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Luke 24:13-35
The place was Canton Ohio. A couple reports seeing the image of Jesus in the wood grain of a door in their house. Apparently they noticed this image of Jesus in this door years ago. They even cut it out of the door and carried it with them when they moved to another house. They kept it because it gave them encouragement. They chose to share it with the world after so many years because of the Tsunamis last year. They thought it might encourage others as it had encouraged them.
The interesting thing is that 41% of the people who responded to NBC online poll concerning the image claim to see Jesus too. However the wife claims that it could also be the Virgin Mary and 6% of the respondents see Mary and not Jesus. It makes sense that Jesus' image should appear in a door. He did say, "I am the door."(John 10:7) And he was a carpenter after all.
But we see this kind of thing all the time. One lady in St. Petersburg Florida claims seeing Jesus' image in a potato chip! (http://www.sptimes.com/2005/06/08/Neighborhoodtimes/An_image_of_Jesus__Al.shtml) There are many other places, like rock formations and the patterns of light and shadows on a wall, that people claim to see Jesus' image.
What leads people to see Jesus in these ordinary places? The skeptic would say that our faith deludes us into seeing things that are not there. "If there were a God" they say "He wouldn't be in ordinary things like a door or a potato chip!" "You Christians are just seeing things because you want to see them," they conclude. We Christians however would say that we see Jesus in the ordinary because he is in the ordinary; even things like doors and potato chips. Hey, inquiring minds want to know!
Unlike the Canton, Ohio story the story of Emmaus starts off with the disciple not seeing Jesus. Cleopas and his unnamed companion were disciples of Jesus. There were more who followed Jesus than the 12 disciples we usually think of. These two might have been part of the 70 who were sent out by Jesus to heal and teach. They certainly would have seen enough of Jesus to recognize him in a crowd. They also would have heard enough of him to recognize his voice if they heard it. Yet they walked and talked with Jesus for the better part of a day and didn't know it was him.
Apparently Jesus was not the only thing they did not see that day. They also did not see that Jesus' death was part of God's plan. They were still stunned by the events of Jesus' trial and execution. So Jesus had to open their eyes. He had to explain to them that it was God's plan from the beginning that the Messiah should die. He had to show them that it was all foretold in the prophets.
Jesus was opening their eyes. Helping them to see God's plan. Helping them to make sense of what seemed to them to be a senseless tragedy. Helping them to see victory coming out of what seemed like an utter defeat. Helping them to see good coming out of evil - life out of death.
Jesus opened their eyes. Not just to the plan of God that the Messiah should die for the sins of the world. He also opened their eyes to recognize his presence with them. But the way he did it is significant. He didn't part an ocean or cause thunder and lightning or anything big like that.
He took some bread and blessed it and broke it. How ordinary: common bread, a simple blessing and then breaking it to eat. But to these disciples it was an eye opening event. These simple acts called to their memory the times that Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and fed the multitudes. They may have even heard of him breaking the bread at his last supper with the 12.
And in that moment, in the ordinary, in things like bread and blessings, they saw him. They recognized him and in a moment he was gone. But they looked back at their walk that day. They realized that Jesus had been with them that whole time. They said, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road."
Do you see? Jesus is in the ordinary. He is in things like food and drink. He is in things like our daily journey or conversations with friends. He is in Canton, Oho and St. Petersburg, Florida and Columbia, SC. He is in the closed door and the bag of potato chips and the everyday things of our world.
The problem is that we don't see him most of the time. I am not talking about seeing Jesus in doors or potato chips. I am talking about seeing Jesus at work in our world. I am talking about recognizing Christ in the people around us. I am talking about grasping the roll of God in our lives. I am talking about hearing the voice of truth in everyday conversations.
Do you want to see the risen Christ? Look in your lives because he is already there. Look in your work places - he is there. Look in your classrooms. Weren't there times when your heats burned? Perhaps that was Jesus talking to you!
