Luke 24:13-21, 28-31 (NIV) 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
Sometimes it looked like Jesus almost had a habit of disappointing people. The people of Israel had hoped He would heal them of all their diseases, and Jesus did heal many of the diseases. But He would withdraw from healing their disease that He might preach the gospel. And in the distance we can hear someone saying “But I had hoped He would heal me.” On another occasion Jesus fed a crowd of 5,000. Here was one who would relieve them of one of life’s most basic worries. But, Jesus withdrew and went across the Sea of Galilee.
Have you even been disappointed in Jesus? Have you ever prayed and prayed and nothing seemed to happen? Have you asked God for help with a problem and received no solutions? Have you hoped that Jesus would lead you into a rich and fulfilling life and all you have gotten is one struggle after the other?
Of all the disappointments in life, disappointment in God is the most shattering. To be disappointed in God is to feel that God is not really in charge. God really does not care. God really cannot be trusted. For a while on the travels to Emmaus, Jesus is present but unseen. Sometimes faith is simply a matter of staying on the road when Jesus seems absent. We believe God is in control and God cares even when it does not appear that way. This is a raw faith, a bare knuckles faith, but a faith that helps us.
Jesus does not abandon us on the road to Emmaus. Jesus does not leave us to live by this unproven faith. He moves in along beside us. For this is the work of faith, to stab our dull spirits awake to see and to sense the presence of Christ with us. So the two people and Jesus come to Emmaus. They invite Jesus in. They prepare to have supper. Jesus took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope June 4, 2000
© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles
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