A Long Old Road!

April 18, 2024

A Long Old Road!

Heads hung low, feet kicking stones, and hearts aching with grief.  Two men make their way home.  They are walking from the city of Jerusalem to their hometown of Emmaus.  It is a seven mile walk; a long old road! 

There was not much to say.  The one they thought was the Son of God had been executed like a common criminal…like a traitor…like a liar.  It feels like all the promises of Jesus were not true.  In Luke 24:21 one of the men says; “But we had hoped that he (Jesus) was the one to redeem Israel.” 

Instead, their hope had been shattered and their hearts had been broken.  There was nothing left to do except go back home, fall back into the same old routines, and live without hope of the coming Kingdom of God.

And then, the Risen Savior joins them on that long old road.  When the men arrive home, they invite their guest for a simple supper.  Although they do not initially recognize their guest as the Risen Lord Jesus, they finally recognize Him when He breaks and blesses bread at their table. 

Their conclusion is one that many people of faith have reached after a personal experience with the Risen Christ.  In Luke 24:31-32 we hear; “Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him (Jesus); and he vanished from their sight.  They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scripture to us?’”

A casual conversation, a short overview of the Scripture, and the breaking of bread become the path to the opening of their minds, the stirring of their hearts, and the encouragement of their souls.  From doubt to trust, from fear to faith, from heads hung low in sadness to hands raised high in praise two ordinary men are transformed by an encounter with the Risen Christ.  It all happened because they continued walking down a long old road!

They had walked seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus only to immediately turn around and walk the seven miles back to Jerusalem.  They could do nothing less than return to the city and let the disciples know they had seen the Risen Savior. 

In Luke 24:34-35 we hear; “They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’  Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he (Jesus) had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.”

When the love of Jesus changes my mind, when the grace of Jesus transforms my heart, when the mercy of Jesus saves my soul there is little that will stand in my way of telling others about my experience of the Risen Christ. 

+A seven mile walk back to the city will not stand in my way.

+A heart filled with sadness and fear will not stand in my way.

+A mind consumed with doubt and anxiety will not stand in my way.

I will find a way to go where Jesus leads me, to find the people to whom Jesus calls me, and to share the news of a Risen Savior who loves me with the people close to me.  Even when it feels like a long old road, I will find my strength and courage when Jesus takes me by the hand.  Even when it feels like a long old road, I will share the good news with those whom the Spirit brings into my circle of influence.

In one week, I had facilitated four funerals, officiated at one wedding, and preached on Thursday evening, Friday afternoon, and Saturday evening.  I was physically exhausted, emotionally depleted, and spiritually used up. 

The next day was Easter Sunday.  The problem was I felt a lot like those two men walking along that long old road to their home in Emmaus.  I was tired and sad and empty.  I had precious little more to give of myself to other people.

And yet, it was Easter Sunday.  The regular attenders would be there wanting to hear again the message that from out of things that seem dead (or at least like dead-ends!) there is life and hope and joy coming.  There can be life abundant and full and holy because Jesus is risen. 

The guests at worship, and there would be many, would be curious and skeptical about the claims of a Savior who was dead and now lives again.  Many of them would find it difficult to believe Jesus did it all because of His deep, deep love for them.  Easter Sunday was an opportunity to share the good news that through Jesus there is hope and peace and joy for each person.

It felt like I had just finished a seven mile walk and was now being called to start another seven mile walk.  It felt like a long old road.  At the same time, I knew Easter Sunday was a way to share and honor and worship the Risen Savior.  I asked the Holy Spirit for strength and energy and enthusiasm as I prepared to lead people in worship. 

Two men walked a long old road a second time because they knew the love of the Risen Savior and they wanted others to know Jesus’ love.  I did my best that Easter morning because deep down I knew the love of the Risen Savior and wanted others to know that love, too.

Maybe this is a season of doubt or uncertainty for you.  Maybe you have been struggling with deep sadness or uncontrollable fear for several weeks.  Maybe you are physically exhausted or emotionally empty right now.  Maybe it feels like you are traveling down a long old road that is taking you nowhere. 

+I invite you to seek Jesus in a casual conversation with Him. 

+I invite you to look for signs of Jesus’ presence in something as simple as the breaking of bread.

+I invite you to get up and take a walk while telling yourself Jesus is with you and there are people who need to know Jesus is with them.

Walking down that long old road won’t always be easy!  But, there is no greater blessing than knowing the living Lord loves you, is with you, and will bear much fruit through your humble and faithful obedience when the good news of God’s love in Jesus is being shard.  When you do, Jesus will fill your heart with more and more delight.

It’s time to take another step on that long old road.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug