Hearts on Fire!

It’s true! The Lord has risen!

It’s good news of great joy. Death has been defeated!

But wow, was it confusing for the disciples that first Easter. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, and the other women were confused by the empty tomb and the angels.

Simon Peter was puzzled by the empty tomb; empty, except for strips of burial cloths.

And now, on their way to Emmaus, Cleopas and the other person were disappointed and discouraged. We don’t know who the other person was: brother/sister? wife? servant?

Whoever was with Cleopas, the 2 trudged out of the hills of Judea and into the Plain of Sharon. Down from Jerusalem and down from the high spirits and high hopes of Palm Sunday: hopes that Jesus would redeem Israel.

They’re flummoxed by the things that happened in Jerusalem during the Passover. Jesus was handed over to the Romans to be sentenced to death. He was crucified. Then on 3rd day, the women couldn’t find Jesus’ body to embalm him for burial. What’s more, there was the amazing news of a vision of angels who said Jesus was alive!

It’s a lot to talk about plodding 11 km to Emmaus. That’s the same distance as Mt. Elgin or Corinth, just much steeper down.

The guy who caught up to them seemed much more full of joy and energy. He didn’t seem to understand that a calamity had just taken place in Jerusalem. Jesus of Nazareth – crucified!

And his face – it looked rather familiar, but neither of them could place it. Probably a relative of someone they knew. You know it’s Jesus, Luke knows it’s Jesus, but Cleopas and the other person didn’t recognize him.

The stranger was oddly unaware of events in Jerusalem, but he knew the Scriptures! Once they poured out the confusing events of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion, after sharing the perplexing news of the empty tomb, this man explained all sorts of things about the Messiah.

He explained how the Messiah had to suffer death and crucifixion before entering his glory. Starting with Moses and all the Prophets he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning the Messiah. Wouldn’t you love to have tagged along and listened?

I wonder if Jesus used some of the verses we read on Friday from the prophet Isaiah, ch. 53. Along with other OT prophets, Isaiah speaks of the Lord’s suffering servant; the Messiah. We read it in Is 53:

Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 (NIV)

Initially it didn’t make sense to Cleopas and his companion when they heard about Jesus’ arrest, trial, and conviction.

On the walk down to Emmaus, Jesus helped them understand the reason for the Messiah’s suffering. Maybe Jesus quoted another verse from Isaiah 53:

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)

Every person in history has gone astray from God’s way and has gone their own way – I certainly have; have you?

It’s a path that leads away from God; it leads to isolation, loneliness, ultimately to death. But the power of Luke’s description of Jesus’ crucifixion is the vivid account he gives of Jesus’ suffering as the Lord lays on him the iniquity of us all. God’s word through Isaiah unpacks that as well:

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53: 5 (NIV)

This is a hopeful detail in Jesus’ suffering: by taking human punishment on himself, Jesus brings us peace!

Despite his suffering, Jesus is victorious! The powers of evil threw everything they could at Jesus: beatings, mocking, a slow cruel death, but Jesus was not defeated. He chose his own time to commit his spirit to his Father and then he breathed his last.

Jesus’ suffering broke the power of sin.

Jesus also broke the power of death on humankind when he rose from the tomb. Early that morning, Jesus’ heart began to beat again, he started breathing again, and he stepped out of the tomb, victorious over sin and death!

It took awhile, but the 2 disciples walking with Jesus began to catch on. Their hearts caught fire as they caught the vision on what Jesus’ mission was all about. Jesus did live up to their hopes.

Jesus was indeed on a mission to redeem Israel and establish the Kingdom of God. Jesus didn’t come to free them primarily from the Roman Empire, but from sin and death! Jesus came to reign as king, not just in Jerusalem, but over all creation!

Jesus’ two disciples knew enough about hospitality to press Jesus to stay with them in Emmaus, even though “Jesus continued on as if he was going further.” After they set out the evening meal, there was something about eating with Jesus that opened their eyes:

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Luke 24:30 (NIV)

I don’t know if they saw Jesus take the same actions when he fed the 5000 w/ 5 loaves and 2 fish. I don’t know if they were there at the last supper when Jesus took bread, gave, thanks and gave it to his disciples. But when Jesus broke bread and handed it to them, their eyes were opened and they recognized: It was Jesus! But then he disappeared.

But now all these events made sense. Their teacher and rescuer taught them to hope once again. No wonder their hearts were burning while he talked with them on the road and opened Scriptures to them!

I don’t know if your heart is burning within you. Jesus extends the same invitation to you today he gave the first generation of disciples. Because of his resurrection, you’re invited to turn away from disobedience and wrong-doing and turn with faith to Jesus, who will forgive your sins and equip you with the HS so you can be on mission with Jesus.

To start: the mission is simply to put your faith in Jesus for forgiveness and to rely on the Bible and God the HS to transform your heart, your imagination, and your actions so that you follow Jesus’ example faithfully. Love for God and neighbour arises from faith and thankfulness. Love arises w/ joy that Jesus has redeemed you from sin and death. Faith, hope, and love are characteristics of life in the kingdom of God.

There’s also something important in breaking bread together. Of course, the Lord’s Supper is important – eating and drinking together at the Lord’s Table to remember his sacrifice and victory. But I’m struck how Cleopas and the other disciple recognized Jesus when they broke bread together.

I wonder: Do you think this is another way Jesus expressed the promise he made in Matthew’s account of the gospel:

“Where two or three gather in my name,

there am I with them”? Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

Do you think folks recognize Jesus among us as we break bread together?