Do you see? Do you want to see Jesus? Begin at this table today. Look in the bread and cup of communion. Jesus took the bread and blessed it and broke it. He said "This is my body," and "This is my blood."
In a moment I will be taking this bread and blessing it and breaking it. Look for Christ in that moment. See him in the unfolding of the Mystery of his body and blood.
When I get a chance I like to watch the news. We didn't have cable at my first appointment so I would even tape the news so that I could watch it later if I missed it. I just like to know what is going on in the world. Sometimes the news is boring. The dollar is down, gas prices are up. Someone in the government when somewhere and said something that someone didn't like. Another celebrity is in rehab or out of rehab. Sometimes the news has no effect on me. It is either predictable or irrelevant.
But sometimes I hear something that effects me. Children are starving, injustice is perpetrated. I am moved. One evening my seminary roommate and I were watching the evening news. And there was a report of injustice that moved both of us. At the end of the report we both looked at each other in unbelief. At that moment without hesitation we decided to drive 600 miles to protest the injustice we had just witnessed.
Sometimes the news moves us and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes we just sit there detached from the events being reported. But Sometimes the news does move us. It stirs our hearts and souls. It makes us shout and even throw things at the TV. It makes us cry and pray. Or it makes us stand up and shout "Alleluia."
In our Scripture lesson Peter is preaching the Gospel. He was declaring the Good News about Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth, the one they had put death, was alive again. Jesus' crucifixion had been part of God's plan to save people. Also according to God's plan and foreknowledge, Jesus rose again just as the Scriptures said through the prophet David and others. And now Jesus sits at the right hand of God judging and showing mercy.
The people were moved by this message. The Bible says that they were cut to the heart. And they said to Peter, "What should we do?" Peter said, "Repent and be Baptized." Seek forgiveness from God, for God has promised forgiveness to you and your children. Let God save you from the sin and corruption of this age.
And that day three thousand people gave their lives to Christ and were baptized. The Good News of the Gospel moved the people. It moved them to seek salvation. It moved them to give their lives to Christ. If the angels in heaven rejoice over the salvation of one lost sinner, imagine the rejoicing in heaven that day.
I have always wondered: Why don't some people respond to the Good News today like those people did in the Bible? I think they don't respond because they fail to realize the significance of this news. They think the news that Jesus is alive and saving souls has no impact on their lives. We are moved by news that directly impacts us. If we hear that a plant in Kansas is closing down it doesn't move us much. We feel for the people, but we don't know them. But if we hear that the business we work in is closing we are very moved. What people fail to recognize is that the Kingdom of God is coming in judgment and grace whether they like it or not. And when it comes those who believed will be shown grace and those who didn't will be damned.
This news not only has impact on our eternal destination; it also impacts our earthly situation. People spend hour worrying about their daily problems. Money problems, marital problems, work problems. And of course health problems. But Christ has already won the victory over all these ills. You know whenever the government announces that it is testing a new AIDS drug on humans, they are swamped with requests to be in the trials. The AIDS patients know they are dying. And the news that a drug that might save them is available moves them. Immediately they clamor for that drug. Well we are all dying of sin. The whole human race has a kind of spiritual AIDS: a deficiency in fighting off sin. And Jesus has the cure. He is the cure. Not a possible cure that is being tested, but a sure fire cure for the sins of this age. And he proved it by defeating death itself.
But there are some people who recognize the significance of this news, but they think it is too far away. Like news reports of something happening on the other side of the globe, it is too far away. They think the Good News about Jesus is actually ancient history from a country on the other side of the planet. If it were happening in their own back yard that might be different. But it is happening in your own back yard. Jesus said wherever two or more are gathered in his name he is there. The two disciples on their way to Emmaus discovered that. Unknown to them Jesus was with them the whole time, they simply didn't see it until he did something special. People mistakenly think of Jesus living thousands of years ago in a land on the other side of the planet. But he is alive and here right now.
To think that the Good News is not important to us is to totally misunderstand the world that we live in and what Christ has done.
How should we respond to the Good News of Jesus' death and resurrection? The people in the Bible asked that question. Peter told them to repent and be baptized. And that is the beginning of our response. We must give our lives to Christ. We must turn from of our sins and seek forgiveness from God. And those who have not been baptized should be baptized to show that they have accepted God's rule in their lives.
But what about those who have been baptized. There are some who were baptized but never really gave their lives to Christ. They must dedicate their lives to Christ. That can be done in the privacy of their hearts, but it should be attested to publicly. They should come to the altar or the pastor or a friend and declare their acceptance of Christ so that the church can help them grow.
There are those who have been baptized and gave their lives to Christ, but who have neglected that relationship. These people need to rededicate their lives to Christ. Just as with a dedication it can be done in private, but some public testimony should be given. Even if it is just to tell a close Christian friend, "I have rededicated my life to Christ."
But what of those who have remained dedicated to God, how should they respond to the news? These new converts in Acts show us. It says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread(or communion) and the prayers."(Acts 2:42) We all need to learn from the word, to worship God, and to pray continually. Peter also gives us an example. He responded by allowing God to use him to testify. He witnessed to power of the living God. In the same way we have to bear witness to the saving power of Christ. Maybe one of the reasons the world doesn't recognize the power of the risen Christ, is because they fail to see it in us. We need to bear witness through our words and actions. We need to show people the truth that Christ is alive and delivering people from oppression. We need to demonstrate for them Christ's power over sin. People do that in many different ways according to how God leads them. Some carry on ministries of praying for others as a testimony to the power of prayer. Some people tell others of their first hand experience of the power of the risen Christ. Some teach others what the Bible says about salvation and liberation in Christ. Some love their neighbors through small acts of charity and kindness as a testimony to God's love. Others volunteer for Wheels Van, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, and Hospice and serve as living examples of God's grace.
I've got some Good News. Jesus is alive and he delivers us from the bondage of sin and death. God's plan was to send him to be a sacrifice for our sins. He obediently gave his life. And he rose again to give us eternal life. He lives today and conquers all our foes if we will let him.
That news is not something to merely yawn about. Don't change the channel looking for something more pertinent to your life because you won't find it. This news is something to jump up about. This is the most significant news you will every hear. And it demands action.
Act upon this news. Give you life to Christ. Renew your dedication to the Kingdom of God. Go tell others this wonderful news so that they too can respond. Christ is alive and lives in me, and he can live in you also.
Luke 24:13-35
Picture if you will a dusty road. Along it walk two men both looking down. They are dressed in the robes of common laborers. Let us listen in on their conversation.
"How did it happen," one says as he shakes his head. The other responds, "I don't know I just don't know." "And what will become of the others," the first asks again. "I guess they will all go home like we are; to Galilee or wherever."
Just then as if out of nowhere a stranger walks up to them and joins them. The stranger opens his mouth. "So what are you talking about?"
At that Cleopas stopped dead in his tracks. "Where has this guy been for the last week" he thought to himself. "Or for the last year for that matter?" Cleopas thought back. Back to the time his friends had talked into going out in the field to hear some Rabbi from Galilee. He recalled the grassy hill and the way that this Rabbi seemed to make sense where as the others never really had.
Then there was the miracle. It was late and he had begun to wonder where he would find his dinner when he looked up. And there was the Rabbi holding a piece of bread up to heaven and a basket of fish and four other loaves sat on the ground. Then Jesus broke the bread and blessed the fish and divided it in to baskets and his followers started distributing it to the people. There must have been thousands there. Cleopas thought "There won't be any left when the basket gets to me. But to his amazement the basket was full and everyone was reaching in and grabbing bread and fish and eating to their hearts' content. They had not seen or heard of anything like this since the days of Elijah or even Moses.
