LEARNING DAILY

Luke 24:13-16, Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all the things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned together, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

Grasp the context of what is happening here. These two men were disciples of Jesus. They were probably not of the closer disciples who walked with Jesus. They had heard Jesus talk about His resurrection, but they were “walking away from the greatest miracle that had every happened” (Pastor Jonathon Moore, Lead Pastor at NorthRock Church). Notice it was the same day that the tomb was found open and empty. They had witnessed Jesus beaten and nailed to a cross; they were discouraged and had broken hearts. Was all they had heard and seen just a fraud? What they had hoped for had died.

Read further. Jesus came up to them – remember this is the same day as His resurrection. Just like Mary Magdalene, they did not recognize Him. He asked them what they were talking about. Pastor Moore said, “The first thing Jesus did when resurrected was to go hang out with those who were discouraged”. They had walked away from Jerusalem and did not know about this great miracle. “People walk away from the One they should be walking toward, but due to some experience they have had they walk away searching for their purpose” (Pastor Moore). Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10 that the Believer’s purpose is found in Jesus Christ. “But too many people are looking for their purpose in getting more money, more prestige, more recognition. The two disciples told Jesus that they were “hoping” He was the one who would redeem Israel. But now they were walking in hopelessness – that’s exactly where the enemy wants you walking, walking in your past, walking in disappointment, walking in the gap between expectations and reality” (Pastor Moore).

Pastor asked, “What is the gap – your disappointment – in your life that has not happened?” He offered several suggestions to help those walking in disappointment. First, “Remember the promises God has made”. The resurrection had been told to them by Jesus several times. The Old Testament was full of prophecies of the resurrection. “But pain will drive a person, making them do and go in directions never intending one to go. Be intentional about remembering the promises of God. Faith is trusting what God has said, even when it doesn’t match what you currently see. When you begin to experience trouble, don’t start walking away from the One who can help.” (Pastor Moore). Walk towards Him in trust and obedience!

Secondly, “recognize God’s presence”. “Do not be so consumed with what is happening to you that you miss who is walking with you. Jesus walked with these two disciples, talking with them until they drew near to the village they were going to. Pastor Moore said, “Jesus wants to walk with you in your pain!” They talked Him into staying and eating with them; it was not until Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke it that their eyes were opened to see that the person at their table was the Risen Lord – then He vanished! What joy they experienced. “This is Jesus! If He had risen, everything He had said was true and that changes everything!” (Pastor Moore).

Immediately they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They acted on the experience they had with the Risen Lord. Revelation 3:20 states, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with Me.” “Jesus wants us to hear His voice and open the door of our heart in order to have an encounter with the resurrection.” (Pastor Moore).