Host (17:26)
Even though Jesus walks beside these men, they don't recognize him at first. This is symbolic of how we often fail to see Jesus in our midst, especially in times of disappointment or confusion. Our spiritual eyes can be closed or clouded by feelings of doubt. Like the disciples, we often walk with Jesus without even recognizing Him. He is present in everyday life, right near us, even in their blindness. They are eager to learn more from this stranger, though. He explains the scriptures to them, showing how the Messiah had to suffer before entering his glory. This is crucial in understanding the gospel, the necessity of the cross before the crown, suffering before glory. All of these things are absolutely necessary for us to grasp. There is no purpose without suffering. There is no resurrection without crucifixion. Jesus explains to these men that this was foreshadowed in promise that the Messiah would have to suffer and die. Every single hero from the Bible that came before Jesus was an image pointing towards the cross, grave and resurrection. Jesus is the culmination and the apex of scripture. Every hero before him pointed forward to this story. Jesus is the ultimate hero. Jesus is the word that formed the heavens and the earth in the very beginning. Jesus is the foreshadowed son to crush the head of the serpent. Jesus is the priest Melchizedek who blessed Abram. Jesus was the ultimate seed of Abraham that would bless the nations. Jesus is the one who wrestled with Jacob in the dirt and named him Israel. Jesus is the voice who spoke to Moses through the burning bush. Jesus is the commander of the Lord's armies who spoke with Joshua. Jesus is the greater judge than Gideon, Samson and Deborah. Jesus is the son of David come as a greater king and hero to defeat sin and death. Jesus is the suffering servant and prince of peace spoken by the prophets. Jesus is the one who Daniel saw in his vision, the Son of man in glory. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of humanity. Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus is all these things and more. His coming was foreshadowed by the law of Moses and the stories of old. And he was the conqueror of death who stood before these men in today's episode. As Jesus spoke about the word of God to them, their hearts began to burn and yearn for even more. So much so that they asked him to remain with them. You see, the Bible isn't just a story of moral guidelines or a roadmap to abundant living. Anyone who would tell you that the Bible is just a manual on how to live has obviously never read it in its entirety. The Bible is an overarching narrative that is not just a group of moral platitudes. It is first and foremost the story of Jesus. It's the story of a savior and a kingdom established in his name. And we must read the Bible in that proper lens. If you read the Bible as simply a moral handbook, you're going to look at the story of David and Goliath and say, oh, all of my problems are Goliath and I'm David. But if you see scripture from a Christ centered lens, you see these stories differently. You don't see Goliath as your issues and you as David. You see Jesus as David, the shepherd who has come to to defeat the ultimate giant sin, death and despair. The climax of today's episode comes at the breaking of bread. Where these disciples eyes are opened, they finally recognize Jesus. This moment is pointing towards the importance of communion in our Christian walk where Christ is made known to us as we remembered what he did for us. The breaking of his body, the spilling of his blood. The disciples recognized Jesus in a simple yet profound act, the breaking of bread. This invites us all to find Jesus in the ordinary aspects of life, especially in the everyday sacraments of the church, and encourages us to approach the Lord's table with expectation. The expectation of meeting him there, the expectation of seeing him clearly. Never forsake communion as just some other religious practice. In the act of communion we are remembering what Jesus did and seeing him for who he is. Ultimately, the road to Emmaus is a metaphor for our faith journey as well. We may start out confused and disheartened, just like these disciples. But as we walk with Jesus and as we learn from him and the Word of God, our eyes are open to the truth of his presence. Once they recognized Jesus, they immediately went back to Jerusalem to share their experience. This speaks to our call to be witnesses, sharing how we have encountered Christ in our own lives. The Emmaus Road experience is a powerful reminder of Jesus constant presence in our lives, the illuminating power of Scripture, and the joy of recognizing him in the ordinary and the sacramental. As we reflect on this passage, let's invite Jesus to walk with us, to open our understanding through His Word and to reveal Himself in our daily lives. Join us next time as Jesus reveals Himself to the rest of the disciples, they finally get to see him, hug him, and embrace the idea of the Resurrection. If you've enjoyed this podcast thus far, consider writing us a review. We would love to hear how these stories have impacted your walk with God. And be sure to download the Pray.com app to make prayer a priority in your life and experience the Bible in new and exciting ways. God Bless.
