Over the entrance of a university library was a temporary sign that read:
"Due to the reorganization, the basement will be on the second floor - half
the second floor will be housed on part of the first floor, but you can still
use half of the second floor."
Talk about a confusing sign. Life is often like that sign I think.
The pieces just don’t seem to fit together right. So little makes
real sense. Think for a moment about the promises not kept,
the heroes who turn out to be, not heroes but hucksters,
the waste in the world while there are so many in need.
It kind of makes me want to head for a modern day Emmaus.
Remember that story in Luke 24:13-35?
In this scripture we read of a little village west of Jerusalem,
along the main road to the seacoast. Emmaus, in this scripture,
was not only a physical place, it was also a state of mind.
It could have been any place, as long as it was far removed from
the confusion of Golgotha. Cleopas and Simon wanted to get away
from all that. To sort out their feeling and somehow to sort through
everything and try to make some sense of it.
Vs 13-14 -
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village
called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem .
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
They had counted so much on this one called Jesus the Christ. They were
certain He was the Messiah. They knew of His miracles, His persuasive
teaching and they had seen the changed lives because of Him and then,
the sudden nightmare. There was stunned, uncertain, confused people
who felt their dreams were in ruin. He was dead! On a cross!
Now, more confusion because of the rumors about His tomb being empty.
We can imagine how they felt. We have searched sometime, for our own
Emmaus road. A place to go and sort out the confusion caused by perhaps
a betrayal of someone we respected, or as a loved one rejects us and
chooses someone else. It may happen at the death of a spouse, or parent,
or child, or even a friend. It may come to some as we begin to age and we
are confused about all the changes in our daily routine.
We may seek an Emmaus road at any of life’s turning points. Anywhere away
from this present crisis, or pain or even darkness.
While on our mental trip away and on our road to Emmaus, don’t be surprised
as these two were on that third day. Suddenly, when we least expect it,
we can become aware that there is another who would like to walk with us.
Read verses 15-28.
15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near
and went with them.
16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one
another as you walk and are sad?”
18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the
only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there
in these days?”
19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning
Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death,
and crucified Him.
21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this,
today is the third day since these things happened.
22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels
who said He was alive.
24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said;
but Him they did not see.”
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning Himself.
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.”
And He went in to stay with them.
Light dispels darkness. Hope and love will grow again when we remember
He will be with us!
Read the rest of that story in Luke 24:28-35 sometime today!
Emmaus is never too far. We may head out with our head filled with “why”
questions, with a knot in our stomach, with hurt in our heart and even with
tears in our eyes. We do not have to go alone.
John 1:4-5
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
How comforting to have his promise for those that are truly His! Have you given
yourself to the Savior? If not, why not?
