An Unexpected Encounter

Imagine what it would feel like to discover something life changing.  Something that would change the entire trajectory of your life and take you places you only dreamed of going.  You were so bought into this discovery that you had spent the last few years following, listening, and learning as much as you possibly could to position yourself for success.  Along the journey you have experienced things you never thought possible.  Your life, your family’s life, even those closest to you have all been impacted by this discovery.  Your relationships have grown richer, what’s most important to you has re-aligned, and it appears things will only get better.  You think to yourself, “I’m so grateful to be part of this life-changing opportunity.  Things have never been better.”  Then suddenly, everything changes, and your world is shattered.

Perhaps you’ve experienced something like this in your life.  You’ve worked hard for years and invested so much into your career only to feel like you’re not recognized and that it’s going nowhere.  You’re trying so hard to say and do the right things in your relationships, but the effort seems to be one-sided, and you’re left feeling alone and unappreciated.  You’re trying, maybe more than you ever have, to get to know God but even with all your efforts He stills seems silent and uninterested.  You’re searching for answers.  Should I quit my job, should I give up on a meaningful relationship, does God even care what’s going on in my life?  I have felt this way many times.

There’s a story in Luke 24:13-24 that I find very encouraging.  Of all the events that happened surrounding the resurrection of Jesus this is one of my favorites.  The story takes place with two disciples walking from Jerusalem to a town called Emmaus which was approximately 7 miles and about a two-and-a-half-hour walk.  Along the way they were discussing the events that had happened over the last few days, namely, Jesus’ crucifixion and the shocking news they had just received that His tomb was empty.  Their worlds had been turned upside down and understandably so.  They thought they were following the promised Messiah.  They heard His teaching, they witnessed His miracles, they had even witnessed Him raise someone from the dead.  Weren’t these all the signs of the coming Messiah? Think of what it would mean to the Jewish community if the Messiah took the throne.  The heavy hand of Roman rule would be no more, Israel would once again be a nation of prominence and power.  God’s blessings would flow to the people again like they did before, and they were among the closest of His followers, which would surely mean an important position and recognition.  Then the unspeakable happened.  Influenced by the religious elite, the Romans arrested, tortured, and crucified Jesus like a common thief.  This wasn’t supposed to happen.  How can a man who did so much good for so many die such a horrible death?  They were scared and on the run.

Caught up in the conversation they didn’t even notice the man who out of nowhere was walking with them until He asks the most bizarre question.  “What are you guys talking about and why are you so sad?”  They look at each other in disbelief.  Where had this guy been that he didn’t know what had just happened?  Everyone in Jerusalem knew about the crucifixion.  One of the disciples, Cleopas, let his thoughts form into a question.  “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?”  The man replies, “What things?”  Reluctantly Cleopas replies, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him.  But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.  Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.  When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.  And certain 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.”  Then something happens that will forever be branded into the hearts and minds of these two men.  This seeming stranger begins to explain to them events had to happen to fulfill prophecies concerning the Messiah.  He masterfully pieced the Scripture together with the events like an artist creating a masterpiece.  Before they knew it that had listened and walked for two-and-a-half hours and reached their destination.  Wanting to hear more from this remarkable stranger they talked Him into staying overnight with them, to which He agreed.  They sat down to enjoy a meal together, the stranger took some bread, blessed it, broke it and shared it with His two companions.  Right then a curtain lifted from their eyes and they recognized who had been walking with them.  It was Jesus.  The resurrected, Jesus.  Before either of them could get a word out Jesus vanished from their presence.  They were both speechless but felt an overwhelming sense of peace.  The dark shadow that hovered over them minutes ago was suddenly replaced with light and life.  Both of their hearts were filled with hope and courage as they tried to grasp the fact that Jesus was alive, His words were powerful, and He had just walked with them for two-and-a-half hours.  In their own words, “Didn’t our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”  They couldn’t contain their excitement.  They left immediately, went back to Jerusalem, and told their friends everything that happened. 

Here are a few key takeaways to help us in our own situations. 

First, Jesus is alive.  We’ve got eyewitnesses folks.  The Scriptures aren’t just a book of stories but an accurate historical account of the events that happened.  This is important because the Resurrection means that Jesus really was who He said He was. God’s Son and all that He did, taught, and instructed is true and worth following.  I heard one pastor say that “If a man predicts his own death and resurrection and pulls it off, we should just go with whatever he says.”  Yeah, I’m down with that.

Second, Jesus wants to be part of our journey.  Think about it, this was the first day of Jesus’ resurrection and of all the things He could have been doing, He decided to walk with two unknown disciples, enter into their stories, and speak life.  He could have been meeting the “important” disciples, His mom, brothers, or government officials.  But Jesus saw value in these two men and decided to take a walk.  This brings me so much hope.  I’m currently sitting in my RV in Bridgeport, TX, a place I didn’t even know existed until a week ago.  But Jesus knows right where I am, takes pleasure in entering into my story, and speaks life. 

Third, Jesus’ words are powerful.  There’s a phrase spoken throughout the Scripture that says, whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”  I take that to mean we hear some things with our physical ears and other things with our spiritual ears.  The condition of our heart determines whether we hear only with our physical ears or if our spiritual ears are receptive to Jesus’ words.  It’s more than just reading the Bible.  That’s a great place to start but if we read with hearts that aren’t receptive, we may as well be reading a Lord of the Rings book.  But when are hearts are bent toward Jesus almost in anticipation of catching something He says that’s just for us, that’s when His words become powerful in our lives.  Sometimes, as with these two men, it may be necessary for Jesus to say lots of things to influence the story of our lives.  Other times, like when Peter wanted to join Jesus walking on the water, it may be one simple word.  When Peter asked if he could join Him, Jesus simply says, “Come”, and Peter went.  How about that for a story to tell your kids?  Jesus’ words are powerful, His words are life changing, if we have ears to hear. 

Fourth, Jesus wants to open our eyes.  There’s another saying I’ve heard over the years that goes, “You only know what you know, and you don’t know what you’ve never experienced.”  My question is, have your experienced the reality of knowing the risen Jesus?  Here’s what I mean.  These two men knew all the Scripture that Jesus taught them that day.  They grew up hearing it and had been repeated to them numerous times.  Today, though, they came alive to them to the extent that their explanation is their “hearts were burning within them.”  They transitioned from knowing to experiencing.  When we go from knowing something, meaning we’ve heard about it or read about it, to experiencing something it’s a game changer.  Once again if we have receptive hearts, in an instant, the same thing that happened to these two men can happen to us.  Here’s how the story reads, “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him.”  They had experienced what it meant to walk with the risen King and their lives would be forever changed.  If we let Him, Jesus will open our eyes.

I started this article by asking, “Imagine what it would feel like to discover something life changing.  Something that would change the entire trajectory of your life and take you places you only dreamed of going.”  Experiencing what it means to walk with the resurrected Jesus is life-changing and will change the entire trajectory of your life.  Are you ready?