We Had Hoped…

Luke 24:13-35

Our text for today is often referred to as “The Road to Emmaus”. It takes place on the afternoon of that first Easter Sunday.

Earlier in the day, at daybreak, the women had taken spices to the grave of Jesus, and found his body missing. Two men in gleaming white clothes spoke to them, “Why are you looking for Jesus here? He has risen, just like he told you he would.” When the women return to where the 11 disciples and other followers are, and report what they saw….no one really believed them. It seemed like nonsense to them. Peter actually runs to the tomb and checks it out for himself….and he finds it exactly as the women said, but doesn’t know what to make of it.

From there, we come to today’s text. That very afternoon two disciples are traveling from Jerusalem to Emmaus. We are told it’s a distance of 7 miles, so we know it would take 2-3 hours if walking. Cleopas is one of them, the other unnamed. They walk along discussing everything that’s happened, including the report from the women that very morning.

As they’re walking, Jesus joins them. But it says that “they were kept from recognizing him.” Jesus asks them “What are you discussing?” They are shocked. “Are you the only one in all of Jerusalem that doesn’t know what’s happened?” Jesus plays along…”what things?”

“About Jesus of Nazareth” they say. “He was a great prophet in word and deed. But our leaders condemned him to death and had him crucified. We had hoped that he was the one that was going to save Israel. And not only that…..three days have gone by, and this morning some of our women went to the tomb where Jesus was buried and found his body missing. They told us about seeing a vision of angels – who told them that Jesus was not there and was alive!”

Jesus then begins to teach them, starting with Moses and going through the prophets – concerning all of the writings about himself.

When they approached Emmaus, Jesus appeared to be traveling on but they convinced him to stay the night with them since it was getting late. And then, while at the table, Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and offers it to them. They suddenly recognize that it’s Jesus…..and he disappears from view.

They are so excited and amazed that they immediately rush back to Jerusalem that very night in order to report everything to the other disciples…. only to find out that Jesus has also appeared to Peter!

I love this story. But what should we take away from it?

• There are two phrases that become “bookends” – keys to this story. The first is “We had hoped…..” (v.21) This phrase represents for me a complete loss of hope. A complete death of the vision. Unless we understand the depth of disappointment, the complete dejection of these disciples…. we cannot truly understand how incredible the resurrection of their hope was. Think of an experience in your life that could be described with that phrase:
  • We had hoped that God would answer our prayer….. but He didn’t.
  • We had hoped that God would bring our son home safely…. but he died in battle.
  • We had hoped that God would heal our daughter…but she died.
  • Fill in your own.  Imagine again what it feels like to have your hope die.
• The second phrase is this:  “Were not our hearts burning within us?” While Jesus is walking with them and talking to them….they feel something. They couldn’t put a finger on it until later…..but when they look back they agree….. “we felt a burning in our heart” “we felt a new hope starting to flicker….” If the first phrase represents death, this second phrase represents resurrection.
  • Have you ever had this kind of experience? It’s maybe a bit harder to describe, but I can think back on a few incidents in my life where I sensed a deep hope, a new inspiration…..that wasn’t connected to my circumstances. It was like a hope that was from outside myself. A resurrection of hope in a difficult situation.

We are often quick to move from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, forgetting the agony, pain, and yes….complete loss of hope and death…..that the cross represents. Without a true sense of that death and loss, our understanding of resurrection remains artificial, and flimsy as well. He is Risen! And he offers us new life and new hope!

Two final (and important) thoughts from this story:

• Jesus is always walking with us, whether we recognize him or not, whether we’re aware of his presence….. or not. Do we really believe that?!
• It’s in fellowship with the living Christ, with Jesus, that we will recognize his presence, that we will sense that he is truly alive! In the breaking of bread, the disciples suddenly recognize Jesus. Revelation 3:20 says “Look, I stand at the door and knock….if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in, and eat with that person, and they with me.” Yes, it’s true. Jesus desires an intimate relationship with each of us. Only when we open the door of our heart, invite him to come in, and share fellowship and friendship with the living Christ….will we truly believe that He is risen!

(the above is a summary of the message shared during our Easter Worship on March 31, 2024.)