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Stephen Ministry

Easter Sunday for this year has come and gone. After Easter, what’s next? An interesting question that I’m sure was being asked by the disciples during the time of Jesus’ crucifixion and after the reports of an empty tomb. What’s next? Over the next three Sundays we’ll examine that question in the light of three stories in Scripture about events that took place after the first Easter.

The question, "What’s next?" makes me think of a couple of things. First of all, it was the standard question in one of my all-time favorite TV series, The West Wing. Posed by the Martin Sheen character, President Jedadiah Bartlett, during briefings or discussions of political strategy, President Bartlett’s question, "What’s next?" indicated that he had grasped the facts of the topic being discussed and he was ready to move on to the next topic. "What’s next?" Then, just this past week—and sticking with a presidential topic—I saw and heard several reports regarding President Obama’s "first 100 days" in office. Most of those reports included a statement like, "After 100 days, what’s next for the Obama administration?" What’s next? It’s the question we all ask after significant moments and accomplishments. What’s next?

Certainly that was the question on the minds of the disciples after all they’d experienced with Jesus. Jesus is arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin…what’s next? Will they let him go, or is there further trouble to come? Jesus is crucified and buried…what’s next? Will they come after us, His followers? Far removed from their thoughts are Jesus’ words about His rising again. Even in the initial reports of an empty tomb…what’s next? Where is he? What does it all mean? Again, Jesus’ words about what was going to happen are a distant memory.

That’s the situation for "two of them" who are walking from Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus. By "them" it is meant followers of Jesus, a part of the crowd that grew around Jesus during His ministry. The two are disciples, but not part of the Twelve, now Eleven with the absence of Judas. We’re given the name of only one of them, Cleopas, the only time he is mentioned in the Bible. We don’t know much about these two. Are they from Emmaus, returning home after a trip to Jerusalem for the Passover where they got caught up in the events that took place? Likely not, for they appear to be more involved with the group of followers than just recent arrivals. Are they husband and wife, Cleopas and his wife? We don’t know. What we do know is that they are part of the crowd of followers of Jesus who had high expectations of Him. As they walk on the road to Emmaus they are discussing the events that took place…when suddenly Jesus joins them. Yet the two do not recognize Him. The Bible story says "they were kept from recognizing him." It’s a line that catches your attention, doesn’t it? What kept them from recognizing Jesus? Every commentary on this passage offers some guess of what that might be. Some suggest that God, for some reason, simply kept them from recognizing Jesus. For what purpose isn’t clear. My NIV Study Bible verse note says they were kept from recognizing Jesus "by special divine intervention." Could be. Some have suggested that Jesus’ resurrection body, while recognizable, is somehow different enough that He is not immediately recognized—something like what happened to Mary Magdalene when she first thought the resurrected Jesus was the gardener. Was it Jesus’ resurrected body that kept them from recognizing Him? Possibly. Some commentators suggest it was the sun that made it difficult for these two to recognize Jesus! Emmaus is to the west of Jerusalem and if the event took place later on that first Easter Sunday, the sun might have been in their eyes and hindered their looking at Jesus. Well, maybe. Personally, I think it was their attitude that caused them to fail to recognize Jesus. First of all, we’re told "their faces were downcast." I think they were so discouraged by the events that had taken place they failed to give a good look at Jesus. Their faces were downcast. Additionally, it appears that the possibility of a resurrected Jesus was nowhere in their thoughts. Whatever glance they were giving to this person who had joined them contained no possibility of recognizing it was Jesus because Jesus, in their minds, was gone and He wasn’t coming back.

Jesus chides them a bit for this, pointing out how "the Law and the Prophets" taught about what was going to happen to God’s Anointed One, the Messiah.

As they walk on, the two disciples are still unaware that it is Jesus who is with them. Only at the moment of sitting down and sharing a meal together are they suddenly aware that it is Jesus who is with them. Just as suddenly, Jesus disappears from their sight. The experience is so significant that the two make the return trip back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what happened, where they learn that Jesus also appeared to Peter.

That’s the story of the Emmaus Road. But what might we take from the story? How might the story of the Emmaus Road inform and edify our faith experience?

First of all, I think the Emmaus Road story invites us to examine ourselves as to anything that hinders our recognizing Jesus in our life. Are there discouragements that have given us a downcast expression? Are there disappointments that have led us to believe that Jesus can’t be present? The Emmaus Road story invites us to examine such things in our lives…and to recognize that Jesus is present. Whatever might discourage us, whatever might cause us to be downcast, cannot remove us from the presence of the living Christ. Look up! Be encouraged! Jesus is present.

The Emmaus Road story also reminds us of the encouragement that comes from Scripture. An essential part of Jesus’ breaking through the despondency of these two disciples was instructing them on what the Law and the Prophets had to say. Wouldn’t you have liked to been in on that mobile classroom? Jesus and the two disciples walk along the road to Emmaus and Jesus, "beginning with Moses and all the Prophets…explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." What a learning experience that must have been! Bottom line, reading the Scriptures, reflecting on the Scriptures, seeking to understand what the Scriptures teach us, searching for the truth to be found in the Scriptures strengthens our faith and increases our ability to recognize Jesus in our midst. The story of the Emmaus Road reminds us of that.

The Emmaus Road story also reminds us that Jesus does not force His way into our lives. "As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther." If you’re waiting for Jesus to reveal Himself to you in a way that leaves you with no choice but to accept Him in your life as Savior and follow Him as Lord, it probably isn’t going to happen. To a Paul, for that time and place, yes. For someone today, probably not. Jesus doesn’t force Himself into your life. He awaits your invitation.

Finally, the Emmaus Road story reminds us of the gift given to us in this table. It is in the breaking of bread and the sharing of a meal together that the eyes of the two disciples are opened and they recognize Jesus. In the fellowship of a meal, Jesus is recognized. In the Sacrament of Communion, Jesus is present, and it’s a place where our eyes can be opened and we recognize Him.

After Easter, what’s next in your journey of faith? I don’t know the specifics, but I do know that Jesus is present and is intimately interested and involved, at your invitation, in what’s next in your life.