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Scripture |
Luke 24:13-35 13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem , 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth , who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel . Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem ; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread .
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Devotional |
How often do we find ourselves in the position of these two travelers at the beginning of the story? We are discussing things as we walk, attempting to sort out the meaning of the event which has impacted our life. How can we discuss the Easter story in our own experience? Frederick Buechner interprets Emmaus as a place we go in order to escape – a bar, a movie, what ever it is we throw up our hands and say, “Let the whole damned thing go hang. It makes no difference anyway.” Can Emmaus be a place of escape? This is the place where Jesus meets us as we escape the difficulties of our lives. Emmaus is that place where the Lord meets us at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. How do we react when we share a table with a stranger only to discover we are in the presence of the Lord? They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he opened the scriptures to us?” Scholars differ on the exact location of Emmaus. Does this allow us to experience Emmaus at different places and times in our spiritual lives? Can the place where our hearts burn within be Emmaus? The presence of Jesus is not a moment we can capture and keep to ourselves. Like these two travelers, we need to return to Jerusalem so we can share our story with others. One reason we have so few Emmaus experiences is that we attempt to keep them private instead of returning to Jerusalem to share them with others. Be prepared as you enter your place of escape, this could be the place and time you encounter Jesus!
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