Chaplains Chat

There are a few stories in the Bible I keep coming back to. One of these is the encounter two men had with Jesus as they were leaving Jerusalem on Easter Sunday - distraught that their Messiah had been crucified. I would like to share some Chaplainy (yes, I did make up that word) thoughts on what this passage of scripture means to us.

Luke 24:13-16, 28-32

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 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?”

1. DON’T GIVE UP ON GOD

It baffles me how these two men are so quick to give up on Jesus and return home. Sure, they had seen Jesus crucified, dead and buried, but couldn’t they at least hang around for a week to see what would happen? Jesus promised He would be raised to life again, so why do the two men decide to get up and leave Jerusalem on this third day? It seems a bit silly of them, but the temptation to give up on God can challenge us too. In times of intense stress, pressure, and despair - the idea of throwing in the towel maybe comes to mind. If this story tells us anything it’s to not give up on God. He will do exactly what He promises.

1. JESUS CAN BE THERE AND WE DON’T RECOGNIZE HIM

How could they not notice that it was Jesus who was walking with them! The Saviour of the world, raised to life after being put to death on the cross - surely some of His followers should recognize Him… right? If these two men could walk 7 miles alongside Jesus and not know it was Him, then perhaps we could too. It’s very possible that as we go through hardship and distress that we can miss the presence of God. Perhaps Jesus is closer to us in our grief and heartache than we think.

1. SOME THINGS ONLY MAKE SENSE IN HINDSIGHT

God was right there with them every step along the road. It only clicked at the very end, but in that moment it all made sense. This is the big takeaway I get from this passage of Scripture - in the midst of the journey it can be hard to make sense of what God is doing and where He is, but one day it will all make sense. My encouragement to you is to trust God in this way: Don’t give up on God as you journey through difficulties, but trust in Jesus - the one who walks alongside us.