- THIRD WEEK - POST EASTER-

On the road to Emmaus

Reading Passage Luke 24: 13 - 36

Dear Brethren,

Greetings to you in the most precious name of Our Risen Lord. Even though we are away from each other, thank God that he has helped us to communicate with the net work connection. God willing, till the day of Pentecost, we will share the messages related to post Easter events. From the reading passage, we understand the appearance of the Lord to two of his disciples when they were on the way to a small village called Emmaus.

Once we went for a conference to Jaipur which is called the Pink City more than 3000 kilometers from Cape. We lodged into the Madras Hotel and one young man who was the Asst. Manager in that hotel was very helpful to us. After a week, when we were all leaving to our own places, I told him that I had a classmate in Primary School with the similar features like him with the same name. He said “ I am the same person Joseph Sahay”. Well, we both met after a period of 15 years. And until the last moment, we could not recognize each other because of the long gap.

But here, we understood of the two disciples and the one was Cleopas and the next though the name is not mentioned could be Nathaniel. But both of them could not recognize the risen Lord when He joined as they were walking on the way to their hometown. They totally forgot what Jesus told them about his rising after death.

The very idea of resurrection of Jesus got erased from their mind because they were unable even to recognize his graceful voice. Moreover, they were so reluctant to believe the words of the ladies who reported Jesus was alive. The messages, the warnings, the prophesies got fully removed from their memory and so they asked Jesus if he was a stranger. Moreover, they had a high hope on Jesus that he would liberate the Jewish people from Roman rule but for their great disappointment they found the ray of hope diminished.

Therefore, Jesus had to rebuke them as foolish and explained to them everything about Him that was written in the Scriptures. When listening to His voice their hearts were burning with awe. They didn’t want the Godly stranger left alone but called him into their house. ( Here, Remember the hymn “Abide with me” which was written based on this incident.)

At supper, when Jesus broke the bread they recognized him. They immediately went back to see the rest of the disciples to report the good news of resurrection but here they could see Jesus again.

What a joyous occasion it was! They first thought - He was dead and gone but they saw he was living and active. They thought of him as a liberator of the Jews - But they understood that he was the liberator of the world from sin and slavery. They thought he was one of the high prophets but He proved unto them the Prince of life.

Friends, Do you recognize Jesus who always wants to be at your side?. Do you sense the voice of the shepherd who calls you by name? He wants to have a fellowship with you. Shall we call him inside our hearts and home ? Revelation 3:20.

Prayer:

Loving Lord we thank you for rising from dead so that we can have the eternal life. Lord help us to see your grace and listen and understand your voice; and be with us as the Lord of our House and especially every element of our lives. Abide with us dear Lord. In your precious name we pray. Amen.

God Bless you All. Pray for each other.

Invite our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ into your homes and lives. He will abide in you as you abide in Him.

God bless you all.