Cleopas recalled how from that moment he hung on every word Jesus spoke. He left his family and joined the group of disciples that followed Jesus around. He had even been anointed by Jesus and sent out with 69 others to spread the Good News. And he remembered how people heard the Good News and responded and how they celebrated when they returned to tell Jesus all that had happened.
And he recalled the end of the journey to Jerusalem. How the crowds of people praised Jesus and sang, "Hosanna, Save us!" while waving palm branches. And How Jesus had gone to the temple and drove out those evil money changers and chastised the scribes and priests. And he recalled that night when Jesus was arrested and the way they treated him like a crook and crucified him.
Only a second had passed but it seemed longer. Cleopas looked up and said, "What distant land have you been visiting this past week? Haven't you heard any of the news or what has been happening in Jerusalem?" "What news?" the stranger asked. "The news about Jesus of Nazareth who was a mighty prophet, who performed wonders for all to behold." Cleopas had wanted to add "who was the anointed one" but after what had happened to Jesus he thought better of it.
"The Chief priests had handed him over as a common criminal to be crucified. We and many others had hoped he would be the Savior of Israel. It was three days ago that they crucified him. Just this morning some of the women who followed him shocked us all. They claimed to have seen him alive. They had gone to the tomb and found it empty. When they came back they were babbling on about visions of angels and whatnot."
The stranger replied, "But isn't that what the prophets said would happen?" Doesn't it say in Isaiah that the servant of the Lord would suffer? Don't the Psalms describe the Lord's anointed being put to death as in a crucifixion? Isn't it clear that the Messiah should suffer to enter into glory?" Cleopas and his friend listened in amazement as this stranger quoted scripture after scripture that made them see that Jesus was the Messiah and that all that had happened was fulfillment of prophesy.
In no time they reached the little town of Emmaus. They found an Inn and asked the stranger to join them. When they sat down to dinner the stranger took it upon himself to give thanks. He took the bread, blessed it and broke it. At that moment they recognized him. It was Jesus! There alive! And as soon as they recognized him he vanished from their sight.
The two formerly dejected friends were suddenly ecstatic. Why had they not seen him before. As they thought back at the things he had said they wondered 'Why had we not recognized his voice." A year they had seen him and listened to him and yet at that moment when he broke the bread they finally realized it had been him walking with them that whole day.
Cleopas realized they could not keep this to themselves. So before they lost their nerve they both ran all the way back to Jerusalem. They found the other disciples and before they could say a word they were told that Jesus had indeed risen and appeared to Peter. Then they shared their news of how Jesus had appeared to them on the road.
The thing that strikes me about this story is the fact that Jesus was with these disciples and they didn't see him. Luke says that "Their eyes were kept from recognizing him." It was as if Jesus were waiting for the right time for them to see that he was there. The disciples were despondent. Their disappointment can be seen in the words of Cleopas: "We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel."
Yet in the midst of their despair Jesus was with them. But they couldn't see it. It was not until a moment of revelation that Jesus' presence was revealed.
And at that moment their despair was transformed into Joy. They only recognized him for a moment and then he vanished. But they realized that he had been there all along comforting them on the road.
That is like our lives. We who believe in Jesus often walk down the road of life not realizing that the risen Jesus is our companion on the journey. We often despair and think that all our hopes have been killed. Then someone or something comes to us and we bear our souls just as Cleopas did. And surprisingly that stranger gives us comfort.
Then in some brief moment of revelation we realize that Jesus is with us. In the words of a friend or a simple action. We see the risen Christ. And in simple things like bread and wine and conversation we realize the Joy of God in the midst of our despair.
I don't know where you are on your journey to Emmaus. You may be in the midst of despair. You may be finding comfort in the words of a friend. Or you may have seen the presence of God in the journey behind. Wherever you are let me tell you that Jesus is alive. And he is with us, walking with us as a companion in our lives. Open your eyes and see the risen Christ in our midst!