Let me invite you to slowly read the story of the walk to Emmaus several times as you sit with this classic painting of Jesus walking with the two disciples along the path. Let your imagination take you into the story. Be there.
Luke 24:13-32 (NRSV)
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?”
They stood still, looking sad. 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?”
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, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 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. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 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. 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.”
Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 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.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 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?”
Now, look at the painting through the eyes of your soul, slowly taking it in. Let your imagination take you into the scene. Enjoy the warmth of the sunshine and gentle breeze. See the long road ahead of you and wonder how long it will take to get there. Feel the anguish in your soul over all that is taking place. Notice your gentle surprise when you realize someone has joined the two of you—that you had been so engrossed in the sorrow of your current situation that you had not even noticed this “stranger” with you. Listen to Jesus as He throws light on your situation and helps things make sense to you. Can you imagine that this is your story too?—that Jesus is always close at hand in the Holy Spirit and that He has the answers for the way your path needs to go into the future?
Many people are saying that the future will be different even when the pandemic is past and life re-opens. We can already see that is true as we are faced with the first steps toward re-opening. That doesn’t have to be a grim declaration. Jesus never promised us a grim future. The ancient scriptures of the Israelites never promised a sad future in God’s plan. Even in the worst prophesied experiences, God was always saying to His people as He did through the prophet Jeremiah during a time of exile: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).
The choice is ours. We can stay on the merry-go-round of sorrow, with the anger, denial, bargaining, depression and fateful acceptance. Or, as God said to His people long ago: “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess” (Deut. 30:15-16, NIV).
We don’t have to accept a new future that is full of death. We can accept a future full of life. Jesus promised, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV). It all begins with these simple steps: Love the Lord your God. Walk in His ways. Obey His prescription for a good life. The outcome is life, productivity, blessings. That is a small price to pay for a better life. And, a better life naturally unfolds when people individually and collectively choose to walk with God.
I hope you will walk with Jesus on your own “road to Emmaus.” Believe that the Lord your God really means what He has promised. Hear His love and compassion for you in Isaiah 43:1-3 (MSG):
When You’re Between a Rock and a Hard Place
But now, (hear) God’s Message,
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
You see, we all are given opportunities to walk the path of life fully in faith that God means what He says—and what He says is that He loves us and wants us to enjoy the life He has given us. The book of Revelation concludes with God saying, “I am making everything new!” Despite all the ominous images in that book, the end result that God revealed is—He is working toward something new and good! Something better than had been! Something wonderful!
The promise of scripture is that God is always working through goodness, toward good ends. The Apostle Paul assured us that God works for good with us, through all the circumstances of life (Romans 8:28). That doesn’t mean we won’t face hard times, but it is a promise that God is not the cause of the hardship but instead is on our side to help us through it. Over and over, the images in scripture’s promises are of God helping us through the fires, floods, pestilences and disasters that we earth-bound humans are prone to encounter.
I am keeping my heart open to notice all the goodness in this experience and can hardly wait to see what the new world will be like! I hope it is closer to what God wants—peace and harmony for the planet, the creatures, the plants and the people. I hope we all learn to stay off the worldly merry-go-round and choose to walk our life path in the company of Jesus.
Click here to read the companion meditation.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved.
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
