Discovering the Hidden Christ
April 2016
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus…While they were talking and discussing together [about the death and resurrection of Jesus], Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him…And he said to them, “O Foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”…And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself…When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him…They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
- Excerpts from Luke 24:13-35
Reflect
Try to put yourself in the shoes of these disciples. Jesus had been crucified less than a week ago, and with his death went all their dreams of a free Jewish nation. Then the most remarkable thing happened on what we now call Easter Sunday – Jesus arose from the grave.
It’s easy for us to take that idea for granted, and to accept it as part of the truth around Christianity. But these disciples knew he died, and understood that dead people stay dead. They were mourning this great loss, and toying with the idea of having a reason to keep that flame of hope alive. But the flame was dwindling, and they were losing hope.
It is into this near-despair that Jesus himself enters the scene, but his true nature is somehow hidden from the disciples. At first, he plays the fool, and acts as though he knew nothing of his own ministry. Then, he switches tactics and put his teaching hat on, and these two disciples get the best sermon ever.
Jesus teaches them about every moment in the Old Testament that refers to him. From Genesis to Malachi, Jesus shows them where his coming is foretold.
Eventually, these disciples are able to recognize him, and then the flame of hope is rekindled in full. They recognize the truth of the resurrection, and also learn much about how to recognize the presence of God in their lives.
Rewind
More often than not, this passage is taught in or around the Easter holiday. After all, it is one of the stories of his appearance after his resurrection. But this moment is about much more than a resurrected Christ.
In no way should we ever minimize the importance of Jesus rising from the grave. This momentous event is the cornerstone of our faith, and if the resurrected Christ is not the ongoing center of our faith, then we are missing the boat.
But, this story is about more than resurrection. The disciples on the Emmaus Road were near despair, because they believed that Jesus had left them. That he broke his promise. That he wasn’t strong enough, kind enough, powerful enough, something enough, to be the king he claimed to be.
Jesus reflects the heart of God in the way he responds to this sadness and despair. He could have shown up in a blaze of fury and condemned them for not believing. He could have popped out from behind a tree and shouted, “Surprise!” But Jesus didn’t choose either of those paths, nor did he choose any of a hundred other ways to respond to them.
Instead, Jesus chose to first restore hope to them by pointing to the truth in Scripture. Only then did he reveal himself as in their midst.
React
This is often how Jesus works with us in our despair, when we lose hope in his strength in the midst of our circumstances. He steps into our lives, in some unexpected and unrecognized way, and gently reminds us who he is, what he has done, and how much it means when our God is for us.
Let’s take a moment to consider how these disciples recognized Jesus was in their midst, even though this understanding seemed to come late. There were three ways the disciples eventually realized who Jesus was, and these keys can apply in our lives as well:
We must not forget this – while we are not on the Emmaus Road today, Jesus is still in the business of restoring hope. The mercies of God are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness to us.
- Excerpts from Luke 24:13-35
Reflect
Try to put yourself in the shoes of these disciples. Jesus had been crucified less than a week ago, and with his death went all their dreams of a free Jewish nation. Then the most remarkable thing happened on what we now call Easter Sunday – Jesus arose from the grave.
It’s easy for us to take that idea for granted, and to accept it as part of the truth around Christianity. But these disciples knew he died, and understood that dead people stay dead. They were mourning this great loss, and toying with the idea of having a reason to keep that flame of hope alive. But the flame was dwindling, and they were losing hope.
It is into this near-despair that Jesus himself enters the scene, but his true nature is somehow hidden from the disciples. At first, he plays the fool, and acts as though he knew nothing of his own ministry. Then, he switches tactics and put his teaching hat on, and these two disciples get the best sermon ever.
Jesus teaches them about every moment in the Old Testament that refers to him. From Genesis to Malachi, Jesus shows them where his coming is foretold.
Eventually, these disciples are able to recognize him, and then the flame of hope is rekindled in full. They recognize the truth of the resurrection, and also learn much about how to recognize the presence of God in their lives.
Rewind
More often than not, this passage is taught in or around the Easter holiday. After all, it is one of the stories of his appearance after his resurrection. But this moment is about much more than a resurrected Christ.
In no way should we ever minimize the importance of Jesus rising from the grave. This momentous event is the cornerstone of our faith, and if the resurrected Christ is not the ongoing center of our faith, then we are missing the boat.
But, this story is about more than resurrection. The disciples on the Emmaus Road were near despair, because they believed that Jesus had left them. That he broke his promise. That he wasn’t strong enough, kind enough, powerful enough, something enough, to be the king he claimed to be.
Jesus reflects the heart of God in the way he responds to this sadness and despair. He could have shown up in a blaze of fury and condemned them for not believing. He could have popped out from behind a tree and shouted, “Surprise!” But Jesus didn’t choose either of those paths, nor did he choose any of a hundred other ways to respond to them.
Instead, Jesus chose to first restore hope to them by pointing to the truth in Scripture. Only then did he reveal himself as in their midst.
React
This is often how Jesus works with us in our despair, when we lose hope in his strength in the midst of our circumstances. He steps into our lives, in some unexpected and unrecognized way, and gently reminds us who he is, what he has done, and how much it means when our God is for us.
Let’s take a moment to consider how these disciples recognized Jesus was in their midst, even though this understanding seemed to come late. There were three ways the disciples eventually realized who Jesus was, and these keys can apply in our lives as well:
- Jesus spoke from Scripture. The first and most important key to recognizing the gentle presence of Christ in our lives is that the source is biblical. God does not and cannot contradict himself. Any wisdom coming from him is aligned with what we can already read in the Bible.
- Jesus was incredibly kind. This is easy to miss, but Jesus was kind enough the disciples invited him to stay for dinner. While some of this can possibly be chalked up to societal expectations, he was invited in nonetheless. God is nearly always gentle with us, restoring us to a place of hope with kindness and tenderness instead of a rebuke.
- The disciples’ heart burned within them. When we have been touched by God, the best witness is the condition of our heart. We will be encouraged, filled with hope, and have hearts burning with love for our Savior. Just as the disciples did.
We must not forget this – while we are not on the Emmaus Road today, Jesus is still in the business of restoring hope. The mercies of God are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness to us.