The Easter story is all about change. Change of heart, of
focus, of perspective, of life. The pair of travelers on the Road to Emmaus had
not yet understood the totality of the change that had happened. As they walked
along, “They were talking with each other
about everything that had happened…Jesus himself came up and walked along with
them; but they were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24: 14-16)
Like Susan and Lucy in The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (CS Lewis) the travelers were confronted
with something beyond their comprehension. Susan and Lucy see the Witch and her
minions torture and kill Aslan. They keep watch throughout the night. As dawn
nears, they start “walking aimlessly”. The girls don’t know what to do now that
their beloved Aslan is dead. Then the Stone Table cracks! “Who’s done it?” cried
Susan. “What does it mean? Is it more magic?”
The pair on their way to the town of Emmaus are just as
confused about the events of the past 3 days. They begin to explain to the
stranger, “About Jesus of Nazareth. He
was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The
chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they
crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem
Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In
addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of
angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and
found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” (Luke
24:19-24)
In The Lion, the
Witch, and the Wardrobe the girls get their answer immediately. “Yes!” said
a great voice from behind their backs. “It is more magic.” They looked round. There,
shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen him before, shaking his mane
(for it had apparently grown again) stood Aslan himself. “Oh, Aslan!” cried
both the children, staring up at him, almost as much frightened as they were
glad…”
Jesus doesn’t do anything as dramatic. Instead, “beginning
with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the
Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)
Jesus reveals himself via the familiar task of breaking
bread. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks,
broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they
recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other,
“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and
opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:30-32)
The pair rush back to Jerusalem where they relate “what had
happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the
bread.” (Luke 24:35) It was in the sharing bread that the travelers understood
who Jesus was. Their outlook changed. They no longer saw a stranger, they saw
their beloved teacher and friend.
Have there been times when you have met someone in an
unfamiliar situation, or out of the normal context and not recognized them
until they reminded you of the common bond. Children are often astonished to
meet their teachers at the grocery store because the teacher is someone who
they only know in the context of the classroom. The idea that Ms. Jones has to
go grocery shopping can amaze them.
Has there been a time or situation where you didn’t
recognize God’s action right away because it wasn’t what you were expecting?
How did you eventually understand that it was God?
Next week we’ll continue looking at how God
makes us change our outlook and focus, and sometimes our vision of life and
mission as we meet the disciples in the time of transition before Pentecost. 