Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
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Gracious God, grant us the ability to find ourselves in this story. Let us understand that this is not merely a historical account but an active and living word describing our very lives.
Like the two disciples on the Emmaus road, how often do we fail to recognize Your presence when in fact You are with us every moment of our lives? King Jesus, open our eyes that we might see.
How often do we stand still with our faces downcast when you have given us every reason to possess everlasting hope? Heavenly Father, open our hearts that we might rejoice.
How slow are we to believe all that has been fulfilled before our eyes? Holy Spirit, open our minds that we might believe.
God, I pray that You would walk with us in our sorrow, in our confusion and in our doubt down each road that we travel. I pray that You would teach us when our minds need to be lifted up and rebuke us when our pride needs to be broken down.
I pray that You would reveal Yourself to us in a powerful way according to your divine timing. When we are ready to receive it, grant us a revelation of such magnitude that we too would walk seven miles at night just to share it with others.
We will praise You in the good and in the bad because we know You work all things together for our good. As long as our hearts remain pointed toward You, nothing can happen to us that you have not allowed for the eternal benefit of our soul.
In You we live and move and have our being. We are eternally protected by the blood of the Lamb. We walk perpetually under the divine security granted through the name of Jesus. Our lives exist in the palm of Your hand. The only danger we face in life is in forgetting this simple truth. Help us be reminded of the truth every time we look upon the cross - the mechanism You used to demonstrate Your love to each one of us.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Awake O sleeper and arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you - Eph 5:14
good idea to bolden the words that tugged at your heart. This scripture is truly our story too. Amen to your prayer.
Your prayer is awesome. I love this part, "grant us a revelation of such magnitude that we too would walk seven miles at night just to share it with others." His revelation gave them spiritual eye when they had not seen with their natural eyes. The event made them witnesses. A witness must "see" something to witness. Encountering Jesus has motivated His friends to not only walk the 7 miles, but to cover the earth telling others about Him and also sometimes dying in the process.
So I will also pray, "Lord, help us see You and not neglect bringing You glory thru our witness."