrament (Holy Communion). The two men "recognize Him in the breaking of the bread" (31 and 35). This is a wonderfully mysterious part of the story. And I would say that it points to the faith, given to you by the Holy Spirit, to see (and receive!) the crucified-risen Jesus in the Sacrament.
You say, "Christ is risen!" The two men return and say to the others, "The Lord has risen indeed!" (34). "Indeed" means really, actually, and truly. Christians believe that Jesus has really risen, and that our lives are different now because of it! "Christ is risen!" is a great confession, but learning to live the words is the important next step. But the resurrection is the very power to live differently than we did before, and differently than the world around us.
If you have time, read Luke 24:13-35, believing that you are indeed the unnamed disciple!
