Luke 24: 21-24
Two men open their hearts to a man they don’t recognize as they walk home to Emmaus, Easter afternoon. They were deep in conversation about all they had been through in the previous week trying to piece a shocking report that the tomb was empty. What did it all mean? They were so engrossed in conversation they did not recognize Jesus when he joined them and asked what events they were discussing. They shared about events but then continued, “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Their hopes crushed but also women and disciples reported the tomb was empty. Crushed hopes and unbelievable stories. Resurrection was not part of the expected script. They did not understand this turn of events and were not sporting new clothes. Many of us know what it is like to have “crushed hopes”. We never expected to come up empty handed.
So what marks this scene? For many of us, being crushed blurs our boundaries. We bounce from a broken relationship into some users arms…rebound…we call it. Hurt in one church we bounce to another searching for an answer. During the Great Stock Market crash, people committed suicide. Failing standardized tests also leads to suicide among youth. When we are crushed sometimes we share with strangers and don’t even recognize Jesus reaching out to us.
When we are crushed we need a friend to walk with us, to help us reconstruct reality. We cast about for an explanation. And when we are crushed, we can get snarky. The men snap, “Are you the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on?” I call it “mouth in motion, beware!”
But it is the presence of friends that help us talk it through and offer alternate explanations that help. Judas was alone, alienated from the other disciples and guilty. He committed suicide. These men had each other and Jesus, yes unrecognized, joined them.
So are you the sort of person who will walk with another when their hopes fall through? Have you been snarky and need to apologize? It happens. Jesus was there in their presence and he is here with us now helping us get through the dark days. Let’s be open to walking with someone trying to sort out their life today and be aware of Jesus in our presence. He is alive! Thank you Lord!
“But we had hoped…”
Luke 24: 21-24
Two men open their hearts to a man they don’t recognize as they walk home to Emmaus, Easter afternoon. They were deep in conversation about all they had been through in the previous week trying to piece a shocking report that the tomb was empty. What did it all mean? They were so engrossed in conversation they did not recognize Jesus when he joined them and asked what events they were discussing. They shared about events but then continued, “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Their hopes crushed but also women and disciples reported the tomb was empty. Crushed hopes and unbelievable stories. Resurrection was not part of the expected script. They did not understand this turn of events and were not sporting new clothes. Many of us know what it is like to have “crushed hopes”. We never expected to come up empty handed.
So what marks this scene? For many of us, being crushed blurs our boundaries. We bounce from a broken relationship into some users arms…rebound…we call it. Hurt in one church we bounce to another searching for an answer. During the Great Stock Market crash, people committed suicide. Failing standardized tests also leads to suicide among youth. When we are crushed sometimes we share with strangers and don’t even recognize Jesus reaching out to us.
When we are crushed we need a friend to walk with us, to help us reconstruct reality. We cast about for an explanation. And when we are crushed, we can get snarky. The men snap, “Are you the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on?” I call it “mouth in motion, beware!”
But it is the presence of friends that help us talk it through and offer alternate explanations that help. Judas was alone, alienated from the other disciples and guilty. He committed suicide. These men had each other and Jesus, yes unrecognized, joined them.
So are you the sort of person who will walk with another when their hopes fall through? Have you been snarky and need to apologize? It happens. Jesus was there in their presence and he is here with us now helping us get through the dark days. Let’s be open to walking with someone trying to sort out their life today and be aware of Jesus in our presence. He is alive! Thank you Lord!
On the Way to Wonder 