The Third Sunday of Easter (CL)

Luke 24:13-35

¹³ That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. ²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” ²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, ²⁹ but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” ³³ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

How slow we are in heart to believe all that God has told us. We are more than happy to believe the good things. We are happy that God has forgiven us. It is really good that Christmas comes and we get gifts. It is a special thing to know God is with us to celebrate happy time, or lift us up when we are down. But there are certain times when we are not quite sure what God is doing.

We are slow to believe in God when things are going smoothly. We are quick to blame God when things fall a part. But here three days after Christ's death they are discussing how everything went wrong. The Savior was not supposed to suffer and die, even if he predicted it three times. The Savior was supposed to live forever with his people, not only appear to a few, or only through the testimony of Angels. This is not the way it was all supposed to happen.

But Jesus comes and tells them how the scriptures say it was supposed to happen. God knew what he was doing, even when he was delivering his people from Egypt, or delivering them into exile. God is walking with us through our times of slow hearted faith. Jesus is ever revealing himself  to us through His Word. God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light, so your heart may burn within you as you hear God, through his New Testament, explain to you where we find Christ in the Old Testament. But most importantly how we find forgiveness through Jesus Christ and eternal hope in the Resurection.