Later the same day...

Yesterday at Grace Church Don Mills, I spoke about something that happened in the afternoon of the first resurrection Sunday. According to Luke's gospel, Cleopas and his companion were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus when they were joined by Jesus, even though they did not know it was him at first.

The story is one that fires the imagination of every Christian because all of us would love to have heard the greatest Easter sermon ever preached and that by none other than the risen Christ. It is not surprising that the hearts of Cleopas and his companion burned within them while Jesus talked with them on the road and opened the Scriptures to them. What an exposition that would have been as he began with Moses and then took them through all of the Prophets and explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself! Truly awesome!

But beyond chronicling the historical event as further proof that Jesus was alive Luke's story teaches us other lessons. For instance, it speaks to us of the benefits of spiritual conversation. Jesus drew near to two men who were talking about the "things of God." Sometimes when Christians gather they talk about anything but the "things of God." But when we do we miss out on the spiritual encouragement that only God can give.

The account also shows us that ignorance and grace can exist simultaneously in God's people. There were unique reasons for the ignorance of these two men, and yet, Jesus says that they were "foolish and slow to believe all that the prophets have written." Though we live on the new covenant side of the cross we are not yet glorified. We continue to see through a glass darkly until we see Jesus face to face. We need to be patient with ourselves and with other Christians as we strive together to grasp the sweep of biblical revelation.

We also see that some of God's greatest blessings are reserved for those who ask. As the trio approached Emmaus Jesus acted as if he were going further. But they urged him strongly to say with them because it was evening and the day was almost over. He relented and their subsequent time around the table was a blessing to them and to all who read the account of what happened to this day. God delights to give gifts to his children. But he wants us to ask for them in faith. It is good for us and it brings him glory.

Finally, those who have seen the risen Christ cannot keep silent or remain inactive. After Jesus revealed himself to them and he disappear out of their sight they did not call it a night! In the dark they retraced the 7 miles from Emmaus to Jerusalem, they found the Eleven and those with them and they told how they had seen Jesus and how he was recognized by them when he broke the bread. So it should be with us even though we have not seen Jesus with our physical eyes. To know him is to love him and to want others to love him too.