Jesus is there the entire time.
As we look at this resurrection story on the road to Emmaus, I want you to deeply realize that Jesus is there the entire time. And, as we leave from here, taking our own roads to our own destinations, I want you to deeply realize that Jesus is there the entire time, because it is true, and because that is what God’s grace looks like…being there the entire time, despite it all.
“’Despite it all.’ Pastor Jira, what do you mean by that?” Don’t you just love when pastors talk to themselves?
Despite the heartache, Jesus is there the entire time. That is what I mean by that.
Despite the doubt, Jesus is there the entire time. That is what I mean by that.
Despite the incredible amount of grief, Jesus is there the entire time. That is what I mean by that.
Look, two disciples, probably a married couple, are walking along the road that leads to Emmaus. It is the sad return you make after attending a funeral. It is the confused and painful journey back home during which you carry the travel baggage of sorrow and survivor’s guilt. As they travel, they recount the sad story, again and again, of how the one they had hoped would be the Messiah was now dead. The hope they had for their people’s salvation was dead. The teacher they loved was dead. The one who had loved and healed them was dead. Jesus was dead.
A stranger joins them on the road, joining their tearful journey. They share their pain with the stranger. They share the story of Jesus with the stranger.
“Our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.”
“We had hoped…”
I cannot tell you how often grief is filled with the words, “We had hoped…” “We had hoped that he would live long enough to see his grandchildren.” “We had hoped that she would live long enough to graduate.” “We had hoped that he could have made it through the addiction.” “We had hoped that she would have the chance to become a dancer.” “We had hoped that he could at least see his first birthday.” “We had hoped to talk with her at least one more time.” There is just so much pain suspended in the words: “We had hoped.”
And, as they carry the weight of their loss, and struggle to hold onto the shards of their broken dreams, the disciples of Jesus Christ are unable to see that the stranger walking with them is Jesus.
The story is not trying to be metaphorical here. It is, in fact, Jesus who shows up on the road to walk with these disciples. Jesus is the stranger. Jesus is there the entire time as they grieve and struggle. They just cannot see him.
It would be easy to dismiss these blind disciples as lacking all faith. It would be easy to lump them in with everyone who lacks devotion and moral character. I would be easy, but then I would have to list my name with theirs also.
Listen, I have never been known to be the most observant person in the universe. Once while pulling away from the checkout line at Target, Randele, my wife, says to me, “That girl was hitting you!” I had no idea. I had no clue. And, that pretty much explains my complete lack of romantic encounters throughout my High School years.
But, this lack of observance gets even worse.
One morning while Isaac was still a small, crawling toddler, I totally panicked when I could not see the little guy. I ran from the bedroom into the living room, and then into the kitchen completely fearful that I would be one of those trending terrible parent stories splashed across the internet. “Father loses child in own home. Why you should always keep the toilet lid shut.”
Do you want to know where he was? He was sleeping right in my arms. He was there the whole time!
But, in my own defense, I just want to point out that there is no failure here! Rather than being a neglectful parent, I was actually being a great parent. It was just that I was carrying a heavy load and could not see.
These disciples are carrying a heavy load and just cannot see. They are carrying the stories of Jesus with them and sharing those stories and sharing the love and ache in their hearts…they are doing the right thing…but they just cannot see. And, all while they are carrying that heavy load, Jesus is there the entire time.
I just want to point out that these disciples are quite the opposite of no faith, weak people, who lack devotion and moral character. They do not have “no faith.” They are simply “slow of heart to believe.” It is as if they simply have not yet been shown what they need. In fact, I would argue that they are titans of bearing heavy burdens, carrying the weight of grief and broken dreams, yet still holding close the story of Jesus and sharing that story. Grief is not weakness. Struggle is not a lack of moral character.
And, none of it means that God has left you, because Jesus is there the whole time! I do not know who needs to hear this but you need to know that Jesus is there the entire time for you also. Like the disciples, sometimes we just cannot see.
So, how do we see?
I get this question a lot as people struggle in this thing we call life. “Pastor, how do we know God is with us? I am fearful of the future. How do we see?”
If you have ever asked that question of me or of God, then this story is written for you. I mean that. You are the reason this story exists. You have come here to this very place so that you can hear these were that were written for faithful disciples such as yourselves.
How do we see? How do we know Jesus is here, present in our struggles….present in our lives? Well, Jesus does not exactly keep the answer a secret, and that is a good, grace-filled thing. The Bible reads:
“…Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him...” (NRSV, Luke 24:27-31)
How do we see Jesus? What do we do when tiring of carrying the unbearable weight of the world? We allow Jesus to open the scriptures for us. We allow Jesus to feed us at his table. We allow Jesus to open our eyes and see him as he truly is. We allow Jesus to use his words and his meal to open our eyes to his presence.
Jesus is here after-all. Jesus is present with the disciples, and Jesus is present with us through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is present the entire time.
And, that is why we call it grace. The disciples do not need to prove anything for Jesus to arrive. The disciples do not need to have a rock solid faith. The disciples do not need to find the secret to opening their minds and their eyes. The disciples do not need to do anything but look and see, because when Jesus wants to be seen, he is. Jesus is there with those disciples the entire time, and that is grace.
And, Jesus is with you the entire time. And, because of that, you are a people filled with the Lord’s grace. You do not need to work for it. But, you do get to live in it.
You do get to live in the life and love of our Lord, Jesus Christ. You do get to be the people of God who celebrate the joy of the Lord, even while still disbelieving sometimes, just like the disciples. You do get to be the people of God who literally walk with their Lord everywhere they go. Who else gets to say that? Who else gets to walk everyday with the redeemer of the entire universe?
Blessed are you who walk with Jesus every step of the way!
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