On the same day, (that is “code language” for Easter Sunday…it means to say…the same day “that Jesus rose from the dead”)…well, “on that same day”…two of Jesus’ followers were traveling to the village of Emmaus when Jesus joined them on their horrific and sad march toward home.
They were “blocked” or “prevented” from recognizing Jesus whatever that means…perhaps they were too preoccupied in their own thoughts…or maybe, they just no longer cared…then again, it could have been their melancholy that had overcome them.
So, Jesus just “super casually asks them” what have they been talking about?
What? Are you kidding me?
You must be “the only person” in all Jerusalem who doesn’t know “what happened.”
You know, to Jesus of Nazareth, the Rabbi from Galilee. The guy was “an incredibly powerful prophet,” and Jerusalem’s “highbrows, big wigs and big shots” handed him over for death and execution.
He was horribly put to death on a Roman cross and made a public spectacle.
He was jeered at and dishonored like crazy!
These two followers say that “their hope” was that he was “the one” about “to bring redemption” to all of Israel.
“Hope” (you know) can be a very fragile thing…when it withers it is difficult to retrieve…their hope was gone…
Now three days whole days have passed they went on…and some women are telling some of our friends that his body was missing from the tomb, where angels appeared to them telling them that he is indeed living.
A few people—including some of the guys—went over to the tomb and saw for themselves that his body wasn’t there.
But no one seems to know what is going on…confusion is everywhere…people are just afraid, right now, very afraid…
People are crushed, defeated, helpless, hopes dashed disillusioned, desperate, despairing and hurting…hopelessness is everywhere…there is only heartbreaking disappointment…
No one knows quite what to do, or where to go…so we headed back to the security of home and family…
That’s when Jesus piped up: You know…the prophets foretold all of this.
Way back in the “way back days,” they wrote about the Messiah’s suffering and subsequent entry into glory…it’s all right there…you just have to see it for yourself…
So, Jesus proceeded to “interpret the law of Moses” and “the writings of the prophets” for them in order to demonstrate what these “authoritative texts” had to say about himself.
They did not know what to say! They were like totally and completely dumbstruck. They were speechless. This guy teaches as one who has “authority.” All of a sudden things are starting to come together for them…
Things were starting to “make sense…”
This guy teaches like a rabbi, like he knows a thing or two…
So quite naturally, they invited him to stay with them, seeing as the hour was now getting late. They desired to hear more…
While the gang was reclining for dinner, Jesus takes the bread, blesses, breaks, and distributes it. These were “familiar actions” and it opened the followers’ eyes.
Cleopas and his companion immediately recognized that it was none other than Jesus, himself.
But, too late! Jesus disappeared. Hey, where did he go?
So, ASAP—they returned to Jerusalem, where “word on the street” was that Jesus was resurrected—now, he had appeared to Simon, too.
And wouldn’t you know it, just as everyone was chatting, Jesus appeared. And someone, shouted, “Huzzah!” Which was a cry of approval or delight…it was an exclamation of sorts!
It was Jesus, alright! Look!!!!
The disciples were a mixed bag of emotions. Disbelief, joy, and awe all swirling in their heads. Confused, happy, delighted, scared…everything all at once! No one knew what to say…
Then Jesus asks if they have any food? Hey, resurrection takes it out of you, you know? So, they cook up a piece of fish for him, and he gobbles it down right in front of them.
Again, Jesus says that everything written about him in the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms has to come to pass.
Once that’s done…it’s destined that “repentance and forgiveness of sins” will be proclaimed throughout the whole of the Roman Empire and beyond…
It’s going to start right here in Jerusalem with my friends, and guess who is going to do it? Jesus looks directly at his “main guys”…come on, guess?
The Season of Easter is fifty days in length…something tells me, the disciples thought it was going to be a longgggggggg fifty days! Amen.